Arizona Aussie

By SQ Eads

Scott Harrison has had it with women. Determination hardens in him like concrete...he’ll remain a bachelor forever.
Then fun-loving Randee Lambert pops up in the pen with his prize bull. The beautiful, Australian veterinarian adds a whole new dimension to the definition of trouble.
Arizona Aussie is a fun-filled contemporary romance with lots of twists.

What Readers Are Saying : "Once again I was hooked from the first paragraph of SQ Eads books. This is a story that puts you right in the middle of the action. The vet in this story is so independent and strong and she was so completely funny at times I was laughing out loud. When you match her with a strong male character, you have instant romance. The male character was so strong and yet he clearly relied on God to guide his daily life. It amazes me to read truly good stories where you can see the characters rely on God in their daily lives. This book kept me reading way into the night--couldn't put it down."

"This was really enjoyable reading! How fun to see how we can have preconceived notions of people. Sometimes pretty faces are also quite capable of amazing accomplishments! With the support and love of strongly committed parents and family, we can accomplish, or even endure, just about anything!"

• Language: English
• Publisher: SQ Eads
• Release date: Dec 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311563514

SQ Eads

SQ (Sunny) Eads, an award-winning author, was born and raised in southern Arizona. She received her higher education at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona and flew several years with American Airlines. Her love of Arizona and the mountains surrounding the state are evident in many of her novels. Sunny has lived in Arizona, New York, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Texas. Inspiration for her characters comes from the hero she married, her two lovely daughters and especially her six wonderful grandchildren. Sunny believes that fiction portrays many of life's situations and that good fiction should be entertaining as well as educational, causing laughter and even a few tears. She hopes her readers find peace and joy in the midst of life's journey and eventually come to know the true giver of all life.Sunny is the author of several inspirational novels and her children's storybook, The Adventures of Ricky the Rock Squirrel. All are available at your favorite ebook distributor and also in print.

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Arizona Aussie

Copyright 2015 SQ Eads

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright©1960,1962,1963,1968, 1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Acknowledgements

About SQ Eads

Other books by SQ Eads

Connect with SQ Eads

Chapter One

The Setting:

WW Inc Productions

Alex Carver/Director

6/27/10 AZ seq Take 1

Run, Randee, run!

Dust billowed and rose into the hot desert air like the plume of an atomic bomb. It smothered the warning scream as a tall, slender figure streaked across the path of the oncoming herd of Texas longhorns. Hundreds of pounding hooves like mighty pistons shot tremors through the earth, and a bellowing cacophony drove black clouds of crows screeching from the mesquite trees.

Randee Lambert's long legs cleared the old wooden fence and her boots hit the dry, cracked ground just as the first beast thundered past. Thrown off balance she hit the dirt, rolled, flipped over into a sandy wash and lay still.

The blazing Arizona sun beat down relentlessly as the dust and noise from the stampede began to settle.

A groan escaped as Randee flopped onto her back. She stretched her arms and legs before shifting to a sitting position.

Alex stumbled to her side gasping for breath. You okay?

Randee coughed and nodded. Bob's your uncle.

Alex handed her a clean handkerchief and grinned. I hope that means you're okay. You cut that one too close, but...wow. The film is superb and the stills will be powerful. Want to do more close-call shots?

Blinking away dust from sparkling, black eyes, Randee choked out, Drop dead, Alex.

Laughter and applause punctuated the joking words. It was clear the other five members of the film crew shared Randee's sentiment.

It had been an extremely long day. They'd set up their equipment in the soft, pre-dawn glow before the sun peeked over the distant Chiricahua Mountains.

As the brilliant orb climbed ever higher in the turquoise sky, the heat and dust kept pace. Long past its zenith, the sun still fired the landscape with shimmering waves of molten gold, leaving everyone gasping for a cold drink and craving a cool shower.

Randee rose slowly to her feet and eyed the blue chambray shirt with the fancy red stitching and matching blue twill western pants that she’d been instructed to wear for the previous scene. What once was a snazzy outfit to wear out boot-scooting now sported enough dust and stickers to more closely resemble desert camouflage.

