He already knew the answer, but she indulged him anyway. “Yes, so don’t tell her.”
“Don’t tell me what?” Piper said, coming to stand next to her husband.
A pair of headlights shone through the slats of the blinds. Tomi jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “Sorry I woke you up, but my rides here. I’ll catch you guys later.”
“That better be Ian picking you up,” Piper said as Tomi unlocked the front door. “Otherwise I’m going to have to ground you or something.”
Tomi blew her sister a kiss and stepped out onto the porch. Still barefoot, the cold cement made her hop her way across the sidewalk to the driveway. Gripping her shoes in one hand, she opened the door and climbed inside. “Hi,” she said, buckling her seatbelt. “Are you impressed I made it on time?”
Before the interior light dimmed, she saw a smile crinkle the corners of Ian’s eyes. “Actually, I am.” He put the truck in reverse and slowly backed out of the driveway. “I was prepared to give you another five minutes before I texted you I was here.”
“Really?” She leaned down to put on her socks. “I thought this was an emergency.”
“It is, but I could’ve given you extra time to get ready.”
Sitting up, she eyed him through narrowed eyes. “Is that a subtle hint that I don’t look presentable?”
He snorted a laugh. “Do you always have to take what I say the wrong way?”
“Sorry, but in my line of work, people aren’t usually upfront. I usually have to decode what they’re really trying to say.”
“You’re not in Hollywood anymore, Ms. Jensen,” he said, shifting gears and heading down the darkened road.
A cow suddenly appeared in the middle of the road, and Ian slammed on his brakes, muttering a mild cussword. The sudden stop jerked Tomi forward, and she was glad she wasn’t bent over putting on her socks anymore. Her forehead would’ve smacked against the dash.
“No, I guess I’m not,” Tomi said wryly as the lone bovine rolled an eye at them before plodding forward. “Does that happen a lot?”
“Often enough that you need to always be on the lookout.” He glanced both ways and then pressed on the gas when he saw it was clear. “If there’s ever a traffic jam in Snow Valley, you can bet on cattle or a tractor being involved.”
If there was ever a traffic jam? She thought about the congested freeways back home, which were pretty much a constant. There were times when it would be faster to walk to your destination rather than crawl along at two miles per hour. Score one point for small-town Montana.
She and Ian drove in silence for a few minutes, Tomi keeping an eye out for any more cows on the loose. That is when she wasn’t watching the cowboy sitting next to her. The moon gave off just enough light for her to study his profile. His hat was off, giving her a glimpse of his thick dark hair. It had a slight curl to it and had that sexy-just-crawled-out-of-bed look many of her male costars could only achieve with expensive hair products and a personal hairstylist. She’d bet money Ian didn’t ever use any kind of hair product other than shampoo. It would be perfect for running your fingers through, should one ever get the chance.
Her eyes lowered to his lips and the perfectly groomed beard covering his square jaw. She’d never kissed anyone with a beard before, and she wondered if it would be soft or prickly. Her heart beat a little faster just thinking about it. The impulsive part of her wanted to lean across and run her fingertips over his jaw to find out. She curled her fingers into her palms, telling herself it would be a bad idea, especially since he was driving.
He turned his head, and she quickly shifted her gaze before he caught her staring at him. “You’re awfully quiet over there. Everything okay?”
“Yep, just keeping an eye out for more stray cows.”
“Good idea,” he said, focusing on the road again. “You should also look out for deer. They like the element of surprise. It’s like they hide in the bushes and then jump out in front of you without any warning.”
“No wonder you’re not driving with lights and sirens.”
“I never drive with lights and sirens,” he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling again. “And I’m currently driving seven miles over the speed limit.”
“Seven miles over?” she said with a flare of drama. “I can see you like living on the dangerous side.” That earned her another short laugh.
“I would drive faster if I needed too,” he said, cutting her an amused look. “It all depends on what the call is for.”
“So, what’s the emergency we’re heading to?”
“There may not be one, but the Reed’s lost a foal last year due to a breech presentation.” His jaw tightened. “I was out of town on another call and couldn’t make it in time to help. While this foal is in a good position, I promised Carrie and Dan I’d come for the delivery to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
Tomi wasn’t up to speed on all the medical terms but knew enough that it meant the baby horse was coming out the wrong way. “If it is breech, what can you do to help?”
Ian was kind enough to explain the dangers of a breech delivery and then proceeded to explain how he planned to help—in great detail.
She appreciated his thorough explanation on a professional level and tried to remember this was for research, and she’d never be required to actually lube up the long-sleeved glove so she could assess which way the baby horse was positioned and then turn it if possible. However, she also knew the value of hands-on experience when researching for a role, and helping Ian deliver a foal would give her more insight into her character in Whisper Falls.
