Page 34 of The Texas Cowboy's Rescue

Later that evening, he tried to call Kenzie again. This time he got the voicemail and had no choice but to talk to the machine. He said he would call again the next day and was sorry he missed saying goodbye to Brooke.

That carried over into Tuesday. Something was amiss... he could feel it. And he didn’t care for that feeling. In the past, it had come before some bad things happened in his life. He tried to push it aside. He’d see her Wednesday. And somehow, they could find time to talk. Maybe at lunch.

If there were a freeze in late July, it couldn’t have been any colder than Deke felt during the morning flight and later, in the office. What was going on? Kenzie rarely looked in his direction. She was civil and he knew the others didn’t sense a change because she was a professional. But there was nothing personal, no smiles, no glances... just a coworker doing a job. Was this the new normal? How she hoped to keep their last few weeks together on a business footing? Why did he feel like there was something else going on? They needed to grab a few minutes.

He found her in a corner of the cafeteria... waiting on an order for a late lunch. He slid into the chair across from her. And then a panic rose inside his stomach. There was no one around, and the look she met him with was definitely devoid of any emotion... at least not what he might have expected.

“Stating the obvious here,” he began, trying to feel his way, as if he were still dodging mines in the Middle East, “something seems off between us. What’s wrong?”

She didn’t speak right away. Her face was almost a mask with no feelings evident. Panic and fear danced in the pit of his stomach. When she did finally respond, the tone was flat and iced. “Something is definitelyoff. I’m afraid that things have gotten a little... a lot carried away. And I have the job to consider and my daughter. It’s best that we step back a bit and slow things down. We need to keep things on a business footing.”

He was floored. Was he in the twilight zone? What happened? He thought they had moved forward and turned the same page together. Now she was calling it all off and back to square one? What had happened? Had he misread the whole situation? Had he made a fool of himself again?

“I don’t understand any of this. Did I overstep in some way? Do or say something wrong?”

“You said all the right things. That’s the problem. But I’m just not into being one of the pack again. Been there and it isn’t for me. I’m opting out of that. I’ve spoken to Dr. Damian and I would prefer to have the Trauma Unit Nursing Director position. You’ll get a temp flight nurse. She’s married, though. So that will narrow the field between Emily and Morgan... unless there are even more names I don’t know. But I’m out.”

She stood, because there was nothing more to say and because she wanted to scream out the pain that was gathering in the center of her chest. “I trust you will understand that I’ll make an excuse with Brooke why you won’t be around. It’s good she is leaving for the camping trip.”

“Emily? Morgan? What in the world are you thinking? Don’t I get to have a say?”

She shook her head. “Save your breath. I’ve heard too many excuses. Too many words.” Kenzie managed to turn and walk straight across the room and straight out of the hospital. Every step she took sounded like a door slamming shut between her heart and brain once and for all.

*

It was afterdinner, consisting of a chicken salad sandwich and apple slices, that the call came from Brooke.

“Hi, Mama, I’m camping!”

Kenzie finally found a smile left in her. Her little girl could always bring it forth. “Are you having fun?”

“It’s so much fun. I got to help put up the tent that has three rooms in it, and then there’s this thing you have to dig in the dirt around it in case it rains, but it’s not going to rain because the park ranger said that the weatherman said it wasn’t, but we dug it anyway. And then we got to help find little sticks and stuff for the fire, where the ranger said we could build our fire and no place else. And tonight we’re going to eat hot dogs and s’mores. Are you having fun, Mama?”

Kenzie wasn’t needed to participate much in the conversation as her daughter ran on from one subject to another. Then she did get her chance when Brooke stopped to take a deep breath. “Yes, I’m doing okay. Just missing you a lot already, but I want you to have a lot of fun and remember it all, so you can tell me everything about it when you get home, okay?”

“I will. And I’ll tell Mr. Deke about it too. And I miss Ranger. You don’t think Ranger will forget me, will he?”

“No, I think Ranger will not forget you.”

“Mrs. Jackie is here. You can speak to her, okay? We’re going to look for baby frogs in the stream with Mr. David. If I find one, can I bring it home?”

“We’ll think about that one. We might need to let it grow up more with its family first. But you run, have fun, and know I miss you and love you lots, sweetheart.”

“Love you too, Mama. See you later! Here’s Mrs. Jackie.”

“Well, there is the rundown so far, and we’ve been here less than four hours,” she laughed. “She’s having a blast with the kids.”

“I’m glad. I miss her like crazy already, but this is good for her. You are a saint for wanting to take her along with your family.”

“What’s one more? And besides, it gives you some ‘me’ time, and I hope someone tall and good-looking is going to help you enjoy it too.”

And so it starts...the part where people will find out about the “change,” and then the looks of pity, etc. will be sent her way. But it could wait until everyone was home again. Then she could cope better. Time to cut the conversation off. “You go have fun and please, no orphan frogs need to come home.” They both laughed, and then the call ended.

Two days went by, and it seemed like two weeks. But Kenzie kept busy with her new position and learning the ropes and meeting people she had not met before. All the while, she kept an eye out in case a tall figure were to come into her line of sight. But Deke was nowhere to be seen. The sound of choppers came and went, and she saw the flight crews in the halls, but not the boss. Then the explanation arrived via Jay as she rounded a corner and literally almost ran him over.

“Hey, ex-partner! How are things in your new neck of woods? Miss me?”

“Things are great and, of course, why wouldn’t I miss you?” Good-natured kidding was always the message of the day with him. “I haven’t seen you around very much, though.”

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