Hot and sweaty and smelling like dirt and manure, Randee wrinkled her nose. Her condition was no surprise, since it was over one hundred degrees and she'd just pulled herself up out of a ditch full of sun dried cow patties. Could have done this at home in Australia, she mumbled under her breath.

What had she been thinking when she took a year off from her veterinary work to shoot ads for a western wear manufacturer? She must have been off in another world or as her grandma always said Away with the pixies. In truth she had let male chauvinism drive her from a job she loved, but she had to admit the past eleven months of travel had been great fun.

Cocking her head, she watched in admiration as the two cowboys on loan to the video crew rode at breakneck speed to the front of the herd and turned the lead animals back into the oncoming group. In minutes thousands of pounds of madly rushing cattle milled peacefully around in an ever-tightening circle.

A grinning Alex snatched her hat from the ground and plopped it onto her tousled, gold-streaked curls. Here's some shade, Mate, he teased in a poor imitation of Randee's down under drawl.

Crocodile Dundee you're not, she groaned. You simply don’t have a knack for languages, Yankee boy. Randee added the last in a perfect copy of Alex's New York accent. She’d learned to drop and add R’s like a native northerner.

Randee adjusted the brim of her natural straw Stetson, tipping it to cut the glare of the sun. I'm zonked.

Alex tugged his Cabela's wrangler cap into place. He’d taken a lot of ribbing over his refusal to wear a traditional cowboy hat, but western wasn’t his style.

You told me this would be a glamorous job, Alex. Slapping at her dust covered pants she rolled her eyes. I’m waiting. When does it get glamorous? We’ve been at this for months now.

No, no. If you’ll remember correctly I said you’d wear fancy western clothes and get to travel all around the United States. Be honest, it was the travel that got you to sign on the dotted line, not a false promise of glamor.

You’re right. It was the opportunity to visit so many different locations that snared me in the end.

And here I thought it was me and my irresistible personality, teased Alex with a dramatic sigh.

Randee smiled fondly at the man at her side. Tall, trim, dark haired except for the few strands of silver at his temples, he exuded charm, confidence and success. Twelve years her senior, she’d grown to love him…like a big brother.

She tucked one arm through his and waved the other hand toward the wide horizon. These mountains are absolutely breathtaking. I think I love this area the best.

Alex laughed. How many times have you said that over the last eleven months? Just wait until our next stop. You’ll change your mind and love it best. Besides, Scottsdale, Arizona is our last stop and from all I’ve heard it is not only beautiful but perhaps a bit glamorous to boot.

Hah! You’ve been saying THAT every time we stop. And every time I still come up looking like a dusted bunny, Randee complained good-naturedly.

Alex’s guffaw filled the hot, dry air. Not ‘dusted bunny’, the term is ‘dust bunny’ and they’re actually little balls of fuzz usually found under your bed.

You’ll be finding no dust or dusted bunnies under my bed. Feels like there may be a few in my throat though. Let’s get something wet. I’m parched.

Alex spied the flash of one deep dimple in her left cheek, the usual precursor to some outrageous comment or action. Come on then. I’m buying.

They headed to the bed of a rusted old pickup truck that had seen better days. On the tailgate sat a large Igloo cooler half-full of melting ice and cold drinks. Alex grabbed a bottle of cold water and tossed it to Randee.

Snatching the bottle out of the air she deftly cranked off the top and drank half without stopping. Aw…pure nectar.

I promise our final set up will be all the glamor you could want. We’ll be using a very select boutique in Scottsdale and the shoot will take place at a high-class breeding ranch for cattle and horses. Place is called Harrison’s Haven. That sound glamorous enough for you?

Randee burst into laughter. She laughed until tears made tracks down her dusty cheeks.

What is soooo funny? inquired Alex, propping his hands on his hips.

