by M. Allen
Magnolia sat back in her chair as a nervous ball landed in the pit of her stomach. She had gone to school to become a big animal vet. It’s what she wanted most of her life. But when she’d graduated, Eric had already proposed and wanted to move to New York. Now, she was faced with the opportunity to pursue something she’d put on hold for the past ten years. What if she fucked up? Doubt riddled her mind. She couldn’t stop from biting her bottom lip.
As if reading her mind, Dax chimed in, “Don’t you worry, Maggie. I’ll be there every step of the way. It’s not my first go-round doing this. You’ll do just fine.”
She sucked in a breath. “I guess, yeah. I’ll do it.” All her life, she’d never met people like this. Looking at Dax, she realized exactly what Eric had done to her. He’d convinced her she needed him when, in reality, she was a strong woman. Dax saw that in her, always had. Why had she been so blind to him? Youth, perhaps? But she wasn’t blind now. No, she saw him for exactly who he was. Simply wonderful.
“It’ll be great shoving your arm up some cow and knockin’ them up,” Zinnia teased.
A chuckle burst past Magnolia’s lips. “Leave it to you to put it so gracefully.”
“Just be sure to use some lube to make the experience more pleasant.” Zinnia held up her glass of sweet tea as if to toast her. Then with a smile playing on her lips, she took a sip.
“Zinnia!” Thomas cast her a long look. “Such talk.” But he couldn’t hide the smile he fought against. Soon, he too was laughing under his breath.
“It’ll be good to get the herd done, though. Especially before that appointment you made with those corporate ranchers.” Dax pursed his lips as his brow drew low over his eyes.
“What’s he talking about?” Magnolia sat forward. Corporate ranchers were taking over family owned ranches all over the state. Never in her wildest dreams did Maggie think her father would sell any part of Triple R Ranch. And now he took on Dax as a partner and was thinking about selling? Something was off about the whole situation. “Are you selling the ranch?”
Thomas held up his hands as if to calm her. “Hell, no, it’s nothing like that. But it doesn’t hurt to hear what they got to say. The way I hear it, they buy up your stock at a steady price from year to year. There’d be no more worryin’ if we would make ends meet every year.”
“But with Dax down there…” her uncle pointed toward Dax with his knife, “we’ve been in the green for years now.”
“I don’t doubt Dax’s abilities.” Thomas turned toward Dax. “You know I don’t, son. But I just think it’s always good to have all the information. Do they buy up ranches? Yes, but it’s not the only thing they do. I just want to see what all the hub-bub is about.”
“But Daddy… Corporate ranchers, like who?”
“Starling is the number one corporate rancher ’round these parts. It’s just good business to hear what they have to say.” He reached over and patted her hand. “Don’t you worry. This family has been on Triple R for generations and will be for even longer.”
Magnolia nodded. “Okay, Daddy, if you think it’ll be okay.”
Dax looked down at his plate. “Then, I guess it’s settled.”
Dax’s demeanor had changed from his normally serious tone to solemn. Magnolia could feel his disappointment as if it were her own. Was he that attached to Triple R? There was so much more going on with him than what Magnolia could see. This man was a complete mystery to her. Even when they interacted, she could tell he held himself at arms’ length. Why? He used to have just as much energy as she did. And his smiles came easily. Now it was like pulling teeth. After living with them all for the past week, she had to know. What happened to Dax Everett while she’d been gone?
Chapter 13
For early fall it was unseasonably warm, the sun beating down on his skin more than it had in the past week. Sweat poured down his face and across his back, yet he refused to take off his t-shirt. No telling where Magnolia was, and there were things she didn’t need to see. He put his hand on the end of his shovel and leaned on it while Adam maneuvered the back hoe to dig out part of the drain. He waved him forward. “Keep comin’, keep comin’. Stop!”
At his side Finn stood, covered in his own bit of sweat and grime. The only difference was, he’d taken off his shirt hours ago. Dax shoved him away. “Go stand down wind. You stink.”
