"Nothing more I can do for you," Kenin said as she walked out of the office with Laura. "Looks like it's healing fine. You doing those exercises I gave you?"
Laura rolled her eyes and laughed. "Like I need exercises with all the work I have to do."
"You're supposed to be resting that shoulder," Kenin chided.
"But you just said to exercise it," Laura replied sweetly, batting her eyes.
Kenin swatted her arm.
"Ow!"
"Serves you right. You know what I..." She stopped short as Chris approached them, carrying a small bouquet of daisies.
He held the flowers out. "Dr. Darnell."
Laura jabbed Kenin in the side and Kenin kicked her. "Sheriff." Kenin took the flowers and smiled. "What's this for?"
Chris shot Laura a challenging look, demanding she leave. For a split second the woman's upper lip curled up in a defiant sneer, then she smiled sweetly and held her ground.
Chris turned his attention back to Kenin. "Do I have to have a reason to bring you flowers?"
"Yes," the two women said in chorus.
Chris cringed. "I wanted to ask you to dinner," he growled.
"How sweet," Kenin said, trying not to laugh. He looked like a school boy asking a girl on his first date. They had met for dinner a few times, but had never officially 'dated'. "I accept."
"Good, then." He shot Laura another warning look. "I'll pick you up tomorrow at noon. We're going to Tucson."
"Tucson? Tomorrow? What..?" Now Kenin knew he was up to something.
"I have to get a birthday present for my niece," he grumbled.
Laura giggled and Kenin pinched her. "Well, I think that's nice," the doctor said. "How old is she?"
"Twenty-one. And I have no idea what to get a twenty-one year old."
"Oh, and I do??" Kenin laughed. "It's been a while since I was twenty-one."
Chris glanced at Laura, who backed a step. "Don't look at me."
Chris shrugged. "Your're a woman at least."
Kenin grinned. She knew how hard this was on him. "Well, thank you for
that, but I still don't qualify."
"Drew," Laura commented quietly.
"What?" Chris' tone was almost a snarl.
"Drew Standish. She just turned twenty-one. Ask her for help."
Kenin nodded. "She'd be perfect." At Chris' sour look, she added, "I'll go, too. Don't worry. I won't let her hurt you."
"Good, then. I'll pick you both up at noon."
"Nate and I can go, too," Laura said. "I need some things for the ranch. Maybe we can get in a few rounds of miniature golf."
Kenin laughed at the horrified expression that crossed Chris' face. "Oh, I love miniature golf!" she put in. She'd actually never played, but the look from Chris was worth the fib.
"Fine," he mumbled. "Tomorrow noon, then." He nodded and turned.
"Oh, and Chris?" Kenin called after him.
"What?"
"You are going to ask Drew yourself, aren't you?" But it wasn't a question.
*7*7*7*
Chris rubbed the bridge of his nose as he listened to the phone ringing at the other end of the line. He prayed that Drew answered, and not Ezra.
Drew lifted the receiver. "Hello?"
"Drew? It's Chris." Best to just get it out. "I need a favor..."
Drew rolled her eyes. 'What could she have possibly done now?' She sighed. "Um, okay. What do you need?"
Chris took a breath before speaking. *Why was this so hard?* "Well, I have a niece who's birthday is coming up. She'll be twenty one, and I have no idea what to get her. I though maybe you would..."
Drew shrugged. "You want me to help you pick out a gift? One thing I'm
good at is shopping."
Chris chuckled. Finally, common ground. "I'd like to go to the mall in
Tucson. Can you make it tomorrow, around noon?" He hastily added, "Kenin, Nathan and Laura are coming along. And dinner's on me, at the restaurant of your choice."
"Really?" Drew's smiled widened. "All right. I'll go. Can't pass up an offer like that, but you should be warned, Chris, or the ladies might need to be. My favorite restaurant is McDonald's. No kid jokes. I like their Big Mac's." She giggled.
