When he looked up, the color in her face had blanched white. “Does this tugging involve lubrication of any kind?”
“Not for you.” He grabbed two sets of examination gloves and got to his feet. “Just put these on,” he said, handing her one of the packages.
“Is everything okay?” Carrie asked, pausing the video temporarily.
As he put on his gloves, Ian reassured the worried rancher’s wife, explaining what he planned to do. “I don’t think it’ll take more than one pull to get things moving along.”
Although Tomi still looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here, she donned the gloves and followed Ian over to the laboring horse. After lubricating his glove, he eased his hand inside and was relieved to feel the nose positioned near the retracted hoof. Wrapping his fingers around the foreleg, he instructed Tomi to grasp on to the limb already out.
“Like this?” she said, gripping the protruding leg with both hands.
“Perfect.” He waited until he could feel another contraction start. “Okay, pull. Hard,” he said, making sure the traction they applied was aligned properly. As he pulled, he gently rotated the foal side to side to help it pass through the birth canal.
Tomi immediately started talking to the unborn foal. “Come on, baby. You can do it. Come on out and meet your mommy.”
Ian felt the leverage shift as the foal advanced far enough that he could now see the nose. “You can let go,” Ian said, wiping away the mucous covering the nostrils and mouth. “Cookie’s got this now.”
In less than thirty seconds, a perfectly healthy foal was delivered. “Is it a boy or a girl?” Tomi asked.
Carrie moved closer, still filming the momentous event. Ian glanced up at her and smiled for the camera. “Congratulations, you’ve got a beautiful filly.”
“I always wanted a girl,” Carrie said, sniffing back her emotions. “Thought I’d have to wait until my two boys found themselves wives.”
They all sat in silence and watched as Cookie began her first task as a new mother by licking the birthing sack away from her offspring. This instinct both fascinated and grossed Tomi out. She gagged a few times as she quietly encouraged the mother to do her job. It was pretty funny, but Ian edged away from her just in case she did more than gag.
The sun had fully risen when the new filly got to its feet and started nursing. Ian felt comfortable leaving the ranch, assuring Carrie he’d be back to check on the new foal within twenty-four hours.
As they headed down the driveway, Tomi yawned twice in a row, which triggered Ian to yawn. His stomach rumbled, making him glad he’d brought along a few protein bars. When he reached the end of the driveway, he stopped the truck and turned to look at Tomi. “I’ve got another ranch to visit this afternoon, but it’s a forty-minute drive so I can take you home before I head out there.”
Her eyes held his as she considered her options. Ian wasn’t sure what he was hoping for, but felt a rush of warmth when she smiled and said, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
Laughing, he turned toward the Petersen’s ranch. They both downed a bottle of water along with their protein bars, passing the time with Tomi recounting the miraculous birth she’d just witnessed. She was on a high from the experience and couldn’t stop talking about it. “I still can’t believe I did that. Thank you for letting me help. It was so amazing.”
“Thank you for not throwing up.” He shot her a quick glance and winked. “I was getting worried there for a minute.”
“Yeah, that part still makes me feel queasy.” She sighed. “If I ever have any children, I’m grateful that’s not a requirement for motherhood.”
“You’re not sure you want kids?” Ian asked before he thought about it. This wasn’t a conversation you had with a woman unless you were in a serious relationship. “You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.”
“I don’t mind,” she said, sounding amused by his concern. “Sure, I want kids. But I guess I’m old-fashioned because I want to find a husband first.”
“That’s not old-fashioned,” Ian said. “I feel the same way.”
“You want to find a husband too?” Tomi teased.
“Ha ha,” he said, glancing over at her. He quickly averted his attention back to the road, wishing he could take a picture of her. The soft light from the morning sky enhanced her natural beauty, highlighting the dark strands of hair that had come loose from her ponytail. “I think a couple should be married before they have children.”
“Are you currently looking for a wife?” Tomi asked.
