Love Me Tender

by Wendy Vella

  He didn’t argue, and they tugged it down the hall and threw it onto the base. Bas had taken the old one away earlier.

  He stood and looked around the room.

  “It’s nice here. I’ve always liked this house.”

  “And you want to buy it?”

  “I do, if you’re selling.”

  “If?” Rory snorted. “Come on now, Jack, you can say what you mean just like they did.”

  He didn’t move, just stood there framed in the window with the mountains at his back. Rugged, gorgeous, and a man who belonged here. She hated him for that.

  “They?”

  Rory waved a hand. “Thanks again for the help with the mattress and the wood.”

  “Need a hand with anything else? Want me to light the fire?”

  “I got it.”

  “We help our neighbors here,” he said, walking around her and into the living area.

  He looked big in the space crammed full of her nana’s furniture and knickknacks.

  “I’m a Haldane. That doesn’t apply, remember?”

  “People are irrational about what happened, Princess. You had to know that would occur.”

  “I know, and my name’s Rory.”

  “It will take a while for them to accept you.”

  “I don’t want their acceptance.”

  “Then what do you want?”

  “To be left alone.”

  “Fine. I’ll do that once your fire is going. I have a sick horse needing my attention. Now drop down here, and I’ll give you a lesson.”

  She battled between pride and need. Need won out, so she did as he asked.

  “You need the small wood to start it, and it has to be dry.”

  He built a teepee over the paper he’d rolled into balls, and minutes later a fire had started.

  “Don’t throw too much wood on it right off. Coax it to life.”

  “Coax, right.” He had nice hands. Big and steady. Hands that would know just how to hold a woman and soothe an animal. Hands that would make a person feel like they were wanted.

  Where the hell had that thought come from?

  “Thanks... again,” she said when the fire was roaring.

  “You need to keep it going.”

  “Sure, and I will.”

  “I’ve cut enough wood for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  He looked at her, his eyes smiling.

  “You don’t like accepting help, do you, Princess?”

  She shrugged.

  “You’re not the little girl I remember. Maybe when the townsfolk see that, they’ll like you more.”

  “I don’t need them to like me, and you know nothing about me, Jack. But thank you again for your help, and for your support today.” There, she’d got that off her chest. She’d said thanks, and now she could ignore him.

  “Welcome. I’ll just bring a load of wood up from the barn.”

  “I can do that... really.”

  “Are you always this ungrateful and awkward?”

  Rory nodded. “It’s a skill.”

  “A really annoying one.”

  “Why are you here, Jack?”

  “Bas called.”

  She exhaled.

  “He likes you for some reason.”

  “Bas has always had a big heart.”

  “He has, and he’s a friend, and when a friend asks you to do something, you do it.”

  “What’s wrong with your horse?”

  “He’s sore in the leg.”

  “What kind of sore?”

  “Inflammation in the tendon, it looks like.”

  “Tenosynovitis?”

  “We think so.” His eyes were suddenly focused intently on hers.

  “Ultrasound?”

  “Hoping to get one over the next few days, as soon as the vet can fit him in.”

  “How long has the horse been injured?”

  “A few days.”

  “Make sure you give it anti-inflammatories and ice, or hose the joint.”

  He nodded. “How come you know this stuff?”

  Rory shrugged. “I read a lot.”

  “Me too. Now tell me the truth.”

  “I’m a vet... was a vet.”

  “No shit.” He was shocked, but then what had he thought she’d done with her life? “Princess Aurora May went to university.”

  “You don’t think I’m capable of having a career I had to study for?”

  “Well, you kind of had a career as prom queen lined up, in my book. That and a swanky house with a car, boat, and vacation place, plus 2.5 kids to go with it.”

  Rory battled down the wash of anger. He was right, that was what she’d been heading toward, and there would have been nothing wrong with that to her mind. But she’d had to earn money for herself.

  “Your cheeks are red. Sorry if I hit a nerve.”

  He looked sincere, but Rory didn’t trust people, and she certainly didn’t take them at face value anymore. He could be taking another shot at her.

  “Whatever, and you don’t know me, just like you didn’t know me back them.”

  His hands rose. “Nope, just like you didn’t know me.”

  He had that right too. She’d seen the Trainers as the town bad boy losers who would likely end their days in jail.

  “Being a vet might make the locals like you more,” he said, changing the subject much to her relief.

  “I’m not a vet anymore. Plus, it’s not like I’m here to work or make friends.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “Why are people always asking me that?”

  “Answer the question and I won’t have to ask again.”

  The smile fell away, and he was serious again. Rory had to swallow as her throat was suddenly dry. The truth was, she didn’t even know why she was back here... apart from getting the house ready to sell, which she wasn’t even sure she wanted to do yet.

  Hell, life was complicated.

  Chapter 9

  Jack could have said no to Bas, but he hadn’t. He’d got in his pickup and driven to the Haldane farm, to find Rory chopping wood... or attempting to. Guilt had made him do it. Guilt that he’d treated her no better than he and his brothers had been treated many years ago.

  Sure, he’d made up for it, but he could still see the look on her face he’d put there in the cafe.

