by Hamel, B. B.
We were getting along so well, he was sitting so close, practically touching me, his lips practically inches from mine. I could taste him already, smell him, breathe him in, and then I had to go and ruin it.
I’m beating myself up mentally when another person walks into the room. “Hey there, you must be Holly.”
I look up at a young girl, naturally curly tight brown hair, big blue eyes, light brown skin. She smiles sweetly and I swear she must be the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.
“Uh, hi,” I say.
“Violet.” She reaches out a hand and I shake it. “Nice to meet you.” She’s wearing short jean shorts and a faded gray t-shirt with no shoes or socks, just bare feet.
“Nice to meet you, too.”
“Connor asked me to set you up with a room,” she says, glancing at the window. “Rough weather. You’re the horse doc, right?”
“That’s me,” I say, standing.
“Well, good of you to come all the way out here in this for that old horse,” she says, chatting amiably. I get the sense that she likes to talk and I let her do it. “I keep saying the horse is only worth the price of the bullet we put between its eyes but nobody listens around here. Pisses Connor off to all hell, but hey, whatever.” She hesitates and looks at me. “Seems like you pissed him off, too. What’d you say?”
I wince and frown at her. “He say something?”
“Nope, I can just read that man’s moods.”
“I just mentioned…” I trail off, looking down.
“Ah. The football.”
I look back up. “Yeah.”
She laughs a little bit. “Well, that’ll do it. Don’t worry, everyone brings it up sooner or later and it always pisses him off for some reason. As if people aren’t going to mention the one interesting thing about him.”
“I think all this is interesting.”
She gives me a look and laughs again. She has a nice laugh, earnest and clear. “Eh, I guess you might. I think it’s pretty boring but I grew up around here so I’m used to it. You’re from New York, right? I always wanted to go to that big city. Maybe one day, but so far I’ve only ever been to Bozeman…”
She keeps chatting as we walk through the main house. It’s big with lots of rooms. I try to glance into what we pass but most of the doors are shut. Eventually we stop near the end of what she refers to as the “hunting wing,” probably since it’s decorated with old guns and stuffed deer heads on the wall. She opens a door and ushers me into a big room with a wide bed, a dresser, a TV mounted on the wall, and its own private bathroom.
“Here you go. Best guest room we’ve got,” she says.
“Thanks. I don’t need all this. It’s only one night.”
She shakes her head. “Might as well get some use out of it. Anyway, feel free to eat whatever’s in the kitchen. You look like you’re about Tina’s size so I’ll bring you some clean clothes, okay?”
“You don’t have to,” I say quickly.
“Sweetie, don’t worry about it.” She beams at me. “Welcome to Wood Ranch. Pissing off Connor practically makes you family.”
For some reason, that makes me feel better. She turns and heads out without another word, shutting the door behind her.
I drift over to the bed and sit down on the edge, feeling a little loopy and exhausted. It’s a little past seven at night but I’m drunk and it’s been a long damn day.
I kick off my shoes and collapse back into the bed. “Damn football,” I grumble to myself.
I shut my eyes, dreams of Connor’s muscular body pressed against mine running through my mind.
4
Connor
Damn football. Damn fucking football.
It always comes down to that stupid fucking rookie season.
I stand on the porch with a mug of coffee in my hand, the sun just starting to crest over the hills. Bryant’s up already checking on Dodger and the rest of the boys are riding out to check on the herd after yesterday’s storm. I’m feeling itchy and pissed off, mainly because I’m worried about Dodger and the cattle, but also because of the way I reacted with Holly.
It’s not her fault. Of course she wants to ask about the damn football. Everyone wants to ask about it and if I’m honest with myself, I can’t blame them. Deep down I know it’s one of the more interesting things about me.
Plus, it’s public. It’s not like I can go back and scrub it all away. That shit happened and I’d better be able to handle it.
One day maybe. For now, I guess I’ll just keep getting fucking pissed off like a child.
As I sip my coffee and mentally berate myself some more, I see a rider approach on horseback over the far rise. He’s coming from the northwest, which means he was probably out with the cattle. Normally the cowboys would be on ATVs but it’s too muddy for that. The horses are actually more reliable when the weather’s this shitty.
I recognize the man riding toward me even before I can see his face, just based on the way he holds himself in the saddle. It’s Dale, the youngest cowboy. He’s barely eighteen but he’s been cowboying for years. His family’s from these parts and I hired him as part-time help two summers ago. Last summer, he decided to stay on, and he hasn’t left since.
“Connor,” he calls out, reining his horse in front of me, a big dark beast that won’t let anybody else ride it. “We’ve got trouble.”
I frown and stand up straight. “What’s going on?”
“Most of the cattle are fine, but a few are trapped on this little muddy island. One of the old bridges is down.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re kidding?”
“Not at all. I think it’s like twelve head trapped.”
“Shit.” I put my mug down and start moving. “Get Bryant.”
I hurry out to the barn. Faye’s in there already. “What’s going on?” she asks.
“Get me saddled. We’ve got some trouble.”
