A Colorado Family
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Patricia Thayer
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Chapter One
Erin Carlton blinked several times, trying to stay awake as she drove along the Colorado highway. Last night’s graveyard shift at the Mountain View Convalescent Center had been a rough one. During her rounds there had been two emergencies. Luckily, nothing too serious. Yet with Alzheimer’s patients, you had to expect the unexpected, even if it was only to give them reassurance.
She leaned back in the cargo van’s seat and began to relax her tense muscles as she focused on the majestic Rocky Mountains. A fresh start here in Hidden Springs had been a good idea. She’d made friends, been able to save money, but still she didn’t have enough...yet. That was the reason she was going to this interview.
She glanced down at the written directions given to her for her appointment, not exactly sure of the location of the ranch.
If she got this part-time job, the money would be strictly for her special account. If she weren’t so close to reaching her goal amount, she’d be home in bed, sleeping away the cool autumn day. But the money offered for this position was too good to turn down, even if she’d been warned ahead of time about the hard-to-deal-with client. Not that hard work ever stopped her before.
Erin turned off the main road and saw the sign to the Circle R Ranch, then another sign for Georgia’s Therapy Riding Center. She smiled at the thought of her friends Brooke and Trent Landry, who were involved in the program for special-needs kids. If she knew how to ride a horse, she might help out, too. But this city gal didn’t have any desire to take on a horse.
She drove through the ranch’s main gate and followed the long row of white-slatted fence. There were several horses grazing in the green pasture. She passed the large red barn and several outbuildings that had recently been painted a glossy white.
She parked in the driveway of the large two-story gray-and-white house where two men were standing on the wraparound porch. She recognized Trent right away, and next to him was his stepbrother, Hidden Springs’ new sheriff, Cullen Brannigan. She’d met him a few times when he’d been called out to the center. His new wife, Shelby, had brought the residents some desserts from her new bakery.
Erin parked next to the house and climbed out of the van. Trent came down to greet her. “Good morning, Erin.” He hugged her.
“Morning to you, too. Sorry I’m late. My shift ran over.”
Trent was a good-looking man, ex-military, and still kept in shape. A few years ago, he took over his father’s ranch and began raising cattle. And he found Erin’s friend Brooke and had the good sense to marry her.
“You’re not late,” Trent said. “I told you if nothing else, this job would be flexible. You can work around your hours.” He glanced at the man with him. “Sorry, Erin. Have you met Cullen Brannigan?”
“Yes. Nice to see you, Sheriff.”
He smiled. “Same here, Erin.”
Coming from Las Vegas, she’d met her share of phonies. From what she heard around town, these two men were as real as they came.
“Well, I appreciate you coming out and talking with us.” Cullen blew out a breath. “Although I have to warn you, this patient isn’t the most congenial person right now. And he needs to keep his rehab a secret. No one is to know he’s here.”
She tried not to show her concern. Who was this guy, an undercover cop? “I wouldn’t tell anyone. Who is this person?”
Cullen exchanged a glance with Trent. “He’s my twin brother, Austin. He’s a champion bull rider who was badly injured about three months ago. His leg was damaged pretty badly, and he’s had to have several surgeries. He’s finally out of the hospital and is ready to rehab.”
They didn’t want her for a nursing job? “Do you need me to recommend a therapist?”
“No, Erin. We hope between your nursing and your experience with physical therapy, you might be able to help Austin. Brooke told me how you worked with your husband through his intense rehab.”
Erin felt the familiar tightness in her chest. The pain of losing Jared had faded some in the past eighteen months, but she’d always regret not being able to do more to help him. But her husband had to deal with more than a physical disability.
She glanced away, then said, “If his doctor is okay with me working with him, then I’m willing. When would you want me to start?”
Trent and Cullen exchanged a glance. What weren’t they telling her?
“The doctor isn’t the problem, but the patient might be,” Trent said. “Austin hasn’t been the easiest person to get along with. He’s run off three other caregivers. So I’ll understand if you want to leave right now.”
“Bad attitude is understandable. Therapy is a lot of hard work, and most times painful. But if he wants to regain the use of his leg, he’ll need therapy. Which rehab center is he in?”
Another look went between the brothers, and then Trent spoke up. “He’s not in a rehab center. He’s staying here at the ranch.”
Cullen raised a hand. “He had all the equipment he needs delivered here. If you decide not to take this case, the fewer people who know the better.”
“Of course. I never discuss my patients.”
“You can’t even mention that you know he’s here in town. If the media get wind of his location, they’ll be camped out all over the place.”
She sighed. At the very least, she was fascinated just to meet this person. “When do I get to meet this man?”
“How about now?” Trent escorted her to a golf cart. “Austin has moved into the old foreman’s house.” She sat in the front seat, Cullen drove, and Trent climbed in the back.
