Page 23 of My Cowboy Freedom
“I can go into Bitterroot with Sky. I have to see Doc Winters anyway.”
Boss’s lips tightened.
“You’re no longer a patient of that charlatan. I’ll make an appointment for you with the doctor your parents suggested in Austin. We could even go to San Antonio if we have to.”
“I’m not going to anyone but Doc Winters.” Doc was more than my physician, he was a friend and an ally. I wasn’t going to a different doctor just because Sterling didn’t like him anymore.
“Yes, you are. Your parents are in complete agreement.” He shook his head while lighting his pipe. After a few seconds, smoke formed a nimbus around his head. “The man’s a damn quack.”
“I can’t go into Austin for every little needle stick. That’s nuts. Who’s going to drive me all that way when I need to go?”
“We’ll get you a ride if you need one,” he said patiently. “Don’t you worry—”
“Declan Winters is awesome. He knows me. He knew exactly what I was going through when—”
“Rocky, I need you to be reasonable and go to a doctor we can trust.”
“Call me Rock.” I said irritably. “Doc Winters is someone we can trust. He’s the best—”
“It’s already settled.”
“The hell it is.” I stood. “I’m not some kid—”
“Julio or Tad”—Sterling got to his feet while talking right over me—“will take care of whatever the new hand needs tomorrow, so you’re not to worry about that. But youcanbe my eyes and ears with the new hand. Let me know how he’s fitting in. For now, stay away from him.”
“Stay away?” That floored me. “How come?”
“We don’t know everything about him yet.” Sterling shifted uneasily before lowering his voice. I could hear the shower going—Elena, getting ready for bed. Who did he think would overhear? “Skyler’s been inside a penitentiary for a long time now, and he may have learned some potentially dangerous things there.”
I didn’t understand. “Why’d you hire him if you don’t trust him?”
“It’s not that I don’t trust him. I don’tknowhim. His dad, Mike, was one of my best hands.” He stared into his whiskey glass before leaving it on the table between our chairs. “I don’t know Sky yet. It stands to reason we should be a little cautious.”
“Okay.”
He walked to the window and looked out. “Sky’s father was diagnosed with cancer while he worked for me, and he died only a couple months after he left. I kept in touch with his widow and I’ve tried to keep track of the kids. There was a daughter too.”
“Skyler told me he killed his stepfather.”
“You already talked to him about that?” With his eyes on me, I felt my face heat up.Smooth.
“Yeah.” I admitted.
“First impressions?”
“He seems like an okay guy.” Was there anything he’d said or done that felt off? Not at all. He felt okay. Heseemednice. “He’s not real talkative about himself, but he was polite. Maisy liked him.”
“He’s been in the system for a long time, Rock. I want you to steer clear of him until I tell you it’s okay. Let Tad and Julio show him around.”
“Why?” I glanced down at myself. “I’m bigger than either of those guys. What do you think he’s going to—”
“Now, there’s no need to get all emotional over this.”
“Emotional? Wait—” Suddenly, I knew what he and Elena were worried about. “You think I’m going to make a nuisance of myself. Pester the new hand?”
He flushed deeply. “I do not believe for a second you’d do such a thing. All the same, Ryder got himself jammed up over Doc Winters.”
“So it’s inevitable is that it? I’ll fall under some spell because I can’t control myself?”
