View this author's other titles

LENGTH: Category
SENSUALITY: Sweet

Cover art (c) Jenny Dixon
ISBN 1-58608-256-6
Download $3.50

"I had a lot of laughs reading this book." Scribes World Reviews

"THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA is a delightful tale of opposites attracting despite the baggage each has from their early lives and their plans for very different futures. It's fun to watch them battle themselves and the town matriarch, who has plans of her own. For a fast, warmhearted story of the many powers of love, you can't miss with THE DOCTOR'S DILEMMA." Romance Reviews Today

"Four Stars! This heart tugging romance is emotionally stirring. Janet Lane Walters has a way of pulling you in and leaving you begging for more. The Doctors Dilemma will make you want to fall in love again." Tabitha Tasker, reviewer

"At times light and humorous, and at other times evoking a romantic ache, The Doctor’s Dilemma is a sweet romance. Ms. Walters’ characters are well-developed and will walk right into the reader’s heart. Secondary characters add life and humor to the romantic plot. For a charming romance with all the trimmings, I encourage you to read The Doctor’s Dilemma. It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!" Ivy Quill Reviews

The Doctor’s Dilemma

by Janet Lane Walters

© copyright by Janet Lane Walters, April 2001
Cover Art by Jenny Dixon
ISBN 1-58608-256-6
Rocket Edition 1-58608-341-4
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com

Chapter 1

Streams of people eddied around Nora Harte, the pile of luggage and the double stroller. She scanned the faces of the crowd. A babble of voices filled the air. In an impatient rhythm, she tapped her foot against the floor.

Where is he?

Since Thursdays were almost a universal doctor’s day off, the trip had been scheduled for today. He knew the flight number and the time of arrival. The plane had been on schedule.

She groaned. The simple baby run had become anything but easy.

The loudspeaker crackled. "Would passenger Nora Harte pick up one of the courtesy phones?"

When the words blared a second time, with a start, Nora realized the message was for her. Yeah, right. She stared at the three suitcases, one diaper bag and the pair of car seats. She’d need the arms of an octopus to fulfill the request.

What had kept Dr. McKay from the meet?

One of the twins puckered his mouth and added his screams to the cacophony in the baggage claim area of the Dallas airport. Nora crouched and stroked the baby’s cheek. "It’s only a minor delay. We’ll be out of here soon." At least, she hoped they would.

The strident voice issued the command again. "How?" she asked. The logistics of the move defeated her. She couldn’t abandon the babies or the luggage to search for a phone. She’d been deputized to deliver Molly and Tod Jamison to their guardian and she took this duty seriously.

The sight of a man in a gray uniform pushing an empty luggage cart solved the problem. "Sky cap, over here." She used the voice that had parted crowds on busy New York City sidewalks. The one she hadn’t used since she’d moved upstate.

"Take these bags and the infants."

"Don’t load babies on the cart, ma’am."

"Sorry. I know that. I meant the infant seats. I have to answer the phone."

"Excuse me." His expression projected the idea she had flipped.

Maybe she had -- last week when she’d agreed to deliver the babies to their guardian. "The page. Nora Harte. That’s me."

He pointed to the far wall. "Courtesy phone’s over there."

"Thanks." Nora gripped the stroller handle. She pushed through the crowd like a subway rider aiming for the last seat. The noise level made her wonder if she’d be able to hear the message.

An easy trip, she thought. A way to add to her dream house account. Just fly to Dallas with the infants, meet their guardian and be on her way.

So far nothing about the trip had been a snap. Why had she thought her experience as a nurse would make the mission a breeze? Even a three month tour of duty in a busy city hospital nursery hadn’t prepared her for the reality of caring for twins.

She hadn’t counted on the surround-sound screams that they’d raised in protest of being air-borne. Or of juggling two infants who wanted a bottle at the same time. Not finding their guardian at the airport had been the final episode in her nightmare of the week.

She lifted the courtesy phone receiver. "Nora Harte speaking. I believe you have a message for me."

The voice on the other end of the line explained that Dr. McKay had been unavoidably detained. Ms. Harte was to proceed to the car rental desk to pick up a car and the directions to the doctor’s house in Prairie, Texas.

She gritted her teeth. This deviation from her agenda added another problem she should have expected. Why had she believed anything about this trip would work?

Drops of frustration splattered her thoughts. If Dr. McKay had attended his foster sister’s funeral, this disaster would have been avoided. He could have taken custody and faced the journey from hell on his own.

She waved to the sky cap. "Where’s the car rental desk?"

"This way, ma’am."

He pushed the cart with the finesse of an obstacle course champion. Nora threaded the stroller through the gaps he opened. Tod’s cries changed to gurgles. Molly’s began.

Nora patted the infant girl. "Please, honey, no more tears."

She groaned. Now she sounded like a commercial, but life had no easy solutions like those found in ad campaigns.

The sky cap halted in front of a counter. "Want me to wait?"

"Yes, please. At least until I learn where to find the car."

He grinned. "You sure have cute babies and they sure favor you what with that yellow hair and them big blue eyes. Their daddy sure must be proud of them. Bet he can’t wait to see you all."

Right, Nora thought. So eager he forgot to come. "They’re not...I’m not..." She closed her mouth. She was just the courier on this baby run, but there was no need to explain that to a stranger.

She stooped and dried Molly’s tears. In coloring, the babies did resemble her. What if -- An ache of longing filled her chest. She shook her head.

Not these babies.

Someday, she’d find a man who wanted the same things she did -- a family, a home, roots. As yet, she hadn’t found the one who’d made her dream of forever.

She gave her name, driver’s license and credit card to the clerk. In return, she received the keys to a four door sedan and a detailed set of directions.

Prairie, here we come.

She prayed Dr. McKay would be waiting. The delay had added hours to her trip to her parents’ house. Her plans called for her to be in Santa Fe by tomorrow evening.

The skycap pushed the baggage cart outside. Nora and

the twins followed. A breath of hot air seared her lungs. In New York, the temperature had been in the seventies. Here, it must be near ninety.

Once the baggage had been stowed in the trunk and the infant seats in place, Nora looked at her watch. Before starting the trip, the twins had to be changed and fed. She found the nearest rest room.

