Alaska almost choked on her coffee. “H-how did you know?”
“Oh, I have magical powers.” She broke out into laughter. “And I had a little help from this.” She reached down and picked up something. Arc’s blood-stained shirt. He forgot to take it with him. “Would this happen to be his?”
“We had a bit of a mishap. He climbed on the roof to check the condition and he fell. I had to patch him up.” She pushed her hands into the back pockets of her jeans to hide the trembling.
“Let me get this straight. You had Arc Colt here, in your house, with his shirt off, playing nurse?” She waved a hand in front of her face. “Girl, you’ve just lived the dream of a handful of women here in Tarnation. Those Colt men have been the talk, and the desire, of every single woman, some not so single, since they showed up here.”
Smiling, Alaska asked, “Can I get you another cup of coffee?”
“I better not. I’ll never sleep tonight.”
Getting up, Alaska busied herself taking the cleaning supplies from under the sink and lining them along the counter along with those that she bought earlier. “How long have the Colt brothers been in Tarnation?” she asked nonchalantly.
“Only a few weeks. There’s a story surrounding the Colts for sure. You talk about a man who woke up on the wrong side of the bed every morning.” Cariss rolled her eyes. “That Buzz Colt was a cantankerous, cold-hearted man. I think townspeople suffered his character because he did a lot for the community. I haven’t met his sons, but I do wonder if they acquired the same attitude.”
Several thoughts flitted through Alaska’s mind. Arc hadn’t hidden his suspicions that she’d convinced Buzz to leave her money and the B&B, yet he had been helpful and kind. “Arc seemed nice.” What good would it do to disparage his character when she didn’t know him well enough.
Cariss’s brows snapped together. “Look, it’s none of my business so just tell me if I’m overstepping my boundaries, but how will it work with you opening the B&B here on Grinning Spurs Ranch? The Colts own a lot of property in these parts.”
Alaska realized it was only a matter of time before people started asking questions. Arc had already taken a pin to her safety bubble. Chewing on her bottom lip, she watched every word carefully. “We haven’t worked the details out yet.”
Cariss took it at face value. “Well, I’m glad you’re here. Tarnation could use another B&B. There’s a huge summer festival every year, and, because there aren’t enough accommodations for visitors, they go to the nearest larger town. We could certainly improve some things around here with tourist money.”
“Are you referring to the summer festival that I saw on a flyer? There was one up at the diner.”
“We set up our camper out there and Cory shows his goats. You and River both will have to come out. It’s so much fun, and you’ll get to meet many townsfolk.”
Alaska tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. Her first thought, would she still be in town for the festival? At this point, she had no clue where she and River would be. Although, so far, she liked Tarnation, she also didn’t know if this was the best place for her family. After the confrontation with Arc and hearing his suspicions, she wondered who else in his family, or in town, would think she scammed her way into money? “I think it sounds amazing.” And she left it at that.
“I think we have a blooming friendship here between our boys. Do you hear them laughing?”
“Yes. I agree.” Alaska’s heart swelled. River didn’t have many friends back in Chicago. Whether it was because she had become a helicopter mom after he became sick or they’d moved too many times for him to make any real deep connection with kids his age. Same for her. She’d missed out on establishing friendships because she seemed to shy away from getting to know anyone.
“Here I am being nosy again, but is it just you and River?”
Alaska had a feeling the other woman already knew the answer to that question. “Yes, it’s just the two of us. His father passed away.” She glanced away to prevent revealing anything in her expression. Whenever anyone asked about River’s father, she gave them the generic answer. She’d spent too much time living on eggshells, fearing he’d show up one day, demanding to see River. If she exposed to anyone that she’d left Frankie like she had, they might wonder how she could deny him his child, but she couldn’t have risked River getting hurt. Frankie had become abusive, both physically and emotionally.