Chris groaned. "Big Mac's it is." At least she wasn't going to cost him an arm and a leg..."Noon tomorrow, then? At the clinic."
"Meet you there. Later Chris." She put down the receiver and thought, 'I do hope the man loosens up some or tomorrow is going to be one boring day at the mall.' She grinned and shook the thought off. "How can the mall be borin?" she said aloud, then laughed again. "I'm going shopping!" She ran upstairs to look through her closet to see exactly what she needed' considering Ezra sold half her things.
*7*7*7*
Chris stopped his Cherokee in front of the clinic and greeted his passengers. Drew was wearing sensible clothes, thank god, although her eyes were hidden behind Ray-Ban's.
"Appreciate the assistance," he said, addressing the girl, even as his arm snaked around Kenin's waist. He pulled the doctor close and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "You, too," he whispered.
Kenin smiled at him sweetly. "I wouldn't be so sure," she crooned, but before he could ask what she meant, she had slipped into the back seat of the SUV, followed by Drew and Laura.
With a shrug, Chris got in the driver's seat and Nathan settled into the
passenger's side. The ride was pleasant enough, although occasionally the women in the back seemed to be watching him in the mirror and giggling. He just looked over at Nathan and rolled his eyes.
But he was about to find out what all the secrecy was about. He pulled into the mall parking lot and Nathan spoke up.
"Ya'll can get out in front, and Laura and I will go do what we need to. We'll meet ya back front at five."
Chris nodded. He had insisted on driving, but had agreed to let them borrow the vehicle to do their errands. He pulled over and an odd game of Chinese fire drill ensued. Chris got out and Nathan took his place. Laura slipped into the seat Nathan had occupied and Kenin and Drew joined Chris on the side walk.
"Well, you two behave yourselves," Kenin announced. Chris started to nod to Nathan, but hesitated when the doctor gave him a peck on the cheek. "See ya!" she announced as she climbed back into the car.
"Wha..." Chris watched in dismay as the SUV drove away. *What the hell
had happened?* He collected himself, glanced at Drew and smiled. "Well, shall we?" He nodded toward the mall doors.
Drew bounced up and down and clapped her hands together. "Let's shop!"
As they were entering the mall they passed a group of teens. He recognized a couple as troublemakers in town. One of them, Julio, ignored Chris and addressed Drew. "Hola, Chicka," he grinned. "Getting
them older, are you?"
Chris growled and started to move forward, but Drew caught his arm. "Hi, Julio," she said politely, then steered Chris toward the directory before there could be a confrontation. Whistles and catcalls followed them.
She quickened her step, her heels clicking as she led him over to the directory.
Chris moaned inaudibly. Could this get worse? He hated shopping --always had. Even with Sarah. The only highlight had been watching her model different outfits. He had always loved watching Sarah and clothes
shopping had provided ample Sarah-watching.
"Where to?" he asked Drew, placing a hand on her shoulder in an effort to contain the bouncing. "You're the expert."
"Oooooo! Neiman Marcus! Let's start there." She led him towards the store, talking a mile a minute. "Now what size is she? She like rock music or country? If you get her and outfit you'll need to buy her some shoes. Well maybe not. How much you wanting to spend?"
The volley of questions was giving him a headache. "Hadn't thought about it much. Just want something nice. Anne's Sarah's niece." He paused and cleared his throat. "She lived with us for a while when she was thirteen. Her mother had a breakdown...She's a special kid. I'd like something nice for her..."
"Neiman Marcus is nice," Drew said, her enthusiasm bubbling over. She grabbed Chris' wrist and dragged him across the mall. He sighed and tried to keep up with her. They had barely entered the store when she was shoving clothes into his arms.
"Hold these," she said as she flitted to another rack. Chris smiled uncomfortably and trailed behind her. This was very different from anything he had ever done with Sarah. His wife had been methodical and contemplative. He loved just watching her looking through the racks, holding up the dresses and swaying her hips as she modeled for him. He loved watching her disappear into the dressing room and emerge with a frown, shaking her head at some silly fashion. He just loved everything
about her.