Her tone indicated she was merely asking out of curiosity. Still, the question made his mouth go as dry as the dirt in August. This conversation had turned way too personal and serious. Because suddenly Ian envisioned his future bride and she looked exactly like the woman sitting next to him.
Chapter 7
Talking about marriage and kids usually made Tomi nervous, but for some reason, she wasn’t this time. Ian, on the other hand, looked like the deer she’d spotted earlier this morning on their way to the Reed’s place. She watched him swallow hard as he gripped the steering wheel so tightly she may have to pry his hands loose when they reached their destination.
She should let him off the hook. He’d given her an out right away when he’d started this whole conversation by asking her if she wanted to have children.
“I…uh…I’m not actively searching right now.” He drew in a deep breath and rolled his shoulders back. “I’m kind of on a dating moratorium until hunting season is over.”
Right. Because he thought the sexy beard thing he had going on was supposed to be a deterrent. Men were so clueless sometimes. “And when does hunting season end?” Tomi asked.
“The end of November, unless I get something first.”
“Ah, so then the hunt for a wife can start.”
“What?” he choked out, cutting her a quick look. “I never said that.”
“Excuse me,” she said, trying not to laugh. “I meant you could start actively searching for a wife.”
Lips pressed tight, he shifted into a lower gear and slowed the truck down as they approached a fork in the road. “I think you enjoy making me squirm.”
She immediately felt contrite. Pushing people beyond their comfort zone was a trait of Tomi’s that her mother had always frowned upon. “I’m sorry. And here I promised myself I wouldn’t tease you too much today.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “So, you admit it then?”
“Yes.”
Her quick answer made him laugh, and he glanced at her again. “I think I can handle your teasing.”
“Well, there goes my fun,” she said in a mock-serious tone.
Chuckling, he veered to the left. “The question is...can you take my teasing?”
Was that a challenge or was he actually flirting with her? Either way, Tomi liked this light-hearted side of him. “Bring it on, cowboy.”
His eyes crinkled as he shook his head. “I have a feeling the next couple of weeks are going to be very…entertaining.”
Entertaining. She’d thought for sure he was going to say trying. “It’s what I do.” At his quizzical brow, she added, “You know…for a living. I entertain for a living.”
“Yeah, I got it.” He glanced over at her, his eyes pensive. Before she could ask what was troubling him, he said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
Tomi stared wide-eyed at him. Had this cowboy just quoted the most famous playwright of all time? “That’s from Shakespeare.”
“Yep.”
“How do you know Shakespeare?” The incredulous look he shot her made her feel stupid. “I know you went to college, but you’re a veterinarian.”
“English lit is pretty much standard for any degree.”
Tomi knew that, but how did he know Shakespeare well enough to quote him? “I’m already impressed, but I’ll buy you a frozen custard from Big C’s if you can name the play.”
<
br /> “Do you know the name of the play?” he asked as if insulted by her inquiry.
“Yeah, I was in a production of it my freshman year.” They hit a section of the road covered with gravel as they drove under a large metal archway declaring the name of the Petersen’s ranch. Tomi reached out and gripped the dash when the truck bounced from a large pothole. “Okay,” she said, when the road smoothed out again, “let’s say the title out loud on the count of three.”
“You’re on, but I want French fries as part of the deal.”
“Okay.” She held up her hand, ticking off the numbers with her fingers. “One. Two. Three.”
“As You Like It,” they answered in unison.
He grinned at her triumphantly. “Told you.”
“I’ll throw in a cheeseburger if you can name the character who said it.”
“No idea.” He shifted into a lower a gear, taking the bend in the road at a slower speed. “I’m guessing you know the name?”
Tomi gave him the name, which triggered his memory as they discussed the play further. She was impressed by his knowledge and was mildly disappointed when they arrived at the Petersen’s cattle ranch.