She picked up Molly, changed and cuddled the little girl for a few minutes. Then she did the same with Tod.

Adorable, sweet, lovable. She sighed. She couldn’t let these babies steal her heart. In two hours, she’d be in Prairie and on her way out of their lives. She fed them and pushed them to the car.

She studied the map. Seems like a straight shot west and a little south, she thought. Maybe this leg of the trip would work. She backed out of the parking space.

"Babies, we’re on our way.

*****

Neal McKay put the last suture in the jagged cut on his patient’s calf. He stripped off his gloves and stepped back from the table. He glanced at the clock. Nearly three PM. He should have been home an hour ago, but the day hadn’t gone as planned. As the only doctor in town, this was the norm.

As usual, his day off had been filled with emergencies. A fractured tibia, a case of congestive heart failure, an acute allergy attack and now this.

They -- his wards -- should be at the house. He groaned and felt no more prepared for parenthood than he’d been the day he’d learned about his foster sister’s death -- a week after her funeral. Even if he’d known, he wouldn’t have been able to leave his patients to attend the service.

He groaned. The thought of being responsible for the twins’ care brought waves of insecurity. None of his experiences in the past had prepared him for this day.

"Do you want to do the dressing?"

Neal looked at the red-haired nurse. "He’s all yours."

"Thanks, buddy. I owe you one." Jack Gardner glared.

"If you’re talking about the patch job, just doing my thing." Jack’s reaction made Neal chuckle. In college, they’d spent hours one-upping each other. He missed the days when they’d been like brothers.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem you need solved?"

"You might say that."

"I’m not sure I’m qualified."

"I don’t know about that." Neal watched Patty Sue Crawford’s gaze center on his friend. He grinned. Maybe today was the turning point. Since his arrival in Prairie ten months before, she’d pursued him like a wrangler after a runaway steer.

"Can I go back to the ranch?" Jack asked.

Neal frowned. "Only if you promise to avoid horses and cattle until the stitches are out."

"How long?"

"A week."

"I can do that."

Neal doubted the truth of the statement. Since Jack’s return to the ranch last month, he seemed bent on proving he was Cowboy of the Year.

"I’d rather admit you for the night. Give you some intravenous antibiotics and injections for pain. Once the local wears off, you’re going to know you’ve been hurt."

Jack slid to the edge of the table. "No hospital. What if I stay at my grandmother’s?"

"Might work, especially after I tell Miss Hattie to tie you to the bed. Your injury is nothing to take lightly."

Jack laughed. "Grandmother will see that I obey orders. She should have been a general. You coming to the barbecue Saturday?"

"I wouldn’t miss it," Patty Sue said.

Jack looked away. "Honey, your presence is a given. I meant Doc here."

Neal shrugged. "I’ll see how things go. My wards arrive today. I’ll probably be too busy learning how to be a daddy."

"I can’t imagine you with a pair of doggies."

Neither could Neal, but he wasn’t about to admit it. "I don’t have a choice."

"Guess not. I kind of envy you. You’ve achieved fatherhood without the M word." Jack chuckled. "Bring the doggies with you. The ladies will love them." He shook his head. "Never thought you’d be saddled with kids. They’ll make big changes in your life."

Patty Sue opened a dressing kit. "I think Neal -- Dr. McKay will be a wonderful father."

How did she manage to make a deliberate slip of the tongue seem natural? "Thank you, Ms. Crawford. See that Jack has a copy of the discharge instructions and make an appointment for Friday." He waved to Jack. "I’ll call the prescriptions to the pharmacy and have them delivered to Miss Hattie’s."

"See you and the doggies Saturday," Jack called. "I’m sure Grandmother expects to see you there."

Neal nodded. He’d be at the barbecue with the twins or Miss Hattie would come for him. The town’s matriarch was used to having her way.

He strode down the hall to his office. Parties at the

Gardner mansion were events to be experienced, but he wasn’t sure he could handle an evening of listening to the benefits of life in Prairie.

He had to go -- home. But there were things he had to complete before he left. He welcomed the delay in facing this new responsibility and sat at his desk to phone the drugstore and write a note on Jack’s chart.

Home -- the twins -- his legacy. He groaned. Jack was right.

Two babies would force changes in his lifestyle that he wasn’t ready to make. He wasn’t even sure where to begin.

Instead of heading home, he reached for a stack of letters he’d received in response to his queries about another temporary position. The time to move had come. A year was long enough to stay in one place.

But he had a family now. His choice of where to head next had to include them. How could he make a home for the twins? He’d been raised as a foster child in a series of placements. A football scholarship had allowed him to escape the last foster home where he’d endured three years of being treated as an outsider. He slammed up barriers against the memories of those days.

Those memories brought no answers to his current dilemma. His lifestyle didn’t lend itself to an instant family. The longest he’d stayed in one place had been the four years in college and the same amount in medical school. Every time he considered staying in one place, his anxiety level peaked.

He shoved the letters in a drawer and left the office. He’d do his best for Sherri’s babies but he couldn’t promise them a stable life and a real family. With this thought firmly in place, he left the clinic and jogged down the street toward his rented house to face his foster sister’s attempt to turn him into a family man.

*****

Twin wails drown the sound of the car radio. Nora wanted to pull to the side of the road, put her head on the steering wheel and add her cries to the ones pouring from the back seat. The two hour drive had stretched to three and headed for four.

"Hush, hush, now babies, don’t you cry." Her voice sounded hoarse. "We’ll be there soon." If the directions were right, they were about twenty-five miles from Prairie. She was too close to her goal to stop for another futile attempt to quiet them.

When she saw the sign announcing Prairie, Texas, population 10166, she nearly shouted with joy. She slowed the car to meet the speed limit. The crying stopped and so

did the pounding in her head.

She looked around and saw houses that appeared to have been there forever. The business district had the same appearance. An odd excitement filled her. For an instant, she felt as though she’d come home.

A foolish notion. Home was an apartment in a town on the Hudson River not far from New York City. Years ago, home had been houses and apartments in myriad towns and cities, but never a place like Prairie.

