by Kate Pearce
“He was adopted.”
“Is that weird knowing that somewhere in the world you have a seventeen-year-old kid walking around?”
“I try not to think about it,” Danny confessed. “I just hope he’s living his best life and has great parents.”
There was no way he was going to tell Evan how he really felt about his unreachable son, how many times he’d wondered if he’d ever unknowingly passed the boy on the street.
“I can’t even get my head around it,” Evan said.
“Luckily, you don’t have to.”
“But I’m an uncle.”
“And it’s not all about you.” Danny fixed his irrepressible younger brother with a hard stare. “Faith and I were just kids caught up in a terrible situation, which we tried to make the best of for all of us.”
Except, he’d tried to make them into a family so they could keep the baby and screwed that up as well. He grimaced. Dammit, he couldn’t leave things as they were with Faith. There were still things he needed to know.
“I have to go.” Danny picked up his keys. “I ordered pizza from Gina’s to pick up at six.”
“Cool.” Evan stood too. “Can you text Dad and ask him to tell Adam I have his phone? I forgot to bring mine with me. Lizzie’s going to come and get Adam’s cell from her apartment. She was going to drive all the way up there just to give it to him.” He tutted. “She’s way too nice to him. I’ll go home and get things set up for dinner.”
“Sure. I’ll see you back there.”
Evan touched his shoulder, his expression unusually serious. “Danny, seeing as I know what I know, if you ever need to talk about it to someone, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks.”
Despite all his joking, Evan wasn’t the kind of guy who spread other people’s business around. Danny trusted him implicitly. He hoped he’d never have to talk to Evan about Faith and the baby again, but it was good to know he had an option. The only other person who knew was his father, and that was never going to happen.
Danny scanned the streets but there was no sign of Faith or her truck. He headed down the street toward the pizza place opposite Ted Baker’s gas station. Even the delectable scents of garlic, cheese, and tomatoes couldn’t dispel his foul mood. He managed to find a smile as he checked on his order with Gina, the owner, and stood back to wait.
Mikey Baker came in from the back and went straight to his boss.
“Did Faith McDonald pick up her pizza?”
Gina checked the warming ovens. “Nope, I haven’t even made it yet. Why are you asking?”
“Dave called wondering where it was.”
“Then call Faith and ask her whether she wants us to deliver it to Dave, or if she still wants to pick it up herself,” Gina said patiently.
“Will do.” Mikey disappeared into the back again as Gina rolled her eyes.
“Dave sure does love his pizza,” Danny remarked.
“Yes, he told me in all seriousness the other day that he often wished he’d dropped out of veterinary college and learned to make pizza in Italy instead,” Gina said. “I told him he’s welcome to come and work here for free anytime he likes.”
Mikey came back. “Faith says she forgot all about it, but if you make it, she’ll turn around and come right back.”
“Was she on her way home?” Danny asked.
“I guess so,” Mikey said.
“Then, if you like, I’ll take it along with mine and save her the trip.”
Gina and Mikey both stared at him, which made him realize that literally everyone in town, even the newcomers, knew all about him and Faith.
“Are you sure?” Gina asked. “It’ll be ready about the same time as yours.”
“Absolutely.” Danny turned to Mikey. “Call Faith and tell her the pizza will be delivered and not to worry about coming back.” He got out his phone and sent a text to Evan.
Meet me in the parking lot when you’re ready to leave. I need you to take the pizza home.
Faith went into the kitchen, which still felt empty without her mother’s warm presence in it, and poured herself a glass of water. Dave was already seated at the table along with a stack of paper plates, napkins, and an eager expression which turned to a pout when he noticed her empty hands.
“Where’s the pizza?”
“It’s on its way.” Faith took her water glass over to the table and set it beside Dave’s beer. “I’m sorry, I got distracted and forgot to pick it up in person.”
“Weren’t you going on a date?” Dave asked.
“I wasn’t really feeling it.” Faith stuck to as much of the truth as she could. “It’s been a stressful day.”
“Yeah, what with the Brysons and the staff all talking about you behind your back.” Dave folded his napkin into some kind of bird. “They all come and complain to me like I’m going to do something about it.”
“Like I need more people talking shit about me,” Faith murmured. “I was hoping folks would judge me by my work, not by my past mistakes.”
“Oh, honey.” Dave patted her hand. “This place has barely made it into the twentieth century, let alone this one, of course they’re going to judge you.” He paused. “Although it would be nice to know, as your brother, why you didn’t come home.”
“Mom and Dad never told you?” Faith stared at Dave.
“Not directly.” He shrugged. “I mean I picked up that there was some dark secret, but as everyone at school said you’d run off with some trashy Vegas cowboy I didn’t know what to think.”
“A Vegas cowboy?”
“Well, you did go to Vegas, and I do remember Mom and Dad chasing after you and not coming back for about a week.”
“I didn’t run off with a cowboy.” Faith considered her reply. Maybe it was time for Dave to know the truth. “Or, not a Vegas one. I went there with Danny. We were trying to get married.”
Dave slowly closed his gaping mouth. “Okay. That makes much more sense.”
