Page 38 of Silent Deception
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Kristin grinned atthe tall, lanky cowboy standing at the front desk of the clinic. With those green eyes and that thick brown hair, Ethan Ritter had to be quite a heartbreaker in these parts, though she also sensed a quiet reserve that probably kept most women at bay.
“You’re telling me that you’re due for a tetanus shot...but you don’t really want it?”
He flashed a smile at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
“So...maybe I should ask our nurse to help me?” She glanced over her shoulder at Max, who was standing by the file cabinets behind the desk. He flexed his muscles and managed a scowl that was more caricature than fierce.
“No, ma’am. I’m just letting you know that sometimes I get a little woozy.” He handed over his completed health history. “I’ve seen a few too many needles in my time.”
She motioned him to follow her down to the first exam room, where she weighed him, then had him sit on the edge of the exam table so she could take his blood pressure and listen to his heart. “Anything else you want to discuss, other than an overdue tetanus?”
“No, ma’am.”
She glanced down at his history, then looked up at him. “Looks like you’ve been healthy as a horse, other than this mild lead toxicity. It says here that was successfully treated, though. Your heart and lungs sound perfect, Mr. Ritter.”
Max walked into the room with a loaded syringe, tactfully circling behind the exam table as he would have if there’d been a child in the room, and handed it to her. He waited until she’d delivered the booster, then quietly left.
“So...are you okay?” she asked, checking Ethan’s skin color and pulse.
“Man, you’re good.” He rubbed his arm and smiled. “Didn’t feel a thing.”
She laughed. “Now I know you’re kidding, because tetanus toxoidburns.”
“I hear you have Jim Baxter’s horses,” he said as he rolled down his sleeve and buttoned his shirt. “He was a good friend of mine.”
After growing up in the Dallas area, the grapevine in this small town still surprised and delighted her. “Now, how did you know that?”
“I bought a load of hay this past week from Miranda Wright. We all felt bad when Jim died, and she was real glad his horses have gone back to their old home. Those horses meant everything to him.”
“They’ll have the best of care, I promise. My son is just thrilled about having his own horse.”
“I’m a trainer, so give me a call if you have any problems with them. Jim would’ve wanted them to be secure in a good home, so I sure won’t charge you.” He stood and accepted the billing form she’d completed. “I’m one of the homesteaders, too. My place is just a few miles from yours.”
They shook hands. “Nice to meet you, neighbor. The Home Free program is an incredible opportunity, isn’t it?”
“It is, though not everyone...” He hesitated, as if debating how much to say, then his doubtful expression cleared and he simply gave her a friendly nod. “Nice meeting you.”
After cleaning up the exam room, she went out to the front desk. “Any word from Dr. Lou?”
Max shook his head. “Not since she called at nine. I guess that baby is taking its own sweet time in coming.” He chuckled as he followed her eyes to the clock. “And you-know-who is due here in five minutes.”