What would it be like to live here, she wondered. She’d never know. She had a secure job and plans to buy a house and plant her roots in bedrock. She’d even found a house that fit her budget.

A moment later, she turned into Gardner Street and her dream house changed from a suburban ranch into a white clapboard three story house surrounded by a white picket fence. This was the kind of house she’d always dreamed of owning.

She pulled into a driveway that led to a detached garage. After unfolding the stroller, she put the twins in their seats and pushed them onto the wide porch that embraced the house. She rang the bell. Chimes pealed. The babies waved their arms and kicked their legs.

Nora chuckled. "I know the feeling. It’s good to be out of the car. Won’t be long before you’re settled in your new home."

In the distance a clock chimes three times. She rang the bell again and tapped her foot against the porch floor.

Where is he?

She needed to settle the babies and be on her way. When there was no answer, she tried the door and to her surprise it swung open.

"Dr. McKay, we’re here."

Her voice echoed in the hallway. She pulled the stroller inside and closed the door. Cool air bathed her heated skin and she sighed with relief. "Dr. McKay."

Where was that man?

She pushed the stroller into the living room. The lack of homey touches confirmed his bachelor status. The white walls were bare. A couch, two chairs, a coffee table and an entertainment center were the only furnishings. A stack of taped boxes stood near the shelves that lined one wall. The sight stirred memories that made her gut churn.

Was he moving?

According to Lena Greene, he’d been here less than a year. Since finishing his residency, he had worked in two other towns. Because of his frequent moves, even in these days of rapid communication, locating him had taken more than a week.

She parked the stroller beside the couch and returned to the car for the diaper bag and the twins’ suitcases. Then she took a multi-colored afghan from the couch and spread it on the beige carpet. Once the twins had been changed, she laid them on the afghan with some rattles and a pair of teddy bears.

What plans had he made for the babies?

She had expected to see a playpen or even a portable crib. She left the room, found the kitchen and put several bottles in the refrigerator. After filling a glass with water, she leaned against the counter and sipped. Here too, the furnishings were minimal. Though she knew she shouldn’t pry, she couldn’t resist exploring cabinets that resembled Mother Hubbard’s cupboards.

When would he arrive?

Soon, she hoped. She looked at her watch. She hadn’t planned to spend much time here. Just long enough to give him a report and deliver the packet of official papers.

Nora chewed on her lower lip. She hoped he’d come soon. She needed to be on the road.

When she returned to the living room, she sat on the afghan. Molly and Tod reached for the ball on a string that she dangled for them. The hands on her watch crept forward. She fed the twins. Molly fell asleep in her arms. Nora brushed the infant’s soft hair and sighed. Someday, she thought. As soon as Tod fell asleep, she carried their suitcase upstairs. While she waited for Dr. McKay, she’d unpack their belongings.

She opened the first door beyond the stairs. The massive unmade bed and the spicy aroma told her who slept in the room. A stack of sheets sat on a chair. Next door, she found a bathroom. She eyed the large claw-footed tub with envy. The house she planned to buy had an ordinary glass-enclosed tub/shower. She used the facilities and left the room.

The other three bedrooms on the second floor were nearly bare. In one she found a twin bed and in another, an assortment of unpacked boxes. Visions of her childhood flashed in her thoughts. She was sure her parents still carried sealed boxes every time they moved. Remarks she’d heard so many times filled her head.

"We don’t need the things in this one."

"Then let’s not unpack it."

She hurried downstairs, but even there, she couldn’t escape her memories. She slumped on the couch and stared at the sleeping babies.

Tightness settled in her chest. He hadn’t made a single preparation for the twins. She knew what that meant. Like her parents he was a rover. Why had his foster sister named him guardian for her babies? Surely, the woman knew the kind of life he lived. How could she hand the babies over to him? There was no choice. He was their legal guardian.

She stared at her watch. She’d been here for over a half hour. Her simmering anger built like steam in a boiling kettle.

The man was irresponsible. He’d known they were coming. He could have left a note. He could have called to see if they’d arrived safely.

She knew a doctor’s life was filled with unexpected emergency situations, but he’d known for a week when they would arrive.

He could have at least bought cribs.

She heard the front door close. She straightened and tried to hold her anger in check.

A tall, dark-haired man strode into the living room. Nora sucked in a breath. A dark green knit shirt spanned his broad chest and made his shoulders seem massive. Well- worn jeans molded his muscular legs. His face was ruggedly handsome. On the physical side, he embodied her dream of the perfect man. Except, she had seen the unpacked boxes, one evidence of his restless nature, and in that, he fit her every nightmare.

He grinned and his expression was boyish and devil-may-care. As his gaze swept from her face to her feet, his smile changed.

"Dr. McKay, I presume." She struggled to keep calm.

"At your service." He leaned against the door frame.

"Where have you been?"

"At the clinic."

"Did you forget we were coming? What are you going to do about Molly and Tod?"

His gaze met hers. She saw confusion there. "Raise them, I guess."

His answer brought her to a halt. For an instant, she felt sorry for him. He’d had little chance to refuse the responsibility. Then she remembered his lack of preparation.

Chapter 2

Neal crossed his arms on his chest. He appraised the blonde. Tall, sexy as hell, but what was her agenda? Her long braid switched like a lioness’ tail did as the beast prepared to spring.

Who was she?

He’d expected to find the twins in Emma Sanchez’s care, but he rather preferred this woman whose brilliant blue eyes matched her tee shirt. Her khaki shorts revealed a nice pair of legs.

Her accusations thundered. Her eyes flashed sparks of anger. Whoever she was, he was intrigued. She clamped her lips together and glared at him.

A pair of ear-piercing screams shattered the silence. Neal jumped.

The twins! Were they ill?

At least he could handle illness. "What’s wrong with them?"

"I guess I scared them." She knelt on the afghan and spoke in low, soothing tones. "It’s all right. I won’t yell again." The cries died to whimpers.

His gaze focused on the woman. She definitely wasn’t the person he’d expected to accompany the twins. During their phone conversations, he’d envisioned Lena Greene as a short, dumpy woman. Nothing about the blonde’s appearance marked her as a social worker, a class of women he was well acquainted with. Since the day he’d entered the system at the age of three, he’d had too many encounters with the breed.