The cart bounced along the gravel road that led to a smaller gray-and-white house. Cullen got out and escorted her up to the small porch. “Just remember my brother isn’t at his best. So don’t take anything he says personally.”
She straightened. “Lead me to the tyrant.”
“Don’t say we didn’t warn you.” Trent opened the door, then called out, “Hey, brother. Someone is here to see you.”
She followed the two men inside to the living room, where a dark leather sofa and a chair were grouped around a fireplace. Over the mantel hung a large flat-screen television. A dark brown rug covered hardwood floors.
“What a cozy room.”
“Thanks. We’ve been working on the place ever since we knew Austin needed a place to recuperate.” He started down the hall and called out again. “Austin...”
A string of curse words came from the back of the house, along with a crashing sound. All three of them ran down the hall.
Trent swung open the bedroom door, Erin close behind. She saw a man with scraggly, sandy-brown hair lying on the large bed, but his water pitcher was on the floor. The man caused her to do a double take.
Austin Brannigan was gorgeous. Rugged good looks, with a two-day growth of beard shadowing his strong jaw. His chest was bare, with a sprinkling of dark hair covering his well-defined muscles. Her gaze moved to a sheet that barely covered his waist and anything south of that. His left foot and calf were enclosed by a long removable cast, but still she got a glimpse of an angry scar peeking out the top.
“Like what you see, darlin’?”
Her attention darted back to his face, and those gray eyes zeroed in on her. She fought her reaction and lost. “Yeah, I do.” She walked closer to the bed, channeling her years of nursing training. Show him who’s in charge. “All except the attitude. So if you ditch that we might be able to work together.”
Austin Brannigan tensed, but caught his brothers’ smiles. He wasn’t in the mood to be amused. His leg ached like the devil, and he hadn’t been able to do the simplest tasks. “I take it you’re the new recruit.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll wait and see how the interview goes.”
He stiffened. “I guess you’re forgetting who’s hiring you.”
The pretty redhead strolled around the room as if she had a right to. Then she flashed those big emerald green eyes at him, and he felt a jolt of awareness deep in his gut. Damn.
She moved closer to the bed. “And I guess you forgot how bad you need me.”
He might like this. He’d been without a woman far too long. “Oh, darlin’, you have no idea.” He caught the frown from Trent and Cullen, but ignored it.
The new nurse put her fists on her hips as her gaze moved over his body, stopping at the sheet. “Oh, I think I do.” Quickly, her gaze returned to his face. “Okay, Mr. Brannigan. We can do this a few different ways, easy or hard. We work together as a unit and I’ll help with your recovery, or we fight, which I guarantee will make it more difficult, or you can just tell me to leave. What will it be?”
He was used to being in charge. People did what he wanted, not the other way around. But he had a feeling this woman knew what she was doing. He glanced again at his brothers in the doorway. “Do you mind leaving us alone?”
Trent looked at the woman. “Erin, it’s up to you.”
“I’m fine.” She looked back at Austin. “I have a black belt in karate.”
That brought a smile to Cullen’s and Trent’s faces. “Good luck... Austin.” The door closed, shutting them in silence.
The woman spoke first. “My name is Erin Carlton, Mr. Brannigan. I’m a registered nurse and I’ve had some training in physical therapy, but I’m not certified. I know your sister-in-law, Brooke, from a time when we both lived in Las Vegas. I understand you’re someone famous and you don’t want anyone to know you’re here during your rehab. Just so you know, I’d never reveal a patient’s confidentiality.”
He began to relax. “It’s Austin.”
She nodded. “Would you mind telling me what happened?”
Yeah, he did, but he began the story anyway. “My brothers might have told you some already. I was competing in the short round at the Frontier Days Rodeo last July and leading in points.” Damn, he’d played the accident over and over in his head and never could understand how everything went so wrong. “I was thrown and got caught up in my rigging on my way down, and a two-thousand-pound bull named Sidewinder had his way with me.”
He rubbed his thigh absently, trying not to relive the nightmare. “The doctor put my leg back together with the aid of a titanium rod. Now all I want to do is rebuild the strength in my leg and get back on the circuit.”
Erin didn’t react to his announcement. “Have you had any therapy?”
“Some, but I just got here this week.” He nodded to the door. “There’s a boatload of equipment in the bedroom across the hall. Dr. Michael Kentrell did the surgery. You should talk to him.”
She nodded. “I plan to, if I take your case.”
He frowned. “And I haven’t decided you’re the person for this job, either. What’s your experience?”
“I told you, I’m a nurse and I presently work with Alzheimer’s patients.” Her gaze met his. “I do some therapy with my patients at the Mountain View Convalescent Center, but my most intense sessions were with my husband. He was wounded during his deployment in Afghanistan. I worked nearly a year on his therapy.”
She was married. He glanced down at his ringless finger. “What were his injuries?”
She straightened. “Jared caught shrapnel in his calf and thigh, tore his muscles to shreds. He also had head trauma.”