Finn laughed and pushed him back. “At least I’m not trying for a wet t-shirt contest.”
Dax flipped him off then motioned for Adam to dig a little trench. The back hoe reached down, pulling up the earth. Dirt fell from the claw and bits of grass dangled precariously from it. The smell of mud invaded his senses, yet he loved every minute of it. Once the top of the pipe came into view, he motioned for Adam to stop. The roar of the engine died when Adam shut off the ignition and climbed from the cab. The three stood around the ditch, looking at what appeared to be a huge crack right down the middle of the pipe. Dax kicked at the ground. “Damn it.”
“Shit, that’s going to be a bitch to fix.” Finn jabbed his shovel into the ground.
“Tell me about it. This is just what we fucking need.” Was the pipe really bothering him? Or was it everything else? Only two days ago, he’d lost it in front of Magnolia, something he swore he’d never do. But when she’d looked at him like he’d betrayed her, it took all his self control not to take her in his arms and show her exactly how he’s felt about her for a damn decade. The regret he felt about his night with Zinnia ate at him for years, and now that Magnolia knew, it was suffocating. “Son of a bitch.”
“Man, you have been in a mood since she got back.” Finn grabbed up his shovel and leaned on it.
Why was everyone picking at him when he didn’t want them to? “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“You hear that, Adam? He doesn’t want to talk about it.” Finn threw his arms out to his sides as though frustrated.
Adam had always been calm and steady. Once a month he’d go in for his army reserves training, and the rest of the time he split between being home with Calla and working on the farm. He was a plain sort of guy, with his military haircut and wholesomeness. He didn’t have the internal damage Dax had or the pain Finn tried to hide. At times, Dax envied his simple, happy life. Two kids, beautiful wife, no drama, no wanting a woman who was full of fire and tied to another man. No wanting someone for years on end, and not being able to get her out of his system.
Magnolia was an addiction for Dax, pure and simple. The woman got under his skin; no one ever stood up to him or sassed him the way she did. And when they were younger, no one ever kept up with him. Before she came breezing back into his life with the subtlety of a train wreck, he thought he’d beaten what he’d felt for her. But seeing her every day becoming the headstrong Magnolia he once knew stoked the heat he felt for her.
Adam shrugged. “If he doesn’t want to talk about it then he doesn’t have to.”
Finn’s fist connected with Adam’s arm so fast Dax barely saw it. Adam stumbled back. “Fuck, bro. That hurt.” He rubbed at where he’d been hit.
“Then stop saying stupid shit.” When Finn turned those desolate blue eyes on him, Dax knew he felt exactly what it was like to be in his position. Finn took a small step closer. “I’ve seen that look in your eyes. I know you’re strugglin’.”
It was true he was struggling, but not in the way anyone thought. Dax leapt down into the hole to inspect the pipe. It was damn near rusted through. “Hopefully all we have to do is replace this piece.”
“Stop changing the subject.” This far down in the hole, Finn towered over him. With the sun at his back, he cast a shadow over Dax.
“What the hell do you want me to say?” Dax threw up his hands. “Ugh, Magnolia is, well, she is something else, and I am trying my best to stay away. What more do you want?”
“Tell me I’m not going to find you at the bottom of a bottle somewhere and I’ll stop.” Finn put his hands on his hips.
“You’re not going to
find me at the bottom of a bottle. Geez, have a little more faith in me. Magnolia is—”
“Magnolia is what?” Her sweet voice carried over to them.
They’d been so wrapped up in what they were doing, he hadn’t seen her walking out toward them. When he turned to look at her, she damn near took his breath away. Her long hair was braided down the side of her face, and those sweeping caramel bangs fell into her eyes. A black tank top clung to her body, showing off her pert round breasts, and her ripped jeans were painted onto her long curvy legs. She’s gonna be the death of me. With her big rubber boots on, she was the perfect mix between cute and sexy as hell all at the same time.
When she came to a stop, she crossed her arms and looked down at him. “I heard my name. What’s up?”