  He’d found her swinging an axe with ease, for a small woman, but she’d missed each time it came down. After wincing twice, he’d stepped in before she took off a toe. When he was done, he turned around and she was gone. So he’d picked up the kindling and a few logs and followed, to find Rory pinned under a mattress when he arrived back at the house.

  Jack wanted this property, had wanted it for a few years, and had approached the late Connie Haldane about that several times. She’d just smiled, patted his cheek, and said, “Sorry, honey, I have plans for this place when I’m gone.”

  None of them had expected those plans to include her grandchildren.

  “Come on, Princess, tell me why you’re here in Ryker Falls. No way in hell could you have come for a vacation, so that leaves this place, and you selling it... hopefully to me.”

  “I don’t have to give you a reason, and I already know you want to buy it. If I sell, I’ll let you know.”

  She wore her coat, the old boots, and the hat she’d had on all day. She’d thrown off her gloves however, and he noted her hands were small, nails short but clean. She was a mile away from Princess Aurora May Haldane who’d owned the school halls in her youth, terrorizing those who didn’t meet her fashion standards.

  Her expression told him the discussion was ended to her mind.

  “I don’t want to discuss this, just like I don’t want to make friends with anyone… well, maybe Bas, but no one else.”

  “How come he’s exempt?”

  “Because he never turned on us.”

  The words were spoken softly, but Jack heard the pain in each one.

  “I’m sorry you wer
e hurt, but what happened made people behave irrationally.”

  “It doesn’t matter, it was years ago. Now you need to go.”

  “You’re not very nice, considering all the stuff I’ve done for you in the last twenty-four hours.” She was composed now, and defensive, which he thought may just be a natural state for this woman.

  “I didn’t ask for your help.”

  “Is that your way of saying thanks? Because if it is, you suck at it.”

  “Thanks, okay, and I’ve said it plenty to you already.”

  “You owe me.”

  “What? No way do I owe you anything. You’re the one who broke in here last night, scaring the life out of me and being mean. And I’m sure I didn’t ask you to ride into that mob in the grocery store on your white charger.”

  “It’s called being friendly.” Jack battled down the anger that was simmering inside him. Why the hell he was bothering, he had no idea. “You should try it sometime. It may work better for you than this belligerent BS you’re currently dishing out. I said sorry for last night too.”

  “Okay, so I forgive you and you forgive me. Now go away.”

  “With pleasure, but you still owe me, so you can come and see my horse. It’ll cost me less.”

  She stormed back to where he stood. Inhaling, he caught her scent in the air. Strangely it was soft and subtle, and his guess was flowery.

  “No. I told you I don’t practice anymore.”

  “Yes. My horse is hurting, and the vet I use can’t make it till tomorrow afternoon, so you’ll do. How rusty can you be? You’re what, mid to late thirties?”

  “I’m twenty-eight!”

  “Really, you look older,” Jack said, to annoy color back into her pale face. “My horse is really hurting, Princess. Have some compassion, will you.”

  He saw the flicker of concern so he pushed home his advantage.

  “He’s off his feed, and this morning he didn’t want to leave his box. He’s usually kicking at the door when I get there.”

  The concern in her eyes deepened. “I-I don’t do that anymore.”

  “Why?” Jack raised a brow. He was willing to bet his new irrigation system she still knew how. Vets were like doctors, they never stopped being one.

  “How bad’s the pain?”

  “Bad... really bad.”

  He knew he’d won when she exhaled.

  “I’ll drive you, then drop you back.”

  “No, I’m driving, then I can leave when I want.”

  “You scared you won’t be able to resist my charm?”

  She snorted. “I know what type of man you are, Trainer, and that’s not anything like the type that interests me.”

  “Anymore,” he added to annoy her. “I remember you were all about the jocks and handsome ones in school”

  “I was twelve!”

  “And?”

  Color flushed her cheeks. “Stop now or I’ll rescind the offer.”

  For some reason her opinion of his character really pissed him off.

  “You don’t know me, so don’t judge,” Jack said, sounding calm—at least on the outside.

  “Ditto.”

  They glared at each other, and he resisted the urge to shake her.

  “Whatever, now let’s go. Try not to run off the road if you hit a patch of ice.”

  “Dickhead.”

  “Medusa.”

  He threw a few more logs into the fire, then walked out with her on his heels.

  “You want this case inside?” He nudged the solid-looking briefcase on her porch.

  She brushed by him and picked it up, then threw it inside the front door, slamming it behind her.

  “Nice. You’d be great at bowling.”

  “Has anyone ever tried to hurt you?” She stood before him now, hands on hips, eyes narrowed.

  “I was shot once, but it was intended for someone else.”

  “Seriously? That had to hurt.” The anger vanished as fast as it had come.

  “And then some.”

  “How do you know I’m any good as a vet, Jack?”

  “You have to be good at something, and as yet I’ve seen no evidence. You suck at mattress carrying, communication, and wood chopping. My hope is you’ve got the vet thing down.”

  “Shithead.” She raised a finger in his direction and stalked away.

