What woman wouldn't like new clothes, new shoes, even a new designer handbag. But that Tempe no longer existed, she'd been replaced and now went to big box department stores for everything.
"Oh I love me some new clothes, but not at the expense of doing my job," she said giving him her no nonsense don't mess with me look. "So what is it going to be?"
The man all but growled at her. "Take the damn sample. My hands will put him in the chute for you. This test better come back clean. That bull is worth a hundred thousand dollars."
"Mr. Smith, I hope for yours and the bulls sake, the results are negative."
"I'll get my kit," she said walking to her car.
Today, might have been a good time for Kyle to be with her, but the man overstepped his bounds last night and pushed her to her limit. No one accused her of wanting to put down animals. That just pissed her off.
Kyle missed Tempe today. This morning he awoke to an empty apartment and at first he feared she left for good. Opening the door, he had peeked into the room she slept in and seen her suitcases and sighed with relief.
Okay, so last night he overstepped his bounds and acted like a jerk. The events of the day pained him and he lashed out at the person he thought caused him agony. But Tempe shouldn't be blamed for what happened yesterday.
That would be like blaming the doctor who delivered the cancer diagnosis. The bearer of bad news, she shouldn't be held responsible for Cody's cow being put down.
Still, she'd been an easy target and afterwards he recognized he had been a real jackass.
After delivering puppies at his brother Jim's house, he'd returned back to the clinic, hoping she was there, but no Tempe.
Close to seven and she had yet to come in. Beginning to worry, he kept watch from the patio. He wanted her help with his plans for tonight. They both needed to laugh and release some stress. First he would have to eat some crow. Feathers and all, he was going to have to fall at the bottom of her feet and beg for mercy.
Sitting outside, he observed her parking her car at the back of the clinic. Turning the motor off, she stepped out and glanced up at him, her face drawn in the fading light. Like a horny teenage boy, eager for his first date he waved at her. Good grief, all day he watched for her, waiting on her to return.
Her auburn hair like a beacon glinting in the last bit of sunlight and he wanted to reach out and brush it back away from her face. Longed to kiss her full lips and hold her tight against his chest once again. No doubt about it, he screwed up last night.
A few minutes later, she came out onto the patio and sank down in a chair not far from him. Not on the swing next to him. She was distancing herself and that's not what he wanted.
"You're back late," he said.
"Busy day."
An awkward moment of silence hung between them and he couldn't wait any longer. Taking a deep breath, he released it slowly. He hated apologizing. Even when he was wrong, but he needed to say something.
"Look about last night." Running his hand through his hair, trying to calm his nerves, he licked his lips and stared at her.
"Sometimes when I'm hurting, I say things I shouldn't. No doctor enjoys putting down his patients. Animals are very special to us and you didn't enjoy euthanizing that heifer anymore than I did. Because I know what this disease could do to my friends and family, I'm scared. I apologize for the hurtful things I said to you, I was insensitive and mean."
Kyle felt like a huge lump of clay clogged his throat. It wasn't in his nature to be vicious and vindictive and yesterday he was both. Apologizing stung, but he'd been wrong.
With a tilt of her head, she gazed at him, her emerald eyes wide, her brows raised as if surprised. "Thank you. Apology accepted. Since school, I dread having to end an animal's life. I'm not God, yet I don't want them to suffer either."
Amazed, Kyle stared at her. Yes, he was certain most vets detested deciding who lived and who died, but she said it so eloquently.
"It's the same for me. There are so many things, I love about my job, but having to make the decision to say goodbye, is difficult. Even when you try not to become emotionally involved, there's a part of you that questions am I doing what's best for the animal?"
Nodding her head, she looked at him her eyes still wary. "Last night I knew you were upset, but then you touched on the wound I sometimes wonder will ever heal. That's when I had to leave."'
With a nervous swallow, he perceived Tempe was like a wounded animal and he had worked so hard to gain her trust, only to squander it on a stupid, couple of words. Now it would take time to recover.
At the realization of the pain he created for her, his chest tightened. "The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I'd said the wrong thing. It was too late and I couldn't pull them back."
Shaking her head, she stared at him. "What is it between the two of us? Maybe because we're both vets, but there is this attraction I can no longer deny. I've shared with you things I'm not supposed to talk about. That also means we have the ability to wound the other person really bad. Last night you hurt me."
Well, that certainly didn't make him feel any better. In fact, now he seemed like a bigger louse.
"You're right. The only thing I can say is I'm sorry."
With a sigh, she said, "Let's put this behind us."
Relief poured through him, leaving his knees weak. At the thought of her saying goodbye, he'd been anxious and scared.
Now, their first big fight was behind them, but still that didn't warrant there was anything to the Cupid statue. Or that they were meant to be together. No matter what, he just wasn't ready for her to go.
"Great idea."
"In fact, I'll tell you about my day. The man who owns the bull we suspect started this fiasco that brought me to town, I went to see him."
"Please tell me you didn't go out there alone. That man can be a mean SOB."
A chuckle escaped from her. "Oh yeah, you wouldn't believe the stunt he pulled. That crazy old fool tried to bribe me."
