by Verna Clay
Slipping into old jeans and a T-shirt that had been washed probably a million times, she stuck her toes in her flip flops and headed toward the main house.
Her dad was in the living room with Sean and Candi. Candi sat on the couch beside Sean with her heart in her eyes, staring up at him. On the coffee table were several eight-by-ten glossies that he had autographed with the various names of her girlfriends. Tessa stifled a smile. Her baby sister was going to be one popular student.
They all glanced at her as she walked in. Sean stood and smiled and her dad frowned—no doubt because of her attire, which was horrible. "Hi Dad and Candi. Hi Sean. So you're the surprise supper guest Monica told me about."
Her dad said, "Oh, he's more than that. He's my new ranch hand. He's taking up residence in the first barn."
Tessa felt her eyes widen and barely stifled a groan. "Oh." She glanced at Sean and although it sounded rude, asked, "Why are you working for my dad?"
He grinned. "For one thing, I don't like sitting around on my as–" he glanced at Candi, "er, my backside doing nothing, and for another, it keeps me hidden in plain sight and hopefully away from fans."
Candi piped up, "And I told Sean I'm really good at keeping secrets. I'm not even going to tell my girlfriends he's at our house."
Her dad laughed. "And that chick-magnet car is staying in the garage. He'll be driving one of our old beater trucks."
Tessa felt panic claw at her throat as she absorbed this turn of events. She and Sean were going to be living in close proximity and she would probably see him almost every day. She couldn't breathe.
Monica stepped into the room. "Hi, Tessa. I thought I heard you. Want to give me a hand in the kitchen?"
"Sure, Mom." She was grateful for the reprieve.
Candi said, "I can help too, Mommy."
"That's okay, sweetie. You keep Sean company."
In the kitchen Monica pointed to a loaf of French bread. "Why don't you slice and butter the bread while I pour the spaghetti sauce over the noodles?"
Tessa pulled out a knife from its block holder and started on her task. She almost cut herself so she paused, took a deep breath, and started cutting again.
Monica said, "So, what do you think about Sean working for your dad? I assume they told you."
"Ah, yeah, they told me. It's great."
"You don't sound like its great. Is there something you want to talk about?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
Monica sighed. "Honey, I'm always here if you need to talk. You've been through a lot the past few years and maybe you're ready to start dating again. Maybe Sean will ask you out."
Tessa swallowed back tears. "He already has."
"And?"
"And I turned him down."
"Just like you turned Preston down?"
"Yes. I'm not ready."
"Maybe if you talked to someone about why you feel that way, it would help you understand your feelings."
Tessa blinked back tears. "I don't think I'll ever be ready. I feel…I feel…so inadequate. I feel like I'm a mess, Mom."
Monica set down the tongs she was mixing the spaghetti with and walked over to Tessa. She embraced her and said, "We're all here for you, Tessa. You'll confide in us when you're ready."
Sean enjoyed dinner with the Branigans more than he'd enjoyed anything in a long time. Tessa was quiet though, and he wondered what she was thinking. She seemed preoccupied. When the ribbon holding her hair came untied and the curly mass fell forward, he had a vision of smoothing it off her cheeks and kissing them—kissing that adorable dimple. She tied her hair back and when their eyes met, she quickly glanced away. She was skittish of him and for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why. They'd been friends for years, and except for kissing her that one time under the mistletoe, he'd never been forward.
While Monica and Tessa served dessert, Candi said, "Sean, are you coming to the Fourth of July picnic in the park? The whole town will be there."
"It sounds like fun. I have some disguises I wear when I go out."
"You mean like a Halloween costume?"
"Yes, I guess you could say that. In one of them I dress like a hippy with a beard."
"Wow! Will you show me tomorrow?"
Dirk said, "Candi, give the man time to settle in."
Sean said, "It's okay." He winked at Candi, "I'd be happy to show you my hippie getup."
Tessa remained quiet over dessert and then immediately started clearing the table when Dirk suggested they all move to the living room. She said, "Ya'll go ahead. Mom, you too. I'll clean the dishes."