One of my favorite childhood books was entitled The Hairy Sons Family – h a i r y – and believe me they weren’t glamorous…more like hairy Lilliputians, fuzzy wee people.

Better than hairy giants, I guess, chuckled Alex.

Right on, mate.

Chapter Two

The nurse shot out of the room, narrowly missing an orderly mopping the already spotless corridor. She headed down the hall like a sprinter and came to a screeching halt at the nurses' station.

It's Mr. Harrison, she gasped as tears began to spill onto her cheeks. He says he's going to kill himself. She gulped in air as she appealed to her superior. Please do something.

Mrs. Jones, the director of nursing, rose swiftly to her feet. Get yourself under control, Nurse Beck, she ordered. I'll take care of Mr. Harrison.

This last statement was thrown over her shoulder as she charged down the hall and pushed open the door to room 436.

Stop. Stop it…right now!

Scott Harrison jumped at the bellowed command and turned to face the doorway. Mrs. Jones stood just inside his room, and as he watched, she approached him in a very purposeful manner. His steely gaze locked with hers in an attempt to stop her in her tracks, to warn her against coming any closer, but to no avail. She surged forward like a foaming, white tsunami intent upon obliterating everything in its path.

Scott Harrison, I can’t believe you are acting out like a two-year old. I’d paddle you like I did when you were little if I thought I could get away with it. And right now I’m upset enough to give it a try. You might be over thirty years old and as big as an ox but that won’t hold me back.

She shook her finger in his face, berating him with each waggle. You've only been here a week, and already you've sent three of my nurses away in tears. Can you imagine how embarrassing it is that my own nephew is the worst patient in this hospital? I'm tired of you and your tantrums, and I'm here to put a stop to it once and for all.

Scott tried to bluff his way out of the situation. Well, if you’d let me out of here, let me get back home, then I wouldn't be able to upset your little nurses or embarrass you. He hated that he sounded exactly like the two-year-old his aunt accused him of being, but he couldn’t seem to help it.

His Aunt Maud shook her silver-gray head, compassion written clearly in the lines of her face. Scott, Scott. You know you can't go home yet.

Tapping the edge of her glasses she explained, You can’t fool these old eyes. I see beneath the bravado and I’ll tell you right now that you are fighting a losing battle trying to hide your pain. As a child you always refused to nurse an injury or to admit that something hurt. However, this time is different. It doesn’t matter whether you acknowledge the pain or not. The doctor will determine your activities or lack thereof, and you have little say in the matter.

Scott gave an exaggerated groan. Then just shoot me.

At his aunt’s snort of laughter he continued, You’d put a horse out of its misery wouldn’t you?

She laughed. Because you spend most of your time with horses doesn’t make you one. Now stop. You’re trying to sidetrack me with your silliness and this is serious business.

Believe me. I’m serious with a capital S. I can’t take much more of this lying in bed stuff. The only good thing to come from this is my fresh determination to never, and I mean NEVER, allow another woman on my ranch. Women and horses do NOT mix.

Don’t be ridiculous.

Hah! Ridiculous? I don’t think so. Scott struggled into a more upright position though the heavy cast on his leg made it difficult.

Do you realize that I’ve only had three – count them – he held up three long fingers, three injuries in all the years I’ve handled animals. All three times, every single one of them was the direct result of some female pulling a stunt that turned from plain stupid to downright dangerous in seconds. And who always ends up in the middle? Who ends up kicked or stomped? Me!

So, does that make you plain stupid or downright dangerous? Maud teased as she straightened the sheet over him and patted his shoulder comfortingly. Calm down, she murmured.

I am calm, he growled. But no more women. Period.

He shivered as he remembered his latest run-in with a crazed horse. Here he was two surgeries later laid up with a badly broken leg that was going to hog tie him in place for several weeks regardless of his complaints.

A deep sigh escaped him as he tried to relax back onto the bed that seemed altogether too small for his massive frame. He shoved one brown hand through his hair leaving several thick, black curls standing in disarray. Maybe if he was honest and expressed his weakness, the Lord would move Maud to have mercy on him. It was worth a try.