“I’m sorry. Cory’s father died, too, when he was a baby. Matt was deployed in Iraq and the convoy they were in was attacked by enemy fire.” A sadness crawled over Cariss and Alaska was overcome with guilt for lying to her about River’s father. “I met Gary when Cory was three. I wasn’t looking for love. I only wanted friendship. One day I was at work, sitting at my desk filing some documents and it struck me hard that I had somehow fallen for a man I’d never met. I mean, who believed that could be possible, but it happened to us. He’s been the best husband, and stepfather a woman could ask for. I had been plagued with guilt for being alive and finding love a second time, but I know Matt would have wanted me to move on and be happy.”
Alaska appreciated the other woman’s confession, but Alaska herself wasn’t quite there yet. She’d closed herself off to any possibility to finding love. There were times she felt alone, wishing she had someone to bounce ideas and worries off, but she’d been alone for so long, this was what she knew—what she’d grown accustomed to. She and her son were doing just fine.
“Well, hell, girl. I guess Cory and I have taken up enough of your time. How about I put myself to good use. Where do you want me to start cleaning?”
Dumbfounded by the offer, it took Alaska a few seconds to respond. “I really don’t know. There’s so much that needs done.” She darted her gaze around the room. “I’d say the kitchen is first in line.”
“I tell you what. Let me tackle the kitchen and you grab the bedrooms where you’ll be sleeping. With that done I’m sure you’ll feel better about this place.”
For the next few hours they worked relentlessly, even managing to recruit the boys’ help.
“It’s been fun, but Cory and I should be scootin’,” Cariss said, then sneezed. She was covered in dust.
“I can’t thank you enough for your help.” Alaska’s heart filled with appreciation.
Cariss stopped at the door. “Hey, if you and River aren’t busy tomorrow, Cory and I have plans to attend a community event. They have them once a month. This time, we’re making tie dye shirts. I mean, who doesn’t love a tie dye shirt? It’s a good way to meet some of the moms too. We can stop and pick you up if you’d like.”
Ten excuses why they couldn’t go popped into Alaska’s head, from cleaning to not being ready to meet others, but she looked at the boys who were still laughing. What could it hurt to spend more time with their new friends? She liked Cariss, and her bubbly personality was the complete opposite of Alaska’s reserved nature. Although the likelihood that she and River would stay in Tarnation was slim, it didn’t hurt to check out the town. “What time?”
“Ten A.M.” She stepped out onto the porch. “Come on, Cory.” She waved him over.
“Do we have to go now?” he complained.
“Yes. We have to go home eventually.” Cariss tousled his hair and he shot off for the SUV. “We’ll see you both at ten tomorrow. Enjoy your first day here in Tarnation. The sunset is a killer.” Cariss winked and headed down the sidewalk.
Alaska closed the door and leaned against it, looking around. She needed to make a list of what needed done. It all seemed overwhelming, but thankfully they’d taken care of a chunk today. “Well, son, are you ready to help sweep and mop the floors?”
“Do we have to?” He crossed his arms over his chest and his bottom lip protruded some, which only happened when he was tired.
“You know you can’t breathe in all this dust. Go put your mask back on.” The last thing she needed was him to have an asthma attack without a car or a phone. Tomorro
w, at least, the phone issue would be solved.
CHAPTER 6
ARC’S RIBS ACHED.
He stretched out the kink and mumbled a curse.
After yesterday’s surprise meeting with Alaska he’d been as grumpy as a horse with a thorn in its ass. When a cowboy was stressed, it always helped to ease the tension with hard work.
He’d towed her car to the ranch, parked it in a barn and worked on it until he couldn’t keep his eyes open. He’d turned in, thinking he’d sleep like a baby, but instead he’d tossed and turned most of the night, finally giving up and climbing from bed at the crack-ass-light-of-dawn and started on building a new fence along the north pasture.
Grabbing the nail he had clenched between his teeth, he used the hammer to pound it into the wood, missing, and hitting his thumb. “Shit!” He shook his hand and dropped down to sit under the shade of a tree.
In the distance he watched Brennan and Ash riding back from checking the fences. They both looked like they could rip a bear’s head off with their teeth. When would the two men stop acting like spoiled children and man-up about the entire situation? This wasn’t fun for anyone, and they certainly didn’t need to waste their time with pissing contests.