Sean felt hurt by her obvious avoidance of him. It was almost an hour later when she joined them and he felt like he'd worn out his welcome. "I guess I better say goodnight. I got everything moved over from my parents' house this afternoon, so I'm ready to start work first thing in the morning."
Dirk nodded. "Sounds good, son. Come to the house at six for breakfast, then I'll get you lined out and introduce you to the other hands. You've already met Flatfoot. He's my foreman and lives on the property in a cottage down by the river. The other four men live either nearby or in town. We usually meet up in your barn at seven. I've got a good team and I think you'll get along great with them. We'll tell them mums the word about your identity and I know they'll respect that."
"Thanks, I appreciate it. But I don't want you thinking you have to furnish my meals. I can–"
Dirk interrupted, "Comes with the job, son. If I wasn't feeding you, it would be whoever got the job. You're not getting any special treatment if that's what you're worried about."
Sean nodded and glanced at Tessa. "Well, goodnight, Tessa."
"Good night," she politely replied, saying nothing more.
Candi grinned and reached for her stack of signed glossies. "Night, Sean. Thank you for signing all these. I promise I won't let anyone know you're here."
Monica said, "I cook a mean breakfast, so be ready to stuff yourself."
"Thank you, ma'am. I look forward to it."
Chapter 9: Festival
Tessa spent the next two weeks doing her best to avoid Sean. As often as she dared, she came home late with the excuse that she was helping out at work, which was the truth. Her extra time there wasn't necessary, but it was appreciated. So far, it seemed that no one but Toby knew Sean was working for her father.
Preston returned two days before the Fourth of July Festival and surprised her by coming through the back door and sneaking up behind her. Placing his hands over her eyes, he bent to whisper in her ear, "Guess who?"
She twirled around. "Preston! We didn't expect you back for another week!"
He grinned. "Did you miss me?"
She joked, "We've all been pining away since you left."
"I highly doubt my brother was pining away. But if you and Midge were–"
A squeal interrupted their conversation and Midge ran over to give Preston a big hug. "We missed you!"
Preston laughed loudly. "So I've heard."
Just then Sally who worked at Boot Bustin' Barn entered carrying her cocker spaniel. She wailed, "Something's wrong with Rambler!"
All conversation ceased as everyone went into emergency mode. An x-ray revealed that Rambler had a bur stuck in his throat and Preston donned his scrubs to remove it. Tessa, Sally, and the staff sighed with relief when the old dog tolerated the minor surgery and anesthesia well.
The Fourth of July dawned with blue skies and a few puffy clouds. Tessa got to the park around nine to set-up the display for the vet booth and lay out brochures. She loved the fact that she was once again a part of her community. She'd even designed a poster board with pictures of many of the animals and their owners that she'd snapped over the past few months. Both Toby and Preston had praised her efforts and it made her feel really good.
A day after his arrival home, Preston had asked her to dinner, but she'd declined again. He hadn't taken offence, just smiled and said, "When you're ready I'm going to treat you to the mo
st fabulous steak dinner you've ever eaten."
A blush had suffused her face and she'd dropped the folder she was holding. Preston liked her…a lot. She'd known it since she was a teenager, but she'd never had those kinds of feelings for him. He and Toby were close friends, that's all. Besides, she couldn't fathom what Preston saw in her. He was so tall and handsome and she often overheard conversations by young women at the coffee shop about how they wished they could get his attention, and even once, one of the gals had giggled and said how much she wanted to go to bed with him.
"Hi, Tessa," Preston said as he approached their booth. She gulped and turned all shades of pink knowing where her thoughts had been.
"Ah, hi Preston."
"Do you need help with anything?"
"Nope. I've got it covered. I should have everything laid out in a few minutes."
"How about I bring you a cup of coffee?"
She lifted her cup with the Dixie's Cuppa Joe label that she'd set on another table. "Already got it, but thanks."