  “Cussing is evidence of a weak mind, so I’ve been told.”

  She ignored him and wrenched open the door to her car, climbed in, and slammed it. Feeling marginally better, Jack got into his pickup, closing the door softly.

  The drive wasn’t a long one, and soon they were entering his family’s property. He veered toward the stables, and she followed, parking beside him outside the barn. Off to the right was the indoor arena.

  He opened the door and hit the lights. Jack was always proud when he walked in here. This was his domain. Sure, his family all rode too, but he was the one who spent all his time in here. He’d built the business.

  He ran trail rides and gave lessons in the arena. He ran courses for a few days, with three or four beginners sometimes, and enjoyed that side of it too. But what he really enjoyed was training horses no one else could. Jack loved the challenge and the adrenaline he felt riding a horse that could throw him at any time. His next project was to start breeding, and he’d found just the stallion to do it.

  “Who owned this before you?”

  “Originally the Jones family. Joe married their daughter.”

  “Handy.”

  He didn’t go into the details; that was Joe and Bailey’s story, and Rory could come to whatever conclusion she wanted.

  “This is a nice setup.”

  “You ride?”

  She shook her head as she turned circles, taking everything in.

  “A few times, but I never found the time to do any more or take lessons.”

  She’d spoken in the vague way people did when they were lost in thought and not aware of what they were saying.

  “I’ll teach you,” he said before he could stop himself.

  “No... thanks.”

  “Why? You just said you wanted to learn.”

  “I do, but we’d kill each other, so I’ll learn one day, far away from here. Plus, it won’t make your legion of female admirers happy if they see you cavorting with the enemy. Double plus, it would mean I’d have to thank you again.”

  “Whatever, and I’d charge you double.”

  “It's an impressive place,” Rory said looking around.

  “It’s taken a few years to get here, but I’m happy.”

  “You run this?”

  “You sound surprised.” That pissed him off all over again. People had judged Jack because he was a Trainer for years.

  “No... maybe,” she conceded.

  “Well, which is it!” Jack snapped.

  She raised her hands. “Sorry if I touched a nerve.”

  “No you’re not.”

  Her smile was the first genuine one she’d given him.

  “So what other plans have you got for here?”

  “How do you know I have other plans?” Jack asked, intrigued despite the fact he wanted to strangle her.

  “A hunch.”

  “I want to start a breeding program. I’ve found a stallion.”

  He saw the flash of excitement in her eyes.

  “He’s arriving next week. I’ll let you see him if you play nicely.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Show me the horse before we kill each other, then I can leave and you can get a practicing vet to confirm my diagnosis tomorrow.”

  Buzz bounded in, as usual full of energy.

  “Oh hey there, big boy.”

  Rory dropped to her knees right there on the cold floor to hug the dog.

  “What’s his name?”

  “Buzz. He’s Joe and Bailey’s dog, and pretty much the town’s favorite son.”

  “I met him outside the cafe. He’s sweet.”

  Unlike me, Jack added silently,
knowing what she was thinking. Most women thought him sweet, so why did he lose his charm around this woman?

  What the hell was the matter with him, he rarely cared what people thought about him. He wasn’t a serial people pleaser like Luke.

  Jack refused to mutter something foul as he headed to the third stable on the right. Rory stopped to pat and speak with every horse she passed, and as he usually did that he couldn’t begrudge her... although the hell of it was, he wanted to.

  “Henry!” Her cry had him doubling back to look in the stall she’d just entered.

  She was cuddling the donkey. The animal seemed happy she was here, and nudged her when she took his face in her hands.

  “I brought him here because he was lonely.”

  “Thanks, and he should probably stay here while we decide what to do with Nana’s property. If that’s okay?”

  “Sure.”

  He couldn’t see her face but heard the wobble in her voice, so he walked away and gave her some time.

  She appeared in the doorway of Arthur’s stall a few minutes later.

  “Hey there, fella.” Her voice was now a soft croon, and nothing like the way she spoke to him.

  Jack stood back and let her check Arthur over. She was gentle and knew her stuff; he knew this because he’d seen a few who didn’t. He wondered again why she’d stopped being a vet, and when?

  “Hey.”

  He looked up to find Bailey, his sister-in-law, in the doorway.

  “Bailey, this is Rory Haldane. She’s a vet and taking a look at Arthur. You remember her from school? Smartassed, prissy madam?”

  Rory muttered but ignored him.

  Gentle and sweet-natured, Bailey was blonde with soft gray eyes and was only riled when someone challenged those she cared for... of which he was now one. She would never show Rory she knew who she was or that she’d heard any rumors about her. That wasn’t Bailey’s way.

  He kissed her cheek.

  “Hi, Rory, and I don’t really remember you because I left when I was young too.”

  Rory shot him a foul look, and then lifted a hand to Bailey before going back to her inspection.

  “What’s up?” Jack asked Bailey. He saw the questions in her eyes as she studied Rory, but she wouldn’t ask; that wasn’t her way either. She’d wait for someone to tell her what she wanted to know.

  “You know we’re raising funds for those kids at the rec center to go on the trip to Carnegie Hall?”