Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 3)

Ahead, he saw the sign for the clinic. The singing stopped as he turned onto the side street and swung the Jeep into the parking lot.

“We’re here, Daniel,” Megan said. “This is the clinic.”

Conner climbed out of the Jeep and went around to help Megan with her brother. Had he only imagined that sexy voice he’d heard, and the song? Or was there an even more mind-blowing explanation for what had just happened?

But the answers to those questions would have to wait. Right now, he had more urgent concerns.

The clinic was open and not too busy. The receptionist took Daniel’s information from Megan and ushered them back to an exam room. Conner had expected to wait out front, but Daniel, pale and in pain, had insisted that he come along. “I’ll be braver with you there, Conner,” he’d said.

So Conner found himself sitting in a corner of the exam room, with Daniel sitting on the edge of the table in a cotton gown and Megan hovering around him while they waited for the doctor to walk in.

Megan’s preoccupation with her brother gave Conner a chance to study her. What he saw only deepened the puzzle.

Was the woman of his dreams really Megan?

In his memory, the stunning singer had been tall. Megan wasn’t petite, but she was no taller than average. Then again, the singer had been wearing boots with high stiletto heels. That could explain the illusion of height. Makeup could have glamorized her face. And that wavy, luxuriant mane of black hair—yes, it could’ve been a wig.

He watched Megan as she sponged Daniel’s face with a damp paper towel and brought him water in a paper cup. She was an amazing woman, he conceded—compassionate, capable, smart, and independent. But if his hunch was correct—and nothing else made sense—the lady had been hiding one very big secret.

He could ask her, Conner mused. Get her alone, back her into a corner, and demand to know the truth.

But what would be the fun in that—especially if she never spoke to him again?

So, why not play along? Let her think she was fooling him, and see where it led? The possibilities were so intriguing that Conner had to hold back the urge to laugh out loud.

Just then, the doctor—a skinny fellow in glasses who looked young enough to be in high school—walked into the room with a folder in his hand. Pausing next to Daniel, he took out the X-ray that had been taken earlier.

“Here’s a picture of your shoulder,” he said, letting Daniel have a look. “The good news is, nothing’s broken. But you’ve got a dislocation. See right here where this big bone is sticking out?”

Daniel gazed at the X-ray, frowning. “It looks bad. Will I have to have an operation?”

“No, I’ll just pop it back into place. Then you’ll have to rest it for a few days.” He passed Megan a clipboard with a consent form, which she signed. Then he turned back to Daniel. “This is going to hurt. Are you feeling brave?”

Daniel nodded, although Conner could tell from the look on the kid’s face that he didn’t have much bravery left. “Will you let me hold your hand, Conner?” he asked. “That’ll help me to be tough like you.”

“Sure.” But this young man is the tough one, Conner thought. To forge ahead in life with the limitations Daniel faced every day—that took real toughness.

Conner’s gaze connected with Megan’s as he reached for Daniel’s hand. It had probably registered that Daniel had asked for his support, not hers. But he saw nothing in her warm brown eyes except worry and compassion.

“Ready?” The doctor slipped the gown aside and laid his hands on Daniel’s shoulder. Daniel nodded. His hand gripped Conner’s.

“All right, here goes.” The doctor gave the shoulder a quick, hard twist. Daniel’s face had gone white. He gave a yelp of pain as the joint popped back into position. Then it was over.

The doctor smiled. “All done. You did great. I’ll have the nurse get you a sling. You can take it off in a few days, after I see you back here.”

Daniel managed a shaky smile. Then his expression sobered. “What about work? I can’t bag groceries with one arm.”

“I’ll talk to your boss, Daniel,” Megan said, easing him back into his shirt. “I’m sure he’ll understand and give you a few days off.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Daniel said. “I’ve never missed work before. Not one day. I just hope my new boss, Sam, won’t be mad. He’s never been mad at me before.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Megan said as the nurse brought in a navy blue cotton sling and adjusted the straps to support Daniel’s arm. “After Conner takes us home, I’ll drive you to Shop Mart and you can talk to your boss in person.”

“That would be good,” Daniel said. “If he sees this sling, he’ll know I’m telling the truth.”

“I can take you by there on the way to your place,” Conner volunteered.