But she was already shaking her head. "Let's go back to thehouse."
Megan was still shakingfrom the rush of adrenaline and fear when they reached the ranch kitchen. She needed to calm down, or there was no way she'd be able to stitch up thecowboy.
Brady had just walked off. Barelyapologized.
She'd been soscared.
"Sit down," she told Julianne and Brady, pointing to the small table jammed in a breakfast nook. A glance through the doorway showed a long picnic-style dining table, which would've given the kids more room, but right now, she wasn't letting Brady out of hersight.
Dan addressed Miles. "Why don't you get your friends some lemonade? Scarlett probably has some cookies hidden away." The doctor looked at the other boy now. Seemed she’d barely noticed him when she'd found them. He'd followed them back to the house, and Dan had introduced him as Nate'sson.
Julianne lit up, but Brady muttered, "Cookies are against the rules," beneath hisbreath.
"It's fine," Megan said through grittedteeth.
Of the two of adults in the room, it was easy to see who was making more of an impression on the kids. Julianne was smiling at Dan and even Brady had a sparkle of interest in hiseyes.
Megan just wanted to get out of here. But she couldn't let a patient suffer. She put her bag on the table and openedit.
Her hands were stillshaking.
"Is there a bedroom orsomewhere…?"
And then Dan was there, closer than she expected. Pressing a hot cup of coffee into her hands, their fingerstangling.
"You can stitch me up right here. There's plenty of light. Why don't you take a minute,first?"
The mug’s warmth seeped into her. For a few seconds, she and Dan shared a connection. She took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of coffee and man, and some of her fear drainedaway.
She was caught in his gaze, in his touch. Warm and appreciative. A tether back to steadyground.
And then... more. An electric charge, an awareness zinged betweenthem.
Abruptly, he broke away and stepped to the counter. He looked out the darkened window. He was pulling away. She'd felt him do the same in her office. What made him distancehimself?
She leaned her hip against the counter, allowing a sense of calm to steal over her. Letting her mind stop spinning from visions of everything that could've happened to Brady but hadn't. Behind all of it, she continued to be aware of the mannearby.
"How long have you been riding?" Brady asked, voicelow.
Miles answered in normal volume. "Not that long. When my mom and dad started fostering me, my dad taught me. They gave me Buster for my birthday lastyear."
"Really? You have your own horse?" Julianne asked the question, but when Megan glanced at the table, it was easy to see the jealousy streaked across Brady'sface.
"I want to learn how to do clover barrels," Juliannechirped.
Megan winced. There was no way. As far as she was concerned, riding was dangerous andracingwas twice asbad.
She took a big gulp of her coffee, burning the back of her throat.Enough.
She set the coffee mug down and went to the sink to scrub up. Dan saw her coming and moved out of theway.
Once she'd washed and dried, she moved back toward her bag on the counter while, silently, Dan unbuttoned his shirt and slipped his arm out to give her access to his injury. His miles of muscles affected her only for a millisecond this time, because she was prepared forit.
"Local?" she askedsoftly.
He shook hishead.
He jumped when she touched him again, a brush of her hand against his lowerback.
