by SJD Peterson
Stop it! She cursed herself for doing it again. No need dwelling on things she couldn’t change.
Pushing thoughts of Kegan to the back of her mind, she dried off and quickly dressed in jeans, a long-sleeve teal T-shirt and boots. She still had an hour before she had to meet Dr. Stone, so she took her coffee to the small kitchen table and started up her laptop to do some research on the side effects of vaccinations, a perfect subject to keep her focused while she dried her hair.
She and Dr. Stone had a nine a.m. appointment at the Trev-Ke Ranch to give West Nile virus boosters. A cattle ranch in a neighboring county had reported a possible outbreak of the virus and the owners of the large horse-breeding ranch were taking no chances.
Trev-Ke Ranch boasted some of the rarest breeding horses in South Dakota as well as a number of more common equine breeds. From what Dr. Stone had told her, the ranch currently had approximately two hundred horses, and she looked forward to the long day of work ahead.
At eight o’clock, Charlie shut down her laptop and felt confident that she could answer any questions that Dr. Stone or the owners may have. She placed it in her bag, tied her hair into a loose ponytail, slung her messenger bag over her shoulder, then headed out, relieved that the effects of her early-morning dreams had nearly worn off.
* * * *
As Charlie walked up to the small café at eight-twenty, she noticed Dr. Stone sitting at an outside bistro table, and he waved her over.
“Good morning, Dr. McCarty, please join me.” He motioned to the opposite chair with a wave of his hand. “I took the liberty of ordering us coffee, but if you’d like something else…?”
“Good morning, Dr. Stone. Black coffee is exactly what I need this morning. Thank you, and please, call me Charlie.”
“If you insist, but while we’re working in any professional manner, you understand that I will refer to you as Dr. McCarty. The owners of the ranch we’re working with today won’t question your abilities, they’re down-to-earth good people. In fact, you’ll stay at Trev-Ke Ranch during the birthing season.
“On the other hand, I have to warn you that there are a few people in this town that don’t really take too kindly to trusting their animals—their way of making a living—to a woman, and as such need to be reminded that you are in fact a doctor. Some men around here tend to live in the Dark Ages and feel women should know their place.” He winked and tried to reassure her with a kind smile that reached his eyes. “I happen not to be one of those fools and look forward to working with you.”
“Thank you, sir, that means a lot to me. I look forward to working with you as well. I truly appreciate the opportunity you’ve given me to do my residency with you. I have heard some—” Charlie took a sip of her coffee and peered over the edge of her cup. “Some great things about you.”
“You have, have you? Would that little glint of fear I see in your eyes have anything to do with my reputation?” He brought his cup to his lips and took a sip. “It’s all true, you know, the rumors about me.”
“Oh God!” Charlie whispered, slumped in her seat, then tightened her grip on her mug. She had heard he was hard to work with and sometimes got physical with his students, but she had hoped they had just been silly rumors to scare her.
Dr. Stone reached out, grabbed one of her hands and patted it. “Don’t worry, Charlie, I have heard great things about your abilities and your professors have highly recommended you. They also have much praise for your compassion, so I’m sure you and I will work great together. I don’t tolerate students who don’t put the feelings of their patients before their own. They may be animals, but they deserve your best and to be treated with respect and care.” His smile turned just this side of devilish as he continued to pat her hand. “I’ve only had to use that cattle prod on a colleague once and I’m sure you won’t require that kind of reminder.”
Charlie’s eyes widened and she gasped. Jesus, the rumors really are true.
She must have had a shocked look on her face because he laughed and his eyes sparkled with humor. He rose to his feet and reached out a hand to her. “C’mon, Dr. McCarty, we have patients to attend to.”
Charlie took a last sip of her coffee, then allowed Dr. Stone to help her to her feet.
Shit! He looks like a sweet old grandpa. Cattle prod? Charlie groaned to herself and followed him to the van with Redfield Animal Clinic painted on the side.
