by Leann Harris
After twenty-five minutes, Ethan’s truck turned off the road onto a private drive. There were six other pickups with trailers parked around the interior gate. The ranch house showed signs of neglect, as did the stables. One man, who seemed to have come from the house, yelled at the others to go away, a shotgun cradled in his left arm.
“If you don’t leave, I’m going to start shooting,” the man shouted.
A handsome woman in a business suit and high heels stepped forward and waved a piece of paper in the air. “William, we have a court order to seize the horses.”
“I don’t care what you’ve got. You make one move to take my horses, you’ll be sorry.”
The woman turned around and saw Ethan. She strode to his side. “Got any ideas?”
He stiffened. “Have you called Joe?”
“Of course. I called the sheriff’s office before we left,” she snapped. “Joe should be here any minute. We wouldn’t have approached William, but he came charging out of the house like a mad bull.”
The expression on William’s face hadn’t changed. He wanted a fight. “Let’s wait,” Ethan muttered.
“Where are the horses?” Tessa asked, coming to their sides.
The woman looked at her.
“I’m Dr. Adams’s new associate.” Tessa introduced herself, answering the question on the woman’s face. “Dr. Grant.”
“Mary Jensen, the lawyer for this local rescue group.” She offered her hand to Tessa. Turning, she looked back at the dilapidated stables. “Some of the horses are in the stables, and there’s a paddock in back of the house where the rest are kept.”
They heard a distressed whinny come from inside the miserable excuse for a stable. The man, William, glanced over his shoulder, then looked back at the group. Clearly, he was torn whether to go to the animal or hold off the group.
Tessa moved toward the man. “I’m a vet. Dr. Grant. Can I offer you any assistance?” Tessa knew a cry of pain when she heard one. Was the man more concerned for his animals than the people trying to take them away? With his confusion clearly etched on his face, he looked back at the stables, then at her.
The horse whinnied again.
The man’s face lost all color, and he looked back at the stables.
Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
The moments stretched out as they all stood silent, waiting, waiting for his decision. Tessa prayed.
“Yeah, my mare needs some help,” William said at last. “She’s been down too long and the foal ain’t coming.”
“Would you let me help?”
He looked around the group, his jaw tense. “Only you.”
“That’s fine.” She looked back at Ethan. “Will you bring my medical kit?”
“Sure.” He walked back to her truck.
The man opened the gate and motioned her in. Closing it behind her, he walked her into the stable. He rested the shotgun by the open door.
“My mare’s in the last stall on the left.”
Tessa hurried to the stall. The white horse was on her side on a pile of hay, her eyes rolled back in her head. The hay wasn’t clean and the mare was seriously underweight.
“Hello, girl. I’m here to help you,” Tessa crooned. “Will you let me?” Tessa stepped to the mare’s side. The horse didn’t raise her head. “What’s her name?”
“Lady.”
Gingerly, Tessa knelt by the mare’s bloated side. She ran her palms over the horse’s flank to see if she could feel the position of the foal.
A hard knot was there right above the horse’s back hip. “Okay, momma, I’m going to see if I can feel your baby’s feet.” Tessa turned to the owner. “How long has she been down?”
“Don’t know.” He shrugged. “When I walked in this morning to check on her, she was like that.”
“I need my medical bag.”
The man disappeared for a moment, then reappeared with her tackle-box medical kit. She threw open the lid and poured the cleanser over her hands. “Okay, Lady, let’s see how your baby’s doing.”
Tessa tried to find the foal’s hooves, but instead found the tail. She sat back on her heels and looked up at the owner. “The foal’s breech.”
The man lost his color. “I don’t want to lose that baby. She’s sold.”
Tessa tried to get her mind around what she’d just heard.
“I need for you to save that foal.”
Lord, give me grace. It sounded as if the man was more concerned with his money than the horse. “I’m going to try to turn the foal, but—” Nothing else needed to be said.
“William, this is Sheriff Teague,” came the voice over a bullhorn. “I’m here to enforce the court order.”
The owner disappeared. Tessa didn’t pay attention to the conversation outside. She looked at the mare and prayed.
* * *
Ethan watched as William came out of the stables. He held the shotgun in his right hand.
“Put that thing down, William, before you hurt yourself,” Sheriff Joe Teague ordered.
William looked at the people standing around. “This isn’t right. You shouldn’t be taking Ma’s horses.”
“You can take that up with the judge.”
Ethan carefully watched William. He had been in Ethan’s sister’s graduating class. As a teenager, William hadn’t really fit in with either the kids in the rodeo circuit or the kids who were on the college track. He’d been a loner and apparently still didn’t know his calling.
They heard another whinny followed by Tessa’s voice. “Easy, girl.”
William turned and started toward the stable. “You better hurry before my mother gets back, because she’ll object.” He disappeared into the stables.
The sheriff turned to the gathered crowd. “No sense in moving that mare until she’s delivered. Let’s get the rest of these animals loaded.”