She nods and gets moving without another word. I’m getting myself prepped when I notice someone poke their head out from Dodger’s stall.
It’s Holly. I’m surprised to see her. I figured she’d sleep late and leave right away.
“What’s up?” she asks, walking over to me.
“You’re up early.”
“Couldn’t sleep. Plus, I wanted to check on Dodger.”
“How is he?”
“Hanging in there.” She frowns at me. “What’s going on?”
“We’ve got trouble. Cattle stuck, might be hurt, I don’t know.”
“Shit. I’d better come.”
I stare at her. “No way.”
“You might need my help.”
“It’s not an easy ride.”
“I can handle it.”
She stares at me, beautiful and defiant. Her hair’s loose under a hat and she’s wearing a tight flannel shirt tucked into tight jeans. I recognize the clothes, probably from Tina’s wardrobe. God damn, Holly looks fucking sexy as hell, but I can’t let it distract me.
“Fine,” I say. “Faye, saddle her up,” I call out.
Ten minutes later, we’re riding out. Holly keeps up well enough, mostly because old Sadie knows what she’s about. We follow Dale at a distance for about a half hour, heading in a straight line toward the bridges before we spot the cattle and the group of cowboys.
Sure enough, one of the old bridges is down. The cows on the other side are stranded, and I’m pretty sure one of them might be injured, probably from the scare when the bridge collapsed. I pull up next to Violet.
“What’s going on?” I ask her.
“We’re trying to figure out how to get those cows back across,” she says. “But with the bridge down, I don’t know. We might have to try and take them downstream.”
“Not with that hurt one, we won’t,” I growl.
“I can help,” Holly cuts in.
I look over at her. “Too dangerous.”
“Get me across. I can treat the hurt cow then we can herd them downstream and get them ac
ross that way.”
I hesitate a second. Violet shoots me a look and shrugs. “Could work,” she says. “Assuming we can get them all moving.”
I look back at Holly. “You don’t owe this,” I say.
“I want to help.” Her eyes are blazing and I swear, she’s fucking beautiful.
“Okay then,” I say. “Come on.”
We ride over to the stream. It’s not too deep and the horses will ford it with a little prodding. I help Holly across, and although we’re pretty soaked when we get to the other side, we’re otherwise fine.
The cows are spooked though. We dismount and approach them. I watch as Holly goes to the injured animal and starts doing her thing, checking it over, running her hands along its flanks, talking quietly in its ear.
Violet, Dale, and Timothy ford after us. The others stay on the far side. We watch Holly work, feeling anxious as hell. But after twenty minutes, she has a bandage wrapped around the animal’s leg and has it standing again, even if it seems a little unsteady.
“We can get moving now,” she says. “Just a sprain. I think the bandage will prop it up enough to get it going.”
I nod at her and whistle loudly. The cowboys and cowgirls spring into action, herding the animals forward, shouting and hollering. Slowly but surely, the herd starts moving downstream.
I help Sadie mount up and we follow at a little distance. She’s frowning and watching the kids do their work.
“Thank you,” I say to her.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she answers. “You could’ve done it.”
“Maybe, but you did it. I owe you big time.”
She nods once, looking a little surprised. “Uh, sure.”
I smile at her, unable to help myself. The whole football thing rubs at the back of my mind but I force it away. I won’t let my past ruin the present, no matter how much it seems dead set on doing it.
“There is one thing I’m wondering about,” I say, glancing back over my shoulder. “You saw the bridge, right?”
She shrugs. “Yeah. Looks like it got washed away.”
“Maybe,” I say slowly. “But the water wasn’t that high. I mean, too high for the cows to cross, but not for the horses. Shouldn’t have washed a whole bridge away, right?”
She chews her lip. “True. Lightning?”
“Maybe. But what were those cattle doing on the other side to begin with?”
She shakes her head. “I have no clue. I’m just a city girl, remember?”
I grin at her. “Oh, I remember.” I look ahead and stay quiet for a second, thinking. “It’s like someone herded them across… then broke the bridge.”
She stares at me for a second. “Seriously?”
I sigh and shrug. “Seriously. It happens. Ranchers do that shit to each other and I certainly don’t have the best relationship with the Bell family.”
She chews her lip again, clearly a nervous habit. I like it, the way her plump lips bends into her mouth. I can imagine myself biting it.
“Sounds like something you should look into,” she says finally.
“I think you’re right,” I answer softly.
Half an hour of easy riding and herding, and eventually we reach the next bridge down. We manage to herd the cows over without incident, and once they’re all safe with the rest of the herd, I head back to the main house with Holly. The cowboys and cowgirls give her a cheer and I think I see some actual respect in their eyes, which isn’t an easy thing to earn.
But that thought keeps nagging the back of my mind. Someone could’ve herded those cows across then broken that bridge… but why? Just to fuck with me? I know I’ve been having issues with the Bell family, but I had no clue it was getting this bad.
We’re quiet on the ride back. I don’t know what she’s thinking about but I hope it’s not my fucking football thing. Once we arrive, we dismount.
“I’d better change,” she says with a sigh.
“Sorry. Got you wet.” I lean closer to her. “Meant to do that last night.”
