The Doctor's Cowboy

The thirty six hour shift was finally over, heading straight home to soak in a long bath was the only thing getting me through the next hour of finalizing paperwork in my office. “Hey Dr. Taylor, I put the last few patient forms on your desk to sign” my assistant Nina chimed. I nodded a short thank you and smiled at her as I shut the door to my office. The space was small, but not stuffy like a cubical, it was perfect for the few times I needed to spend for administrative work.

The alarm on my phone buzzed, letting me know that it was time to head home. I reached to turn off the lamp and noticed the small paper box with the shiny red bow on it. A part of me still died to know what was inside, but the heartache was still too fresh. I flicked the switch on the lamp and headed out of the hospital.

The near scalding hot water relaxed the tense muscles that endured the emergency room drama the last thirty six hours. The smell of lavender and leather filled her senses reminding her of being at home on the ranch. The two and a half years in New York hadn’t made the memories of the gorgeous cowboy dissipate and the growing anxiety of moving home in three months was starting to creep through the built up walls. The water cooled and I reached for a towel, drying off the last of the day as the phone rang...mama. “Hey there, baby girl, how was your shift, save any lives?” I smiled listening to my mama’s southern accent over the phone. “I’m good mama how’re things on the ranch?” After about an hour of catching up, we said our goodbyes and I made my way into my bedroom and fell into a deep slumber.

Sunshine rays warmed my face as I stirred from my sleep. It was six in the morning and I knew I needed to get a head start on my day. I walked into the hospital a few hours later, only to be greeted by my chief, questioning what I was doing on my day off. The floor was mostly empty, so I slipped into my office to finalize my transfer papers. By the time lunch rolled around I was officially going to be the next ER doctor in Amarillo, Texas, the realization was hitting me like an avalanche and I wasn’t sure how to cope with the feelings. I took a deep breath and reached for the small box that had been collecting dust for two and a half years. The string was narrow and smooth and untied with ease. I untapped the sides of the brown paper and peeled it off the beautiful black velvet box, even though I had dreamed about this ring since I met Landon it still took my breath away. The dainty gold band sparkled against the black velvet, my hands shook as I took the ring out of its box and held it between my fingers. The tears began to spill down my cheeks and my vision became blurred, on autopilot I slipped the band onto my ring finger. A knock at my door pulled me back to reality and I stood as Chief Call walked into my office. “Well, my signatures have been sent to Amarillo and you will be starting in their ER in three months.” He was an eloquent man, an inspiring mentor, but a greater friend, I knew he would be able to see right through me and the emotions that had overcome me. “Your gloom wouldn’t have anything to do with that ring on your finger would it?” He chuckled, but made his way to the chairs on the other side of my desk. I looked down at the finger that occupied the ring and nodded. “I left an entire life back home and I’m not so sure it’s ready to welcome me back...” I trailed off feeling the urge to cry again. “Look Sam, I know it’s hard to think that those we love would put their lives on hold for us, but what they don’t realize is we often miss the little things in life due to our education, trainings, fellowships, and residencies. Take the rest of the three months as a break to move home and figure things out, life is too short to worry about becoming the best in your field...” I stared at him in shock, my first friend in New York seemed to know me better than I knew myself…. “But what about my patients, my rounds?” He held his hand up to stop me, walked around to stand in front of me “it’s all been taken care of, we hired our next fellowship doctor last week, she’s doing amazing since she’s been shadowing you and I’m sure will be more than willing to take over your patients.” He smiled and held his arms out for an embrace. “Oh Will! I can’t thank you enough.” I wrapped my arms around his big stature and let the tears flow.

“Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, we are beginning to make our descent into Texas and will be in Amarillo within 20 minutes.” My mind reeled with possibilities that were about to take place, my life was about to become everything I wanted, or it would take these three extra months getting over a heartbreak. Landon probably moved on, God! What if he was engaged or married. This was such a bad idea...I forced myself to look out the window and the blinking red lights that were coming into view, wind turbines meant home, I was so close to getting back to my roots. The plane skidded on the runway and pulled to a stop on the tarmac just before the gate. I looked down at my tangled fingers and slowly slid the gold band off my finger and put it back in its velvet box. There was no need to assume Landon would come running to me at the gate professing his undying love to me and telling me that he’s been waiting for me. “Ms..” the elderly man behind me muttered “did you need some help with your carry-on?” I smiled and apologized as I shook my head. I made my way out of my row and down the aisle. As I stepped off the plane, I drew in a deep breath and made my way to baggage claim. My parents were waiting just outside the gate and rushed to hug me, kissing me, and whispering how much they’d missed me. We grabbed my bags and were on our way out the door when I realized they were the only two who’d come to greet me. “Everyone waiting back at the ranch?” I slyly threw out there. “Oh no honey, your brothers are out of town for a rodeo and it was too late for your grandparents to come all this way.” Damn, we were playing this game huh. They were going to make me ask about Landon, Well, that wasn’t going to happen...no way. It would be a long hour drive to the ranch if they were wanting me to speak about him first.

The drive home was all chatter about New York, my new job in Amarillo, and my three months of leave I was granted. The large metal sign came into view and the words ‘Taylor Cattle Co.’ let me release a breath I hadn’t realized I'd been holding since I left, almost three years ago. The house was your typical beautiful white farmhouse with a few chips in the paint, a wrap around porch, and a wanna-be guard dog hanging in the yard. The lights of the house seemed like beacons against the dark sky, I was finally home and man it felt great.

I made my way upstairs to my old room and sat on my bed. From the big picture window, I noticed lights in the distance. Mama walked in to say goodnight and to bring me a glass of water, like she used to, “what are those lights out in the pasture? Isn’t that the old barn dad hated?” I got up and walked over to the window, mama followed behind me. “Sweetie...” she paused and placed her arm around me “That’s Landon’s house, he fixed it up after your daddy made him the foreman of the ranch about a year ago.” She waited for that news to sink in, there it was, my opening. “Oh, I hadn’t realized he’d want to move onto the property once he got the job...” the conversation died the instant we heard a knock on the front door. “I’ll just grab that, you go on and get some rest now. It’s so good to have you home baby girl.” I waited for her to descend down the staircase and then walked over to the landing to listen. Why had she insisted I go on to bed, it was only eight o’clock. “Hey Mrs. Taylor, I brought you some vegetables from my garden and I was hoping to get that new bridle from Mr. Taylor so I could put it to use on Sergeant tomorrow.” The familiar accent floated through the small two story cottage and stung me right in the heart, Landon. My parents finished the conversation with him, turned out the lights, and went to bed. There was no way I would be able to sleep now, I was so wound up from just hearing that Texas accent. I pulled on my boots and a small wind shirt and made my way downstairs and to the barn. I wasn’t too confident about facing Landon yet, but I needed to vent, and I knew the horses would be great listeners.

As I passed each stall I stopped to pet the horses and feed them a range cube or two, but stopped when I found Sergeant's stall. I missed this horse, he’d been such a great asset to the ranch when Landon brought him home, he was the only horse he’d let me ride that wasn’t ours originally. We stood there nose to nose until that familiar voice snuck up behind me. “He misses you too Sam...” I drew in a sharp breath and turned. There he was, still as handsome as ever and still rugged from the hard work on the range. “I, uh, wasn’t expecting you back for another couple months” he murmured. “I was able to take some leave before I started in Amarillo.” He took a step closer and I knew it was my chance to figure out what the heck was going to become of the both of us. “How’ve you been?” he whispered as he brushed a piece of my hair behind my ear. There, now was my chance to ask for forgiveness later. I closed the distance between us, stood on my toes, whispered “Missing you Lan”, and then crushed my lips to his.

I felt his body tense and a wave of nausea washed over me and I started to pull back, but he wrapped his strong arms around me and deepened the kiss. I felt all of my emotions and fears slip away and let my body melt into his. We stood there kissing until we were both out of breath. He pulled back softly and moved his hands to cup my face. His eyes were the same deep blue that I’d remembered, “I’m so sorry...” I started. “Shh baby, it doesn’t matter anymore.” He breathed. “Did you finally open my brown paper package tied up with string?” He laughed. Tears began to spill down my face as I nodded. He softly kissed my lips and knelt down on one knee before me. “I’ve never stopped loving you Samantha Taylor, please finally make me the happiest man and be my wife?” Everything went blurry as I said YES!