The Doctor's Choice Read Online Free PDF Page B

willing to sell to you at this time?”
    “Everyone has their price, young lady. I ’m pretty sure that Silky and I had just about arrived at hers.”
    “I see .” Staring at the powerful man, she felt small and vulnerable.
    “And, I would be willing to take up negotiations with you right where Silky and I left off.” Kincaid pushed back on the loveseat with a satisfied expression.
    “I think you’re talking to the wrong person, Mr. Kincaid. You see, I’ve accepted a fellowship in immunology. The will stipulates that I live here for a year to inherit. The ranch will pass to someone else.”
    Kincaid’s expression changed from smug superiority to astonishment. “What? That can’t be! You’re the only one she had to leave it to. Don’t tell me it goes to the cat?” His face took on a florid hue and he made sputtering noises.
    “Not the cat,” she assured him. “ If I refuse to submit to the conditions of the will, my great-aunt stipulated that the ranch go to Mr. Breckenridge Ryan, her attorney.”
    “Damn!” Kincaid leapt to his feet. “That can’t be!”
    “I’m afraid so.” Cami stood and turned to ward the door. “I hate to rush you off, Mister Kincaid, but I must get back to my dinner preparations. Thank you so much for dropping by.”
    He jammed his hat on his head. “When are you leaving, Doctor?”
    “Tomorrow afternoon, Mr. Kincaid.” She twisted the faceted glass doorknob, letting a frigid draft rush inside.
    “I’ll talk to you tomorrow morning. I may be able to change your mind.” He left abruptly, his boots sounding like hammer blows as he strode across the porch.
    Cami quickly closed the door and returned to the kitchen. The chicken casserole and peach cobbler were heated through and had saturated the air with luscious spicy aromas. She found a bag of frozen green beans, choosing them over broccoli or asparagus, in case the men had some sort of macho aversion to these sissy vegetables. She put together a salad and splashed it with Italian dressing and wrapped the bread in foil to warm in the oven.
    She just had time to change into a blue tunic sweater and leggings before hearing a knock at the back door.
    “Please come in, gentlemen,” she invited.
    Frank and T-Bone, cheeks reddened from the cold wind, hurried inside.
    “Good evening, Ma’am,” Frank said, though he was probably around the same age as Cami.
    They hung their hats and jackets on a peg rack behind the kitchen door.
    “Something sure smells good.” T-Bone rubbed his rough hands together.
    “I take no credit for the meal,” she protested. “Silky’s friends made everything.” She led them to the dining room and brought the bread to the table. “What would you like to drink?” They looked at each other but remained mute. “Water, soft drink, milk, coffee…or beer? Those are the choices.” She stood with hands on her hips, looking from one to the other.
    “Well, ma’am, if it’s all the same to you” Frank’s voice faded into a whisper.
    “A beer?” she asked and he nodded, reddening slightly. She brought three longneck bottles from the refrigerator and handed them around.
    T-bone deftly wielded the opener. Their eyes met and T-Bone raised his bottle. Frank and Cami touched their bottles to his in salute. “To Miss Silky,” he said.
    “To Aunt Silky,” she echoed.
    Frank held her chair at the head of the table. Aunt Silky’s place . Did they really expect her to take up where Silky left off? She sucked in a deep breath slid into the seat.
    After filling their plates and giving them a chance to enjoy the food, Cami cleared her throat. “I wanted to ask you gentlemen if you were familiar with the terms of Aunt Silky’s will?”
    The m en stopped chewing and looked at one another.
    “Well, not exactly, Miss Cami,” T-Bone said. “She always said she was leaving everything to you. The whole shooting match.”
    “That’s what she did,” she said. “Of course, she left each of you a nice sum