Officious, rigid, uncaring, along with a dozen other sterling attributes.

She didn’t fit that picture. Her blue eyes and her air of harassed martyrdom made him want to rescue her.

He held up his hands. "I surrender. I’m guilty of every charge. If I’d known you’d be waiting at the airport, I’d have ignored the four major emergencies that kept me chained to the clinic. Welcome to Prairie, Ms. Greene."

"I’m not Lena Greene."

"And you’re definitely not Emma Sanchez. So, who are you?"

"Nora Harte. Lena asked me to deliver the twins."

Her voice reminded him of brandy -- full-bodied and intoxicating.

She lifted one of the twins. "This is Molly." She thrust the infant into his arms and returned for the second. "And this is Tod."

She edged past them. The babies’ squirms grew stronger and he prayed he wouldn’t drop them.

"There’s an envelope on the coffee table with official papers," she said. "Enjoy the children. I have to go. I’m due in Santa Fe tomorrow."

She can’t leave!

He had no experience in the daily care and handling of babies. He had to find a way to keep her until Emma arrived without admitting how inept he felt.

"You’re leaving now? Are you sure you want to head out this late?"

"There’s plenty of daylight left. When it gets too dark, I’ll find a motel."

"Do you realize what desolate territory you’ll be crossing? Towns and motels are far apart."

"Then what do you suggest?"

He handed her one of the twins. She smelled of lavender and memories. "Spend the night and leave in the morning."

Nora hesitated. She clutched Molly and backed away. His green eyes said more than his words. "I --"

"Say you’ll stay. I wouldn’t want to worry about your car breaking down miles from civilization." And he wasn’t ready to be alone with the babies.

The concern in his voice soothed the emotions he had kindled. Dr. McKay presented a complication she wasn’t sure she could handle. She swallowed. "I’ll stay, but just for tonight."

"Great."

His smile made her feel warm and uncertain. The awkward way he held Tod brought forth a desire to help him. She lifted Molly to her shoulder. "Hold him like this. You’ll find it’s more comfortable, Dr. McKay."

"My name’s Neal."

His intense concentration as he imitated her was endearing. She recalled how uneasy Lena had been about sending the twins to a bachelor, especially one who kept doctor’s hours. He’d assured the social worker that he’d found a caring woman to be the babies’ nanny.

"Where’s the woman you hired to watch the children?"

"Wasn’t she here when you arrived?"

"The door was unlocked and the house empty." She sat on the arm of the couch.

Neal crossed the room. "I should have called, but I didn’t have a minute all day to think of anything except patients. When Emma and I talked yesterday, she said she’d be here by noon."

Nora’s gaze met his. Eyes as brilliant as summer grass captured her attention. She shook her head. She was out of her mind and her emotions were about to run amok. Something in his expression made her want to stay and help him adjust to this new situation.

She couldn’t stay beyond tomorrow morning. Her parents expected her. She’d have to leave at dawn and travel past dark to meet the schedule.

"Thanks for offering to stay."

The gratitude in his deep voice tempted her to forget her plans. She shook her head.

Neal McKay was a wanderer. Lena’s investigation had confirmed that. The lack of personal touches and the unpacked boxes were a clear sign he didn’t plan to settle here.

The attraction she felt astonished her, but she knew it would lead nowhere. She wanted a man with roots, not a tumbleweed. After her chaotic childhood, she intended to stay in one place for the rest of her life.

"I’m curious," she said. "Why didn’t you furnish the nursery?"

He shrugged. "I went to the mall to buy beds, but I couldn’t decide which model was appropriate. I thought I’d ask Emma for help.

She shook her head. "You’ll need more diapers and formula."

"I know. Ms. Greene neglected to tell me their size

and the brand of formula. The nurse practitioner said some babies have problems when they change brands."

"She’s right. We need to go shopping."

"I think you’re right."

"We should go before dinner. I’d cook, but your cupboards are bare."

He paced across the room. "We’ll eat at the cafe. Food’s good, hot and there are no dirty dishes."

She put Molly on the afghan. "Watch them while I get bottles. We’ll go in my car. The infant seats are still in place."

"Why drive? The store’s five blocks from here."

"It’s too hot to walk. Besides, we’ll need the car for the groceries."

"How much food can two babies eat? A couple cans of formula won’t take much room."

She smiled. "It’s cheaper by the case. And you’ll need disposable diapers and food for the house. I’d like breakfast before I leave." She looked up. "Are you sure you’re a family practitioner? You don’t know much about babies."

"Sick babies are my thing." He grinned. "The certificate’s in one of the boxes here or upstairs. I’ll dig it out."

"I was joking."

"Actually, you’re right. I can order antibiotics, tests and treatments for sick children, but I’ve never lived with infants. Seeing them as patients is different from being responsible for them."

"You’ve got that right."

"I don’t deal much with the small set at the clinic unless there’s an emergency. A pediatrician comes in twice a month and there’s a pediatric nurse practitioner on staff."

Nora dashed to the kitchen and returned with two bottles. She added them to the diaper bag. Since they’d need the stroller at the store, she put Molly in one of the seats. She slung the diaper bag over her shoulder.

"Tod next."

"I’ll carry him."

At the car, Neal watched Nora fasten the babies in the infant seat. Watching her exhausted him. How would he cope alone? If he didn’t locate Emma, that’s what he’d be.

The middle-aged woman had seemed reliable, sensible and had been recommended by Hattie Gardner, the town’s matriarch, as the best person for the job. When they returned to the house, he had to call Emma.

Nora parked in front of the grocery store. She opened the stroller. Neal fumbled and finally unfastened Tod. As he held the baby, reality struck. For the next eighteen years, he was responsible for the well-being of these children. He hadn’t the slightest idea what to do. Foster homes, at least the ones he’d been placed in, weren’t good training grounds for parents.

He watched Nora. She handled the twins like a pro. If for some reason Emma wasn’t coming, what would it take to persuade Nora to stay.

