Free Only Us by Susan Mallery Page B

chance? That’s not like you.”
    “I wouldn’t just be losing him. I’d lose Kaitlyn, too.”
    “You wouldn’t have to. You could still be friends with her.”
    Rina was less sure that was possible. Losing one would be hard enough, but losing them both would be more than she could handle.

Chapter Two
     
    “Tinsel and goats don’t mix,” Cameron said, looping his stethoscope around his neck. “Not that she’ll listen.”
    Heidi Simpson nodded as she knelt next to her goat. “I swear, Athena has supernatural powers. She’s forever getting out of her pen and doing things she shouldn’t. I’ve been so careful with the holiday decorations.”
    Cameron believed her. Unfortunately a single box of tinsel had fallen out of her shopping bag and Athena had found it. Like most goats, she was willing to eat nearly everything. The tinsel had tangled in her digestive system, but had finally worked its way through.
    “She’ll be fine now,” he said. “Give her a couple of days for her stomach to calm down.” He patted the goat resting in the small goat barn, then rose to his feet.
    “You’ve been great,” Heidi told him as she stood as well. “You’ve been here every day. I really appreciate it.”
    “Part of the job.”
    “Still. I know Athena is grateful, too, even if she’s having trouble articulating her feelings.”
    Heidi smiled as she spoke.
    Cameron collected his medical bag then followed Heidi to his truck. It was late afternoon on the first Friday in December. The skies were dark and threatening, but the temperature wasn’t cold enough for snow in town. Further up the mountain, they could get a good dump in the next couple of days.
    Holiday decorations brightened the old house that stood on the ranch. The exterior was a little shabby, but the twinkling lights added a welcoming glow. Heidi was friendly enough. Pretty, he thought absently. Single. He should have been interested, maybe ask her to coffee or out for a drink. Only he wasn’t the least bit interested.
    He’d dated plenty when he’d been younger and had learned he was the kind of man who wanted to settle down. The problem was with whom.
    After his daughter had been born, his ex-wife had announced she was leaving. From his point of view, her desire to leave had come out of nowhere, leaving him blindsided and the single father of a newborn. It had taken him a while to realize that whatever made his wife leave was out of his control.
    Over the past few years, he’d become aware of a nagging sense of having missed something. Fool’s Gold had plenty of single women and he’d been set up with more than his share. But he hadn’t felt the need for further dates with any of them. Maybe the problem was his—he wasn’t willing to trust his daughter or his heart with just anyone.
    Heidi paused by his truck. “Thanks again.”
    “You’re welcome. You have my cell number. Call me if there are any problems.”
    “Don’t you ever go off duty?”
    “No.”
    “This town is lucky to have you.”
    He chuckled. “Remind people of that the next time I raise my rates.”
    “I will, I promise.” She smiled. “Don’t take this wrong, but I’m hoping not to see you before the holidays. Unless you plan to bring your daughter by for a horse-drawn carriage ride. We’re keeping the tradition in place for the holidays.”
    “We might have to come by for that.” He grinned. “But not for anything else. How’s that?”
    “Perfect. Merry Christmas.”
    “The same to you, Heidi.”
    He got in his truck and started the engine. Heidi walked up the porch steps. He watched her go, hoping for a spark or even vague interest in the sway of her hips.
    Nothing.
     
     
    Twenty minutes later Cameron was pulling into his own driveway. The Christmas lights he’d spent much of the long Thanksgiving weekend putting up glowed in the darkness. Lit wreaths hung in all the front-facing windows, along with flickering candles. Not real candles. Kaitlyn had informed