Know Me, Keep Me Read online

  Know Me, Keep Me

  Full Heart Ranch Series #3

  By: Barbara Gee

  Copyright ©2015 by Barbara S. Gunden

  All rights Reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner (including all references to professional hockey teams). Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.

  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of Barbara Gunden, except for the use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  CHAPTER 39

  CHAPTER 40

  CHAPTER 41

  EPILOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  Boone Kendall opened the Google Earth app on his iPad and typed a single number into the search field. Since he’d looked up the address many times before, that one digit was all Google needed to auto-fill the rest. The full address appeared at the top of the list, waiting for him to confirm it was correct. He gave it a quick tap and the image of the earth began to spin, rapidly zeroing in on the exact location he’d requested. Boone watched as the familiar landscape appeared, the satellite image going from blurred to clear as it loaded. He touched two fingertips to the screen and zoomed in, just as he always did. One more time.

  Of course everything on the screen looked exactly the same as it had three months ago, when he’d entered the address for the very first time. Within a week he’d basically memorized the whole plot of land and everything on it, but that hadn’t stopped him from coming back for more. Every few days he found himself staring at the same landscape in Barlow, North Dakota, brooding over what it represented.

  But no more. This was the last time he’d be looking at the Full Heart Ranch through Google’s eyes. Later today he’d be seeing the ranch for himself, in person. No more need for satellite images.

  He shifted in his chair and looked at the clock on the wall. He still had a few minutes to kill before he left for the airport, so he hunched over the iPad again and zoomed in further, studying the house, the outbuildings, the large stables and paddocks. Horses and cattle dotted the fields—the same ones that had always been there. The calves he was looking at were probably grown and sold by now, but here on the screen they were babies forever. Or at least until Google decided to upload more recent shots of the area.

  Boone rubbed his eyes wearily, still getting used to the idea that his feet would soon be on Full Heart Ranch soil. How would that feel? And the more troubling question, how would it feel to be the only one who actually knew why he was there? As in the real reason, not the one given in his cover story.

  That was the part making him uneasy, because deception wasn’t his thing. Going to the ranch with a bunch of secrets wasn’t how he would have chosen to do it, but for now he didn’t see any other way. This whole situation had been dropped on him like a bomb, and he was simply doing the best he could to figure it out and deal with it.

  Boone pushed the iPad away and shoved his chair back, striding across the room to open the front door so he could watch for Jax. His buddy had offered to take him to the airport, and while Boone would have preferred to simply hire a car, he hadn’t been able to come up with a good enough excuse not to let Jax do it. His best friend and teammate was already having a hard time accepting the fact that Boone was going to be off the ice for the rest of the season, and if it made him feel a little better to be able to provide this one final service, Boone was willing to let him do it.

  He left the door open, ignoring the chilly late April breeze that swept into the house. He returned to the table and picked up the tablet again, making room for it in his already bulging backpack. That bag got added to the two suitcases already packed and waiting by the door, then he went to grab a bottle of water from the nearly empty fridge. Thankfully the path to the kitchen took him past the thermostat, and he remembered to take it off automatic and adjust the heat setting down to sixty degrees, where it would stay while he was gone.

  Returning to the living room, he glanced out the door in time to see Jax’s silver BMW turn into the drive. After one last look around the house to make sure everything was as it should be, Boone slung his backpack over his shoulder and picked up the other bags.

  “Whoa, there, Boone, let me help with those,” his friend said, hurrying up the walk.

  “I got it,” Boone said tersely. “It’s my head that’s jacked up, not my arms.”

  “No over-exertion of any kind,” Jax reminded him, wresting one of the bags away. “This is the kind of thing I’m worried about. I know you signed on the dotted line, promising you wouldn’t do anything that could jeopardize your recovery, but I’m not sure you realize exactly what that means. If you don’t have anyone watching, you might do too much without even thinking about it, and that could be bad.”

  Boone raised his free hand in defeat and followed Jax down the sidewalk. “Give me some credit, Jax. I’m not going to do anything stupid. These bags aren’t even heavy.”

  “It’s not as heavy as it looks,” Jax conceded, doing a quick bicep curl with the one he was holding. “But seriously, it makes me nervous that you’re heading off on your own. I’d feel better if you’d stay close, where the team trainers could supervise you.”

  “I’ve been under their supervision for seven weeks. I’m sick to death of being asked ten times a day how my head is feeling. And I can’t handle sitting in the locker room watching the games on TV anymore, especially now that I know the rest of the season is a bust for me. Even if we make the play-offs, I won’t be cleared to play. There’s nothing the trainers can do to make the headaches go away, and the fact that Ian is willing to put me on injured reserve tells me that no one expects that to happen anytime soon. I need to get out of here, for my own sanity if nothing else.”