She put the diaper bag in the tray beneath the stroller. "You push the twins and I’ll take the cart."

"Sounds good."

Inside the store, Nora stopped to read the signs. "This way," she said.

As they started down the aisle, the number of baby items amazed him. Maybe they’d need his pickup instead of the car. Nora put a case of formula, two packages of diapers and some boxes in the cart.

"What about this." He picked up some bottles of juice.

"They’re not ready for juice. They’ve just started cereal."

"Dr. McKay, are these your babies?"

Two elderly women, Maude and Grace Adams, blocked the aisle. Nora continued ahead with the cart.

"They are," he said.

"What beautiful children."

Neal lost sight of Nora. "Thank you, ladies."

"Are they much trouble?"

"Do they sleep all night?

"We’re twins, you know."

Their comments pinged and ponged. Neal felt dizzy. "I’ve got to go."

"We’ll see you at Hattie’s on Saturday."

Neal turned the stroller. He spotted Nora at the check-out counter. The cart was crammed. "Why all the food?"

"I thought I’d cook dinner."

"I said we’d eat at the cafe."

"Should I put the steak back?"

He shook his head. "We’ll take everything."

*****

The man is impossible!

Nora drummed her fingers on the trunk of the car. Even before all the groceries had been stowed, he had pushed the stroller down the street. She slammed the trunk lid. Maybe she’d go home and eat the steak, except the way her stomach rumbled, she’d eat it raw. To the cafe, she decided.

Why had she offered to cook dinner? He didn’t seem to be a man who’d be impressed by domesticity. Did she want to impress him? She choked back a laugh. Why when she’d be

be leaving soon?

She moved the car down the block and parked between two pickup trucks. Outside the restaurant, she paused to read the sign in the window. "Good Food. Free Refills Iced Tea." Just iced tea, she wondered. How odd.

She stepped into the large rectangular room. A dozen men dressed in jeans and western shirts were seated at the counter that filled the back wall. They swiveled their chairs. Whistles cut through the buzz of conversation.

Nora’s face burned. This was worse than facing the catcalls from construction workers in the City. Could she walk across the room to the table by the window where Neal and the twins sat without appearing awkward?

A dark-haired waitress leaned over his shoulder. The pair were engaged in earnest conversation. Was she the missing nanny? Nora reached the table and pulled out a chair.

The waitress looked from Nora to the twins and raised an eyebrow. Though Nora wanted to explain, she decided the woman’s assumptions didn’t matter.

The dark-haired woman smiled. "Cute babies. Neal said you volunteered to help him out."

Nora nodded. "Just for tonight."

"Any idea where Emma might be?" Neal asked.

"Haven’t heard a word about her?" The waitress flipped

open her order pad. "What’ll it be tonight?"

"The special for both of us."

Nora stared at him. "What if I don’t like the special?"

The waitress glared. "Don’t let my mama hear you say that. You won’t find better cooking back East."

"I never said I would. Just what is this special?"

"Chicken fried steak with heaps of mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans with bits of bacon, buttermilk biscuits, coleslaw on the side and a slab of pie. Tonight there’s banana cream and chocolate fudge pecan."

Nora thought of the calories and cholesterol in the meal, but she hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast expect for some pretzels on the plane. "The special it is."

While they waited for the food, a number of women stopped by the table. Nora stared out the window and pretended to be interested in the passersby. She couldn’t help overhearing what was said. The comments confirmed her suspicion of his intentions.

"Whatever will we do without you, Dr. McKay," asked a middle-aged woman. "Mama’s been ever so much better since you took over her care."

An elderly woman patted his shoulder. "She’s right. I feel better than I have for years."

"Betsy hardly has a scar," a young woman said. "A big city plastic surgeon couldn’t have done a better job."

Nora’s fingers tightened around her glass. It won’t matter, she wanted to say.

A tumbleweed keeps rolling until it disintegrates.

A tall woman with steel gray hair and the most erect posture Nora had ever seen strode into the cafe. She crossed the room to their table. Nora straightened her shoulders.

"I see they’ve arrived." Neal rose and pulled out a chair. "Please join us." He turned to Nora. "Mrs. Gardner runs Prairie. She’s also the driving force behind the clinic."

The older woman stared at Nora. "If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were yours." Her voice held a slight twang.

"So I’ve been told." Nora’s lips formed a thin line. "I’m just the stork. Nora Harte."

"Hattie Gardner. Will you be staying?"

"Just tonight," Nora said.

The waitress brought their specials and refilled Nora’s iced tea. Neal dug into his food. Before he finished, the beeper in his pocket sounded. He pushed his chair back and hurried to the phone beside the counter. He turned and saw Miss Hattie lean forward.

What was she saying?

"Dr. McKay here...She is...How far apart...I’ll be right there." He returned to the window table. "I have to see a patient." He put his hands on Nora’s shoulders. "Will you be all right?"

"Of course."

"Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her," Miss Hattie said.

That’s what he feared. He wanted to warn Nora about Miss Hattie’s penchant for arranging other people’s lives. Nora might make a decision she’d regret. So far he’d been able to avoid the matriarch’s traps. His college friendship with her grandson and the summers spent working at the ranch had provided him with armor. Nora had none.

"I’ll see you at the house." He strode to the door and sprinted down the street.

*****

Nora stared through the window until Neal vanished. She felt uncomfortable. Mrs. Gardner’s scrutiny and the stares of the other diners made her want to grab the twins and run. Why did their curiosity bother her? In the morning, she’d be on her way out of town.

"And what do you do when you’re not acting as a nanny?" Mrs. Gardner asked.

Nora swallowed a bite of steak. "I’m a nurse."

"In a city hospital?"

"Home care for the last year. Before that I worked three years in a big hospital."

"What do you think of Prairie?"

I love it, she wanted to say, but Prairie wasn’t part of her future plans. "I’ve only been here a few hours, but it seems pleasant."

"Prairie would be perfect if Neal would decide to stay. Perhaps you could talk to him."

"Why would he listen to me?"

"I saw the way he looked at you."

Nora laughed. "And I saw the way he looked at every woman in this room."