Maud, I really can’t handle being confined like this. I need to move around. I need to DO something. What can I say? God made me that way. This was a desperate cry for help and understanding.

God just may use this time to get your attention. You’ve been so busy DOING lately that you’ve quit leaning on Him. You know better, young man.

Scott groaned. Young man, he snorted. At this rate I’ll be old and gray by the time I get out of this place. You can just have them move me to the nursing home.

Scott didn’t miss his aunt’s snicker at his exaggeration and he glared at her.

Ignoring his ire, she placed a gentle hand on his chest and leaned close. Scott, are you in pain?

A sigh of defeat escaped his lips and he turned his head to look out the window.

Scott, answer me. On a scale of one to ten what is your pain level? Her hands snapped to her hips, her stance demanding a truthful answer.

Never did like word problems in algebra class, he growled.

She peered at him more closely. Closer to a ten then a one, right?

Scott’s head shot around as he dropped all teasing and glared at her. Sparks lit his dark gray eyes. OK! OK! It hurts! Satisfied? What is it with you nurses? Better job security if you can get all your patients to admit they’re in pain?

Don’t you get smart with me, young man!

Her tone of voice ripped twenty years off his life, leaving him feeling like a boy again.

You sure that horse didn’t kick you in the head? she snorted. What’s wrong with you? You’re a smart man. So tell me why you are refusing your pain medication? Every time I send a nurse in here to help you she comes out upset. Poor Nurse Beck thinks you're going to kill yourself. She pressed her lips together in an exasperated grimace. What in the world did you tell that poor girl?

Shame washed over Scott’s face as he recalled how distraught the young nurse had been, but he couldn't keep a slight smile from tipping up his lips.

All right. What did you do? Out with it.

He related his threat to his aunt hoping she could still be counted on to appreciate the ridiculous. I told her if she attempted to put any of that mind-deadening stuff in my IV, I would rip the whole thing out and hang myself with it.

Shame on you. Her lips twitched into a smile, and her eyes twinkled, though she tried to appear stern. You are a terrible tease, but don’t forget, more often than not you cause more trouble than you can handle.

Her voice took on a more serious note. Scott, you were never one to avoid a problem. You have always faced up to a situation and dealt with it in a positive and forthright manner. Well, you are going to have to do that again. More than likely you will be here another week depending on the need for more surgery. That is the bottom line. Now, please, for all our sakes, be a good patient. Take your medicine so you can relax and allow your body to heal. When your pain level is lower, you will be less likely to roar and snarl at everyone, and we will all be much happier.

Before Maud could wring a promise of cooperation from Scott, a sharp tap sounded on the door followed by the appearance of a dark head. Is it safe to enter?

Maud is on the warpath, Ron, get in here and help me, begged Scott, laughter rippling through his words.

With a deep chuckle, Ronald Harrison marched through the doorway and over to Maud, giving her a warm hug. Then he turned to his big brother.

Ron rubbed his jaw. What’s with all the black scrub brush covering your face? Don’t they allow any razors in this ward?

Scott fingered the thick growth of beard along his jaw and smiled. Ever try to shave lying down?

No, can’t say I have. But it’s been less than a week since I saw you and you didn’t have a hedge on your chin.

Hey, little brother, don’t knock it. Shaving twice a day all my adult life, I’ve finally wised up. I’ve about decided to let it keep growing. Same with the hair. I can be a black-haired Gabby Hayes. What do you think? Scott laughed at the dubious look on Ron’s clean-shaven face.

Don’t listen to him. He’s having problems thinking clearly. Maud gave him a fond pat on his muscular arm. I’ve got to get back to work, but before I go, Ron, tell me, is Ellen past the morning sickness stage?

Yes, praise the Lord. We’re both thankful that is over. She looks and feels great and we’re reading everything we can get our hands on about being good parents.

Wonderful. I’m happy for you both. Casting a 'you better straighten up and fly right' glance at Scott, she planted her hands