He suddenly blinked, realizing that Drew was twirling in front of him, price tags fluttering behind her in an arc. "Isn't it great?" she asked
enthusiastically.
He grimaced. The outfit was far too revealing, and the colors were atrocious. "Maybe something more feminine," he suggested.
Drew nodded, oblivious. She had spotted something hanging on another rack. She grabbed it and disappeared before he could say anything. A few minutes later, she came out in the black lace mini-dress. It was exquisite on her, and he knew Buck would like it. And it made him glad he didn't have a daughter. Twenty-one or not, he'd keep the kid in jeans two sizes too big and oversized sweatshirts.
He nodded and she broke into a smile. "Knew it," she declared, then went in to try on something else.
*7*7*7*
"Oh, look at that!"
Chris shook his head as he trailed Drew to the jewelry counter. She grabbed a necklace and held it up for him to see. He smiled and nodded around the bundle of clothing he held, then started to idly look at the gaudy, albeit expensive baubles.
He glanced at the sparking necklaces and dangling earrings. This was a possibility.
"What about this one?' She showed him some earrings and a matching necklace. "Not too gaudy and very practical. She could wear it with almost anything."
"Would you wear it?" he asked. It was tasteful, but he had no idea what
twenty-one year old girls liked any more.
"Me? Of course I would." She raised her eyebrow at him. "Trust me. I
might be a troublemaker but one thing I do know is fashion."
Chris chuckled. "All right. It is nice." He held out his hand, trying
to balance his current burden. He looked back at the displays as Drew continued to shop.
Then a small bracelet caught his eye. It was nothing more than turquoise and silver beads, with a tiny cross hanging from the clasp. He picked it up and fingered it. It was simple and elegant, like Kenin. And the local Indians considered turquoise to be a healing stone. Kenin was a doctor...
*Where has that come from?* Chris dropped the bracelet back in the basket and stepped back from the counter, waiting for Drew.
Drew smiled and looked at the bracelet Chris had dropped. She shrugged,
then set down the earrings she had in her hands. "That bracelet would look really nice on Kenin, matches her eyes." She smiled and pretended to keep looking.
Chris grumbled, but picked it back up anyway. "It does suit her, but it's not her birthday or anything."
"So?" Drew looked to him. "You like her, right? That to me says, 'I
like you and would like to get to know you better'." Now if it was her birthday..." She looked at the tag, "this would so not do." She winked
to him then giggled.
That made sense. It wasn't so elaborate as to imply commitment. "You really like it?" He held it up to admire again.
"Yes I do. It has Kenin written all over it." Smiled brightly. "Oh come on." Playfully, she nudged him.
"All right. I'll tell her you made me." He closed his hand around the bracelet and followed her to the cashier.
Drew laid her purchases down and watched closely as the cashier started to ring them up. Suddenly, she held her hand up at a mistake. "Those baby tee's are on sale two for $25." The cashier looked at her then nodded, correcting her mistake. Drew looked to Chris and rolled her eyes.
Chris chuckled. She was her mother's daughter, all right. He waited patiently, idly fingering the bracelet he held.
Drew took out her wallet and opened it. Her face fell and she started to take everything out, cursing under her breath, "Damn it, Ezra....."
"Everything okay?" the cashier asked, already annoyed at the woman for correcting her.
"No, no, it's fine." Drew had thought she still had a Neiman Marcus credit card. She sighed and pulled out her checkbook. "You do take checks, right?"
The cashier smiled. "Of course. All I need to see is a valid drivers license and you can write one."
Drew put her face in her hands and shook her head then quickly turned to
Chris. "Honey, I left my Neiman Marcus card at home.." She smiled sweetly so the cashier could see, then turned to Chris, her eyes pleading with him. 'God please don't let me be humiliated,' she thought.
