Angel's Rest(6)

He held her gaze and said, “Woof woof.”

As she rolled her eyes, he pressed, more from curiosity about how she’d react than a desire for drugs. “It’s two hours to a hospital from here. I’ll bet you have an emergency stash.”

“This isn’t an emergency.”

Her teeth tugged at her lower lip and she looked torn with indecision. His gaze settled on her mouth until Gabe abruptly lost interest in the game. He rolled to a sitting position. “Don’t worry, Dr. Sullivan. I’ll be just fine. I know. I’ve had worse.”

Her gaze dropped to his chest, and this time he saw a flash of pity she couldn’t hide before she finally asked, “What happened to you?”

He pulled on the bloodied, tattered shirt and ignored the question. He needed to get out of here. “What about the dog? Will he be okay?”

She accepted the dodge with a nod. “He’ll be uncomfortable for a while, but he should make a full recovery. I’ll keep him quarantined in case he has underlying issues we can’t immediately identify.”

He slipped his wallet from the pocket of his jeans, removed a few bills, and set them on the counter. “Thanks for your help, Dr. Sullivan.”

Without another word, he turned and walked back out into the snow.

He had almost reached his jeep when the clinic door banged open and she came running after him. She held cash and a small orange bottle in her hand. “Wait. These were hundreds. That’s way too much.”

He refused the bills she pushed his way, but took the bottle. “What’s this?”

“You told the truth about no allergies, right?” As he nodded, she scowled and added, “Take two a day until they’re gone. You didn’t get them from me.”

Gabe stared down at the pill bottle. She could get in all kinds of trouble for doing what she’d just done. For all she knew, he could be a DEA agent.

It was a basic human act of kindness, and it sliced through the scar tissue surrounding his heart, sparking a flicker of warmth in a place cold for too long. “Thanks, Doc. You’re a lifesaver.”





TWO





Nic entered the school auditorium through a side door and looked for a place to sit. The place was packed. She’d bet that 90 percent of the residents of Eternity Springs had gathered for tonight’s meeting. A fluttering hand on the opposite end of the auditorium caught her attention. Nic waved back to Sarah Reese, whose short cap of dark hair crowned an angular face and whose long, luscious lashes set off Elizabeth Taylor violet eyes that were the envy of every woman in town. Sarah gestured toward the empty seat between her and Eternity’s newest permanent resident, Celeste Blessing, who appeared to be having an animated conversation with the man seated to her right, Reverend Hart, the pastor at Community Presbyterian.

“Thanks for saving me a spot,” Nic said to Sarah, sinking gratefully into the chair. Her feet were killing her.

“I was hoping you’d show up. I understand you had some excitement at the clinic tonight. Dish, girlfriend.”

Nic hesitated. This was more than just a man-with-a-dog story. This was a man-with-a-dog-visiting-the-house-on-Murphy-Mountain story, which made it more than idle gossip to Sarah and involved more scars than those that marred the stranger’s chest. “Not much to tell. Guy staying up at Eagle’s Way found an injured dog on the mountain.”

Sarah studied her manicure and said in a casual tone, “Lori said he knew Jack Davenport and that he looked to be our age.”

Nic gave a slow nod. “Maybe a little older. He didn’t mention Cam, Sarah.”

Her friend momentarily stiffened, then wrinkled her nose and gave her dark hair a toss. “Did I ask?”

“No.” But then, she never did. Nic was one of only three other people who knew about Sarah’s unfinished business with Cameron Murphy. “Lori said you were having dinner with Zach Turner.”

“After this meeting, if nothing comes up,” Sarah said. As Nic arched a curious brow, she added, “He’s a friend, Nicole.”

“He could be more if you’d let him.”

“We’re not like that.”

“I don’t know why not. He’s gorgeous, and he wears his … pistol … so well.”

Up on the stage, the mayor and council members huddled around the sound system while a technician tested the microphone. Nic waited until Celeste Blessing finished visiting with Reverend Hart, then said, “Celeste, I drove down Cottonwood Street today. You did it, didn’t you? That new ride in front of Cavanaugh House is yours?”