Arc certainly didn’t think that he’d wake up one day to the realization that he had two additional brothers. He’d been getting to know Baxter better and they seemed to have a lot in common.
Scratching his head, Arc sighed.
Ash was hiding something.
Plucking a piece of grass and rolling it between his fingers, Arc watched his brother stomp from the stables and head toward the garage apartment. He’d been staying there for a few nights. Was the situation getting to him or was there more to the story?
Groaning, Arc leaned against the tree, feeling another pulling pain in his side.
He touched the tender area around the wound. Although it was healing fine, it still smarted because his ribs were bruised. He’d taken a good fall off the ladder. Not only did he have a few bruises, but he had himself a new Boer goat, too, that he’d named Scary because of the fright he gave Alaska. He’d called Doc CC Peladora to stop and check him over to make sure he was healthy before he was let loose with the other livestock.
Waiting on the radiator to be delivered, he couldn’t finish Alaska’s car yet. He had ten things on his mental list that needed fixed right away, like the B&B’s roof. Although the damage wasn’t too bad, he knew situations like this could go from mild to severe after a rainstorm or two. He should call in a roofer, but Arc was a man who enjoyed doing things with his own two hands.
And if he was true to himself, he felt somewhat like a horse’s ass for his behavior yesterday.
He didn’t know Alaska, didn’t know her intentions, but what business was it of his? Arc didn’t give one lick about Buzz’s money, or the B&B for that matter, so then why did he have such a thick hair up in his crawl?
Hell, what bothered him was learning that Buzz gave his money freely to charities, organizations, nurse’s aides, you name it, and somehow he believed that his sons should jump through impossible hoops to own the deeds to the land they’d worked since the time they could walk.
Rubbing his eyes, Arc groaned. It didn’t matter. None of this was Alaska’s fault. If the money, the B&B, and the start of a new life could help her and her son, then Arc wanted that for her. He’d want that for anyone. He just needed to keep his emotions in check.
It wouldn’t hurt to remember too that God didn’t send Alaska for him to marry. That was a crazy thought. The fact that she’d been there at the exact moment he’d wished for a bride was only a coincidence. Arc didn’t need a wife for long-term. He needed to find one on paper only. How the hell could he find that in Tarnation?
That meant he needed to quit thinking of Alaska as a gift from Heaven and start thinking about saving his ranch. As crude as it sounded, he needed to be on a hunt for a bride.
The radio hooked on his belt buzzed. He grabbed it, pressed the button, saying, “Yeah?”
“Can you come down to the stables?” It was Adam, and there was a noticeable hitch to his voice.
“I’ll be there in a few.” Pushing himself off the ground, he gathered his tools back into the toolbox, stuck it in the back of the truck, and walked to the stables. He found his brother and Doc CC inside one of the stalls, examining a Tennessee Walker Buzz had bought to be used as a sire. He was worth a pretty penny, and it was important they bred him with a dam soon.
“Hey, Doc,” he greeted the vet with a tip of his hat. “Did you have a chance to look at that Boer?”
“He’s fine and healthy. I went ahead and gave him his shots. He’s a friendly little fellow.”
“I didn’t expect to see you out here examining the Walker today.”
CC smoothed her hand down the horse’s back and came around to stand next to Arc, pushing her white cowgirl hat off. Long waterfall waves fell down her shoulders and although Arc could appreciate her beauty, he didn’t expect to hear Adam’s stifled cough and the awkward shifting of his boots.
Well, well. Another Colt brother succumbed to the beauty and charm of the pretty vet. Arc chuckled and shook his head. Since they’d shown up at Grinning Spurs, Ash and Brennan had been caught by cupid’s bow too. Just what they needed around there. More drama. More arguments and fights over a woman.
“Adam told me Link here is limping again.” She’d been out last week for the same reason.
“I noticed it while he was in the arena,” Adam said.
