no, I didn’t believe half of it.”
Kurt liked him already. “Smart man. You can tell me over lunch what you do believe. It’s been a while since I’ve visited Willow Springs, but I know the town must be grateful for another doctor.”
They turned together toward the hall leading to Leland’s rooms. “It’s a nice place, smaller than I’m used to, but the slower pace suits me. Your father is doing well, but could do better.”
“That’s just one of the reasons I’m back to stay. With luck, I can help there. I may not be his favorite person, but he’ll listen just to get me off his back.” It still hurt, even after all this time, to think he might never measure up in his father’s eyes again.
Mitchell flicked him a scrutinizing look. “I think you underestimate his feelings for you. I saw his face when he got your call saying you were coming home. I made it my business to do a little digging into your family. You two had it rough losing two family members so close together.” A spasm of sorrow crossed his face and darkened his eyes before he cleared his expression. “I’m sorry, I know how difficult that must have been.”
Kurt caught the fleeting glimpse of sadness; it was a similar look of heartbreak he’d seen reflected on Leslie’s face, in her blue eyes. Like her, this man seemed to want to hide his own painful loss, and he gave him the respect of not prying. “It was, and likely still will be since Leland deals with part of his grief by blaming me for my sister’s recklessness that led to her death.” He figured airing the dirty laundry was best if the doctor planned to stay this diligent in his care for his contrary patient. “I’ll work with him the best I can, that’s all I can promise.” With a short rap, he entered the bedroom. “Dad, Doc’s here.”
Kurt stood off to the side while Mitchell did a quick vitals check and made notes before asking Leland how much he was getting out of the chair.
“That girl is a ball buster,” Leland snapped, but Kurt noticed the softening of his face when he mentioned Tamara, the physical therapist and his friend, Connor’s wife. “Always carrying on about gettin’ up, gettin’ movin’.”
“That’s the only way you’ll get your strength back, what’s possible anyway. You keep sitting around on your butt, you can forget ever sitting on a horse again,” Mitchell told him with a bluntness Kurt approved of. Better than anyone else, he knew that was the best way to handle his dad and it appeared it hadn’t taken the doc long to learn that.
“If you’d spend less time giving everyone a hard time and put that effort into your therapy, I can clear you for more activity outside the house that much sooner. The choice is yours.” Mitchell softened the lecture by patting Leland’s shoulder as he pushed to his feet. “Can I tell Mrs. Dunbar to step it up a notch this week?”
Leland cut a quick glance toward Kurt before replying, “Sure. Now that I can rely on my boy to handle things, I can concentrate on myself.”
“If you’re trying to shame me for staying away, you should know by now it won’t work,” Kurt retorted. “But the reason for that will remain tabled. I have a lot to do, as you just pointed out.” Pivoting, he left as Cory returned for the doctor’s instructions.
Veering into the kitchen, he asked Babs, “I’m sorry. I should have asked if you had enough to include the doctor for lunch.”
“Already planned on him, so yes.”
She waved her hand toward the two place settings on a round, six seat kitchen table under a bay window that offered a sweeping view of their manicured green backyard bordered by low hedges of Taunting Spreading yews. The evergreen foliage of short, dark green needles offered color when the grass died and tolerated winter burn, making it just one of the markers they could rely on when they were forced to deal with chores during the snow season. It had taken Kurt just one time getting disoriented and turned around when he’d tried to find his way from the farthest barn back to the house during a white-out to never make the mistake of not heeding the safety markers around the ranch again. He’d been all of eight years old and had paid the price for disobeying the foreman’s instructions to wait for him before heading back. Later, after he’d spent almost an hour lost, came close to succumbing to hypothermia, got his butt blistered and saw tears in his father’s eyes for the first time, he realized how lucky he’d been.
For a bad memory, that poignant moment when he’d seen his father’s vulnerability when it came to his love for his family was forever seared in his heart. If only Leland could see past his grief over losing both Angela and Brittany long enough to acknowledge his sister, and her inability to cope with their mother’s death, was to blame for the events that led up to that car accident. Kurt was no psychologist but suspected his father’s difficult struggle with Angela’s death hadn’t helped Brittany cope, and then to turn her over to Kurt to handle when she lashed out compounded the volatile tenseness they all lived under.
Babs laid her hand on his shoulder, bringing him back to the present. “He’s perked up these past weeks, since hearing you were coming back to stay. It won’t be like before, Kurt. I just know it, and he’s changed since the stroke, mellowed, believe it or not, since he’s had time to reflect on his mistakes.”
“Let’s hope you’re right, because I’m in no mood to return to a constant pissing match with him. I can fulfill my obligations to the ranch from another house, if it comes to that.”
“Save that threat for when it’ll do the most good,” Mitchell said, entering the kitchen. “I’ve seen a change in him lately, one that gives me hope for a fuller recovery. That smells good, if your offer for lunch is still open.”
Kurt nodded. “It is. Have a seat.”
“You too.” Babs pushed Kurt toward the table when he made to help her dish out the salad.
“I can see she’s not a woman to argue with.” Mitchell’s mouth curled, softening his rugged features as he slid into a chair.
“No, definitely not if you want to get fed. Dad’s checkup pass the muster?”
“It did.” The doctor nodded his thanks as Babs set a large bowl in front of each of them, along with chips and salsa. “I’ll take Mr. Wilcox and Cory theirs then head home for a few hours. See you at dinner.”
“Thanks, Babs.” Kurt sent her a grateful smile, knowing she was giving him a private moment with the doctor and time to settle back in. They discussed Leland’s health, a game plan for therapy and prognosis as they ate, the doctor’s detailed suggestions and schedule affording Kurt hope his dad would enjoy another ten healthy, if not as robust years.
“That all sounds good,” he commented, refilling their iced tea glasses. “I’ll see he keeps to the schedule and start bringing him in for checkups, and therapy if needed. We can’t expect Tamara to keep coming out here.”
Mitchell hesitated before asking with seeming nonchalance, “Do you know her and her husband well?”
“The Dunbars? Yes, Caden a little better than Connor as he and I went through high school together. I hung out with both of them some, along with Grayson Monroe before I moved to Houston. Why do you ask?”
Shoving back, Mitchell crossed one ankle over his opposite knee and pinned Kurt with a direct look. “If you know them that well, I’ll assume you’ve heard about a private club they own.”
“The Barn.” Kurt cocked his head, sizing Mitchell up, reading between the lines. “Are you interested as an experienced Dom or for checking out the lifestyle?”