“Was he able to walk again?”
She shrugged. “Some, but he never gained total strength in his leg.”
Austin wasn’t sure what to say next, seeing the pain in Erin Carlton’s eyes. Those pretty green eyes.
Did he want this distracting woman around all the time? Having her close, touching him, causing him to react? So far she was also the only person who’d dared to stand up to him. He doubted she’d be easy on him.
“If you work for me, how soon could you start?”
She blinked at the question, then recovered and said, “That all depends. I need to talk with your physician.”
He nodded toward the dresser. “There’s my medical file and instructions for my therapy.”
She picked it up and began to read it.
* * *
“I WAS HOPING that you could work every day. My goal is to get well enough to get back on the circuit. So I’ll need someone who’s dedicated to work with me. I’ve lost my top ranking for this year, but I plan to be back on the circuit as soon as possible.” Most importantly, before he lost any product endorsements.
She looked up from her reading. “Firstly, I’ll be working with you. And secondly, I have a full-time job at the center.”
“That isn’t going to work for me. I need you full-time with me.”
She straightened. “There are only so many hours in a day, Mr. Brannigan.”
“It’s Austin.”
“Austin. Like I said, I can’t be in both places, and I can’t function on no sleep.”
“Then work with me exclusively.” He tossed out an amount of money that was crazy even to him.
She couldn’t hide her shock. “I won’t give up my job at the center. Let’s see what I can come up with. But if I agree to work with you, I’ll have a few rules. Unless you’re an invalid, which you’re not, I won’t clean up after you.” She looked at the mess on the floor.
“That was an accident.”
She didn’t look convinced and held up the file. “May I take this with me to study your case?”
“If you’re taking me on.”
She nodded. “If we can work out a schedule.”
He was suddenly excited she was working with him. He stared at the pretty redhead with those big green eyes. Her complexion wasn’t pale or pasty; she had more of an olive skin tone.
Stop! he chided himself. He couldn’t think of her as a woman. Besides, she was married to a soldier. That makes her off-limits. Not that he was in any shape to do anything.
Erin started for the door. “I’ll get back to you tomorrow as soon as I make arrangements with my supervisor.” She studied him. “Are you sure you want to pay the amount? It’s twice the going rate.”
He nodded. “It is if you’re dedicated to helping me get back on my feet.”
She smiled. “You’re the only one who can accomplish what you need. All I do is help rebuild the strength in your leg. I’ll help you walk, Austin, but you’ll have to get yourself on a bull.”
“Guaranteed, I’ll do it.”
“Good. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.” She walked out, and he found he wanted to call her back.
Damn, he had to get himself together if he was going to make this work. He had to forget that Erin Carlton was a woman. If he needed some stress relief, he had plenty of phone numbers of plenty of women. No. He shook his head. He needed to concentrate on regaining his status as top bull rider.
There was a knock on the door, and then Cullen stuck his head inside. “So you managed to find someone to help you with your crazy scheme.”
“It’s not crazy, bro. It’s my profession, and I’m good at it.”
Austin had grown up with the fact that Cullen was the good twin. The best student, a college graduate, and he even became a cop like their dad. Now he was the town sheriff with a smoking-hot wife, Shelby, and an adopted son, Ryan.
“I heard what the doctor told you when you came to from your concussion. Your leg is pieced together with metal rods. It might never be as strong as before. You’ve already gotten to the top in ranking, won every championship possible and made a fortune on endorsements. Why can’t you retire now?”
“How would you like to retire from police work?”
“I would in a second. I’ve learned what’s important, A.” His brother tossed out the nickname as if they were still kids. “Find a nice woman and settle down. You own half this ranch—the possibilities are endless.”
“I haven’t found anything or any woman who I’d give up my lifestyle for.”
“Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox, for now.” Cullen checked his watch. “I need to get to the station. Shelby will bring you some lunch. Do you need anything before I go?”
He sat up and slowly swung his legs over the side. “No, I can get around okay. Sorry I’ve been such a pain.”
Cullen grinned. “Why should anything change? You’ve always been a pain in the butt, little brother.” He walked to the door.
“Hey, you’re only five minutes older than me.” He sobered. “Hey, about Erin Carlton. Her husband... I take it he was in the military?”
“Yeah, Jared was a decorated marine. On his third deployment his Humvee was hit by an IED. There were complications to his injures.” His brother held his gaze. “Sergeant First Class Jared Carlton died eighteen months ago.” His brother started for the door, then stopped. “Just a little warning. This isn’t your rodeo, so if you hurt Erin, you’re going to have to deal with me.”
“Hey, I’m the one with the bad leg.”
Cullen didn’t say a word as he walked out.
There was no need. Austin knew what his brother was talking about. He didn’t have the best reputation when it came to women. Being in the rodeo made it easy to take his pick without having to think about the consequences. That was both a blessing and a curse.
