“That’s some hat, Esther Mae.” Gabi was unable to take her eyes off the multicolored monstrosity. There were feathers and flowers erupting all over the place. It looked like a flower arrangement that had had a head-on collision with several flocks of birds.
“Thank you. Joseph had a coat of many colors and I have a hat of many colors. Don’t you just love it!”
Norma Sue grunted. “If Joseph’s coat was as gosh-awful as that hat, then it’s no wonder his brothers sold him off to Egypt. Just shows you that God will use anything to accomplish His will.”
Esther Mae harrumphed and hiked her chin in the air. “They were jealous of his coat.” She patted her feathers and gave her friend a teasing grin. “You can’t have it, Norma Sue, get your own.”
“My own! We can only hope it’s one of a kind.”
Gabi laughed, “Y’all never stop.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” App boomed. Giving them a sour look, he shook his head then addressed Gabi again. “I was about ta ask you—before we were inter-rupted.” He gave them another hard look for good measure. “What’d ya find out at Jess’s place yesterday about his cattle?”
“That’s what we came to ask about, too,” Esther Mae said, turning serious. “Did you find a poisonous plant killing all his cattle?”
News sure did travel fast. She hadn’t told her Gram, so how had they all found out about this? “I was just out there looking—and before y’all get all up in a tizzy, it was only four heifers.”
Stanley looked shocked. “Four’s enough, but I heard it was more on the lines of ten.”
“I don’t know where you’re getting your information but it was only four.”
“For now,” App said, sounding dire. “I shor hope you find the plant.”
“We don’t know for certain that it is a plant. Susan suspects it from the blood work she’s seen, and wanted me to get more information on it.”
That had them all bursting into advice on the various toxic plants that they were aware of in the county. Several other people stopped by to join in on the conversation. Gabi listened, taking in every bit of knowledge she could gleam from the folks who knew this area best. It was not to be taken lightly.
They were all talking when suddenly Norma Sue elbowed Esther Mae so hard her hat slid forward. She nodded toward the parking lot and everyone, including Gabi, turned to see what had Norma Sue’s mouth hanging open. It was Jess.
* * *
Half the front lawn of the church turned to look at Jess as he walked across the parking lot. Glancing at his watch, he knew he’d hit the time between Sunday school and church services. Normally when he came, he timed it so he got there right before Adela started playing the piano and everyone was already inside the church. Today he’d rushed it just a little.
His gaze was drawn instantly to Gabi standing among the group. Her blond hair sparkled in the sun like it always did. It was the first time he’d seen it hanging free of the ponytail she usually wore and it really caught the sun this way. She was in a skirt. It was red, and swung around her calves, very feminine. He had half expected her to be in her jeans, and was surprised and pleased to see her like this. And that was the reason he was about to get himself in trouble. Because half the congregation knew what had brought him out this morning. That was the reason, instead of going into the sanctuary when Adela had clearly begun to play the piano, they were still watching him.
He was asking for trouble, stirring up talk by showing up at church for the first time all summer. They all knew why he’d come.
God was probably not too pleased knowing he’d come to see Gabi instead of Him. But the truth was, Jess had stopped caring a long time ago whether God was happy with him or not.
He didn’t let that mess up his life or anything. He was pretty happy for a thirty-year-old guy. He’d made a good life for himself, despite not having parents worth a dime and a “Heavenly Father” who’d abandoned him right along with them.
Nope, he’d come to church to see Gabi even though he’d tried hard to talk himself out of it. The problem was Gabi Newberry thought God walked on water. She had a shiny, untarnished view of how God was interested in a personal relationship with her and everyone around her. She’d tried hard to talk to him about it yesterday. That should have sent him running from Gabi.
But no, here he was, walking into church, stirring up matchmaking talk. And for what?
He knew God wasn’t interested in a relationship with everyone. He knew this from hard, firsthand knowledge and he also knew there was no way he was going to be the one to tell this to Gabi. He wasn’t about to be the one to take that shine out of her eyes. That shine was what drew him.
That shine was the thing that kept nagging at him long after she was gone. Thing was, Gabi Newberry had something he wanted. And try as he might to talk himself out of it, he’d put on his starched shirt and jeans and was deliberately walking into trouble.
It was a completely crazy move.
Chapter Six
“Mornin’,” Jess drawled, tipping his Stetson as he came to a halt in front of Gabi.
The man looked like he’d just stepped off the cover of some glossy cowboy magazine, all spruced up and spit-shined, as her grandfather would have said. And oh how nice and shiny he was!
Gabi felt a nudge in the small of her back from either Esther Mae or Norma Sue.
Everyone but her gave him a response but she was still tongue-tied. It was totally messing with her mind the way those beautiful teal eyes were looking at her.
She forced her throat to work. She wasn’t going to look like a ninny in front of everyone. “Mornin’ to you, too. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“We weren’t, either,” Norma Sue added, shooting straight to the point. “But it sure is good to see you!” She grabbed him in a bear hug that had Jess looking embarrassed.
“Um, thanks, Norma Sue. I’m glad to see you, too.”