  Jax loaded the bags into his trunk, his expression grim. “We’re going to miss having you around. Even though you can’t be on the ice, it’s good to have you with the team. You’re a leader in the locker room, whether you’re lacing up your skates or not.”

  “Not lately, Jax, and you know it. When you’re out of commission this long, it’s almost impossible to feel like part of the team, much less a leader. Now that the rest of the season has basically been ruled a bust for me, everyone is just gonna feel sorry for me. It’s better that I cut out now, before I drag you guys down.”

  “You could never drag us down, Boonzy.”

  The men got in the car and Jax backed out of the drive. Boone rubbed his eyes again, trying to ignore the throbbing in his head that was still present more
often than not, even seven weeks after his injury.

  “I’ll be back in the fall, Jax, raring to go. I promise. But I need to get away from it all for a while.”

  “So where you headed? Someplace warm with lots of women?” Jax shot him a stern look. “Remember what I said about overdoing it, okay? That includes with the females.”

  “Are you being serious? I haven’t gone down that road since my rookie year and you know it.”

  “I just don’t want you going wild and crazy trying to take your mind off things. You’re not married and settled down like me, so there’s always that temptation.”

  “Relax. I’m not going somewhere warm, and I don’t expect there to be many available women around.”

  Jax raised his brows as he merged onto the interstate. “You going to tell me where?”

  Boone shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. I’m going to be volunteering at a retreat center for wounded veterans.”

  “No kidding?” Jax asked, a big smile spreading across his face. “That sounds awesome, and exactly like something you would do, man. What’ll you be doing there?”

  Boone tamped down the guilt. Naturally Jax assumed he was doing this simply out of the goodness of his heart, and of course he’d do his best to help out a worthy cause while he was at the ranch, but there was more to it. Lots more. He couldn’t talk about that with anyone, though. At least not yet. Not even his best friend.

  He cleared his throat and brought his mind back to the conversation at hand. “Believe it or not, the place I’m going to just finished building an enclosed ice rink. I’ll be helping out with that.”

  “Oh yeah? Teaching the vets to play hockey? Like with those sleds and stuff?”

  “Both standing and sled players, depending on their injuries. Nothing hard core, just giving them the opportunity to try it. I’ll help teach them the basics, and the plan is to have informal tournaments at the end of the retreats to show off what they’ve learned. The retreat center is in North Dakota, so having indoor activities is important in the winter, when they can’t do as much stuff outside. That’s why they chose to build a rink.”

  “Dang, they hit the jackpot by getting you. I just hope the retreat people are ready for the paparazzi that’re gonna show up when they find out you’re there.”

  “I’m keeping it quiet, at least that’s the plan. Coach and Ian know, and the team medical staff, but that’s it. I don’t want to be more trouble than I’m worth to the organization I’m going to be volunteering for.”

  Jax frowned. “You won’t actually be playing, will you?”

  “Not at first. Teaching and demonstrating only. Nothing too strenuous, I promise. The most important thing for me is going to be staying in shape. There’s a physical therapist on staff there who is also a personal trainer. The team trainers have already been in contact with her, and she’ll be monitoring me and putting me through daily workouts. I’m sure she’s well aware of the do’s and don’ts. The people who run the place know I’m going to have to spend a lot of time in the gym, but they’re still willing to take me on.”

  “Well that’s a no brainer! They’re lucky to get you under any circumstances. Man, the veterans are gonna to be thrilled when they realize they’re getting a chance to work with one of the top players in the National Hockey League.”

  “We’ll see, I guess.” Boone looked out the window, hoping Jax was done asking questions. He had a lot on his mind, and now that his long anticipated trip had actually begun, he was second-guessing himself big time.

  He wished Jax wasn’t so impressed with his plans. Going to the Full Heart Ranch was, above all, self-serving. Sure, he’d have the opportunity to do some good while he was there, and he fully intended to do so. He believed in the cause and was looking forward to interacting with the men and women who came to the retreat center. But that didn’t take away from the fact that, ice rink or not, Boone would have eventually found a way to get to that ranch. That was a given.

  It was also what kept him up at night.

  CHAPTER 2

  Libby leaned forward, resting her elbows on the lunch table as she studied her friend. “Honestly, Jolene, I’ve never seen you so keyed up. Seriously? All this over a hockey player?”

  Jolene’s eyes narrowed. “Boone Kendall is not just any hockey player, Libby,” she declared. “He’s captain of the Minnesota Wild, which you know is my favorite team. And he’s their best player, hands down. He’s completely turned the team around in the two years he’s been with them. If you knew anything about hockey, you’d be just as excited about him spending a couple months here as I am.”