Ten minutes later, Dr. Stone pulled into a long, tree-lined drive, a welcoming arch informing visitors they were entering the Trev-Ke Ranch. The drive turned and twisted through large oaks and maples that created a canopy over the road. Small streams of light escaped through the trees and formed a crosshatch pattern across the road. In full summer, it would be deep in shadows, but in early spring, the light had a dazzling effect.
When they emerged from the trees into a clearing, Charlie smiled in appreciation at the impressive colonial-style home with massive white pillars, which stood out from the bright-red brick façade and black shutters. The lawn was masculine in appearance with stark box-shaped hedges running the length of it on either side of the front entrance, but still seemed welcoming. A white fence was set back from the house and appeared to go on for miles, enclosing the numerous barns and outbuildings.
Charlie stepped out of the van, awed at the site of a large herd of horses running in the enclosure to her right. In the distance, the sun was high above the mountains and cast streaks of gold across the fields. It was truly breathtaking.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Dr. Stone commented as he joined Charlie at the front of the van. “It’s one of my favorite places to visit and work. The views are as extraordinary as the animals. They complement one another, don’t you think?”
Charlie was speechless and could only nod in agreement.
“Why don’t you wander on back to the barn there on your right? The stable hands should be bringing the horses in for us. I’ll just grab my bag and let Mr. Kingsington know we’re here.”
“Are you sure you don’t need help with anything?”
“No, I’ve got it. Go on back and get yourself acquainted with your patients. I’ll join you in a moment.” He strode off in the direction of the house and Charlie navigated her way to the barn alone.
Entering the large barn, she was impressed with its size and grandeur. Large airy stalls ran the length of the barn on both sides. Each stall had its own large open window. She was impressed at the design, that someone would go through the extra cost and labor to ensure each animal had a comfortable stall with fresh air.
Men were leading in horses through the back entrance and filling the stalls rapidly. She was excited to get to work, even though the sheer number of animals they had to treat in one day was overwhelming.
“Charlie.”
She turned to see Dr. Stone enter the barn and walked toward him.
“Mr. Kingsington had some errand to do this morning so he left instructions for us to go ahead and get started. He’ll meet us here later.”
“Okay, sure, where would you like me to start?”
“I was thinking you could do the right half of the barn and I can work down the left. Am I correct to assume that you have done assessments on large animals and are familiar with immunizations?”
“Yes, sir. USD has a great veterinary program with a full working farm. Though if you prefer, I would be more than willing to assist you until you’re sure of my skills?”
“No, no, you’ll do just fine. Your willingness to assist shows me much of your personality and your confidence. Thank you. On each stall, you’ll find a clipboard with each animal’s pertinent information. Please chart your vaccinations and any abnormalities you may note during your assessment. If you come across anything you’re unsure of, just holler.” He handed her a large tray of supplies and walked off to do his own work.
Charlie worked through the morning, happily humming to herself. She was impressed with the health and care of each animal. They were well-fed and their coa
ts and manes were brushed to a shine. Hooves were trimmed and meticulously tended to with no evidence of any disease in any of the animals she inspected. This Mr. Kingsington seemed to care a great deal about the well-being of his horses. She was thoroughly impressed with him already and looked forward to meeting him.
“Hey, Charlie, you about ready for lunch?”
Charlie looked up to see Dr. Stone peering down at her from over the stall, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
“Oh… Wow! I didn’t even realize it was noon already.” Charlie removed her rubber gloves and patted the horse’s flank she had just finished injecting. “I’m ready for lunch whenever you are.”
“I have some calls I have to return before I can eat, but go ahead up to the back porch. Mrs. Miller has set out quite a spread.”
“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll just take a walk and explore a little. I need to stretch my legs and I brought my own lunch. I think I’d like to eat while enjoying the amazing scenery around here.”
“Okay, meet you back here in an hour or so. Enjoy.”
Charlie headed out toward the back. She’d been so wrapped up in the sheer volume of work that she hadn’t had a chance to appreciate the sights around her.
