Bucking Bearback (BBW Shifter Cowboy Western Romance) (Bear Ranchers Book 5) Read online

  Jeanie was shocked. “Of course I will,” she snapped. “Interviewing local residents is part of the procedure.” If she was totally honest she would usually post an online survey and gauge people’s feelings that way, but perhaps this was a hands on kind of place. Anyway her driver was proving quite passionate about this and the last thing she needed was to end up dead in a ditch because P & S contracted her firm to do their assessments.

  She shifted closer to the door and looked out at the countryside. They turned onto the main road and now Ryan depressed the accelerator. The truck sped off. There was very little traffic and he had no trouble weaving between the other cars, breaking the speed limit. Seemed he was as eager to get rid of her as she was to be out of his car.

  There was a hospital in San Luis but it was an hour or more away. So Ryan drove Jeanie into town to the local sawbones. His clinic was in an old house, converted and made to look more modern with some bad architecture. Jeanie wasn’t at all sure about this place, but she was desperate.

  Ryan pulled into the parking lot and stopped the car. He turned to Jeanie who was releasing the seatbelt catch so she could get out.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I jumped to conclusions about you. We’ve just met and I don’t know whose side you’re on, but it was wrong of me to yell at you. Do you think we could start over?”

  Jeanie was surprised. She blinked her hazel eyes at him, considering. “Apology accepted.”

  Ryan smiled. “Let me help you out.”

  He got out and ran around the vehicle to the passenger door. He pulled it open and helped Jeanie to her feet. She thanked him as he escorted her to the doctor’s waiting room. It was a little seating area with plastic chairs. Some children sat with their mothers, all of them sniffing, sneezing and coughing. That time of the year Jeanie guessed as she and Ryan made their way to the reception desk.

  A large lady wearing a dark blue blouse and black sleeveless pullover eyed them over her eyeglasses’ thick black rims. She had faded blonde hair and red-rimmed blue eyes that she turned on them with less interest than Jeanie felt she should have had. A half-finished box of chocolate chip cookies lay open on her desk, crumbs littering the polished work surface.

  “Can I help you?” she drawled.

  “I hope so,” Jeanie replied trying to put a brave face on. Her wrist was so sore now she was on her last bit of self-control to not dissolve into a fountain of tears.

  “Do you have an appointment?”

  “No, this is an emergency!” Jeanie retorted feeling her patience slipping away.

  “So what’s the emergency?”

  “It’s her wrist, ma’am,” Ryan said flashing the friendly smile. “It seems to be dislocated.” He indicated Jeanie’s throbbing appendage.

  The receptionist regarded it and nodded. “Yup, looks like. Well take a seat and fill out this form. Sign at the bottom of the second page only. Got that? Only at the bottom of page two! Then bring it back to me. You got health insurance?”

  Jeanie nodded.

  “Good,” the receptionist said and handed the form to Ryan. “You her husband or boyfriend or something?”

  “No, I just found her in the woods,” Ryan told her.

  “Well, okay then. Go take a seat and help her fill this out. I warn you though, as a walk in you’re going to have to wait a while.”

  “Thank you,” Ryan said and took the clipboard.

  They sat and Ryan helped Jeanie fill out the form, making sure she only signed on the instructed line. Then he handed it back to the lady and resumed his seat next to Jeanie.

  “Thanks for all the help. You don’t have to stick around. I’m sure you have better things to do.” She said hoping he would stay.

  “I can stay,” Ryan said texting on his phone. “Never know if you’re going to need someone to sign for you again.” He looked up and grinned.

  Jeanie was taken for x-rays quite quickly once the fat receptionist had captured her information on the computer. It was after that that the waiting started. They waited for an hour. By that time Jeanie was almost beside herself with pain. She was drained, sore and holding back tears. Why did she have to go and fall? Things were fine until that happened. And now she was waiting to see a doctor who seemed to be on his way back from Mars or something considering how long this was taking. Her mind was a mishmash of thoughts and feelings all jumbled together. She felt sick, hungry and tired, oh, so tired.

  Eventually she was called into a small consulting room with a plastic covered examination table.

  “Hop up and let’s take a look at your wrist,” the doctor’s voice said, drifting in from behind a screen where she could hear water running. Then paper towel dispensing.

  There were steps next to the table, so Jeanie walked up and sat gingerly on the edge. She was chewing her lips raw, blood already starting to trickle into her mouth. Any other pain would do right now. She just couldn’t take the agony from her right wrist anymore.

  The doctor appeared. He was a short man, grey haired and a little stooped. He smiled sweetly as he took a look at her x-rays and then at her wrist.