Laughing, he pictured poor Ed Smith not understanding that just because Tempe was a woman, he could persuade her to break the law. The man obviously didn't realize she was a strict by the book kind of girl. Suddenly he thought about her father and considered the reason for her being so rules focused.
Could part of the justification for her being so precise be her father's lawlessness? Could she be trying to convince herself, she was not like him?
"The man tried to give me a ten thousand dollar shopping trip," she giggled almost hysterically. "What he doesn't understand is me and my mother use to drop thousands in a store. Mother and I would go shopping and come back with a whole new wardrobe."
A heavy sigh filled the night. "We were so extravagant. I miss not having money worries, but no one buys me off. No one," she said determination filling her voice. "Yes, I'm my father's daughter, but that doesn't mean I'm like him."
Kyle's heart ached at the agony, her father brought upon her. Without thinking he rose from his chair and walked over to her and pulled her up. If he could, he would soothe and take away her hurt, but that was impossible.
So instead he wrapped his arms around her and held her. Now was not the time to try to kiss her. He simply comforted her, knowing Tempe Tangier had every reason to feel saddened missing her old life.
Kyle was on edge waiting for a call confirming what he hoped his sister and future brother-in-law would do tonight.
The time for the payback was upon Cody, though he didn't know it yet.
The phone rang and he answered his cell. "What did you find out?"
Jim laughed. "Tonight is their three month anniversary and she's leaving work early for them to celebrate."
Kyle smiled into the receiver. "Oh, they'll be celebrating in style. Thanks Jim. I promise you big brother, I'm going to give them a night to remember."
The night he ran the Cupid dance, Cody had stolen their clothes. Tonight, if things went according to plan, he would receive his payback.
Kyle wanted to ask Jim about his love life, but decided if he did, that could lead to questions he wasn't prepared to answer.
"Oh, I won't," he promised. "I'm just going to steal their clothes."
"Call me when you're home safe and sound and tell me how it went."
Sometimes his brother was worse than a parent, always wanting to make certain they were all okay. But again, his mother made him promise to watch over them and Jim had taken good care of them all.
"Will do," Kyle said and hung up the phone.
Walking in the downstairs area of the clinic, he found Tempe going through one of his veterinary manuals. "I need your help," he said, grabbing her hands and pulling her to her feet.
"What?"
"You'll see. Come on," he said and started dragging her towards the door.
"Let me grab my purse," she said.
In his truck heading down the highway, she turned to him. "Is this an emergency?"
Not wanting to tell her, everything for fear she'd back out, but she needed to know most of the truth. Yet he feared that if she learned what they were doing, before they left, she would back out. Tempe was not exactly a prankster.
"No, this is revenge."
"Oh? Why would I want to participate?"
Already she was questioning her involvement. The woman needed to loosen up a little. This is what you did in a small town. Played pranks on one another. Especially your friends.
"Because the night I ran around the Cupid statue naked, Cody stole mine and Jim's clothes. That night you saw me in my birthday suit. Tonight, I seek revenge."
"Again, why would I want to participate?"
With a grin at her, he said, "Because you want to help me. I'm a charming man who needs your participation in order to pull this off."
"Keep talking," she said, watching him.
"You're beautiful, smart and intelligent and you'll do a great job helping me."
She started laughing. "How could any woman resist that? Make certain that we don't end up in handcuffs. The last thing I need is a law man checking into my past."
"Oh no, we'll be out on his private property. While he and my sister are sitting naked in the hot tub, we're going to steal their clothes and lock the house, so they have no way back in."
"How do you plan on doing that?"
"During the time they're engaged with each other - lips locked that sort of thing, I'm going to sneak out and pilfer their robes and shoes. Then I'm going to lock them out of the house without any clothes."
His biggest concern he hoped he didn't catch them in the act. That would be really embarrassing for them and for Kyle.
"You don't get even, you get ahead," she said.
"I don't think so. They're out in the country. Cody, left me high and dry in the town square without a stitch of clothes to put on."
Actually, they were at home and somehow Cody would find a way into the house. Unlike himself, who had to reach the clinic.
"You still had your hat," she responded, grinning at him.
"No, that was Cody's hat and he gave it to me after I covered my junk with it."
Shaking her head, she tilted it and gazed at him, sending a trickle of lust racing down his spine. "What do you want me to do?"
"Your job is to go in the house and lock it up, while I grab their robes and shoes. By the time we're done, they're going to be bare assed naked. A sight I don't want to see, so we're going to need to hurry back to the truck."
"Don't you think they'll have a spare key somewhere?"
This woman not only enticed him physically, but he liked the way her mind worked. An evil sounding chuckle echoed from his chest. "Already thought of that. Last week he showed me where the extra key was in the barn. Tonight, it goes missing."
"How will they get in?" she asked, concern in her voice.
Stretching over he patted her on the leg. "Guess he'll have to either break a window or call a locksmith. Not my problem," he said. "After all I had to run through the town square to Jim's truck and drive from there back to the clinic without clothes. I'm repaying the favor."
