The Doctor Wears A Stetson (Contemporary Western Romance) by Anne Marie Novark Page B

only he could stay longer. If only he
didn't have to return to Houston so soon. Maybe he could help
Jessie get past the guilt. She was too young to live the rest of
her life alone. And there was something about her that touched him
deeper than any woman ever had. The thought scared the living hell
out of him, but it didn't scare him enough to make him leave her
alone.
    Mentally scanning his work schedule, he
decided he would return to Salt Fork in a few weeks. One way or
another, he and Jess would resolve this thing between them. One way
or another.

Chapter Six

    On Monday morning, Jessie hurried to the
shop and lost herself in work. She'd stayed home all day Sunday,
trying not to think about Cameron, whether he had left yet, whether
he would stop to say goodbye. She'd prayed he wouldn't. She didn't
know how she could face him after what had happened at the
party.
    She didn't know how she could let him go,
either. She was weak, damn it--weak where Cameron was
concerned.
    With an unspoken agreement, Sam took care of
the customers, letting Jessie stay inside the office. She didn't
know if he knew what was going on. She didn't explain and was
grateful for his silence. Their relationship was simple, not
complicated in the least. Why was it so complicated with
Cameron?
    After lunch, she and Sam were busy working
on the carburetor of a customer's truck, when Jessie heard the
unmistakable rumble of a diesel motor pull into the station. Her
heart lurched for a second when she recognized Dallas McCade's
pickup. Then she gave herself a mental shake. It wasn't Cameron; he
was already back in Houston.
    She glanced at Sam to see if he would take
care of Dallas, or whoever had come from the Diamondback Ranch. She
was in no mood to face anyone named McCade today. Sam's dark eyes
gleamed as he started in the direction of the pumps. Jessie leaned
around, curious to see who had sparked his interest, gasping when
she realized it was Tori McCade.
    Tori seemed a little young for Sam, a little
too lively for such a serious man. Jessie turned back to work on
the carburetor. Didn't she have enough to worry about? Tori was a
big girl and could take care of herself.
    After a few minutes, Jessie felt a tap on
her shoulder. Tori stood at the front of the truck, peering with
disgust at the greasy engine.
    "How can you stand to work in all that
muck?"
    Jessie straightened and wiped her hands.
"It's all I've ever known. Besides, I like engines."
    Tori wrinkled her nose. "Why did you leave
the party early without saying goodbye?"
    "I had a headache, thanks to you and your
punch."
    "Was it the punch, or something else? Or someone? Maybe someone who's six-foot-three, has dark brown
hair and blue eyes?"
    Jessie stared at Tori. How much did she
know? Was it only speculation? Or had Cameron told her something?
"I don't know what you mean."
    "Oh, please ." Tori rolled her eyes.
"Cameron spent a lot of time with you while he was home, or tried
to. And I saw him practically drag you to the barn the other night.
You were gone a good while. He came back alone and in a foul mood.
I can put two and two together. You chickened out again, didn't
you?"
    Jessie leaned her elbows on the edge of the
truck and hung her head. Maybe Cameron had the right idea about
living in a large impersonal city. Tori wasn't going to shut up
until she had her say. "So what if I did? I told you, it's
complicated."
    Tori squatted on her haunches and looked up
at Jessie's face. "Only because you're making it that way."
    "It doesn't matter," Jessie said. "He's gone
and won't be back."
    "I wouldn't be so sure of that," Tori
said.
    "Why not?"
    "Yesterday, at breakfast, I mentioned the
homecoming celebration next month. Cameron gave me this weird kind
of look. He said he'd never been back for homecoming." Tori
snorted. "Yeah, like that's a surprise."
    "It doesn't mean anything. Him saying that."
Jessie couldn't stop the leap in her pulse at the possibility of
Cameron returning.
    Tori smiled. "I