  “Dislocated for sure,” he said. “But we can fix that. Now don’t you worry. On three. One.” He pulled her hand.

  Jeanie screamed and kicked the doctor.

  Jeanie felt better.

  Despite kicking the doctor in the knee, she had her wrist joint realigned and strapped, and was beginning to feel the happy feeling that everything would be just fine, as the schedule 5 drugs shut down her pain centers.

  What a way to start a job! Jeanie wondered if she should call her office and let them know she was injured on duty. Then she thought about the mess of paperwork that that entailed. How she would have to get the doctor to write up a report about the incident. He would probably mention her nervous reaction to having her joint reset. No, Jeanie decided that the less Wilkes knew about this, the better.

  “You’re feeling better,” Ryan said as they climbed back into his truck. He hovered at the open passenger door. “Can I buy you something to eat?”

  Jeanie looked at him. She was famished but surely Ryan didn’t want to spend any more time with her. She was the “enemy.” She could see the inverted commas in her head. Oh boy! She was so high right now.

  “Yeah, I think food would be amaze-balls!” she smiled.

  Ryan chuckled. “Okay then. Best you lean the other way while I close the door. Don’t want to make you go back to the doc so soon.”

  He had a very nice voice Jeanie decided. A very nice one. It was robust and manly and yet not so deep she thought his chest ended at his feet. And he was handsome. When last had someone wanted to take her out anywhere? Jeanie couldn’t remember. It might be the drugs, or it might be that it was that long ago.

  Ryan got into the driver’s seat and then started the truck. He pulled out of the parking lot and drove along the road a little way. He turned this way and that and eventually they stopped outside a little place that proclaimed it to be a diner.

  They went in and found a table near the door and sat down. A young waitress appeared and took their order. She smiled very sweetly at Ryan. Jeanie thought that was just adorable. She stared at him with her head on her left hand.

  ‘You’re drooling,” Ryan said handing her a napkin.

  “Sorry,” Jeanie said wiping her mouth. “Those pain pills are something else.”

  “I’ll bet. So what were you doing in the woods?”

  Jeanie shrugged. “My job, silly.”

  “Well someone already took a whole lot of pics of the area,” Ryan told her looking a little annoyed.

  Jeanie nodded. “Yeah Valerie Rousseau I know. I read her report. That’s why I’m here. I know you think I’m batting for the enemy, but really I’m not. I’m not. I…” she realized she was drifting off in her head. She was wondering what it would be like to kiss Ryan. It would be good. She could tell. Jeanie closed her eyes and the images became more vivid.

  Just then the drinks arrived; a
coke float for Ryan and a Tab for Jeanie.

  “Here you go folks,” the waitress said smiling as she deposited the drinks on the table. “Food will be ready in a moment.”

  Jeanie jumped and it was only Ryan’s lightning reflexes that saved her drink.

  “Better make that real fast, Rene,” Ryan commented looking pointedly at Jeanie.

  “Sure Ryan, anything for you.” The waitress walked off swinging her hips so hard Jeanie was amazed she was walking in a straight line and not weaving all over the place.

  “She likes you,” Jeanie said. “She’s flirting.”

  Ryan looked shocked and shook his head. “No she’s not. I’ve known that girl since she was in diapers.”

  Jeanie stuck her index finger under his nose, only it was the one on her injured hand and she winced. “Well she’s certainly not in those anymore and I think she’s waiting for you to notice. You know what I mean?”

  “You were taking pictures of something in the forest. Can you tell me what it was of?” Ryan asked ignoring her.

  Jeanie sighed. “Sure. I took pics of the bears. This family walked right by me, mom, pop and two cubs. Amazing! Got it all!” she suddenly looked panicked. “Where is my camera?”

  “Glove box in the truck,” Ryan said. “What were you taking pics of them for?”

  She shrugged. “Bears were the reason for the EIA request. Ms. Rousseau said there was something special about them. So this place needs to be protected. I came to do the EIA. Didn’t I mention this?”

  “You did. So what happens if you find special bears in the area?”

  “Oh, well I have,” Jeanie said smiling. “It’s not normal for bears to behave like these ones. Not at all. They should have eaten me. But instead they walked right by. ‘S very wee… wired… strange! Why is that?”

  “No idea,” Ryan said. “If I can show you more interesting bears would you be able to save Sun Valley?”

  “Prob’bly. You would have to get it proclaimed a special preserve and then I dunno what happens to the people who live there. You won’t want to live there if Mr. Petersen and his creepy partner, Mr. Snow, get done with the place believe me.” She took a sip of her Tab, then said sulkily, “They ruin everything.”

