“I’ve been worse,” he said honestly. “Hey, Craig, go get that bag of chips, would you? And something that’s not a beer for you to drink.”
“Sure.” Craig headed off for the house and Matt flexed his knee a couple of times.
“Hurts like hell,” he said. “But I figured this first time would be bad.”
“You going back on the circuit?”
“Going to try. Pete has a guy who helped him get back in the game. Some local guy. I’m going to try to see him.”
“Local guy?” Jed asked with a perplexed frown. He pushed back his hat with the lip of his beer bottle. “I wonder if he’s talking about McElroy?”
“Don’t know.”
“If he is...well, all I can tell you is that the guy has a shaky reputation.”
“How so?”
Jed shrugged. “Used to do some stuff for some local football players. Nothing technically illegal, but let’s just say they played pain-free.”
Which wasn’t sounding that bad right now as his knee was threatening to explode on him. Matt ran a hand over the back of his neck, surprised at how taut the muscles were. His entire body was seizing up from the pain in his joint. “You don’t happen to know of anyone else offhand?”
“No, but I hear Liv Bailey is back in town doing physical therapy.”
“Trena sold her my best roping horse,” Matt said before taking a long draw as if trying to wash away bitterness.
“I know.”
Who didn’t? Matt smiled tightly. “Don’t get divorced.”
“Don’t plan on it,” Jed said with a certainty that stirred a whisper of jealousy inside of Matt. Must be nice to be that sure. So was Jed going to be blindsided like Matt was?
Unlikely, since Jed seemed to be staying at home with his bride in a way that Matt never had.
“As far as roping practice goes, I imagine you’re going to be busy for the next several years?” Matt asked with a half smile.
“I’ll let you know. I can probably get away for a night or two every now and then, but since I hear that two kids feel more like four, no promises.”
“None asked.” Craig came out of the house carrying a bag of chips and a liter bottle of Mountain Dew.
“You never told me where you picked up a kid,” Jed said before Craig got into earshot, and from his expression, Matt realized that Jed probably thought Craig was his kid.
“Willa’s boy. She’s working on a dude ranch and I agreed to keep him for a while.”
“Ah,” Jed said, looking faintly embarrassed.
“Hey,” Craig said, plopping down on the trailer wheel cover and handing Matt the chips. Matt dutifully took a handful as did Jed. He wasn’t particularly interested in chips, but it had been the only thing he could think of to get rid of Craig long enough to ask Jed about knee doctors. The last thing he wanted was for Craig to start in-depth internet research on the subject.
“I’d better get going,” Jed said after he’d emptied his beer. He checked his phone again, then got into his truck. “If I get any names I’ll let you know,” he said through the open window.
“I’d appreciate it,” Matt said.
“What kind of names?” Craig asked.
“Baby names,” Jed replied with a crooked smile.
Craig’s mouth twisted. “Well, whatever you do, steer clear of Crag.”
CHAPTER NINE
ACCORDING TO THE phone book, Dr. Randall McElroy rented an office at Andie Ballentine’s clinic, which meant that if Matt went to see the guy, he’d probably run into Liv. After that last encounter, he wasn’t sure if that was a good idea.
At least he’d finally gotten it through his head that he hadn’t really known Liv—and she hadn’t known him—especially if she believed that he’d hurt Beckett.
Matt waited until Craig went out to feed the calves before dialing the clinic. “Uh, yeah. This is Matt Montoya,” he said when the receptionist answered. “I’d like to make an appointment to see Dr. McElroy.”
“Oh, hi, Matt. This is Etta. How are you?”
Etta. Great. “In need of an appointment.”
“Well—” she dragged the word out “—Dr. McElroy is no longer with the clinic.”
That was a positive. Now he wouldn’t have to run into Liv. “Do you know where I can find him?”
“Are you a patient?”
“Not yet.”
“Then I suggest you make an appointment with Andie.”
“Uh, no. I don’t think that will work.”
“Because...?”
“Etta, are you supposed to ask questions like that?”
“Well, it isn’t like we don’t know each other.”
And had slept together a few times. “I’d rather see a male doctor.”