Chris choked back his surprise. The clerk raised an assessing eyebrow, and then looked at Drew like she was dirt. He grinned and reached for his wallet, handing it to Drew and placing his purchases on the counter. "No problem, Cupcake," he said, slipping an arm around her waist. "What's a Sugar Daddy for?" He grimaced inwardly, but the expression on the cashier's face was worth it.
Drew smiled sweetly and twirled a piece of blond hair around her finger "thanks Snuggle Bunny." She giggled then looked to the cashier.
Chris nearly gagged, turning his startled laugh into a hacking cough. "Anything for you," he cooed, then leaned close to her ear. "You'll pay
for that later," he growled, loud enough for the clerk to hear.
Drew's eyes widened and she fought back laughter. "We'll see." She smiled and backed away a little, waiting.
Chris managed to maintain a straight face as the clerk rang up the purchases and wrapped them. She handed him the bag and his Platinum Visa, and Chris took them, then turned to Drew without thanking the rude
cashier. He grinned maliciously as he slipped his arm around Drew's waist.
"C'mon, Peaches," he said, giving her a light smack on the rear.
Drew jumped a bit and walked out of the store with him. As soon as they
were out she held onto the wall and laughed. She held her side and looked to him. "Thank you. I'll pay you back right now."
Chris flinched, then relaxed as he opened her purse.
She took her checkbook out of her purse and gave him a sheepish grin as she wrote out the check "Please just don't cash this 'til Friday. It will bounce otherwise and you'd have to arrest me." She looked to him and smiled.
Chris chuckled and took the check. "It was worth it to give that self-righteous clerk hers. She needs to take lessons from Ezra." He took the wrapped bracelet from the bag and slipped it into his pocket.
"Thanks for the help. I really did have a good time." He smiled, thinking that he should probably do it more often.
"Me too," Drew smiled. "Now we need to find the others so you can start wooing Kenin." She looked to Chris again and held out her hand. "You're all right Chris Larabee. I was wrong about you. It's not often
I admit to being wrong, either." She looked up to him. "Can we be friends now?"
"That goes both ways," he answered, shaking her hand on the deal. That was all the apology he'd give, but it was more than he usually did. Then he looked at her squarely. "Wooing?"
Drew smiled and kept talking. "Yes, women liked to be wooed. You know,
sent flowers, candy. Given small tokens of affection." She looked up to
him and winked. "That bracelet is a start." Drew laughed. "God, listen to me. I sound like Ann Freakin Landers! I'm no expert."
"Don't say 'freakin'," he grumbled, although he was enjoying her one-sided conversation. "And what makes you think I want to woo Dr. Darnell?" The girl was too darned perceptive. Kenin was a lovely woman, but he wasn't ready for a relationship yet. Sarah had only been gone for six years. It was too soon.
Drew shrugged. "Yes, daddy, no more saying freakin." She rolled her eyes. "Okay maybe you don't. I just think she's real nice and she seems to like you too, is all. Like I said I don't need to be mouthing off about love because if it wasn't for Buck being so darn stubborn, well, I wouldn't be with him, because I almost screwed everything up." She stopped and looked to him. "I do love him though." She started to walk again. "Just wish I wouldn't act before I think sometimes is all. Then my life wouldn't be in the mess that it is. Then again I wouldn't BE with Buck had I not screwed up." She placed her hand on her head. "I'm sorry for talking your ear off."
Chris listened to Drew's ramblings. The girl had no self-esteem, no self worth, and that was too bad. But it seemed that Buck was helping her to gain confidence.
"Buck and I have known each other a long time. Been through a lot together. I'm just glad he's happy. He was starting to get jaded and cynical. You saved him, brought out the old Buck." He pulled her to a stop and faced her.
"And you're right about Kenin." He grinned. "I do like her. What did she say about me?" He knew that Drew had been working with Kenin at the
clinic, and he knew how women liked to talk.
