by Vivi Holt
He headed out into the hallway, pulling a T-shirt on as he walked toward the kitchen. He hadn’t bothered to change out of his boxer shorts, expecting that Hazel would be out on her run, as she usually was at this time of the morning.
“Good morning, Dalton,” she said from the kitchen table, a spoonful of cereal hovering in front of her mouth. She was still dressed in her running gear.
He stopped and combed his fingers through his hair again, making it stand even further on end. “Morning. Did you sleep well?”
“Fine, thank you. And you?”
He grunted and opened the cabinet, pulling out a box of Honey Bunches of Oats and setting it on the counter.
“I thought I heard you talking to someone,” she queried.
“Yeah. My brothers Eamon and Parker. Eamon’s coming here Sunday, and I’m hoping Parker will come as well.”
“Oh?”
He poured cereal into a bowl, piling it high up to the edges, then added milk from the carton on the counter where Hazel had left it. “Yeah. There’s so much to do around here. They’re gonna come and help me out, just to get things going.”
“That sounds good. I suppose I’ll get to meet Eamon then, since it doesn’t seem like I’ll be leaving today and perhaps not tomorrow either.”
“Maybe.” He turned to face her, the bowl in his hand, and leaned back against the counter. She took a bite of cereal and studied the news on her tablet as if nothing was amiss. He should confront her, make her tell him who Jen was, why she was pretending to be a vet when it was so obvious she wasn’t. But instead he asked, “Where’s the dog?”
She smiled and swallowed a mouthful. “He’s in the laundry. He keeps piddling on the floor, so I laid down some old newspapers in there. I’m going to take him for a little walk outside later, but for now he’s staying put.”
He nodded and took a bite of cereal.
“Then I thought I’d got to town and buy some dog food, maybe a collar and leash.” She finished her cereal, took the bowl to the sink and rinsed it out, then turned and left, saying she would tend to the dog and have a shower.
He nodded, chewed, then sat at the table and thought. Why hadn’t he said anything? He certainly had reason to be suspicious. For that matter, why had he lied to Bill Swanson on her behalf? He supposed it was because he desperately wanted her to be who she’d said she was, someone he could trust. He wanted to give her the benefit of his doubts. Maybe she had a good reason for keeping secrets, and would open up to him in her own good time.
He knew he was being irrational. If she was lying about who she was, it was unlikely she’d just cave and tell him the truth. And if she didn’t set his heart racing every time she walked in the room, maybe he’d be acting more sensibly about the whole thing and wouldn’t care so much about whether or not he could trust her. He didn’t want to feel for her the way he did. But he could tell, there wasn’t much he could do to stop those feelings now.
* * *
Hazel’s phone rang, and she sighed when she saw Jen’s name on the screen. Her roommate had been calling her constantly the past couple of days. Ever since her warning text about the impending tornado, she’d become panicked about something happening to Contessa’s Charity on her watch and had phoned Hazel incessantly. “Hello?”
“Hi, Hazel. We have a problem.” Jen’s voice was strained.
“What is it?”
“Mr. Swanson, my boss, keeps calling me and calling me. He knows something’s up, I’m sure of it. I’ve put it off for as long as I can, but I’m gonna have to answer his next call. It’s stressing me out!”
“You should answer it. He probably just wants to know how his horse is doing. And she’s fine, by the way, so you can just tell him that.”
“I don’t know. I think I should come down there.”
“What? How on Earth would we explain that to Dalton, or Mr. Swanson, or anyone? No, we have to finish this. It was a ridiculous idea, definitely one of your worst, and I shouldn’t have let myself be sucked into it. But now we’re in the middle of it and we have to see it through or we’ll both be in a lot of trouble.”
“No, no, I think I should come down there. I’m feeling much better now. I’m basically just lying around the house watching TV and hyperventilating into a paper bag thinking I might get fired or go to prison or who knows what else. I have to do something.”
Hazel could tell her friend was pacing as she spoke – her breathing was labored. “Okay, tell you what. If you speak with your boss and still think you should come down here, we’ll just tell Dalton you’re my friend, my roommate, you’ve just had surgery and didn’t want to be alone. How does that sound? You can check on things, then drive into town and find a motel to stay at or something.” She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. This whole thing was getting completely out of hand, and Jen’s panicking could bring it all crashing down around them.
“Yes, okay. I’ll speak to Bill, and if he’s freaking out, then I’ll drive down there. That’s perfect.”
Hazel groaned. “The list of things you owe me for is getting longer and longer.”
“I know. I’ll owe you forever for this one. I’m so sorry I dragged you into it all.”
“Never mind that now. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“All right. See you then.” Jen’s voice was filled with relief.
“And answer your boss’ phone call or he will definitely fire you.”
“Yes, you’re right. I will. Thanks, Hazel.”
Hazel hung up, stood and shoved the phone into the back pocket of her white Tommy Hilfiger shorts, then hurried to her bedroom. It was almost game time and she had to don her lucky jersey and cap before the first pitch.
* * *
When Dalton returned to the house for lunch, he found Hazel dressed in white button-up jersey with FREEMAN 5 on the back in blue-and-red letters, tiny white shorts and tall boots. She must have gotten the boots when she was in town that morning buying dog food. They suited her – and her shapely legs.
