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“Hundreds.”
“Did you come up with anything?”
“No. It’s just that I feel like I missed something.”
“Medicine is not based on feelings but on facts, Doc. From what you’ve told me, the facts speak for themselves. There is one person to blame for that woman’s death. Her husband. You tried to save her the best you could. You’re not God. You never will be. So the question I have is have you been pushing Paris to be a doctor all these years because of your own doubt?”
Dustin nodded, realizing Sam was exactly right. “I always thought she would be a better doctor than me.”
“Maybe she would. Maybe she wouldn’t. But, Dustin Ryder, you are a great doctor. Shall I start listing all the wonderful things you’ve done for people here in Destiny, beginning with my own wife? She was shot and you saved her. She passed out and you came to our rescue. We need you, Doc. We all need you. And I believe Paris needs you, too. So does your brother. To me it sounds like Paris might be running from something just like you have for all these years. But before you have a chance of helping her, you need to ask yourself this question. Are you more in love with your doubt than you are Paris?”
“I love her, Sam. She’s my world. Thank you. I get it. My doubt is only about me, not about her. It’s been a crutch. No more.”
Sam stood, extending his hand. “Good work, Doc. Very good work.”
“But she won’t open the door for me.”
“Paris may need a little more time, son. That’s all.”
“We don’t have the luxury of time. She’s got a job offer that will take her out of Destiny forever.”
Sam sighed. “That changes things. Go talk to your brother, and explain all this to him. Don’t hold anything back. The two of you go to Paris. Together, you can work this out with her.”
Chapter Thirteen
Inside the big barn, Mick dismounted his horse, Whisper.
Connor O’Shea, one of the Steele Ranch’s best hands, was brushing down his ride, Wonder. “Quitting early, boss?”
“No, just need to make a couple of phone calls.”
Lawton McDaniels led his horse, Nightshade, into his stall. “Don’t give Mick trouble, Connor. He always works circles around you and me.”
They were good men, men he trusted, men he would keep on once the sale of the ranch was finalized. He couldn’t wait to tell Paris and Dustin about Jennifer’s offer. I’m going to own Steele Ranch. All his dreams were coming true.
“Take lunch. When you finish, ride out to the new airport location and get back to building fences. I’ll join you shortly.” I’ve got to check in with Paris and see how her talk with Dustin went.
“How long before that airport is finished, boss?”
“Another year.” Destiny needed its own airport and Jennifer and the Stone brothers had deeded over hundreds of acres each of flat land that bordered their ranches to accommodate the facility.
Lawton’s sister, Stevie, rode into the barn. “Mick, the new calves and their mothers are in the southwest pasture as you requested.”
“Good work, Stevie.”
She was twenty-two years old and was quite the beauty, and had already stolen the hearts of most of the hands on the ranch, but especially Tom and Colby Martin. She could handle the livestock as well as any man Mick had ever known. About a year ago, Jennifer had introduced him to Lawton and Stevie. They were children of friends of her late husband. He’d instantly liked the brother and sister and had hired them on a trial basis. It took no time for him to see they were born to ranching. They were permanent members of the Steele Ranch hands, which currently numbered fifteen.
“Mick, if you’re in a hurry to make your call, I can take care of Whisper,” Lawton offered.
“That’ll be great. Thanks. If you need me, just call.”
He walked out of the barn. When he got to his truck out of earshot of the hands, he called Paris. No answer. She might be at the clinic with Dustin. I’ll try his phone.
“Hey, Mick,” his brother’s voice came through his cell sounding more intense than normal. “We need to talk.”
“Everything okay?”
“I think it will be, but I have something to tell you first. Do you have time?”