CC hooked her hat on a nail and tied her hair back with an elastic. “His leg looks a little swollen.”
“He was doing fine yesterday. Did he step on something?” Arc slipped off his Stetson and hooked it on the gate, joining her in the stall with the strapping horse. Link stepped from hoof to hoof, appearing uncomfortable. This fellow was Buzz’s pride and joy. For what he’d paid for the Walker, Arc could have bought a house, but Link’s lineage, his calm disposition, smooth gait, and sure footedness would secure him as a profitable sire. Buzz definitely had good instincts when it came to horses. Link had a unique running-walk and probably why Buzz wanted to get his hands on him.
Unfortunately, Buzz had syndicated a dam for a million dollars and the breeder and mare from Lexington were arriving in a few weeks, so it was important that Link was in his best health.
Although Arc and his brothers knew a thing or two about breeding horses, this was a whole different ball game. Having any issues with Link made Arc’s stomach twist. They needed a return on what was paid for the stallion and if anything happened to him it could not only mean they lost a lucrative contract for offspring worth millions but also destroy Grinning Spurs breeding reputation.
“He didn’t step on anything.” CC assured him after examining Link’s hurt hoof.
“Then what is it?”
She leaned against the gate, shaking her head. “I have a good guess.”
Arc didn’t hide his irritation. “And?”
“Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis. Ever heard of it?”
“No, but by the name I’m guessing somethings wrong with his ligaments.” Arc rubbed his forehead, feeling his muscles tighten.
“It’s also referred to as equine Ehlers-Danlos.” She must have realized he was still stumped because she gave him an understanding smile. “EDS in humans is a connective tissue disorder that affects ligaments and tendons in the entire body. They become lax, causing dislocations, broken bones, arthritis, you name it. In horses the most visible sign of the syndrome is when the fetlocks, especially in the hind legs, collapse. Because he’s still young, the disease hasn’t progressed, but could, and most likely will, as he ages.”
“Did he step on something?”
“He could have just stepped on it the wrong way.”
“Did you tell the breeder?” Arc asked Adam.
“We thought we should tell you first.”
Arc relaxed his folded arms on the top of the gate. “Did he ca
tch this, like a virus?”
“No. It’s genetic.”
“That means that his mother passed it to him?”
“Or his father,” CC said.
“How the hell wasn’t this found out before Buzz bought him?” Arc growled.
The vet shrugged. “This isn’t a disease that we can examine a horse and say they have it. We don’t routinely check for it like we do for other genetic disorders. When Buzz and I went to get him, he was showing no signs which makes sense. Most of the time we don’t spot any symptoms until they’re up in age.”
“There’s a lot riding on this fellow. We already have syndicated for a dam.” Arc shook his head.
“I haven’t tested him yet to give a definite diagnosis, but I’d bet my eyeteeth that’s what this is.”
Rubbing his eyes, Arc exhaled slowly. “How do you check Link?”
“I’ll run his blood levels and check his liver. With him showing some signs he’ll probably have an iron overload in his blood.”
Arc glanced at Adam. “Damn if this ain’t shitty news.”
“What is the outlook for him?” Adam asked.
CC’s expression changed. “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what his future holds. Depending on the severity of the disease, he might be fine until old age with just a few joint issues, or he might be riddled with arthritis and his quality of life will go downhill and then you’ll have to make some tough decisions. I know he was one of Buzz’s prized stallions and we all were excited to see the future for him, but if he does have EDS his siring days will come to an end before they even get started. We can’t play roulette breeding a horse that has a genetic disorder. Sorry, fellows. I wish I had better news. I should know something by tomorrow after I run some tests. In the meantime, just keep him in close quarters so he can rest. Give him extra water.”
Arc motioned for Adam to step out. “Let’s not say anything to the breeder until we know what we’re looking at.”
“We won’t know until I have his tests results in front of me.”
“Keep me updated. Something tells me you’ll be hanging out like a dog to a teat.” Arc swiped his hand down his jaw.
Pour me a Drink (Tarnation, Texas Book 3) Page 7