Drew shook her head and grinned. "Now that's confidential." She laughed. "Really, it's not so much what she said...."
But before she could get to the juicy stuff, the honk of a horn announced the arrival of the rest of their group. Chris made sure he gave them all a stern glare to show them he was not pleased with being ditched, although he really had had a good time. Nathan pulled up to the curb and stopped the truck, then got out.
"You two look like you had a good time," Laura teased from the back seat.
"We did," Chris grinned. He refused to let them think that they had put
him through some kind of torment. "Better than we could have planned," he continued with a wink to Drew. "Isn't that right, Peaches?"
Drew's mouth dropped and she looked to Chris again then started to laugh. "Yeah, we had a good time, Sugar Daddy." She ignored the inquisitive looks from the rest of their group. "You said I could pick the restaurant, right?"
Chris groaned, but nodded as he climbed into the driver's seat. Had she
thought of something worse that McDonald's?
Drew bounced in the seat beside Kenin. "Cool. Downtown, then."
With a resigned nod, Chris steered toward the street.
*7*7*7*
B Street Blues. Chris grinned. The kid did have taste after all. Might not be his taste, but it showed taste. At least he wouldn't be expected to deal with 'Happy Meals'.
Buck was waiting as they pulled into the lot. He had made arrangements to meet them after he got off duty, and Drew had called him to let him know where to meet them. He was opening the back door of the SUV before
Chris even got out. Buck nearly lifted Drew out of the seat as he wrapped her in a huge hug.
"Miss me?" Buck growled and Drew giggled.
"No," she teased. "I had wonderful company."
Buck raised and eyebrow, but before he could say anything, Chris elbowed
him aside. "C'mom, let a man do his job," he kidded as he held his hand
for Kenin.
Dinner was good, but a bit more expensive than Chris had anticipated. But he didn't notice. He was too busy watching Kenin. Drew was right. The doctor was beautiful, and her laugh made him feel good. As they walked back to the cars, he slipped his arm around her waist and held her firmly, surprised at how natural it felt.
"Hey, Buck, why don't we take Nathan and Laura back with us?" Drew suddenly suggested. "Would save Chris and Kenin some time." She glanced quickly at Chris and smiled.
"Good idea," he said. "Kenin lives just up the road from me." He winked at Drew as he opened the door for Kenin. The girl was too crafty
for her own good sometimes. And he owed her.
*7*7*7*
"You abandoned me with her," Chris finally accused he walked Kenin to her front door.
She smiled and nodded. "I did. But from the looks of it, it worked."
"It did," he mumbled, pulling her to him. Kenin gasped, but melted into
the grip. Chris had been in a good mood all evening, and she liked the change. When his lips closed over hers, she sighed and relaxed into his
arms. After a moment, he broke off and looked at her. "You're a lovely...doctor," he mumbled, suddenly releasing her and stepping back.
Kenin shifted. *Why couldn't he relax and just let things happen? Why couldn't she just relax and let things happen?*
Chris pulled a small package from his pocket and handed it to her. "This was Drew's idea," he said.
"It was?" Kenin asked. She tore away the paper and took out the bracelet. She saw Chris glance down, looking embarrassed. "It's beautiful," she said. She loved turquoise, but Will had always gotten her onyx and garnets. She held it out so that he could put it on her.
"Not much," he muttered as he fastened the clasp.
"Enough," she whispered in reply as she reached for him and pulled him into a kiss. She felt him relax and take control and she sighed in contentment. For several minutes, he kissed her passionately until her knees began to fell weak. Finally he broke off and cleared his throat.
"Doctor," he mumbled, nodding.
"Sheriff..." She leaned against the door and watched as he went down the steps to his car. He hesitated and looked back at her before waving and getting in. As he drove away, Bear nudged her hand, and she idly scratched behind the dog's ears. Finally, she smiled and went inside.
.