Fresh-Start Ranch

“Take it up with the judge, Doris,” the sheriff replied.

She came face-to-face with Ethan. “You take care of that foal.”

Tessa stared in amazement at the woman. She hadn’t taken care of the mother horse and now was worried about the foal? Something wasn’t right.

“The doc will take good care of her,” Ethan answered, but his tone, understanding yet firm, surprised Tessa.

The woman shook her finger at Ethan. “You be sure.”

“What you need to worry about, Doris, is calling the county court and seeing when your hearing is scheduled. You can complain to the judge,” the sheriff interjected.

Doris snarled at him.

Ethan turned his back on the woman and walked Tessa to the cab of her truck. Tessa wondered if the woman might rush them.

“Don’t worry,” Ethan whispered. “Doris talks big, but she won’t do anything outright in front of everyone.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve known her all my life.”

Tessa was pretty sure she knew what that meant—Doris would have someone else do her dirty work. “I’ll see you back at Doc’s office.” He turned, starting toward his truck. He paused, turned and gave her a thumbs-up. “You did a great job delivering that foal, Doc.”

The praise shocked Tessa. He didn’t wait for a response, just headed toward her truck.

But as they drove back to the clinic, she thought about Ethan’s words. She wasn’t the only one who’d done well. It’d been touch-and-go there. As they worked to save the foal, he’d accurately anticipated her needs before she voiced them.

They made a good working team.

The thought shook her to her core and set her protective instincts on alert.

* * *

Ethan walked down the center aisle of the hospital barn, looking for Tessa. He carried a cup of hot, fresh coffee. He would relieve Tessa and take the next shift of watching and hand-feeding Momma and her babe. It was close to four in the morning. Once they’d gotten back to the veterinary hospital, Tessa and Dr. Adams had worked evaluating the horses, starting IVs and seeing to the needs of the most critical of the animals. They documented their work so it could be used in court. Not once had Doc Adams had to direct Tessa. She knew her stuff. One of the other volunteers had commented that Doc’s new partner knew her way around a horse. Word would quickly spread about her abilities.

After initial evaluations, she checked each horse a second time, then took the second shift of feeding Lady, the foal’s dam. They’d sent all the other volunteers home after the horses were settled outside in the paddock.

Doc had taken the first shift of watching mare and foal. Now it was Ethan’s turn to take the shift from four to seven. He stopped at the door to the stall. Tessa sat on a three-legged stool beside the sling of hay attached to the sidewall of the stall.

Tessa’s eyes were closed. But despite her tired, vulnerable appearance, he knew his perspective on her had undergone a major change. After what they’d been through yesterday, looking at Tessa now, she didn’t look like a high school freshman he first mistook her for. Instead, what he saw was a petite woman who had a dazzling smile and a voice that could calm the most nervous horse or stressed person. He also saw a determined soul. The lady knew her stuff. But what he felt went deeper than appreciation for her skill.

He hadn’t been prepared for his pull to her, after he got over the initial shock of finding her tending his mount. He was gun-shy about commitments after his disastrous engagement to Mary.

Of course, it didn’t help that Mary had suddenly reappeared in his life a month ago as the replacement lawyer for the rescue group, poking at the old wound. Over the years, while he’d seen her in passing, since her parents owned the ranch next to his family’s ranch, he hadn’t had to talk to her. But in the weeks she’d been here, dealing with her had opened up old hurts, shame and embarrassment. He was way too raw to consider romance again.

A delicate snore drew his attention back to Tessa.

The mare woke and started to nibble the hay and caught several strands of Tessa’s hair. Tessa woke with a jerk. The horse lipped another few stalks of hay. Tessa reached up and rubbed the horse’s nose. “That’s right, Momma, eat the hay, not the vet’s hair. We want a healthy momma and baby, not a bald vet.” Turning her head, Tessa noticed him. “Is that coffee for me?”

“It is. I’ve already finished my cup and thought you might need some fortification.”

“A man after my own heart.” The instant the last word fell from her lips, her eyes widened and her cheeks turned pink. The words made him feel a little awkward, too, but he couldn’t help but smile when she looked so cute.

“Huh, I mean—”

Shaking his head, he said, “I know what you meant.” He handed her the mug. Cradling it between her hands, she sipped the brew.

“That’s so good.” She took another sip. “Thanks.”

He didn’t think anything about his actions. It was simply a gesture he would’ve made for anyone who’d worked as hard as she had, but he doubted he would’ve felt the same happiness at her thanks if the person doing the thanking was Ollie, the old grizzled foreman at his brother’s therapy ranch. What was going on with him?

“How’s this girl doing?” he asked as he fed the mare another handful of hay, eager to change the subject.

“So-so but steady.” Tessa stood and checked the bag of fluid. “I need to get another one of these.” Setting down her cup on the stool, she disappeared around the door of the stall.

She soon returned to the entrance to the stall with a new IV bag. She quickly changed out the bag. Another yawn seized her.

“Why don’t you grab a couple hours of shut-eye? I’ll watch these two.”

“Not that I don’t appreciate the help, but don’t you need to get back home?”

“I talked with my folks around midnight, updating them on the rescue. I told them I’d probably spend the night here, helping. It’s not the first time Doc and I have been babysitting sick, rescued animals.”

She studied him, and he knew she was evaluating him. Apparently, he passed the test because she nodded. “Thanks.” She disappeared down the aisle.

The foal made her way to her momma and began to nurse. Ethan had to smile at the new life that Tessa and he had a hand in. They worked well together.

And that made him antsy. He didn’t want to let another woman into his life. Not yet, maybe not ever again.

* * *

A few hours later, Dr. Adams appeared in the stall opening. “You ready to eat some breakfast?”

Ethan looked at the sleeping foal. She seemed stronger, but still favored her right front leg. “I am. The horses seem to be doing well.”

“Good. The rest of the horses are faring well, too. Come on into the kitchen and have some breakfast. I’ve got a feeling that it’s going to get busy sooner than we want. Other ranchers will be coming today to get horses to house.”

With a final glance, Ethan stood and stretched. He joined Doc outside the stall and closed the door behind him. As they walked through the screened-in breezeway that ran from the barn past the operating room and offices to the house, Ethan nailed Doc with a look. “Imagine my surprise yesterday, when I walked into my barn and found this unknown person handling Ranger.”

A mischievous smile crossed Doc’s face. “That so?”

“Yup.”

“Your dad knew Tessa and I had divided up the calls after the storm,” the older man offered innocently. “Your folks were here right after Tessa arrived. Your mom fixed up the spare room for her. Besides, you knew I’d hired a new vet.”

Doc scored a point. “True. I remember you saying you hired a Dr. T. Grant who graduated from Purdue. No one mentioned the T stood for Tessa, not Tony or Terry, nor did you mention when Dr. Grant would get here.”

“Does it matter, Ethan?”