Mrs. Gardner smiled. "What about you? Would you consider relocating? With your experience in home care, I’m sure the clinic could find a spot for you."

If she hadn’t planned her life so completely, she’d be tempted. But she had a secure job and almost enough money for a down payment on a house.

"I’m settled in New York."

"That’s a shame. If you were staying longer, you’d see what a marvelous place Prairie is."

The dark-haired waitress brought large slices of chocolate fudge pecan pie. "Where’s Jack?" she asked Mrs. Gardner. "I figured he’d be in town tonight."

"He is and he’s home in bed. He had a run-in with a fence. Eighteen stitches. Neal gave him pain medicine. He was sleeping when I left."

"Bet he’ll be angry when he comes to. He was never one to sit still or to hang around for the long haul."

Mrs. Gardner shook her head. "He needs to prove himself. Those years he gallivanted around Europe with his mother weren’t easy ones. He’ll settle down."

"Not in a month of Sundays."

"Now, Cas --" The older woman sighed. "Come to the barbecue Saturday and talk to him." She turned to Nora. "You’re invited, too."

"I’ll be in Santa Fe." Nora savored a bite of the pie. Heavenly, she thought.

Molly began to fuss. Nora picked the infant up and offered her the bottle. The baby pushed it away. Tod’s voice joined his sister’s. Nora moved the stroller back and forth. His cries stopped but Molly’s grew louder. Nora reached for her purse. "They’ve had a long day. I’d better get them home."

"I’ll take care of the check," Mrs. Gardner said.

"Thanks." Nora pushed the stroller to the door.

Lord, she was tired, and it wasn’t even seven o’clock.

She strapped the twins in their car seats and drove to

the house. Once the pair were settled on the afghan, she carried the groceries and one of her suitcases into the house.

After storing the food, she returned to the living room. Molly had rolled over. Tod had squirmed onto the rug. Nora shook her head. They should be as tired as she felt. All day, their naps had been interrupted by the demands of travel.

She groaned. Where were they going to sleep? The twin bed in one of the empty rooms was too small for two babies and one nurse, but the massive bed in the master bedroom was just right.

"Be good babies. I’ll be right back."

Upstairs, she stripped the king-sized bed and put on the sheets she’d seen on a chair. Then she went down for the twins.

The bathroom sink made a tub for the babies. After they were dressed for bed, she fed and put them on the side next to the wall. Though she wanted to discuss their care with Neal and bottles needed to be made, she was too exhausted to think of anything but sleep. She took a quick bath in the claw-footed tub and pulled on her favorite sleep shirt over a pair of running shorts.

She lay on the bed beside the twins and wondered when the nanny would arrive. She touched the babies’ faces and sighed. Sometime during the stress-filled day, Molly and Tod had grabbed a piece of her heart. Life with them wasn’t possible. She had to excise her dreams of the twins and their handsome guardian.

Chapter 3

Neal jogged home from the clinic. He felt a deep satisfaction with the way the evening had gone. After the uncomplicated delivery, he had spent a short time with the new parents and shared their delight in their new daughter. They had congratulated him on the arrival of the twins and had sympathized with his instant plunge into parenthood.

Had his foster sister felt joy when the twins were born? Had she been alone? What had happened to the twin’s father? Would he try to claim his children?

A wave of guilt slapped his thoughts and washed away his exhilaration. He should have kept in touch. They’d been friends. They had protected each other from the spiteful behavior of their faster parents’ children. In his eagerness to escape that house, he’d forgotten that she’d have to spend two more years there. He’d been too young and selfish to care about anyone but himself. Sherri should have hated him, yet she’d made him her children’s guardian. He wasn’t sure he understood why.

He strode across the porch. For the first time in

years, he wasn’t returning to an empty house. He opened the door and resisted the urge to shout, "Honey, I’m home."

Those words signaled a commitment, something he’d never experienced. He didn’t want to make one, or did he? He chuckled. The arrival of the twins and their sexy chauffeur had addled his wits.

The town clock struck eight times. He closed the door and stood in the hall. No cries, no baby sounds, no voices from the television. They weren’t in the living room. A dreadful thought occurred. Had Miss Hattie taken them to her house? He walked down the hall to the kitchen.

A case of formula sat on the counter. The groceries Nora had bought filled a shelf in the refrigerator. They were here. He strode upstairs and stopped in his bedroom doorway.

The words of a children’s story popped into his head. "Someone’s sleeping in my bed." That was exactly where he wanted her, but unfortunately, she wasn’t alone.

One long leg protruded from beneath the covers. Her body curled in a C-shape around the twins. Like a nest, he thought and felt envy. Though she was only the person assigned to escort the twins, she showed more caring than any female in his life had ever done.

An ache built in his chest. Though he’d been three when he’d been abandoned, he had no memories of being loved or protected. Six foster homes had failed to give him a sense of security other than what he’d found within himself.

He edged closer to the bed and studied his wards. Somehow, he had to find a way to give them the security he’d never known. Only, he didn’t know where to begin. What if he failed? He turned and left the room.

Downstairs, he slumped on the couch. Nora Harte was leaving in the morning. For reasons he couldn’t define, he wanted her to stay. Like a kite, ever out of reach, the reason fluttered in his thoughts.

He reached for the phone and dialed Emma Sanchez’s number. The phone rang a dozen times before he realized there’d be no answer. He hung up and called her brother.

"Where’s Emma? She was supposed to be here today."

As he listened to the explanation, he resisted the desire to pound the couch with his fist. He groaned. What could he do? His child care plan had crashed and he had no idea who to call as a backup. Emma had been the perfect person for the job and she’d been the only applicant willing to live at the house. Where had he put the numbers of the other women who’d answered the ad? He made a face. At the clinic, of course.

He could call Miss Hattie. She’d be glad to find a replacement, but the pay back would cost his freedom. These the older woman had one item on her agenda. How to keep him in Prairie.

If he wanted to vegetate, this town would be perfect. The habit of frequent moves was too deeply ingrained. Any effort to break the habit required more energy than he could muster.

He tapped the number of the clinic’s Director of Nursing. She had a four year old daughter and must have a list of sitters.

"Evening, Neal here. I have a problem."