"What about hypothermia?"
Turning his vehicle down the road to their place he switched off the lights. A thrill of anticipation gripped his stomach. The last time he and Cody gave each other a payback, they'd been in high school.
"It gets a little chilly, but they'll be fine. Besides, his barn has a nice apartment near the hayloft."
She glanced over at him. "You boys certainly know how to stir up trouble."
A grin spread across his face. "That's right. This is what living in a small town is like."
When they came to the drive, he parked the truck and turned off the engine. "We walk from here."
"What if there are snakes crawling?"
A frown deepened the furrows between his brows. "Snakes? No way. They're afraid of my bite."
Stepping out of the truck, she shook her head. "Let's do this."
Sneaking down the driveway, first they went to the barn, where Kyle quickly found the key and put it in his pocket. Hurrying back to the house, the sound of laughter reached his ears and he knew the couple sat in the hot tub.
At the front door, he whispered in Tempe's ear. "Make certain you lock all the doors. Their robes should be hanging on hooks on the back of the privacy fence. I'll reach over, take their clothes and then we'll haul butt out of here."
If Cody caught them, he wouldn't press charges, because brothers didn't do that. This was all a little harmless fun or so he hoped.
"Be careful. This is craziness."
Grabbing her he gave her a quick kiss. "And it's fun."
They separated and he watched her open the front door of the house and walk in. Five minutes later, he made his way around to the back where the three quarters privacy fence shielded the hot tub from the road. Soaking in the relaxing tub, they could gaze on the pasture, but from the lane all you could see was the wooden partition.
Reaching over the top, he grabbed both robes at the same time. Just when he thought he'd gotten away, he heard his sister. "What happened to my robe? I left it hanging there?"
A trickle of alarm had him quietly slipping away, his heart pounding in his chest. If Tempe hadn't had time to lock the doors, they would be caught.
"Honey, you don't need your robe," Cody replied. "I'm sure it's still in the house."
"I didn't walk out here nude. Where is yours?"
Loud cursing erupted and Kyle started running. Cody knew.
He ran as fast as his two feet would carry him back to the front of the house, where Tempe was standing outside waiting. Thank goodness, Cody couldn't cut through the house.
Loaded down with their robes and shoes, he didn't care, he was feeling pretty successful.
"Come on," he said. "Run."
"Oh no, did they catch you?"
Charging down the drive together, Tempe laughed.
He chuckled. "No, but they realized something happened to their clothes."
Giggling, they hurried to the truck, threw the robes and shoes in the back and jumped in. Starting the engine, Kyle turned on the lights and spun out on the road.
Glancing up in the rearview mirror, Cody stood naked as the day he was born in the middle of his drive shaking his fist at him. A smile crossed his face as he kept on driving. Paybacks were hell.
"Don't look behind us, but we just got caught. Good, I wanted him to realize who locked him out. Now he knows."
Tempe grinned at him in the darkness, the light reflecting off her face. "So now has the debt been repaid?"
"Now, I don't owe him until he does something to us again."
"Never met, crazier," she said. "But I have to admit, that was kind of fun."
Chapter 8
Several days later, after being forced to put down yet another heifer, Tempe made the decision to hold a town meeting to in
form the local ranchers. Rumors were beginning to circulate and if the infection was spreading, she wanted to make the owners aware. Glancing around the packed room, filled with cowboys, she realized she was probably the most hated woman in the room. A trickle of uneasiness spiraled down her spine, like a warning.
The mayor stood in front of the crowd and called everyone to order. "Thanks for coming on such short notice. The USDA brought it to my attention that we've got a possible epidemic brewing in our community. An agent is here to explain what's going on. Please welcome Dr. Tempe Tangier."
With a splattering of applause, Tempe rose and walked to the podium. "My agency is probably not who you like to see, but we wanted to inform you why we're here. How you can help to stop the transmission of Brucellosis."
All the ranchers who were there knew the name of the disease and immediately the chatter amongst themselves started.
Her first response was to say something, but then she waited, knowing if she said anything, it would only make things worse.
With the news being divulged today, Kyle's family came to support him standing along the wall of the small room.
"Quiet," the mayor called.
"This is a venereal disease that cattle spread. Some of the symptoms are, spontaneous abortion, weak calves, stillborn, signs of contagion in the membranes and swollen testicles on bulls. Any animal acting abnormal, should be separated from the others or if you suspect, please contact me or Dr. Lawrence.."
"Yes, but won't you quarantine our herds if we do?" a man in the back yelled.
Of course she would stop the bovine from being sold, but that wasn't the end of the world. Losing your herd would be more devastating than holding the cows back until you determined they weren't spreading the contamination.
"Unfortunately, Brucellosis is highly contagious. Do you want it to infect your neighbor's animals? Do you want the USDA to shut down all purchases of cattle in this area?"
"That's the problem with the government, they're not looking out for the little rancher. I bet you've already tested an approved the big money making outfits. You're just trying to weed out the smaller ranchers."
Cupid Cures: Small Town Western Contemporary (Return to Cupid, Texas Book 5) Page 7