Ethan knew exactly where he needed to go. He walked into the stables and saw William standing at the last stall at the back of the structure. When he looked at Ethan, William’s ashen face sent alarm bells going off in Ethan’s head.
He rushed to the stall and saw Tessa on her knees. Sweat plastered the curls to her face and neck. Her eyes met his. He saw her concern and seriousness of the situation, but he also saw a woman who knew what needed to be done.
“Can I help?”
“The foal is breech and I need to turn it.”
“What do you need for me to do?”
“Talk to this sweet lady and calm her while I work to turn the foal.”
Could she do it? He didn’t know, but they were about to find out.
As they worked together, they were able to rotate the foal so the front legs were in the right position. Ethan helped Tessa, keeping the mare calm.
“That’s it, Lady. You’re doing a great job.” Tessa looked at Ethan. “One of the foal’s legs is still folded partially under the body. I’m going to try to straighten it out.”
The mare looked at Tessa, her liquid brown eyes focused on the doctor.
“I’m trying, girl.” Tessa didn’t panic but worked at trying to straighten out the one leg. Tessa reached it and grabbed the second hoof and pulled it forward. Lady gave a sigh.
In the next instant, both legs and a head appeared. Lady took over from there, and gave the final push.
Tessa sat back on her heels and smiled. “We—” she looked at him, then Lady “—did it.”
Chapter Two
Tessa settled the blanket around the filly’s shivering form. The miracle of birth always brought tears to her eyes. No matter how many births she attended, they were always awe inspiring. Ethan steadied the mare as she struggled to her feet.
Tessa’s eyes met his. Satisfaction glowed there.
“Thanks for the help,” she murmured. Oddly, they had worked well together, anticipating each other during Hope’s birth.
William’s voice floated into the stables. “Ma, they have a court order.”
“I don’t care,” came the shrill reply. “They don’t have the right. I’ve sold that foal and ain’t goin’ to give back the money.”
Tessa met Ethan’s gaze. His lips pressed into a line of disgust.
The sheriff appeared in the doorway. “If you’re ready, I’d like to get out of here ASAP.”
“We’re ready,” Tessa answered.
“I’ll carry the foal,” Ethan told them, “and that should take care of the mare. She’ll follow.”
“Put a bridle on her,” Tessa instructed as she cleaned up. “It will help later.”
“So you plan on taking the horses to the vet’s place?” Sheriff Teague asked.
The clinic couldn’t handle all the horses long-term, but there might be another place the rescue group used. For now it would be easier to assess the horses’ state of health at the clinic. She could also document their condition and take pictures, which she hadn’t been able to do because of the emergency. “Is there another facility the rescue group uses?” Tessa asked.
“No.” Ethan looked around for a bridle. When he didn’t spot one, he found a piece of rope and fashioned it into a halter to go over the mare’s head. “The last time we did a rescue, Doc kept the horses at his clinic, but then there were only twelve horses. The next day we found foster homes for the animals.”
Ethan walked to Tessa’s side and scooped up the foal. The filly wouldn’t make it onto the trailer on such shaky legs.
“I’ll grab my medical bag and Momma’s lead.”
Ethan waited until Tessa had gathered her tackle box before he walked outside. On unsteady legs, the mother horse followed her baby. Tessa caught the trailing end of the rope as a precaution.
Out in the yard, an elderly woman lunged at Ethan. Sheriff Teague stepped in her way.
“He can’t take the foal,” the woman argued. “She’s spoken for.”
Ethan walked into his trailer and set the foal on her feet. The foal stumbled around, trying to catch her balance. The mare followed. Ethan tied her to the inside O-ring, anchoring the rope.
“Stop him,” the woman yelled.
“Take it up with the judge, Doris,” the sheriff replied.
She came face-to-face with Ethan. “You take care of that foal.”
Tessa stared in amazement at the woman. She hadn’t taken care of the mother horse and now was worried about the foal? Something wasn’t right.
“The doc will take good care of her,” Ethan answered, but his tone, understanding yet firm, surprised Tessa.
The woman shook her finger at Ethan. “You be sure.”
“What you need to worry about, Doris, is calling the county court and seeing when your hearing is scheduled. You can complain to the judge,” the sheriff interjected.
Doris snarled at him.
Ethan turned his back on the woman and walked Tessa to the cab of her truck. Tessa wondered if the woman might rush them.
“Don’t worry,” Ethan whispered. “Doris talks big, but she won’t do anything outright in front of everyone.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve known her all my life.”
Tessa was pretty sure she knew what that meant—Doris would have someone else do her dirty work. “I’ll see you back at Doc’s office.” He turned, starting toward his truck. He paused, turned and gave her a thumbs-up. “You did a great job delivering that foal, Doc.”
The praise shocked Tessa. He didn’t wait for a response, just headed toward her truck.
But as they drove back to the clinic, she thought about Ethan’s words. She wasn’t the only one who’d done well. It’d been touch-and-go there. As they worked to save the foal, he’d accurately anticipated her needs before she voiced them.