He looked like he wanted to say something else, but changed his mind and dipped his Stetson before crossing the grass to help Tawnie Trueblood set up a folding table under her canopy. The pretty cowgirl, who held numerous beauty titles from her teens and twenties, had started a business a few years back that taught girls how to break into that scene. She mentored them in poise, etiquette, appropriate clothing for whatever event they were entering, and also offered diet and exercise classes. Tessa remembered when Tawnie had been the reigning queen of one of the town's parades and asked Tessa's dad to ride on the float with her. Even though he'd had a cast on his leg, he'd agreed because she was a good friend. That had been the summer he'd hired Monica as domestic help until his leg healed. What a trippy summer that had been.
Tessa grinned when she thought back to that time. More than once, she'd seen her dad grind his jaws at Monica's prissy, New Yorker attitude. But then things had changed and her dad, who hadn't dated or even looked at another woman since Tessa's mother's death, was suddenly falling all over himself for Monica. And it went both ways. They couldn't be in the same room without going mushy eyed for each other. Then they'd hit a rough patch, but things had finally worked out much to Tessa's relief. She'd loved Monica from the start and when her new sitter had stood up to Jared in the grocery store after he'd called her Tubby Tessa, she'd been astonished. Monica had even made him apologize to her.
But then, being an idiot, she'd run off with the jerk a year out of high school and married him. Reflecting on that time put a pall on what had started out to be a happy day. It didn't help knowing she might run into Jared's parents today. They lived on a ranch outside of town, and although they were always polite, she knew they harbored resentment toward her. His mother had once chastised her for "being so fragile." She'd said that a man had so many frustrations in his life that a little pushing was just a normal way to release tension. Tessa had been appalled and responded, "No. Not pushing. Not shoving. Not slapping. Not punching, Not–" She'd stifled the word "raping," and finished with, "None of that is ever justified!"
Jared's mother had glared at her and said hotly, "He didn't deserve bein' in jail for two months."
Calmly, Tessa had replied, "No. He didn't. He deserved much longer."
A resonant voice said, "A penny for your thoughts."
Tessa jerked her head upright from staring at nothing on the table to staring into Sean's gorgeous baby blues. Although he was smiling at her, his eyes were serious. She had expected him to be dressed in one of the disguises he'd described, but he was recognizable in a baseball cap and dark glasses. Although not as tall and buff as Toby and Preston—maybe six feet, or close to it—his body was fit and lean. He was the kind of man who could wear anything and look good. At the moment, his clothing was jeans and a T-shirt with a twisting trout on the front. He'd cut his hair right after starting to work for her dad and the cropped and gelled style set off the angles of his face.
She gave a lame response. "I'm just wondering where to put these flyers."
He nodded, but didn't look like he believed her.
She said, "Oh, I need to tell you that we still haven't received a call from an owner about Lucky, but that guy who called and came by a couple of days ago to check him out, called again this morning and offered him a home if he isn't claimed. He said he'd stop by the booth at one o'clock to meet you."
"Does he seem okay to you?"
"Yes. But it's difficult to know those things. We get some of the nicest people coming into the office, but then when their animal is examined, we find out it's been abused. We always report it to the authorities for investigation. You'll probably want to go to his ranch and check out his animals."
Sean said, "I'll return at one to meet the guy and we'll see what happens."
She changed the subject. "I thought you'd be wearing one of your disguises. You know, don't you, that you're going to be recognized?"
"Yeah, I know, but honestly, I hate dressing as someone other than myself. I figured if Sage and your dad and Mr. Brightman can handle the fire, so can I. They're pretty famous and I don't remember them dressing in disguises." Sean's gaze moved to something or someone behind Tessa and she saw him stiffen. "Hello, Preston," he said.
Preston stepped next to Tessa. "Howdy, Sean. I heard you were around. Saw the dog you hit."
Sean's jaw tightened.
Toby walked up. "Hey, Sean, did Tessa tell you that we might have a home for Lucky?" He stopped beside his brother and slapped him on the back.
Sean shifted his gaze to Toby. "Yes. I'll be back at one to meet the guy."