She stood in the living room shouting at his TV. “Yes, yes, go, go! Safe at home!” she yelled. She spun around, fists pumping the air, caught sight of Dalton and froze.
He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, and raised an eyebrow. “I’m gonna go ahead and guess that you’re a Braves fan.”
She laughed and ducked her head, her cheeks flushed. “Been one since the Maddux and Glavine days.”
“I see. Didn’t know you liked baseball.”
“All right-thinking people do, don’t they?” She grinned and turned back to the screen.
“How long ‘til it’s done?”
“Huh?” She wasn’t paying attention to him, just the game.
“Never mind. I’m going to an auction down the way – might be some fine horses there. And I thought, seeing as how you’re a big-time city vet, you might be interested in a livestock auction and could help me pick out a few for my herd.” He grinned
She spun to face him, eyes wide, but recovered fast. “Why … yes, of course – I’d love to come to the auction with you. Let me just grab my purse.” She turned off the game and trotted down the hallway to her room, soon emerging with a purse over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
He opened the door for her and followed her out to the truck, helped her up into the cab, hurried around to his side and jumped in. He was anxious to get the auction – it had already begun, and the animals he wanted to take a look at would be up soon. He needed to expand the bloodlines of his stock, and if he could get some well-bred animals into the herd for a decent price, it could make a big difference in how much he’d get for his own fillies and colts the following year.
They reached the auction in half an hour and were soon seated in the arena bleachers. Several different yards were set up within the arena and people milled around each, flashing their auction cards to bid on animals. He and Hazel waited a few minutes until for the stock horse yearlings’ auction began, then made their way down to tha
t yard.
In the end Dalton purchased three yearling fillies, then found two mares with outstanding pedigree to add to his breeding herd. The sellers promised to deliver the stock in the next few days. He was more than satisfied with his purchases – he felt as though he could float right up through the clouds. He loved Cotton Tree Ranch already, more than he’d thought possible.
And he wanted to celebrate the next step in its growth. “Wanna grab some lunch?” he asked Hazel.
Hazel nodded and rubbed her stomach, her eyes gleaming. “I would love to – it’s three o’clock and absolutely famished. I thought at one point my stomach would outbid you on that last mare.”
He chuckled and took her elbow to guide her through the crowd and back to the truck. “Well then, let’s find somewhere to eat. I can’t have you fainting on me.” Her skin was soft, and he found himself not wanting to let go once they’d gotten through the throng.
When he opened the truck door for her, she glanced up at him, her eyes locking on his. His heart skipped a beat and he felt a bolt of adrenaline course through him. He helped her up into her seat, then closed the door behind her, his heart thundering. Hazel or Jen or whoever she was had made him feel things he hadn’t felt in a long time. She’d awoken his heart again, and he knew there was no turning back now.
No doubt about it, Dalton thought. I’m in real trouble.
Chapter 7
Hazel sat down and Dalton pushed her chair in behind her. She lifted the napkin from the table into her lap and watched him take his seat across from her. He could have taken her to a burger place or a drive-thru for lunch, but instead he’d chosen one of the nicest restaurants in Tifton, with silverware, cloth napkins and soft jazz playing in the background. She wasn’t sure yet what food they offered, but she felt nervous about the implication. Did he think this was a date?
He looked nervous as well. She picked up the menu and held it between them, her eyes skimming over the meals on offer. It seemed standard, but the atmosphere suggested more than a meal between colleagues. She selected a buffalo chicken salad and sat back to regard Dalton. He ordered a rack of barbecued ribs and coleslaw, thanked the waiter and set his hat on the table, combing his fingers through his thick hair. She wished for a moment she could run her fingers through it as well.
She shook her head – what was wrong with her? She had to keep her wits about her. Her time at Cotton Tree Ranch was almost over – she just had to withstand Dalton’s charms a little longer. But it was getting more difficult by the day.
They talked and laughed over their meal. Hazel suggested calling the puppy Harley, and Dalton tried to talk her out of it, saying it was no name for a ranch dog. By the time they were done, she felt completely at ease. She couldn’t believe how badly she’d misunderstood him when she’d arrived – he wasn’t a jerk at all, and she’d probably deserved everything he’d said.
“So tell me, why did you become a vet?” he asked, wiping barbecue sauce from his stubbled chin.
She paused to think up a response. Better to stick as close to the truth as possible, so she wouldn’t be as likely to slip up. “Well, my whole life that’s what I wanted. Or at least I thought I did. I’m starting to wonder now if perhaps it was my parents who wanted it for me and I just wanted to please them so badly I went along with it all.” She spoke from her heart, and felt it lurch within her.
His eyebrows arched high in surprise. “Really? Don’t you love it?”
She took a deep breath. “I don’t know anymore. A year ago, I would have said yes, but now it seems like the passion has gone out of it for me. I was so driven, always striving for the next level of achievement. But I don’t feel that way anymore. It’s like I graduated, got my dream job and a part of me is thinking ‘now what?’ Does that make sense?”
He nodded. “It makes perfect sense.”