She looks up at me, a little startled. “What?”
I grin at her and laugh. “Go on, take a shower. I’ll join, if you want.”
She blushes deep crimson red. “No, uh, no thanks. I think I can shower on my own just fine.”
“Sure you can.” I grin at her. She looks gorgeous in that outfit, legs wet from the river crossing, body taut and lean. She’s sexy and brave and smart, just the kind of woman I want around me. “But it’s not as fun.”
She chews her lip again and again it sends a thrill down my spine. “Maybe—” she starts, but someone calls me name.
Bryant comes walking toward me.
“Hold that thought,” I say softly, but she’s already shaking her head and walking back toward the house.
Damn. I swear, she was about to invite me into her shower. Fucking Bryant.
I sigh and head off to talk to my second in command. Just another day on Wood Ranch. The work never, ever stops.
5
Holly
I run my hand down the big horse’s flank and sigh softly to myself. Dodger’s doing better this morning, although I still don’t know what’s wrong with him. The antibiotics are doing… something, but I don’t think that’s the underlying issue. There’s something else going on here but I just don’t know what.
At least his breathing isn’t labored anymore and he’s not sweating. He’s standing on his own but he still looks shaky. The horse glances at me sideways and I smile at him, making soothing noises as I run my hand down his flank.
“We’ll make you feel better, old man,” I whisper to him.
He nods once, almost like he understands what I’m saying. I smile at him then step out of his stall and take out my phone. I find Roy’s number and call it before I lose my nerve.
“There she is!” he says, almost like he’s shouting over something. “Where have you been?”
It’s not quite a question, more like a statement.
“Still at the ranch,” I say. “Their horse is pretty sick. He’s on antibiotics but I don’t know, Roy. I think something else is going on.”
“I’ll tell you what it is!” he shouts. “That horse is old as fuck!”
I grin a little. “Yeah, I know.”
“Seriously, Holly! It’s old as fucking dirt! Just put it out of its misery!”
“That’s not what I’m here for.”
“Yeah, yeah!” He takes a deep breath and lets it out.
“What are you doing right now? You’re basically screaming.”
“Sorry! Hold on!” There’s a muffled noise on his end then suddenly his voice is normal again. “Better?”
“Much.”
“Stupid phone. I had it on speaker.”
“You don’t need to scream if it’s on speaker, you know.”
“It’s gotta be broken,” he grumbles. “Anyway, it’s been a couple days.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I think I need to stay longer.”
He grunts softly. “Well, they sure do pay us enough to keep you out there. You sure about that though?”
“I’m sure.”
“You got what you need? I could drive some stuff up there if you need it.”
“That’s sweet, but no, I’m fine. I’m going to stop in town in a bit and get some necessities.”
“Town? You mean Cardwell?”
“Yep, that’s the one.”
He barks a laugh. “Hardly a town, but okay, sure. They’ll have some stuff. Probably one drugstore’s all you’ll find.”
“Fine by me.”
“Good. All right then. You keep working there and tell Connor to send me more money.”
“Thanks, Roy.”
“Good luck. Check in tomorrow.”
Without another word, he hangs up the phone.
I smile to myself and slip my phone back into my pocket. He’s such an old curmudgeon, but the man’s growing on me at least. He’s a decent boss no matter what you say about him.
&nb
sp; “How’s it going?”
I look up and spot Faye step in through the main entrance. She’s walking Sadie over to her stall.
“Good,” I say, heading over to meet them. I take over and lead the horse to her spot. “I can do this.”
“Ha, you really want to do some work around here, huh?”
I shrug. “I’m not busy. Dodger’s stable so there’s not much for me to do. Plus, I like this old girl.”
Sadie nuzzles against me and I smile.
“She likes you too,” Faye comments and watches as I take care of the horse, taking off her saddle and wiping her down. “What do you think about the ranch so far?” she asks me nonchalantly.
I shrug a little bit, watching the horse as I run a brush through her hair. “It’s nice,” I say. “Beautiful country.”
“Sure, sure. But the ranch is mostly people, you know.”
I glance at her. “People are fine too.”
She grins at me. “Particularly the owner?”
I blush and look away. “He’s fine. Paying me good so I like that.”
She laughs again. Faye has such an open and honest laugh that it’s hard to fault her anything.
“You know, not many new women come around these parts.”
“Can’t blame them, you know, with the smell and all.”
She snorts. “Please. You haven’t smelled the worst. Wait for the middle of the summer when the herd’s shitting all over the damn place.”
I grin at her. “I hope Dodger’s better by then.”
“I’m sure he will be.” Faye leans against the stall door and crosses her arms. We’re silent for a minute while I keep working on Sadie. When I’m finished, I step back out and shut the door behind me while Faye stretches and cracks her back.
“Ah, getting old,” she says softly. “This work, it’s not meant for old single people, you get me?”
“I’m not sure I do.”
We walk toward the horse paddock, taking slow, measured steps. “Thing is,” she says, “it’s easier when you’ve got something to come home to at night, you know? Even as a horse doctor, you got to know that.”