Mr. Petersen, a slightly overweight man, greeted them. He eyed Tomi speculatively when Ian introduced her as his assistant for the day. “Well, Miss Tomi, if I’d known vet assistants were so pretty I could’ve talked my boys into continuing their education.”
“Thank you,” Tomi said, shaking the man’s hand. “Your ranch is impressive.”
The man beamed with pride and started talking about how many head of cattle they had. Apparently, he was getting ready to take some of his cattle to auction, so she and Ian spent the rest of the afternoon examining and certifying the designated group of cattle. Tomi wasn’t exactly bored, but she liked delivering a foal much better than checking out the large smelly animals.
By the time they finished, she was starving and eager to get away from the cattle and the ranch hands, including Mr. Petersen’s two sons. All the men seemed deprived of female companionship and acted like they hadn’t seen or talked to a girl in ages.
While all the men had been polite, they were a little rough around the edges and smelled like the cattle mixed in with sweat. She’d stuck close to Ian, frequently leaning in to catch a whiff of whatever long-lasting deodorant he wore.
As they were leaving, Ian shook Mr. Petersen’s hand. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will, son.” His eyes darted over to Tomi before he leaned in and whispered in a not so quiet voice. “My boys have been hounding me to find out if you and your lovely assistant are dating.”
Boys? Tomi glanced over at the two giant men the rancher referred to. Hank, the oldest of the brothers, stuck a piece of straw in his mouth and winked at Tomi. Frank, his younger brother, grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
Tomi met Ian’s gaze, hoping he would cover for her. The amused look in his eyes made her hollow stomach feel like she’d just swallowed a big stone. Surely, he wouldn’t risk the feelings of these two men to get her back for all her teasing.
“Sorry, but Tomi and I are seeing each other on a regular basis.”
Relief washed over her as Mr. Petersen slowly nodded his head. “I figured as much.” He lifted one of his big shoulders up. “It doesn’t hurt to ask though.”
“You all take care,” Ian said, tugging on the brim of his cowboy hat. “And good luck at the auction.”
Tomi waved goodbye and fell into step with Ian. She leaned in close, brushing her arm against his solid bicep. “I owe you big time.”
“Yeah, you do,” Ian said with a soft laugh.
They continued the trek toward his truck, walking side by side. Their fingers brushed once. Twice. Then a third time. They’d been standing close for the past couple of hours, but Tomi suddenly had the craziest urge to slip her hand into his. Feeling slightly breathless, she didn’t give in to her impulse, but she didn’t move away either. Part of her hoped he wanted to hold her hand too.
“I’ll take a cheeseburger,” he said, stopping next to the passenger door.
“Excuse me?” she said as if someone had just thrown a cold glass of water over her head.
He smiled and reached around her to open her door. “You owe me, remember?”
“Mm-hmm,” she said, grateful he couldn’t read minds. While she was daydreaming about holding hands, he was thinking about food. “Anything else you want?”
His smile slipped a little as he held her gaze. Desire flickered in his eyes as they lowered to her mouth. Maybe she wasn’t the only one with fantasies. As if someone flipped a switch, Ian stepped back and pulled the door open. “Nah, a cheeseburger is payment enough.”
Feeling let down, she sidled past him, ignoring how good he smelled and climbed on the seat. As he rounded the front of the truck, she reeled in her emotions. The lack of sleep and the need for something other than a protein bar must be making her brain addled. She shouldn’t even be thinking about Ian romantically. Besides, the cute cowboy was on a dating hiatus…at least until November.
Tomi was grateful that Ian got a phone call as he climbed in behind the wheel. From the side of the conversation she could hear, Tomi guessed the caller was Lucy, the IT girl that was updating the clinic’s website.
She listened for a few minutes, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier. The next thing she knew someone was shaking her gently. “Wake up, sleepyhead. We’re home.”
Her eyes fluttered open, meeting Ian’s silvery-blue gaze. “Hey.” Her throat was dry, making her voice sound raspy. She gently cleared it. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
A slow smile lifted his lips. “It’s okay. I could tell you really needed it.”