  “I might not know much about hockey, but according to you and Tuck, having Boone call to ask about volunteering with us is like winning the lottery.”

  “Better than the lottery,” Jolene said. “So much better. I wish it hadn’t taken an injury to get him here, but if he can’t play anyway, we might as well benefit.”

  Libby grinned. “I think you owe me a thank you. Without my incredible marketing skills, I’m sure he’d have never heard about our little ice rink from all the way over there in Minneapolis.”

  “St. Paul,” Jolene corrected. “And I’m definitely grateful he found out about us. The only thing that concerns me a bit is his frame of mind when he gets here. If he’s angry about the concussion knocking him out for the rest of the season, he might not be all that pleasant to have around.”

  “Do you really think that’ll be a problem?” Libby wondered.

  “I hope not, considering he’s coming of his own free will and not because he’s being forced. And even if he does have some self-pity issues going on, he’ll soon find out that his injury pales in comparison to the disabilities our retreat-goers suffer. If that doesn’t help him gain some perspective, I don’t know what will.”

  “Agreed. He’ll get a double shot of perspective and courage every single day here at the ranch.”

  Jolene sighed and pushed the remains of her lunch to the side. “Still, he’s a professional athlete, and you don’t get to that level without living and breathing your sport. Being sidelined has got to be devastating for him. I need to remember that, and cut him a little slack if he shows up with an attitude.”

  Libby nodded thoughtfully. “Whatever his mindset, I think it’s commendable that he wants to spend his recovery time volunteering. I would’ve figured he’d head for a beach somewhere.”

  “Me, too. I’m still in shock, to tell you the truth. I can’t believe he’s actually on his way here.”

  “Well, I for one can’t wait to meet the guy. I want to see firsthand why you get all flustered just thinking about him.”

  “Wait till you see him on the ice. Then you’ll know.”

  “Maybe. But Boone Kendall’s issues aside, what I already know,” Libby said with a proud grin, “is that our new ice rink is spectacular. What a great addition to the center. And all because you and Tuck discovered your mutual love of hockey one day.”

  “Yep. And out of that, a great idea was born.” Jolene stood and picked up her tray. “Thanks for meeting me for lunch, but I need to get back to the gym. I promised Boone’s team trainers I’d do a complete baseline assessment first thing tomorrow. I need to get a sense of his overall fitness level and make sure it doesn’t decline while he’s here. They sent me a number of workouts he can do that are safe for him, but I’m pretty sure I can improve on them. I’ve been reading up on post-concussion syndrome, and I have a ton of ideas.”

  “What a tough job you have, Jo,” Libby teased, grabbing her own tray and following her friend. “Watching your hero hockey player work out for hours every day is going to be a real pain.” She had a sudden thought. “Wait, is he married, dating, or single? I didn’t think to ask when I set up his accommodations. Although given his celebrity status, I did put him in one of the staff cabins instead of the dorm, which is plenty big enough if he does have someone coming along. Private, too.”

  “He’s not married, that’s all I
know. We’ll just have to play it by ear.”

  Libby chuckled. “I’m kinda hoping he’s single and available. That would make things a little more interesting for you.”

  Jolene rolled her eyes. “Give me a break, Lib. He’s one of the best players in the entire league. Those guys have their pick of women. They aren’t interested in physical therapists living in Barlow, North Dakota.”

  “But he’s never met our physical therapist.”

  Jolene put her tray on the conveyor belt that would take it into the kitchen, giving her friend a worried look. “Don’t go there, Libby, okay? I’m looking forward to this because it will most likely be the only chance I ever have to work with a professional athlete. Their bodies aren’t like normal humans—I’m saying that as a member of the medical profession, not as a woman. And their commitment to stay in top form takes incredible dedication. I can’t wait to see all that close up, and it’ll be a lot easier if I can keep everything professional and not have to worry about you and Maddy getting other ideas.”

  Libby plunked down her tray. “I promise to try very hard not to embarrass you. But that could be hard, because somehow, I can totally see you with a big strapping hockey player with a wonky nose and a lot of missing teeth.”

  The nose and teeth thing definitely did not apply to Boone Kendall, but Jolene chose not to disclose that. It would make it more fun to see Libby’s reaction when she actually met the man. “Playing a game that involves flying pucks and slashing sticks can take its toll,” she said with a shrug.

  They left the dining hall and entered the adjoining gym building, walking through a hallway until they reached the PT department. Jolene pushed the button for the automatic door opener, then put a hand to her chest and exhaled a long breath.

  “I still can’t believe he’ll be here in four hours. I sure hope I’m more composed by then.”

  Libby patted her back reassuringly as they walked into the PT receiving area. “You’re a professional, Jolene. I’m not a bit worried.”