  “What do they want to do to Sun Valley? Do you know?”

  Jeanie nodded. “Sure. There’s gold in them thar hills. Or the ground, anyways. Deep underground. They want to mine. Messy. Nothing left in Sun Valley. Nothing pretty anyway.”

  Jeanie was sad now. Morosely sad.

  Rene brought their food but she was in two minds about eating it. Her stomach eventually reminded her that breakfast was forever ago and she ate. Ryan sat across from her lost in thought. He seemed to be unaware of her for the rest of the meal and it was only when Rene reappeared with the check that he snapped out of it. Jeanie paid for the meal insisting it was the least she could do.

  “You staying in town?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she replied.

  “Where?”

  “Old age home, I think,” Jeanie had left the final frontier far behind by now. Ryan smiled patiently and nodded. Then escorted her to the front door of Grandma’s Inn.

  It was a quaint little place across from the diner with a huge bay window in the front. Jeanie and Ryan walked up the steps and Jeanie opened the door with her left hand. She felt about in her pocket and produced her key. “Good thing I checked in this morning. Not sure I could manage that now,” Jeanie smiled and chuckled.

  Ryan smiled too. “Yeah, you are way over the limit young lady.”

  She nodded. They stood in silence for a moment and it was a strange awkward one. Ryan seemed to be on the verge of saying something a couple of times, but he didn’t. Eventually Jeanie shrugged and came to life.

  “Thank you for driving me all over today,” she said.

  Ryan nodded. “It was my pleasure. I’ll pick you up in the morning if you like, take you back to your rental.”

  “I totally forgot about the car!” Jeanie exclaimed slapping her forehead a little too hard. “Ow. I’m such an idiot. Will it be okay out there overnight?”

  “Yeah. Should be fine.”

  “Good. I’m too baked to drive right now,” Jeanie confessed.

  Ryan nodded. “No kidding. Here, don’t forget your camera.”

  “Thanks,” Jeanie said. Taking it in her left hand she slipped the strap over her head. “I hope my pictures came out alright. It was really so unbelievable to have those bears walk right there,” she gestured awkwardly with her strapped arm, “Ryan, they were so close I could have reached out and touched them. It was the most intense moment!”

  A look passed over his face. Jeanie couldn’t identify it. It looked sad and hopeful all at the same time.

  “G’night then,” she said feeling very tired.

  “Bye,” Ryan said and turned to leave.

  He walked out the door and down the steps. At the gate he stopped and turned to look back. Jeanie waited and then when he continued out to the street, she took the stairs slowly up to the second floor. Her room was right at the back of the old house. Why did it have to be so damn far? It was pleasant, though. Clean and covered in doylies and frills in an assortment of pastel shades.

  Jeanie wasn’t a pastel person, and she certainly would never put frills and lace on furniture but, Mrs. Graham who owned the inn, seemed to love them. With a sigh Jeanie collapsed on her bed. She had the forethought to unsling the camera strap from her neck before she fell into a drugged and troubled sleep.

  The sun was well up when Jeanie woke to the sound of someone knocking on her door. She had slept in her jeans and sweat shirt from the day before and she was a mess. With a herculean effort she hauled herself up and to her door. Unlocking it she poked her head out. The hallway was empty. Meaning to go back to bed, Jeanie looked down as she closed the door and noticed a small square of card on the carpet. She bent down and picked it up.

  Someone had written a message on it in a fine, neat hand.

  Ryan Hunt is downstairs waiting for you. It read.

  Right, Jeanie thought. We arranged a pick up for the morning to go get the rental.

  With sluggish movements that were hampered by her injury, Jeanie managed to get in the shower, wash and then dress herself. She could do nothing promising with her hair and simply piled it all on her head in a ponytail. Then, dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a black hoodie, she went downstairs.

  Ryan was sitting in an armchair, dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt. He looked up from his phone and smiled at her. His black hair was messy but his golden eyes shone.

  “Morning,” he said. “Are you ready for an adventure?”

  “So long as it doesn’t involve any injuries I’m all for it.” She smiled.

  They walked out the door and down the path.

  “How is the wrist?” Ryan asked.

  “Excruciating,” Jeanie said. “Serves me right. Maybe I need new hiking boots. They had no grip on the needles at all.”

  “I promise you, you’re in good hands today.”

  “And whose would those be?”

  “Mine.” He smiled at her. “Coffee? I got you a latte from the Lemon Drop. They also make these amazing cinnamon buns. They are so good. Better than doughnuts.”