paper. He glanced up, his glasses perched on the end of his nose.
“That’s funny?” he asked.
“Yes, I thought this was about a patient. A treatment. Not an entertainment system. In answer to your question, yes, I have.”
“Of course you have. That’s something I like about you, Samantha, you’re independent.” He slid the paper across his cluttered desk. “Why does this seem wrong?”
She gave it a look and then turned it over and held it up to the light. “Because it’s backwards. Right to left, not left to right.”
“Gotcha.” He took the paper back and held it up to the light. “Well, I’ll be dipped in tartar sauce.”
That was a new one. He did like to make up his own sayings and the nurses all repeated them. She couldn’t wait to share “dipped in tartar sauce.” She waited for him to say more.
He looked up again and removed his glasses. “You live in Martin’s Crossing, correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s what I thought.” He reached for a file and pushed the glasses back on his face. “Parker.”
Her mood lifted, because Parker had that effect on people. He’d gone through so much but still had a way of making others a little bit happier.
“What about Parker?”
“As you know, he’s going home,” he handed her the file. “Today.”
“I knew he’d be released soon but didn’t realize it would be today. That’s wonderful.” But also frightening. She always worried when a patient went home.
“Yes, it is. But we’re not ready to turn him loose. Not completely. Which is why we’ve come up with a new service we’d like to do on a trial basis.”
“New service?” She really had no idea how this pertained to her.
“Yes, we’d like to do a continued care program for our patients.”
Home visits. Good idea. But then she realized why she’d been called in to the office. She lived in Martin’s Crossing, which meant he wanted her to look in on Parker. She looked at the file, then met the serious gaze of the man sitting across the desk from her. He must have seen on her face that she planned to object because he held up a hand to stop her.
“We need someone to check on him once a week. Nothing too time-consuming. A short visit to make sure he’s still progressing and coping with the home environment. Also to make sure the caregivers—the family—are coping. I think if we do this, we can catch infections and other issues before they become problems that could jeopardize the health and continued recovery of our patients.”
Brilliant idea really, but the thought of stopping by the Jenkins farm every week wasn’t really one she wanted to embrace.
“I think it’s a great idea. But someone else should do it,” she started.
“You live in Martin’s Crossing. Parker thinks you’re the best nurse ever. And I have confidence in you because you have experience in several areas.”
“Yes, but...” she started. Then stopped. What could she say to that?
“Is something wrong?”
She shook her head. “No, nothing is wrong.”
“Great, then we’ll get all of the appropriate paperwork taken care of. We’ll need you to keep track of your time and mileage.”
“Of course.”
He stood and rounded the desk. “Let’s go talk to his family.”
She could tell by his tone and expression that in his mind it was all settled. Because he didn’t know how much she wanted to avoid Remington Jenkins. He didn’t know how much it hurt to look at Remington and remember.
She chased away that thought because this was about a child. And children came first. Parker came first. He came before her fears, her doubts and her resentment.
When they got to Parker’s room, they found it filled with staff and family. Parker sat in his wheelchair with a big grin on his face and a new cowboy hat on his head. His grin grew even wider, if possible, when he saw that he had more guests for his going-home party. Every child who left the hospital got a party as a farewell and a celebration.
“Nurse Sam, look—I got a hat! And new boots. And I’ll have a new room at Uncle Gus’s.”
“I heard, Parker. I’m so excited for you.” She moved through the crowd, smiling at Gus and at Parker’s grandmother. Then her heart stuttered a bit when she made eye contact with Remington. He stood to the side, casually leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
At that moment, she considered telling Dr. Jackson why it was impossible for her to take this job. But what would she say? That she’d been fifteen and crazy in love with a cowboy that her brothers didn’t approve of? That she’d been sent away from home and the cowboy had been sent packing, back to his parents in Austin?
It sounded like a romance novel. Young love. A broken heart. No big deal. To anyone but her. So she shoved it all aside because she wasn’t going to let it determine her future or the future of a boy who needed every opportunity to succeed.
She stepped in front of Parker, lowering herself to his level, accepting his big hug. Face-to-face with the child, her objections gave up their last stand of resistance. For Parker, for the other children, she would do whatever was necessary.
“You take care of yourself. And no stunts,” she warned.
“Ah, Nurse Sam, you know I’m not going to be good.”
She laughed at his honesty. “At least be safe.”
“I can do that.”
“And I’m going to stop by and check on you in a few days so you don’t miss us too much.”
“That’s great,” he said. “I can show you the ranch. And someday I can see the ranch where you live. And I’ll go to school there in a few months.”
“Super. I have a niece who goes to school in Martin’s Crossing. She’s a few years older than you, but I’m sure she’ll show you around.”
“Does she ride horses? Remington said everyone in Martin’s Crossing rides. I’m sure I could learn to ride.”
“Let’s take one thing at a time, Parker.” His grandmother moved to his side, her look a little unsure, Sam thought. But of course she was. She was going to raise this little guy. It had been only a few months since the accident that took his parents. Just a few months of healing and learning a new way of living.
“Oh, Granny, I know that. It’ll be okay.”
Big words from a little boy. He reached for his grandmother’s hand and held it tight.
“We should go,” his grandmother