“But if I don’t do this with my life, I honestly don’t know what I would do. It’s been everything to me for so long, everything I’ve worked toward for so many years. I don’t know what life would look like without it.”
“Maybe it’s time to think about that.” His eyes were warm.
She blinked and felt a lump rise in her throat. “Yeah, maybe it is.”
“Dessert?” he asked with a hint of a smile.
“Hmmm …” She picked up a menu to look at the choices … and Dalton’s phone buzzed.
Dalton winced in apology and looked at the screen. “It’s one of the sellers – he’s on his way over to the ranch now with the mare we bought. We’d better go.” He texted a reply, stood and tucked it back in his pocket. “Sorry – no dessert this time. But I’ll make it up to you next time.”
She nodded and smiled. He was already planning a next time. The thought made her giddy. She visited the restroom while Dalton paid, then met him at the front door to head back out to the truck.
The drive back to the ranch was quiet, each lost in their own thoughts. She stared out the window at the countryside, as they wound their way along the country roads. She’d miss this place when the time came to leave. For the first time since she’d arrived, the idea of leaving gave her a hollow feeling inside. Her eyes narrowed. Dalton Williams sure was getting under her skin – and not in the way she’d expected him to.
When they pulled into the drive, the trailer carrying Dalton’s new mare was already parked beside the barn. A man stood next to the truck, his hands on his hips, and waved as they drove up. Dalton pulled the truck to a stop, killed the engine and leaped out to shake the man’s hand. Hazel followed slowly, keeping her distance.
Just then, there was a terrible banging as the mare began acting up inside the trailer. Both men ran over and disappeared through a small door in the front. Their soothing, shushing noises carried on the breeze back to Hazel, but still the mare bucked and kicked and cried out in distress.
Hazel inched closer, standing on tiptoe to peer into the trailer. She could see the horse throwing her head around and banging against the sides of the trailer, her eyes wild.
“Hazel!” called Dalton.
“Yes?”
“Can you unclip the rope behind her for me? We want to back her out.”
“Sure!” Hazel hurried to the back of the trailer. The tailgate had already been lowered and there was a rope stretched across the opening with a clasp on one end. She climbed slowly up the ramp, anxious to avoid the distressed mare’s flying hooves, reached forward and quickly unsnapped the clasp.
As she did, the mare whinnied and pushed backward down the ramp. Her back hoof landed directly on Hazel’s foot, crushing it, and she knocked Hazel over as she clambered down the ramp and trotted off into the yard, her head high and eyes wide with fright. The man who’d brought her ran after her.
Dalton careened around the side of the trailer. “Hazel, are you okay? I’m sorry – she bit me and I let go of the rope for a moment …”
Hazel pushed herself to a sitting position and rubbed her forehead. Her head felt light and she tried to lean forward, putting her elbows on her knees. But when she put her foot down, she yelped in pain.
“Oh no, your foot! Are you okay?”
Hazel’s face blanched and she took a quick breath. “It hurts.” She couldn’t see what shape it was in due to the tall boot, but she knew it couldn’t be good.
Dalton nodded, leaned down and scooped her easily into his arms, carried her across the yard and up the front steps. The front door opened easily, and he pushed past it with his back and hurried to lay her on the couch. Once she was comfortable, he disappeared, soon returning with the first aid kit.
“You should make sure the mare is okay,” Hazel protested. “I’m fine, really. It’s just a bruise, I’m sure.”
“We’ll see.” He knelt beside her and started to remove her boot, but she cried out in agony. He took more care and finally got it off. “You’re bleeding.” He eased off her now-stained sock, wiped away the blood with a cotton ball, and put on some antibiotic ointment and a bandage. Finally he
sat beside her and lifted her foot into his lap. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, his hand caressing her cheek.
She smiled. “I’ll be fine. Please, go take care of your new horse.”
She swallowed hard as he stood, carefully lifted her foot and placed it on the couch. It was still warm from his body heat, and the skin on her cheek goose pimpled where he’d touched her. He walked out, with one last backward glance in her direction.
Once he was gone, she threw her head back against the arm of the sofa with a groan. She was feeling things for him she shouldn’t, not when she was leaving soon. Caring for him would only complicate matters, especially since he didn’t know who she really was – a violinist, not a vet. And if he discovered the truth … she shook her head and ran her hand over her eyes. When he discovered the truth, he’d despise her.
Hazel shut her eyes and took a deep breath. She couldn’t let herself feel anything more for him than friendship. Maybe not even that.
* * *
Dalton flipped the pancakes over on the griddle and hummed a tune. It was a fine day and he was feeling good. There was still a lot to clean up around the ranch after the tornado, but Eamon was due to arrive today, he had a new mare with more animals on the way … and there’d been that shared moment with Hazel the previous day. That, most of all, brought a smile to his face as he slapped the cooked pancakes onto a plate and poured two more dollops of batter.
Hazel hobbled into the kitchen with a groan, collapsed onto a chair at the table and stretched her foot out in front of her. It was neatly wrapped – he’d made sure of that – but purple and blue toes poked out from beneath the bandages. She leaned an elbow on the table and set her chin in her hand. “Morning.”