Preston interjected, "Why? Don't you trust our judgment?"
Turning a hard stare on Preston, he replied, "Tessa's and Toby's, yes. Yours?" He shrugged.
The animosity between Sean and Preston was rearing its ugly head yet again. They looked like they were about to come to blows. Tessa looked at Toby to see his reaction. He was glancing back and forth between his brother and Sean, and he looked pissed. He grabbed Preston's arm. "I got something I need to show you." He tugged and Preston didn't budge, so he tugged harder. Finally Preston followed him out of the booth.
Tessa watched them and then turned back to Sean. "What was that all about?"
He shook his head. "You really don't know, do you?" His gaze roamed her face before he turned to leave. Over his shoulder he called, "I'll be back at one."
Chapter 10: Six Dogs
Preston allowed his brother to lead him away from Tessa and their booth. Tessa and he had been friends since childhood, but when he'd grown into his teens he'd gotten a crush on her that never went away. She was adorable and sweet and he'd wanted so much more. When she'd eloped with Jerky Jared he'd been devastated. But since her return, he'd gotten his hopes up again that maybe they'd have a chance—if he could just get her to give him the time of day; get to know him other than as a friend.
But Sean was back in the picture and Preston knew he'd also had a hankerin' for Tessa over the years. He'd seen it by the way Sean always got cross-eyed whenever she was around. Hell, he got cross-eyed, too. Seeing Sean had pissed him off to the point he'd wanted to punch something, or rather, someone—Sean. Hell, the guy was supposed to be some famous rock star with women falling at his feet. Why the hell was he back in Paxtonville. Preston already knew the answer—Tessa.
Toby was talking to him, but he couldn't concentrate on his brother's words. "I'll see you later, Toby," he said, and walked away. His brother called something but he ignored him. He walked for a few minutes and then decided to head toward downtown. Abruptly he stopped, inhaled a calming breath, turned around, and almost stepped on a Pomeranian bundle of fur. The dog scooted out of his way, as did the other five dogs walking with the Pomeranian.
"Hey, watch out! You almost flattened my dog!"
Preston glanced from the pooch he'd almost stepped on to a poodle, to a pug, to a dachshund, to a cocker spaniel, to a Chihuahua, and finally to the tiny woman holding six leash
es.
He knew for sure that the woman, or maybe she was still a teenager, didn't own these animals because some of them were his patients. He frowned at the uptight girl and knelt to pet Chica the Chihuahua. "Hey, Chica, how are you doing? How's that paw?" He lifted her paw to inspect it. Before leaving for France, he'd treated the dog for an infected cut. She had healed nicely. He patted Chica's head and she happily danced in circles.
Glancing back at the red head with a million freckles, he read the question in her eyes and said, "I'm Dr. Preston Tanner, the local vet."
She must have read the question in his own eyes, because she said, "I'm the dog sitter." She didn't mention her name.
Preston stood and politely touched the brim of his Stetson. She stared mutely at him. He asked, "Does the dog sitter have a name?"
"Yes, but I'm not inclined to give it to strangers."
Preston frowned. "I just told you I'm the vet and some of these dogs are my patients." He pointed to the pug. "That's Weston." He pointed to the dachshund. "That's Weaner." He pointed to the Pomeranian. "And that's Pookie. And for your information, teenage girls don't interest me."
The girl with attitude lifted her chin and didn't flinch while returning his stare. "Looks like you're good with names, but not ages. If I have to bring one of my babies to your office, I'll introduce myself. As for being a teenager, I passed that phase seven years ago. Now, please step out of the way. My sweeties need their exercise."
Preston couldn't believe the audacity of the woman. His family had been pillars of the community since forever and he was always treated with respect. Who the hell was this rude little mite of a girl? No, woman. Hell, what did he care? He stepped aside to let her pass. His earlier anger at Sean was replaced by incredulity at how he'd just been treated. She flipped her orange hair and he noticed that she even had freckles covering her neck. He'd never seen so many freckles.
