"How are you?" he said, joining her on the porch, but maintaining a distance.
"Good," she said, yawning, her eyes half-opened.
"Hear you've been busy." Anger settled in his voice.
"How did you know?" she said, not sure if she should make eye contact.
"Ran into what's his name and he told me about your cozy afternoon."
"Cozy? Do you call this a result of a cozy afternoon?" She showed him her hands.
"Caitlin McAllister Chadwick."
Despite the serious look in his scrunched eyes and the wrinkled nose, she laughed. Once she started she found it impossible to stop. Soon Garrett laughed too and he joined her on the porch swing. The creaking filled the air as the laughter subsided. Caitlin loved this man, even when he was furious with her.
"A few blisters and aching muscles are nothing," she said. "In a few days, I'll be like new again, but better." Garrett eyed her. "This ranch is my life and I will do what it takes to make it successful. Hard work and physical exertion don't scare me, neither do blisters."
Garrett exhaled. "I know, but why didn't you call me? Why did you let him help?"
Worried lines filled his brow. She touched his arm and winced with the movement. "You have a ranch, too.
"That's no excuse, Caitlin. Anyway, what do we know about this guy? He could be on the run."
"So could I." Shaking her head, Caitlin thought about what to say. "Garrett, I'm tired and in no mood to argue. He stepped in and helped. Okay? Truce?"
Garrett put his arm around Caitlin, pulling her close. "Truce," he whispered against her hair. She breathed in the heady scent of his woodsy cologne and longed to fall asleep in his arms. As she drifted off, she wondered about the joys of knowing and experiencing true love with Garrett. His voice interrupted her sleep. "Did you put salve on those blisters?" She shook her head. "Come on."
Sitting at the kitchen table, the one place where doctoring always took place, she traveled down memory lane to a time when she had skinned her knee riding her bike to Garrett's ranch. This same gentle nature came through that day as he bandaged her knee.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" he asked.
"Like what?"
"Like you're thinking about the past."
"Remembering another time you rescued me."