“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,