"Something at the clinic?"

"Negative. I need to ask you something."

"My husband doesn’t allow me to date."

Any other time, her standard answer would have amused him. "That’s not what I wanted. It’s...my wards are here."

"So I heard. What are they like?"

"They’re babies."

"Do they look alike?"

He frowned. "I guess so."

"Neal McKay, have you paid attention to them?"

"Yes. I’ve held them both. I wheeled them around the grocery store and took them to the cafe. Look, I didn’t call to chat. Emma isn’t coming until who knows when. I need a nanny."

"I imagine you do." She laughed. "What’s wrong? Not having fun? I remember how much attention Amy needed at

that age. I bet the twins are double trouble."

"They will be tomorrow."

"Why not now?"

"I persuaded the nurse who brought them to spend the night."

"Good thinking -- Did you say nurse? What kind of experience has she had? Do you think she’d consider working here?"

"I’m afraid she’s just passing through."

"Rats."

"My feeling exactly. Can you think of anyone I can call to watch the twins tomorrow?"

"You want a live-in, right?"

"With my schedule it’s the only solution. What sitter would like to be called out at two AM?"

"None that I know. Have you considered marriage?"

"Are you out of your mind. I’m not a candidate for that. Besides, who would have me?"

"Patty Sue."

Her laughter made Neal grit his teeth. "I can’t believe you said that. Look, if you think of someone, call. Otherwise I’ll bring the twins tomorrow and every time I get a call."

"Could be interesting. I still think you should research the idea of marriage."

Marriage, he thought. Marcie had flipped. Other than Patty Sue, what woman would take a chance on a man who moved every year? He knew what most women expected from marriage to a doctor -- a big house, a flashy car, expensive clothes and jewelry.

He shook his head. He knew several teenagers who watched children on weekends. That route offered no solution for tomorrow or next week.

The local phone book didn’t help. The only listing under child care was for the local play school for ages three to five -- years, not months. He dialed directory assistance and tried several of the numbers the operator supplied. The messages were similar.

"We are out of the office. Please call Monday through Friday between nine and four. If you are currently a customer --"

That let him out. The perfect solution to his dilemma was upstairs in his bed, if he could persuade her to stay. He grinned. Nora Harte presented a challenge he couldn’t resist. Unfortunately, he couldn’t come up with the right argument to convince her to stay.

*****

Neal sat up with a start. Some sound had roused him. He stared at the clock. Eight fifty. He hadn’t meant to doze, but rule one from his residency days had kicked in. "Grab a nap whenever you can." Twenty minutes was better than nothing. He stretched.

The noise sounded again. From the kitchen. His body went on alert. Though the crime rate in Prairie was almost non-existent, there was always the chance of a break-in, especially since he was a doctor. As he crept down the hall, he cursed the creaking floor boards.

Coffee, he smelled the rich aroma of coffee. Had he added sleep-walking to his knack of sleeping anywhere and any time?

He halted in the kitchen doorway. The identity of the intruder unleashed a pack of memories about the twins and their attractive courier.

Nora stood at the counter. She poured the contents of a can into a pitcher she must have bought at the store. When she stretched to fill the can with water, his gaze focused on the way her shirt rose and bared her thighs. He sucked in a breath. Everything about her stirred his fantasies.

She turned and flashed a smile. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you."

"You didn’t. Dozing off is a habit I developed as a

resident. This is a better wake-up call than the phone."

"Do you often get called out at night?"

"More than I’d like. Happens when you’re the only doctor in town."

"Are you on call seven days a week?"

"There’s a resident who comes two weekends a month."

"And the nanny? When do you expect her?"

"There seems to be a problem." He crossed to the counter, took out two mugs and reached for the coffee. His arm brushed hers. Her blue eyes showed surprise and interest.

"And the problem?" she asked.

"Emma had a family emergency and has left town. No one knows when she’ll be back."

"What will you do?"

"I don’t know. Do you have to rush back? Could you stay for a few days?" The tantalizing scent of lavender made him forget the coffee.

"I’m on vacation for two weeks, but I can’t stay. My parents expect me to arrive tomorrow. What about an agency?"

"None in town. The ones I called elsewhere were closed. I’ll try tomorrow, but they probably won’t have anyone before Monday or Tuesday."

He studied her. He didn’t want to think about the

twins or sitters. Nora captured his interest and that bothered him. To put some distance between them, he took the mugs to the table.

"I’d like to help, but --"

"Just until Monday or Tuesday. I’m sure I’ll find someone by then."

Nora carried the pitcher to the table and began filling tubes with plastic bags. Neal frowned. These bottles weren’t hospital issue.

"Will you stay?"

"Let me think about it." She filled bottles and fastened the caps.

"I’ll pay you." He named a figure. "Just think what you can buy if you stay two weeks."

Nora’s eyes widened. Neal lifted his mug. Maybe he’d found the key to keep her here.

A loud wail made him jump. Coffee sloshed over the rim of his mug.

Nora grabbed two bottles. "Put the others in the fridge."

"Will do." He watched her retreat. Two weeks of Nora Harte was a thought to savor. She hadn’t agreed to stay, but he believed she had weakened.

*****

Thankful for the interruption, Nora dashed upstairs. Both babies screamed. This wasn’t what she’d expected. She had believed they’d sleep all night. They should be exhausted. For a moment, she felt like adding her cries to theirs. "Sorry. I fell asleep, too. Then I had to make bottles."

She picked up Tod, changed him and then changed Molly. As she slipped a bottle into Tod’s mouth, she thought about Neal’s problem and his tempting offer.

How would he manage without her help? If she had trouble caring for two infants, he’d have more. What would he do if he was called to the clinic in the middle of the night and there was no one to stay with the children?

She wanted to stay, but she’d made plans to visit her parents. Six months had passed since the last time she’d seen them. Though their vagabond life didn’t suit her, she loved them and knew they loved her. Yet, love had never dulled her ache for roots.

Molly’s cries increased in pitch. Nora patted the little girl’s leg. "Soon, honey. I wish I had four hands."

"I’ve a pair," Neal said.

