a small room with a comfortable chair near the bed.
“You sure you can stay?” he asked.
“Yes, of course. Uh, the new doctor, is he good?”
“Very good. Why? Did he do something you didn’t like?”
“No! Of course not. But I didn’t know we had a new doctor, so it kind of shocked me.”
“We’re lucky to have him. He was working in Houston. Came highly recommended. ’Course, he frustrates the matchmakers, you know.”
Diane noted his grin. His own wife was part of the original group of matchmakers who had made Cactus a hotbed of romance. “What have Flo and her friends been doing?”
“Trying to find someone for the ‘new’ doctor to marry. You know how they are. But Jeff won’t have anything to do with their attempts to elevate his social life.”
“Why not?”
“He’s recently widowed. Doesn’t seem interested in other women.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. But he’s a good doctor. He’ll do his best for these little tykes’ mother.”
IN ADDITION TO A concussion, the woman had several broken ribs and a broken collarbone. Jeff, and his partner, Samantha Gibbons, spent a long time trying to put things right.
When their patient was wheeled away to recovery, Samantha sighed as she stripped off her gloves. “Good job, Jeff.”
“Thanks. You, too. We work well together. That’s been a joy this past year.”
She smiled and nodded. “It’s been a good year.”
“Well, not when you were out having that little boy. At least not for me. But I’ve heard he’s the handsomest boy in Cactus.”
“You’ve been talking to Flo again,” Samantha said with a smile.
“Or Mac.”
“Or Doc. He’s always treated Florence and Mac as his family since his own wife died, but after marrying Florence, he watches over us like a hawk. And is just as prejudiced as the rest of us.”
Her smile told him she didn’t object.
“Speaking of kids, I’d better check on the two little ones we brought in with her,” he said, nodding in the direction the nurses had gone with the patient.
“How bad were their injuries?”
“I don’t believe the little girl had much wrong with her. The boy had a broken arm and probably a concussion.”
“I’ll go with you,” Samantha immediately said.
One of the things he liked about his partner was her dedication to her job. But with two babies of her own and a husband, he knew she was ready to go home. “I’ll check on them. You go take care of your own crew.”
“Thanks, Jeff. I’m hoping Flo will have cooked for us. She spoils me.”
“With good reason. You’ve given her grand-babies. You know that’s the goal of every woman in Cactus. I just wish they’d leave me alone,” he added with a sigh.
“Which reminds me. I heard Diane Peters stopped to render aid. You’ll have a lot in common with her soon.”
“I will?” he asked, surprised. Not that he objected. He’d noticed today that she was an attractive woman, like her sister, only a little more sophisticated.
“Well, she’s single and coming back to Cactus. She’ll be working with Mac as soon as she passes the bar.”
“So, the fact that we’re both single is what we have in common?”
“Ah, no. The fact that both of you will be in the sights of the matchmakers is what you’ll have in common.” Sam paused before a big grin appeared on her lips. “Hey, maybe they’ll match you two up and take care of both of you with one wedding!”
“No!” Jeff protested with more volume than he realized.
Chapter Two
Jeff could see that his adamant response to her comment had surprised Samantha.
“Are you all right?” she asked, obviously concerned about his overreaction.
“Of course,” he said with a smile.
“You’ve been teased about the matchmakers before, but you never seemed to mind,” Samantha pointed out.
“I must be tense from the surgery. It’s been a little while since we’ve had anything so serious.” He began walking toward the door, anxious to escape his friend’s questions. He had an inkling about what had caused his reaction, but he certainly didn’t want to think about it now.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he added as he pushed against the swinging door.
“Okay. If you need me, you’ll call, won’t you?”
“You know I will, Sam, but hopefully it won’t be necessary.”
Jeff discovered Doc waiting for him in his office. He gave him an update on the two children and told him what room they were in. Jeff sent him home. He knew Doc’s wife, Florence, would be anxious until he arrived.
He surprised himself with the wish he had someone waiting for him. He’d thought about hiring a housekeeper, but it wasn’t the same thing. Besides, there was only him, and he had a woman coming in to clean once a week. And he wasn’t used to home-cooked meals. His wife had been a school counselor and worked long hours. They’d usually met at a restaurant before they went home for the evening.
When he opened the door of the little boy’s room, he paused before entering, staring at the picture before him.
Diane Peters sat in a large chair next to the bed, the toddler still in her arms. Diane was talking softly to the little boy who lay in the bed, his arm in a cast.
Just then, she noticed Jeff in the doorway. Her gaze fell on him and she stopped talking.
“Good evening,” he said casually, strolling into the room. “How are my patients?”
The toddler snuggled closer to Diane, her gaze wide with fear. The boy’s eyes were wide, too, but Jeff could see his effort to be brave. His heart went out to the child, feeling the pressure to be strong for his baby sister.
Reaching the bed, he picked up the boy’s wrist on his good arm and took his pulse. “Did Doc fix up your arm, son? Are you in pain?”
The boy shook his head no. “Mama?”
His sister whimpered and Jeff watched Diane’s soothing hands as she comforted the little girl.
“Your mother is just fine,” he