They made a good working team.
The thought shook her to her core and set her protective instincts on alert.
* * *
Ethan walked down the center aisle of the hospital barn, looking for Tessa. He carried a cup of hot, fresh coffee. He would relieve Tessa and take the next shift of watching and hand-feeding Momma and her babe. It was close to four in the morning. Once they’d gotten back to the veterinary hospital, Tessa and Dr. Adams had worked evaluating the horses, starting IVs and seeing to the needs of the most critical of the animals. They documented their work so it could be used in court. Not once had Doc Adams had to direct Tessa. She knew her stuff. One of the other volunteers had commented that Doc’s new partner knew her way around a horse. Word would quickly spread about her abilities.
After initial evaluations, she checked each horse a second time, then took the second shift of feeding Lady, the foal’s dam. They’d sent all the other volunteers home after the horses were settled outside in the paddock.
Doc had taken the first shift of watching mare and foal. Now it was Ethan’s turn to take the shift from four to seven. He stopped at the door to the stall. Tessa sat on a three-legged stool beside the sling of hay attached to the sidewall of the stall.
Tessa’s eyes were closed. But despite her tired, vulnerable appearance, he knew his perspective on her had undergone a major change. After what they’d been through yesterday, looking at Tessa now, she didn’t look like a high school freshman he first mistook her for. Instead, what he saw was a petite woman who had a dazzling smile and a voice that could calm the most nervous horse or stressed person. He also saw a determined soul. The lady knew her stuff. But what he felt went deeper than appreciation for her skill.
He hadn’t been prepared for his pull to her, after he got over the initial shock of finding her tending his mount. He was gun-shy about commitments after his disastrous engagement to Mary.
Of course, it didn’t help that Mary had suddenly reappeared in his life a month ago as the replacement lawyer for the rescue group, poking at the old wound. Over the years, while he’d seen her in passing, since her parents owned the ranch next to his family’s ranch, he hadn’t had to talk to her. But in the weeks she’d been here, dealing with her had opened up old hurts, shame and embarrassment. He was way too raw to consider romance again.
A delicate snore drew his attention back to Tessa.
The mare woke and started to nibble the hay and caught several strands of Tessa’s hair. Tessa woke with a jerk. The horse lipped another few stalks of hay. Tessa reached up and rubbed the horse’s nose. “That’s right, Momma, eat the hay, not the vet’s hair. We want a healthy momma and baby, not a bald vet.” Turning her head, Tessa noticed him. “Is that coffee for me?”
“It is. I’ve already finished my cup and thought you might need some fortification.”
“A man after my own heart.” The instant the last word fell from her lips, her eyes widened and her cheeks turned pink. The words made him feel a little awkward, too, but he couldn’t help but smile when she looked so cute.
“Huh, I mean—”
Shaking his head, he said, “I know what you meant.” He handed her the mug. Cradling it between her hands, she sipped the brew.
“That’s so good.” She took another sip. “Thanks.”
He didn’t think anything about his actions. It was simply a gesture he would’ve made for anyone who’d worked as hard as she had, but he doubted he would’ve felt the same happiness at her thanks if the person doing the thanking was Ollie, the old grizzled foreman at his brother’s therapy ranch. What was going on with him?
“How’s this girl doing?” he asked as he fed the mare another handful of hay, eager to change the subject.
“So-so but steady.” Tessa stood and checked the bag of fluid. “I need to get another one of these.” Setting down her cup on t
he stool, she disappeared around the door of the stall.
She soon returned to the entrance to the stall with a new IV bag. She quickly changed out the bag. Another yawn seized her.
“Why don’t you grab a couple hours of shut-eye? I’ll watch these two.”
“Not that I don’t appreciate the help, but don’t you need to get back home?”
“I talked with my folks around midnight, updating them on the rescue. I told them I’d probably spend the night here, helping. It’s not the first time Doc and I have been babysitting sick, rescued animals.”
She studied him, and he knew she was evaluating him. Apparently, he passed the test because she nodded. “Thanks.” She disappeared down the aisle.
The foal made her way to her momma and began to nurse. Ethan had to smile at the new life that Tessa and he had a hand in. They worked well together.
And that made him antsy. He didn’t want to let another woman into his life. Not yet, maybe not ever again.
* * *
A few hours later, Dr. Adams appeared in the stall opening. “You ready to eat some breakfast?”
Ethan looked at the sleeping foal. She seemed stronger, but still favored her right front leg. “I am. The horses seem to be doing well.”
“Good. The rest of the horses are faring well, too. Come on into the kitchen and have some breakfast. I’ve got a feeling that it’s going to get busy sooner than we want. Other ranchers will be coming today to get horses to house.”
With a final glance, Ethan stood and stretched. He joined Doc outside the stall and closed the door behind him. As they walked through the screened-in breezeway that ran from the barn past the operating room and offices to the house, Ethan nailed Doc with a look. “Imagine my surprise yesterday, when I walked into my barn and found this unknown person handling Ranger.”