“Me too,” Esther Mae said patting his bicep. She looked at Gabi. “Isn’t he a handsome fella? I just love his hair.”
“The handsomest,” Gabi agreed, wanting to laugh when his eyes almost rolled. It was obvious he would rather be walking over hot coals than standing here being fussed over. But she liked the way he stood patiently and let the matchmakers get all gooey over him. He was really adorable, even though she could tell he’d rather be somewhere else. “And he has such a wonderful disposition. Don’t y’all agree?”
“My disposition is thinning by the moment.”
That made them all laugh.
“Come on,” Norma Sue chuckled. “We’re all about to be late. Adela’s gonna hit the last stanza of “Standing on the Promises” and everyone’s going to be sittin’ on the premises before we’re even in there.”
App, who’d headed in earlier to man his post at the front doors, poked his head out about that time and glared, waving his hand at them to come in.
“There’s the signal,” Esther Mae chuckled.
Norma Sue led the way, shaking her head. “How that man got the position as greeter is beyond me.”
“I think I’m gonna hug App,” Jess whispered in Gabi’s ear, falling into step beside her.
“It’s about time,” App hissed, causing half the church to turn and see what he was talking about.
Gabi would have laughed, but she was walking into the building beside Jess and all eyes were focused on them. She came to a screeching halt. Jess bumped into her and she thought she heard him groan. Esther Mae and Norma Sue had left her high and dry. They’d entered ahead of her and were rushing the choir loft like two linebackers. Where to sit, she wondered, looking at App. He hiked a bushy brow and gave her another grin that had her nervous.
“You two follow me,” he commanded and led her and Jess to a pew
three rows from the back.
As they squeezed into the nearly full pew, Gabi groaned this time. She’d come to church to worship, not think about a good-looking cowboy whose elbow was rubbing up against hers in the crowded pew.
That was distracting…but it wasn’t going to work.
No sir, her head was not that easily fooled…well, not anymore anyway.
She reached for a hymnal, determined to be unaffected by Jess. She was helping the man hunt for toxic plants and that was that.
Jess reached for the book the same time she did. “Sorry,” she whispered, drawing back her hand.
He smiled, and her stomach went all fluttery. This was not going to be easy.
* * *
“Colt, congratulations. You make us proud, bro.”
“Thanks,” Colt’s voice crackled over the bad connection. “I try anyway. Someone’s got to put the Holden name up in lights.”
Jess chuckled. “Yeah, and Montana is doing a great job of that with her barrel racing.” He couldn’t help teasing his little brother about Montana’s win over the weekend. Colt had been winning too, but he’d taken a third place win that weekend. Both of them were trying to pick up enough points to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo championships in Las Vegas in November. They needed every point they could earn. That meant long hours, hard driving and dedication. Colt had been going strong and was rising to the top of the leader board. Montana had started the race late but was doing great. But time was running out. Pressure was on both of them.
Because of this, Jess had chosen not to mention the problem with the cattle to Colt until after he knew something concrete. He’d decided to tell Luke and Montana after they got home—which would be sometime the next morning. He’d hoped by then they’d know more about the situation.
“What’s next for you?” he asked Colt, focusing on his little brother rather than the cattle.
“I’m heading down from Calgary but going to make several rodeos on the way in before hitting the Mule Hollow rodeo. My head’s spinning and the tires on my trailer are smoking from the pace. But I’m doin’ okay. I talked to Mom and she’s planning on coming to see me ride in Mule Hollow.”
“That’s good,” Jess said, but feeling nothing. Colt was the baby and had bought in early to their mother’s excuses for leaving them behind. Not interested in talking about her, Jess’s thoughts went to his long day. Church had pretty much been a disaster and he’d been beating himself up over it all afternoon as he drove around in the pastures observing cattle.
Gabi had seemed different at church. She’d been stiff and almost non-talkative. When the service was over, she’d disappeared quickly. He wasn’t sure what the problem was, but he got the feeling it was him. Of course she’d caught him staring at least twice and he’d gotten the impression that she wasn’t happy about that in the least.
That made two of them. What was he thinking, chasing after the vet tech?
“You there, Jess?”
Colt’s question pulled Jess back to the conversation. “Yeah, I’m here. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“You’re okay with seeing Mom?”
His brothers knew he was less welcoming than they were, but they didn’t judge him for it. Each of them dealt with their childhood in their own way. “I’ll be here to watch you ride, Colt, and I’ll be…” He paused. How would he be? Try as he might there was no way he could forgive his mother or welcome her as if she’d been a regular loving mother.
“She hates what she did, Jess.” Colt’s soft words echoed over the static-filled line. “She wishes she could take it back and do the right thing by us back then.”
The words grated. “Yeah, so do I.” Travis Tritt’s famous “Here’s a Quarter, Call Someone Who Cares” played through Jess’s mind.
As far as he was concerned, it was a little too late. Way late.
* * *
The veterinarian’s office was always swamped on Monday mornings. Today was no different. The place was alive with the ringing of telephone lines and the barking of dogs and puppies. Seeing patients every second kept Susan working through the morning. Tending to phones, helping with shots, weight and temperature, and everything else that came with the territory of vet assistant, kept Gabi equally busy.