She walked toward a corral, drawn to a large chestnut stallion. She reached out and allowed him to smell her hand, his muscles rippling as he shifted and lowered his head to take in her scent.
She placed her palms against his muscular neck and massaged the thick-corded muscles. He nodded his massive head as if appreciating her soft touch. His coat shone in the afternoon sun, his mane and tail reminding her of deep hues of silk.
Charlie ran her hands through his mane and down his neck, marveling at the luxurious feel. She allowed him to nuzzle her and take in her scent further. Taking his face in her hands, she placed a soft kiss to his nose. “You are a magnificent creature.”
“I thought the same thing the first time I saw you.”
Charlie’s breath caught and her heart skipped a beat at the sound of the familiar deep, sultry voice. Her body trembled and her throat went tight, prohibiting her from responding. She felt him move closer to her, and his heat radiated at her back. A fleeting touch at the base of her neck sent a shudder down her spine. He leaned in closer, his breath hot against the sensitive spot beneath her ear.
“Hello, Charlie.” His lips brushed lightly against her skin.
She spun away from his touch and faced him. Trevor stood an arm’s length away. Too close. She took a step back and grabbed onto the wooden fence to steady herself. He was even more handsome here in the bright sun than she remembered from the night in the bar. He wore the same dark Stetson, pulled low to protect his eyes from the glare of the sun. A tight, dusty blue T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders, and threadbare loose-fitting jeans hung low on his lean hips. Charlie refused to let her gaze drop any farther down his gorgeous body and raised her eyes to meet his.
“Oh God, what are you doing here?”
Charlie hated how shaky her voice sounded. What the hell is he doing here? She had hoped to never see him again and, after the last two weeks of being constantly assaulted by dreams of him, was completely unprepared to deal with him, especially on the job. She turned her back on him, focused her attention on the stallion.
“I could ask you the same thing, but I wouldn’t really care. I’m just glad you are.” He moved closer, placing his large palm at the small of her back, and heat streaked along her spine. “Are you here for me, Charlie?”
Charlie shrugged away from him again, hating how her body instantly responded to his voice, and gaped at his nerve and arrogance.
“I believe I made it clear it would be a bad idea—a very bad idea—for me to see you. Why in the hell would I come looking for you?” She couldn’t believe how cocky he was and it just pissed her off that she couldn’t seem to control her body around him. “I was invited here by the owner, so if you’ll excuse me.” She turned and started to head back toward the barn.
Before she could take a second step, he reached out and grabbed her around the waist. The instant her back made contact with his broad chest, a wave of pure lust shot through her, and she had to force herself not to push against his heat.
“Whoa there, little wildcat.” He nipped at her ear and damned if her whole body didn’t beg to respond. “I don’t remember inviting you here.”
Okay, this had to stop. Two minutes in this man’s presence and she was reduced to a mindless and boneless mess.
Sheesh, Charlie, have some control.
She pulled from his grasp, refused to look at him, and strode off back toward the barn. “I didn’t ask for your invite,” she tossed over her shoulder.
Charlie entered the barn, driven by an urgent need to get away from him before she did something stupid, but damned if the arrogant cowboy didn’t follow her. She spotted her mentor helping coax a spooked colt into one of the stalls. Before she could reach him, Trevor strode past her, winking as he went. Bastard.
“Hey, John, good to see you.” He reached out and slapped Dr. Stone on the back. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.”
Charlie stopped dead in her tracks.
Oh God, this isn’t happening.
The one time in her life when she had actually considered doing something wild and crazy and enjoy a moment, consequences be damned, was coming back to bite her in the ass. Hard.
Oh hell no, she couldn’t have just picked up an anonymous stranger in a bar for hot, meaningless sex. She’d had to get all greedy and go for two. Her one night of indiscretion had not only had her throwing herself at someone who had basically told her he didn’t want her, but now that choice could jeopardize her career before it even began.
Way to go, Charlie. You can kiss your career goodbye. Not only did you pick a man who is friends with Kegan, but with your boss as well. Shit!