He crossed the room and sat on the bed. When he lifted Molly, her cries stopped. Nora held Tod’s bottle with her chin and handed Neal the one for Molly.

"Thanks," she said.

"They’re my responsibility. I wonder how Sherri managed. Do you know anything about her or the babies’ father?"

She shook her head. "I wasn’t involved in the case. Though I work for the county, my job is evaluating patients for home care and supervising the nurses’ aides. Lena’s my landlady. Since I was headed this way, she asked me to deliver them. There might be some information in the packet on the coffee table." She lifted Tod to her shoulder and patted his back.

Neal aped her actions. "Have I got this right?"

"You’re doing great."

"They never taught us this in med school." He moved closer.

Nora felt the heat from his body invade her space. She breathed his spicy aroma. "I didn’t have hands on training in the nursing program either. I learned when I worked in a city hospital nursery. Hasn’t made today easier."

"I can understand that. A nursery is a controlled environment." He shifted Molly and put the bottle in her mouth. "Since I’m the designated father, I’d better know what to do when I’m alone."

"I’ll call my parents and let them know I’m staying until Tuesday."

"Thanks." He burped Molly.

"You’re learning the tricks quickly."

"That’s because I have a great teacher."

Nora looked away. She wished she could teach him about the joys of a settled life and the pleasure of having roots. Darn, she couldn’t think of him as an attractive man. Any relationship between them was doomed.

She put Tod down and took Molly from Neal. After she settled the twins, she build a pillow barrier around them. "Let’s go downstairs and I’ll make my call."

"There’s a phone here."

"And the twins are asleep."

"Got you."

Downstairs, Nora sat on the couch and dialed her parents’ number. Neal sat beside her. He stretched his arm across the back of the couch. She heard her mother’s voice but Neal’s nearness rattled her.

"Hello. Hello."

The shouted greeting startled Nora. "Mom, it’s me. Something’s come up and I won’t be there until late Tuesday or even Wednesday."

"Did you have an accident? Are you hurt?"

The concern and fear in her mother’s voice caused Nora a moment of guilt. "Nothing like that. I’m staying in Prairie until a replacement for Dr. McKay’s sitter arrives."

"Then I’m glad you called. Dad and I are packing. By Tuesday, we’ll be in Denver."

"Denver?" Nora’s voice rose to a shrill pitch. "A show?"

"Among other things. It’s a new gallery and there are new mountains to paint. We’re relocating."

"Again?"

"It’s time. Instead of Santa Fe, drive to Denver. Give me the number and I’ll call with directions to our apartment."

Nora groaned. "Don’t you ever get tired of moving?"

Her mother’s laughter sounded in Nora’s ear. "Each move is an adventure. New places to see and new friends to make."

Memories of the many times she’d made friends only to lose them made every muscle in Nora’s body tense. The challenge had been too much for her. Being with her parents during another move would stir too many traumatic memories of tears and dislocations.

"I wish you’d told me before I made my plans."

"We just decided this morning."

"Do you mind if I don’t come now?" Nora gulped a breath. "I could come for Christmas. Will you still be in Denver?"

"Probably. So you’ll wait ‘til then?"

"Unless you move to Alaska."

"Not that’s an interesting thought, but don’t mention it to your father. At least not this year. Now tell me about this doctor."

Nora glanced at Neal. He’d moved close enough for her to feel the brush of his jeans against her legs.

"Sweetie, are you there?"

"It’s kind of complicated."

"Is he attractive? Available? A good catch?"

Nora felt heat creep into her face. What if he heard? "Mother!"

"It’s just that your dad and I would like to see you settled closer than New York. We’ll never move back East. If you were in Texas, we could see you more than once or twice a year."

"I’m buying a house. You can come to visit me. I like being settled in one place. I wish --"

"Sweetie, I’m sorry. I know all the moves upset you, but they’re right for Dad and me. People have to do what’s right for them."

"I know. I have and you are. I’ll let you know what I decide but I’ll definitely see you at Christmas."

She hung up and stared at the floor. Again, she thought. All her childhood nightmares emerged. Her artist parents had always been looking for the perfect setting, the right gallery. She felt Neal’s hand on her shoulder and relished the warmth of his touch.

"Want to talk about this?"

She shook her head. He wouldn’t understand. "If you can’t find a sitter, I can stay past Tuesday."

"Be glad to have your help. So what happened? Why aren’t you going to your parents?"

"They’re moving again."

"And that bothers you?"

"Not any longer."

He touched the corner of her mouth with his finger. "Now why don’t I believe that?"

Nora sighed. "It’s just memories -- making friends, losing them. Never belonging."

"But you survived." He pulled her closer. "It’s fun to live in new places and to learn new things."

Nora closed her eyes. Maybe for him, but she’d always dreaded each new town, every new school, all the new people. She envied those who lived in places where their families had lived for generations. He wouldn’t understand her feelings. Like her parents, he’d embraced a nomadic life. She rested her hand on his arm. For the moment, she felt secure.

"So what do we do tomorrow?" he asked.

"Do you have to work?"

"I’ve morning hours at the clinic. Barring emergencies, the afternoon is free."

"Then we can shop for baby furniture. Do you know of a second-hand furniture shop? Two of everything won’t be cheap."

"I can afford it. In the ten months I’ve been here, other than rent and food, I’ve banked my salary." She rose. He tugged on her hand. "Stay."

"I need to check on Molly and Tod. You’ll need a baby monitor."

"Put it on the list. Will you come back?"

She shook her head. "It’s been a long day. I’ll see you in the morning. Who knows how long the twins will sleep."

His thumb caressed her hand. Warmth flowed along her skin. She backed away. This man was dangerous to her plans. He promised hope, but she knew the promise was false.

"Good night," she said.

"Night." Neal slouched on the couch. He was glad one of them had shown some sense. He’d nearly made a foolish move. No way was he going to become involved with a woman who wanted to plant roots.

He groaned. Good thing she was just a visitor. Nora Harte could tempt him to stay in one place forever. Except, he’d make a mess of the attempt. He was a rolling stone with no intention of collecting moss.

Oh Lord, he thought. Not moss. He’d gathered a family and he didn’t know what to do with them.