He shot a glance to Finn and Adam. Both of them looked like deer in headlights. Dax cleared his throat. “Magnolia is going to help us out with the herd today. I was just telling the boys.”
She arched her eyebrows over those hypnotic green-hazel eyes. “Sure you were.”
Tension stole through his body. “How much did you hear?”
“Not much.” She lifted her shoulder and dropped it.
Damn it! She’d definitely heard more then she was supposed to. This was not the time or place for anything to be brought up. No, Dax was determined to move on with his life. If he was going to do that, then he had to figure out a way to be around her without it affecting him. Maybe if could get through today without wanting her more than he wanted air, then he’d learn to cope with it all. “You ready for today?”
“A bit nervous, to be honest. I haven’t inseminated a cow in about eight years. And I know y’all depend on new stock for next year.”
As Dax climbed from the hole, his hands seeped into the mud and the ground beneath him began to crumble. Before he slipped back in, he forced himself up and out. Finn grabbed his arm, helping to haul him up. Maggie peeked over the side of the ditch. “Damn it, that pipe is going to need replacing.”
His thoughts exactly. “Yeah.”
“Are you going to do it, or are you going to call Mike at the pipe line?”
He could call a specialist, and he probably should, but something in him wanted to show her he was capable of so much more. “Think the guys and I can do it.”
“Say what now?” Finn crossed his arms over his chest.
Dax bumped him with his shoulder. “We can definitely do it.”
“Um, yeah, sure we can do it.” Finn nodded in not-so-convincing agreement.
Oh, brother. This was already off to a great start. “We were just finishing up here. Why don’t you head over to the barn and get set up? I’ll be right behind you.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan.”
When Magnolia turned from him, he couldn’t help but stare after her. Those blue jeans hugged her curves in all the right places. So much so, he could see the perfect cleft of her ass.
Finn smacked him in the shoulder. “You need to not be staring at her backside like that.”
“What?” Dax tried to play off his checking her out.
“You know what.”
Chapter 14
Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On drifted through the barn as Magnolia pulled on the elbow-length set of rubber gloves. “Really, guys?”
Finn slid in beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Ready to knock up some cows?”
“Is the music necessary?” She rolled her eyes and twirled out of his grip.
“It relaxes them,” Dax teased as he too pulled on an elbow-length set of gloves. He patted the large cow that stood with in the tight stall. If they were going to inseminate a cow, they had to contain her first. “Betsy here like’s a little something to set the mood. As do most women, if I recall correctly.”
Heat flooded her cheeks and she turned away from him. Long ago when they’d been a couple, he always used to play songs for her during intimate times. Was he trying to remind her of those times, or was he just trying to flirt with her? “I guess it all depends on the music. Death metal doesn’t exactly inspire intimacy.”
Dax tilted back his head and laughed outright. “No, but, you have to admit there is a certain rhythm to it.”
Finn handed her the tube she needed to inseminate her first customer. On average, it should take her anywhere from thirty seconds to two minutes to make this happen. Her hands shook as the approached the heifer. If she messed this up, she could ruin their turnout for the next season. No pressure. Just as she was about to back away and let Dax take over, she felt him standing behind her. He bent low, whispering in her ear, “You can do this, Maggie.”
I love you, Maggie. Be mine, Maggie. His words in her ear brought those memories back to the forefront. Shaking away the thoughts, she took a deep breath and stepped forward. With him at her back, he gave her the confidence she needed to try. Again, he leaned into her. “Now don’t go too far and don’t fall short.”
She nodded. “I remember.”
At her side, Finn chuckled. “Yeah, you know how some women don’t like when you stick it in too far.”
“Ugh, you are such a pig.” She withdrew the long tube. “Finished.”
“Oink, oink, baby.” Finn wagged his eyebrow at her. “I’ll go get our next customer. Congrats on knocking up your first cow.”
“We don’t know if it took or not.”
“Don’t worry, Maggie. I know you’re doing great.” Adam opened up the front of the small cage and led the heifer back out toward the herd.