“I was pregnant.”
For once in his life her brother seemed completely lost for words.
“I went into labor while we were in Vegas, Danny called Mom, and they were with me when I had Marcus.”
“Wow.”
“He was adopted.”
“And that’s why you didn’t come home?”
“It was part of it.” Faith sighed. “I was quite ill after the birth. Obviously, I hadn’t seen a doctor during my pregnancy, and I developed full-blown eclampsia. At one point they didn’t think I’d make it.”
Dave grabbed hold of her hand. “I had no idea.”
“By the time I was well enough to return, I was supposed to have started college at UC Davis. They gave me a medical extension and let me catch up and join the classes when I was ready. After that, it was easier not to come home and face everyone. Mom and Dad certainly didn’t encourage me to do so.”
“I get it. I’m just sorry I didn’t know any of this until now.”
“There was nothing you could’ve done, Dave.” She smiled at him. “But I appreciate the thought.”
“I could’ve had a few words with Danny Miller, who happily went on with his life leaving you to deal with all this shit.”
“That really wouldn’t have been helpful.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Dave sat back, his usual amiable expression missing. “It sure makes me rethink my friendship with him and all the Miller family.”
There was a knock on the back door. “Pizza delivery.”
“Door’s open. Bring it on through!” Dave shouted back. He released Faith’s hand. “We can talk about this later, okay?”
He stood up and walked toward the kitchen door just as Danny emerged holding the pizza box.
“Hey, I heard you—”
Danny didn’t get to finish the sentence as Dave swung his fist back and punched him right in the face.
“Dave!” Faith screeched as she ran toward the two men and just managed to rescue the pizza box, which was about t
o fall on the floor. “Stop it!”
Danny rubbed his jaw and stared at Dave. “What the hell was that for?”
“You damn well know, and I’m just sorry it was so late in coming.”
Danny’s gray gaze flicked toward Faith and then back to Dave, who was squaring up to fight again.
“It’s okay.” Faith grabbed Dave’s sleeve. “You’ve made your point; now can we all act like adults rather than idiots here?”
Dave stepped back and rubbed his knuckles. “Sure, but I’m not sorry I did it.”
His cell buzzed and he took it out of his pocket and turned to Faith.
“Got a call up at the Garcias’. I’ll walk lover boy out, so he won’t bother you, okay?”
Danny went to say something, and then seemed to realize it was pointless. He touched the brim of his Stetson to Faith.
“Sorry for the intrusion.”
“It’s fine. Thank you for bringing the pizza.”
Dave turned to the box, opened it up, grabbed two slices, and headed for the door. “See you later, Sis.”
* * *
Danny’s jaw was still throbbing as Dave escorted him to his truck like some belligerent guard dog. He paused before he got in and looked at Dave.
“I guess Faith told you about what happened in Vegas.”
“No shit,” Dave said. “You complete jackass.”
“I was seventeen, your family hustled me out of there before I could do or say anything and kept me away from her for years. You want to fight with someone? Talk to your parents.”
“You don’t think you bear any responsibility for me hardly ever getting to see my sister for seventeen years?”
Danny met Dave’s accusing stare. “Sure, I do, and I own it. But this is between me and Faith, okay? She’s a strong woman and she doesn’t need you to fight her battles for her.”
“I know that.” Dave sighed. “Look, I shouldn’t have hit you.”
“Thanks for nothing.”
Danny rubbed his jaw and winced. So much for his impulsive decision to walk right into Faith’s kitchen and continue their discussion. Maybe he’d needed Dave’s intervention to make him realize how stupidly he was behaving.
“We good?” Dave offered. “That’s the first time I’ve ever actually hit anyone.” He glanced down at his hand. “It hurt.”
“Sure,” Danny said. “As long as you keep all this to yourself. Faith and I have a lot to talk about, and the last thing we need right now is everyone interfering again.”
“Got it.”
Despite his conciliatory words, Dave still waited until Danny drove away before getting in his truck and following him down to the county road.
Chapter Five
“Dave?” Faith went into the back office of the clinic and found her brother checking up on a dog that had just had surgery.
“What’s up?” He gently set the dog back into its cage.
“We just got a bill from the Brysons.”
“For what exactly?”
“The two calves that died.” Faith glanced down at the letter. “Doug is claiming that my negligence led to their deaths.”
“That’s just stupid.”
“He says I should’ve left them in the field until he had time to get there and that by insisting on moving them, I subjected them to unnecessary stress and trauma which led to their deaths.”
“Bullshit,” Dave said. “Just ignore the letter, okay?”
“He says he’s going to sue me if I don’t pay up.”
“Also bullshit seeing as he doesn’t even have the money to run his ranch properly let alone pay a lawyer. Does Sue Ellen know what he’s up to?”
“She was standing right there when I brought the calves in, and she’s the one who told me to leave and not to charge her a dime for my services, so I guess she does.”
“Shame no one else heard that,” Dave said.
“Someone did.” Faith met his gaze. “Danny Miller drove the trailer down to Brysons’. What a shame you just punched him in the face. I’m sure he’d be delighted to testify in our defense.”