She didn’t really think Dr. Stone would kick her out of the program, but she was sure he would no longer respect her or take her seriously if he found out what she had nearly agreed to do at Jack’s Place.
“Trevor.” Dr. Stone slapped him on the back in return. “Don’t mention it. It was a perfect opportunity for my assistant.” He spotted her and waved her over.
Charlie sighed, resigned herself to what was coming and forced her feet to start moving.
“Charlie, this is Trevor Kingsington, one of the owners of Trev-Ke Ranch. Trevor, meet my new assistant, Dr. Charlie McCarty.”
Trevor reached out and took her hand in his. “Pleasure to see you again, Dr. McCarty.” He ducked his head, kept his eyes locked on hers, and placed a soft kiss on the top of her hand.
“I didn’t realize you two knew each other.” Dr. Stone flicked his gaze back and forth between them, confusion evident on his face.
With her eyes, Charlie pleaded for Trevor not to say where they’d met. She could only pray he would be able to read her expression. He lifted his head slowly and winked before he addressed Dr. Stone.
“I found her out back admiring one of my stallions.”
“Ah I see. Well if you have a minute, Trevor, I’d like to go over some of the things that Dr. McCarty and I have found.”
“Sure, no problem. Let me just grab my books and I’ll meet you in my office.”
“Great. Charlie, will you be okay finishing up here?”
Yes, if you’ll both leave right now, I’ll care for a thousand horses alone.
“Yes. I’ll be just fine, sir.” She turned to Trevor. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Kingsington.”
“I look forward to seeing you again, Dr. McCarty. I’m sure you’ll be an”—he raked his gaze up and down her body—“amazing asset around here.” His voice was thick with sexual innuendo. Obviously the man just couldn’t let it go without the last word.
Charlie gritted her teeth, turned quickly then walked off in the opposite direction.
Asset? What the hell was that supposed to mean? She was relieved that it had go
ne as well as it had and that Trevor hadn’t mentioned meeting her in a cowboy bar. But the way his silky voice had suggested she would be a great asset had her a little unnerved.
Okay, she could do this. She just needed to finish up here as quickly as she could, pack up, then hide in the van until Dr. Stone helped her escape. She hated being a coward, but in this instance, she had no other alternative. She had made more than one mistake that night two weeks ago. Hopefully she could evade said mistakes for the next couple years. How hard could that be?
She made quick but thorough assessments and packed up their gear as Dr. Stone gave their final reports to the ranch foreman. Once they were pulling away from the house, Charlie let out a deep breath, one that she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding.
“You did a great job today. I see now why you were so highly recommended.”
“Thank you, sir.” Charlie felt a little uncomfortable with the compliment and her cheeks heated. She was glad he didn’t know the truth about where she had really met Trevor and hoped he never would.
As they drove slowly down the canopy drive, they were forced to pull off to the shoulder as a large silver dually pickup approached them. Dr. Stone raised his hand to wave, obviously recognizing the vehicle. The truck pulled up alongside them and stopped. Their reflection was cast back at them in the dark tint of the windows. The window remained up and as the long uncomfortable moment stretched out, Charlie felt the hairs on the nape of her neck rise and a chill run down her spine. The whirl of the window sounded, and she stared, transfixed, as it made its descent in slow motion.
When it reached halfway, Charlie’s heart stopped and a fresh wave of dread washed through her system as piercing sapphire eyes stared back at her.
Kegan.
Dr. Stone raised his hand to wave again. “Hey, Kegan. Thought I was gonna miss ya today. Good to see ya, son.”
Kegan continued to stare at Charlie with those intense blue eyes as if he hadn’t been spoken to. She was afraid to look at him, fear of seeing the disgust she knew would be there. She dropped her gaze and stared at her tightly clasped hands as her pulse raced. She should have realized that Kegan would work with Trevor. Hadn’t Trevor suggested they shared everything? Her stomach lurched as realization dawned. Trevor had surely told Kegan that she’d basically agreed to hook up with two strangers from a bar.