“Oh yeah,” she said on a yawn. “Why’s that?”
“You were snoring.”
“I do not snore,” Tomi said, sitting upright. “Do I?”
He grinned, shaking his head. “I’m just kidding, but you do like to talk in your sleep.”
Crap. What had she said? Her college roommate had once recorded her talking nonsense about some guy in their English class. The guy thought it was great she was dreaming about him and asked her out. The evening ended rather quickly when Tomi realized her date had a few fantasies of his own that weren’t nearly as innocent as hers had been.
A knot of anxiety twisted in her gut. “What did I say?”
“Nothing that made much sense.”
She let out a breath of relief. “Good.”
His smile widened. “But I did hear my name a few times.”
“Oh?” She fidgeted with the seatbelt. “What else?”
“Cheeseburgers and hands.” His gaze narrowed. “I’m curious what you were dreaming about. You kind of sounded annoyed.”
She could never remember her dreams, but had an inkling it mirrored the daydreams she’d had about holding Ian’s hand before falling asleep. “Speaking of cheeseburgers,” she said, hoping to distract him, “don’t I owe you one?”
“Yeah, but I’m going to have to take a raincheck on that.” He glanced at the clock. “I told Meredith I’d swing by the clinic in five minutes.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, her neighbor’s dog got tangled up with a porcupine. The owner doesn’t dare remove the quills by herself.”
Tomi was tempted to ask if she could come with him. Aside from never seeing a real-life porcupine quill before, she liked watching Ian work. Her eyes dipped to his very capable hands, and she swallowed. “Good luck.” She opened her door, grabbed her purse and jumped down before Ian could blink. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He put his hand on the gearshift. “Unless I get another emergency call that is,” he said with a wink.
Shoot, why had she insisted on going with him on emergency calls? She needed a little space from him to get her head screwed on right. Maybe go over her lines and try to remember what was at stake here if she screwed up by ti
cking off the wrong people. “Sounds good.” She gave him the thumbs up before closing the door.
He gave her a two-finger salute before pulling away from the curb. Tomi stared at his truck as he drove away, wishing like heck the guy wasn’t so likeable.
“Aunt Tomi!” a little voice called from behind her. She whirled around to see Lindsey running for her with her arms outstretched. “You’re finally home.”
“Hey, sweetie,” she said, catching her niece in a big hug. “How was your day?”
“Good.” Lindsey wiggled to get down and grabbed Tomi’s hand. “Daddy’s not home yet, so I’m helping Mommy make dinner,” she said, pulling Tomi toward the front door. “You can help too.”
Tomi followed the little girl inside. The aroma of something delicious made her empty stomach rumble. Piper’s homemade meal beat a greasy cheeseburger and fries any day. She still wanted the frozen custard but knew her sister probably had an equally delicious dessert already made.
“What smells so good?” Tomi asked her sister when they entered the kitchen. “I’m starving.”
“We’re making cracker dinner,” Lindsey answered. “I made the best part.” She lifted a clear baggie of crushed crackers.
“You did make the best part.” Tomi went to the sink to wash her hands. “How was your day?” she asked her sister.
“It was good.” Piper tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I think my students are finally adjusting to being back in school.”
Lindsey climbed on the stool next to Piper and dumped the cracker crumbs into a bowl with melted butter. It was obvious the little girl had helped make this dinner before. While mother and daughter finished the final preparations, Tomi stepped into the bathroom and grimaced at her reflection in the mirror. She was in desperate need of a shower. Leaning in close, she noticed a fine layer of dirt covering her face.
Turning on the water, she splashed her face a few times and then patted it dry with a paper towel she found underneath the sink. It didn’t help much. At least Ian knew she wasn’t trying to impress him with her looks.
Caught Kissing the Cowboy: A Return to Snow Valley Romance Page 7