It was almost eleven before they got their first breather.
“If this keeps up, I’ll have to hire an office manager to relieve you,” Susan said.
Inputting client information into the computer, Gabi’s fingers flew across the keys as fast as she could move them. “I’ll vote yes on that. My tongue is hanging out.”
Susan chuckled. “Mine too. But I’m so blessed. My daddy taught me that a busy life is a blessing. Can be tiring sometimes, but a blessing.”
“I can tell you, you and me are two really, really blessed people, if this morning is any indication.”
“Business is good and I’m not complaining. Now, while we have a minute…” Susan said, settling against the office counter “…the Matchmaking Posse was all over Jess showing up and sitting with you at church.”
“Ha! He sat with me because Applegate seated us together.”
Susan grinned at that. “Shame on him.”
“I don’t want them getting all geared up for a romance, Susan.”
“That might be hard to stop. There was no doubt in their minds that he came to church for one reason and one reason only. That was to see you. Even if it weren’t true, that’s what they read into it. I’m thinking they aren’t wrong, Gabi. What’s been going on out there on the ranch while you were looking for these plants? Come on, girl-talk time.”
Gabi sighed. “What’s not to be attracted to? The man is gorgeous.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I’m not ready to date again. On top of that, I don’t want some cowboy who comes to church for me and not for God.”
“Oh, yeah, I can see how that is a terrible, terrible thing.”
Gabi didn’t miss the teasing in Susan’s words. “Later, when I do start dating, I’m going to be looking for a guy who puts God first. I picked poorly last time.” She’d told Susan about Phillip and how he’d run as fast as he could the minute she’d found the Lord. She didn’t go into her drinking history but continued to keep it private.
“That’s rough. I get where you’re coming from now,” Susan said.
“God is the most important thing in my life. He is number one. A guy who spruces up and comes to church to be near me is a total turn off to me. My next guy has to love God first and then me. Nothing else will do.”
Susan’s eyebrows lifted momentarily. “Strong words.”
Gabi took a deep breath. “Yeah, I know, they sound harsh, don’t they?”
“Very. But given your background I can understand where you’re coming from. I have a friend over in Ranger who married a guy who told her God was the most important aspect of their lives. Told her what she wanted to hear, but once they were married he began pulling her away from church and her family. It ended badly. I guess if I was in your shoes, losing a fiancé like you did over your salvation, I’d be extra cautious, too.”
Gabi gave her a regretful look. “I’m not settling for anything less. Jess Holden is a good-looking guy. There is something about him that I can’t deny being attracted to. But I’m a strong woman. I am.” She tapped her heart to emphasize where she’d grown strong since loving God. God’s strength was helping her overcome her past. “And I will not let myself get tangled up in a situation that’s going to pull me away from my main goal right now, drawing closer to God and trying to do His will in my life.”
“Boy, that’s a tough one. The matchmakers will have to understand that. Are you going to be okay going out to Jess’s this afternoon?” Susan looked apologetic that she’d
have to send Gabi where she might not want to go.
“Oh, sure I am. I want to help him find whatever is wrong with his cattle. That’s why I’ve spent so much time going over the possible plants that could be causing this. I want to help.”
Susan smiled. “You are just too good to be true. I’m sure glad you came along when you did.”
The praise touched Gabi. “Thanks, I’m so glad to earn my keep.” And that was the truth. She really liked Susan and the clinic, and was feeling more content than she ever had in her life. “Are you sure you’re not going to need me this afternoon?”
“I’ve implanted a ton of embryos by myself before I had the luxury of an assistant so I’ll do okay today.” Susan pushed away from the counter and headed toward the back. “You go on out there when you’re ready. Tell Jess we should have the blood smear back soon so we’ll know if we’re looking at anything infectious that could spread to the entire herd and Luke’s rodeo stock.”
“I’ll tell him.”
“And good luck on staying out of trouble.” Susan paused holding the door. “Who knows, Jess coming to church for you could lead to figuring out why he doesn’t come in the first place. I’ve always been curious about that. Luke is faithful, and a hard worker at all the church functions. I can’t help wondering why Jess is so much the opposite.”
The phone rang before Gabi had time to comment on that. “Mule Hollow Veterinary Clinic,” she said, picking up the line.
“Gabi, hey, this is Jess.”
Of course it would be the object of their discussion—and of course her pulse did a silly jump, skip and a backflip at the sound of his voice. “Hey, Jess,” she answered, not at all thrilled with the sound of her own voice squeaking. “What’s up?”
“I’ve got a situation out here,” he drawled, his tone grave. “I just found two more dead heifers.”
* * *
They were dead all right. Gabi had made some quick calls to cancel afternoon appointments and moved them to different timeslots for Susan. Afterwards they’d headed straight out to Jess’s place. As they’d hoped, the time of death had been within bounds of necropsy. Sad to say that a dead animal was a break in the case for them, but it was true. This was exactly what they needed to help solve this problem.
Her Lone Star Cowboy Page 5