“Dude, he said we were good about everything,” Dave protested. “And, hey, how about your relationship with him? That’s hardly helping.”
“If Doug goes ahead and tries to make anything of this, I’ll ask Danny if he’ll be willing to write out a statement as to what went down. I mean, why isn’t Doug suing the Millers for moving his cows in the first place?” Faith asked.
“Because he and Sue Ellen really don’t like you.” Dave patted her shoulder. “I’m sorry, Sis. I bet this isn’t how you expected things to go when you came back.”
Faith went back to her paperwork and was just about done when her phone buzzed. She checked the number, sighed, and answered the call.
“McDonald Veterinary Services, this is Faith.”
“Can you come out right now? We have a calf problem,” Jeff Miller said. “And don’t send Dave.”
Faith checked her schedule. “I’ll be there in half an hour. Anything specific I should know before I set out?”
“Just get here.”
Jeff ended the call and Faith sat back, her mind immediately assessing the many problems facing a newly born calf, and considered what supplies she should bring with her. From what Dave had told her, Jeff still preferred to deal with everything himself having an aversion to paying vets bills, so for him to call and ask for immediate help was something.
It seemed fate had decided she was going to be in the Millers’ business whether she wanted to or not....
* * *
As Faith’s truck pulled into the yard, Danny walked out of the barn to meet her. She got out of the truck, turned to grab her bag, and came toward him, her expression professional.
“Hey, what’s going on with the calves?”
Danny grimaced. “All four that were born seven nights ago are suffering from diarrhea.”
“All of them?” Faith nodded at the barn. “I assume you’ve got them inside.”
“Yeah. Dad found them all down in the field this morning, and we moved them to the barn.”
“Any other cows in the same field?”
“Yup, because we just gathered all the pregnant ones closer to the house so we could keep an eye on them. We moved them early this year because the outlying fields are still waterlogged. We weren’t sure we’d be able to get to them in time if there were any problems.” He groaned. “Talk about bad timing.”
“Not necessarily. At least you spotted this fast.” Faith waited as her eyes adjusted to the darker interior of the barn. The far corner had been sectioned off to contain the calves and their mothers. She could smell the stench from the door. Jeff and Adam were looking over the metal barriers at the calves and were deep in conversation.
“Vet’s here, Dad,” Danny called out from behind her.
“About time, too.” Jeff Miller was never happy, so Faith didn’t take his gruff tone personally.
“Hey, Mr. Miller.” Faith set her bag down and joined them at the fence. “Would you like to walk me through what you’ve observed so far and what was the condition of the calves when you found them?”
She listened intently as Jeff talked, aware of Danny’s quiet presence on her other side.
“No problems with their mothers? All of the calves have been receiving colostrum?”
“Absolutely.” Jeff waved a hand at the cows. “Look at them. All well fed and being good mothers.”
“How about the field they were in?” Faith asked. “Was it properly drained?”
“Yup, we brought them in from the fields closer to Morgan Creek to avoid that very problem.”
Faith nodded. “Okay if I go in and take a look?”
“Be my guest.”
Even though she’d been expecting to see some dehydration she was shocked by how affected the calves were and how low their body temperatures were. She looked over her shoulder.
“Can you put some additional heat in here?”
“Sure.” Adam nodded. “I’ll get on that right away.”
Faith was also pleased with how clean the barn was. The Millers were conscientious owners who knew the value of a well-managed ranch. After checking all four calves thoroughly she went to speak to Jeff.
“Okay, I suggest we start by administering fluids and electrolytes. I’d also suggest adding a broad-spectrum antibiotic.”
“Why?” Jeff demanded.
“We can hold off on that until we have a clearer idea of the underlying cause of the diarrhea if you prefer.” Faith hesitated. “Some calves in this situation have bacteria multiplying in their blood, which is why it can be helpful.”
“But those antibiotics can also cause kidney damage,” Danny said.
“Correct.” She glanced over at him. “Which is why I’m okay to wait until we can work out exactly why this happened and successfully treat it. I assume all your cows were vaccinated?”
“Yeah.” Danny nodded. “All up-to-date. This just came out of nowhere.”
“Then, let’s get started,” Faith said. “I just need to get some stuff from my truck.”
* * *
While Adam set up the heating lamps, Danny sent his father back to the house to make some coffee. He’d noticed that by the end of the conversation with Faith his father had been hanging on to the railings for grim life. The fact that Jeff didn’t even object when he suggested he help out in the kitchen meant he was at the limit of his current strength. It had been a tiring and stressful morning since the discovery of the downed calves and the realization that something was very wrong. Normally, if it was just one calf, they would probably have just treated it themselves and hoped for the best, but four was a serious problem, even his father realized that.
He helped Faith deal with each calf, following her clear instructions even as his admiration for the woman she’d become increased. She was nothing like her shy seventeen-year-old self, but a confident and secure person in her own right.
“You’re a great assistant,” she joked as they stopped in the feed room to thoroughly wash their hands.
“Thanks, I’ve had plenty of practice.” He hesitated. “Would you like to come in for some coffee? You’ve been working your ass off.”