Silence surrounded them, and Maggie could feel the tension as though it pressed against her. When she turned to look at Dax, his heated gaze was on her. Swallowing around the nervous ball in her throat, she gave him a half-smile. “How’d I do? I don’t want to let down my dad. Or those corporate guys from Starling.”
“Ah, well, Thomas hasn’t made up his mind about those guys. I’m sure if he does do any business with them, it’ll just be to sell off stock.”
“I sure hope you’re right. I’ve been worried about where Hayden and I will go next.” She looked around the barn. “I’m not sure what we’d do without Triple R.”
“Maggie, no matter what happens or where you go, you’ll be fine. But if you want to keep workin’ as a big vet, I know a fairly large ranch that’d love to have your services.” He gave her that half-smirk that always melted her when they were younger.
“I was so nervous.” A giggled escaped her lips. “I hope I did all right.”
“I had no doubts.” He peeled the gloves from his hands and tossed them away.
“You didn’t?” Magnolia too took the gloves from her hands.
Dax shook his head. “No, I think you can do anything you put your mind to.”
The last time anyone had such blind faith in her, she couldn’t remember. But here Dax stood with his melting maple eyes, muscular stance and heady scent telling her she could do anything. When had she gotten so used to being held in one place? Yes, her arm was elbow deep in a cow, but this was what she’d always wanted—to be a vet for big animals and come into her own. She’d given up a piece of her independence for Eric, but standing here with Dax, she knew he never would expect that. “That means a lot to me.”
“I know we’ve had our moments over the past week. But I want you to know, it’ll get easier over time. I think we can work together.”
Would it ever get easier? Could she ignore the feeling she’d repressed for so long? If he felt nothing for her, then she would have to. There were still so many unanswered questions she had about him. And each one kept telling her to stay away from him. Why? “I think you’re right. We’ll be fine.”
He took a step closer to her. “Yes, we will.”
“I agree.” She leaned into him.
“Not a single problem at all.” He shifted his weight, his chest nearly pressing to hers.
His woodsy scent enveloped her, his maple eyes melted her from the inside out, and all she wanted was to wrap herself around him. “
Nope, we are all good.”
“Okay, turn on the red light. I got your next customer,” Finn called as he walked in the next cow with Adam at his side.
Magnolia jumped back from Dax and knocked into the table they had set up. The contents clanged together in a bit of chaos. She reached back, trying to right them before everything fell over. “G-great, I’m all set.”
Finn narrowed his eyes at Dax. “Did I interrupt something?”
“Nope, not at all.” Dax looked him in the eye. “What took you so long?”
“Me? I was rustling up a two-ton animal. What the hell were you doing?” He maneuvered the next cow into place, locking the cage around her.
“Dancing with my demons.” He winked at Magnolia. “What does it look like I’ve been doing?”
Does he consider me a demon from his past? The playful smile she felt before slipped away. Even though he joked with her, it still hurt. “Just getting things done, boys. How about you?”
She really needed to stop thinking about Dax. Clearly he didn’t want to think of her anymore. When Dax looked at her, she turned her attention back to the table, readying the tube for her next customer. She could feel his eyes on her.
“You ready?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She still didn’t look at him. When he stepped in behind her, she squared her shoulders. “I think I got it now.”
How could she think with him this close? When he stepped away from her it was as if he’d left her completely. The heat from his body seeped from her skin. Farther away, Dax cleared his throat. “I always knew you would.”
She sighed while trying to fight her attraction to him and failing miserably. Perfect. Just perfect.
Chapter 15
After scrubbing cow filth from his skin and fighting the urge to touch himself in the shower to thoughts of Magnolia, Dax decided the only way to get her out of his system was good, hard physical labor. He’d made his way out to one of the barns at the back of the property and did the only thing he could think of. He climbed up into the loft, grabbed a pitch fork and started pitching hay. The ranch had many hands to help do this kind of work, but Dax needed to burn off the excess energy. Soon, sweat gathered across his shoulders and back as he continued to stab at the hay and move bundles of it to ready it for the herd the following day.