Still, by the time they made it to the ranch, Tomi felt queasy inside. She had a history of a hyperactive gag reflex, particularly when it came to smells or the sight of blood and other bodily fluids. It was pretty much a given that during the birth of a baby horse she’d run into both elements. She really hoped this was a case of false labor or that the mare had already delivered her baby safely.
Carrie Reed, the owner of the farm, greeted them as they exited the truck. She lifted her right hand to wave since her left arm was in a sling. “Thank you so much for coming out, Ian.” Mrs. Reed nodded in the direction of the barn. “Cookie isn’t due to foal until next week, but you know how that goes.”
“Yeah, I do,” Ian said, hoisting the strap of the large medical bag he carried over his shoulder. “Did you get a hold of Dan?”
“Yes, the trailer broke down a few miles out of Idaho. He’s hoping they can have it fixed first thing this morning.” Mrs. Reed’s gaze flickered over to Tomi. “Hello there,” she said brightly. “You must be new.”
“Yes,” Tomi said, stepping forward. “I hope you don’t mind me being here, but I’m shadowing Dr. Davies for the next couple of weeks.”
“Of course I don’t mind.” She stretched out her hand. “I’m Carrie Reed.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Tomi said, shaking her hand. “My name is Tomi Jensen.”
“Tomi?” Mrs. Reed asked. “I’ve got a Tommy. Only our Tommy is a boy. Well, he’s a young man now and mostly goes by Tom, even though his given name is Thomas.”
Tomi smiled and lifted her shoulders up in a shrug. “I’m just plain ole Tomi.”
“I wish I looked as plain as you,” Mrs. Reed said dryly. “It’s not really fair you can look this good so early in the morning.”
“Thank you, but I think you look pretty good for a woman with one arm out of commission.”
“You are so sweet.” Mrs. Reed patted her heavily sprayed hair. “I went to the salon yesterday and told Gwen to make sure my hair was teased and sprayed enough to last through a stiff wind. This sling isn’t coming off for at least another week.”
“How did you hurt your arm?” Tomi asked as they started walking toward the barn.
“I wish it were a better story,” Mrs. Reed said with a laugh, “but I was reaching for a dish on the top of the fridge and felt something pop in my shoulder. The doctor says I strained my rotator cuff, bu
t it feels a lot more painful than a strain.”
They stepped into the barn that wasn’t anything like the McAllister’s barn. This barn actually looked like animals lived in it. It smelled like it too. Tomi resisted the temptation to pull her hoodie up over her nose as she continued to follow Ian.
“Hello, beautiful girl,” he said to the white and black speckled horse. Holding out his hand, he unfolded his fingers to reveal an apple slice in the center of his palm. Cookie blew a puff of air through her nostrils before gobbling up the treat.
While she chewed on the apple, Ian slid his hand across the side of the horse’s belly and paused. Tomi wanted him to explain what he was doing but didn’t want to break his intense concentration. Even Mrs. Reed kept quiet, allowing the veterinarian to do his examination. Ian’s brow furrowed as the horse whinnied uncomfortably, shuffling her feet against the straw-covered floor. “She’s contracting pretty regularly, Carrie,” Ian said, stepping away from the animal.
“And the foal?” Mrs. Reed asked.
“Still in a good position.”
“Thank goodness,” Carrie said, closing her eyes briefly. “But you’ll still stay for the delivery in case something goes wrong, right?”
“You bet.” Ian gave the rancher’s wife a confident smile. “Don’t worry, Carrie. Cookie and her foal are in good hands.”
“I just wish Dan, and the boys were here to help you.” She glanced down at her injured arm. “I can’t do much, other than taking video.”
“No worries.” Ian tipped his hat back and met Tomi’s eyes. “Sure glad I brought along my new apprentice.”
“Me?” Tomi squeaked. She placed a hand over her stomach, remembering everything Ian had described in vivid detail.
“Yes, ma’am.” Those silvery blue eyes of his lit up as his mouth lifted into a smile that was movie-star quality. “It’s time to scrub in, Ms. Jensen.”
Chapter 6
Ian tried not to take too much pleasure from the look of shock on Tomi’s face. It was kind of nice to be the one making her uncomfortable for once.
“Um, I think I’ll just watch this time around.”
Fighting back a smile, Ian ignored her protest as he crouched down and opened his bag wide. “Are you afraid of horses?” he asked, pulling out a box of exam gloves.
“No.”
“Good.” He opened the foaling kit he’d put together, looking for the small bottle of hand sanitizer.
A phone started ringing. “Excuse me a moment,” Mrs. Reed said. “Dan’s calling for an update.”
“Let him know we’ve got this and to not worry.”
Nodding, Carrie walked away to talk to her husband.
“We’ve got this?” Tomi whispered in a slightly panicked tone.
“Relax, I promise you won’t have to do anything other than help keep Cookie calm.” Ian stood up with a bottle of sanitizer. “Hold out your hand.”
“So, what am I supposed to do?” Tomi asked as Ian poured a quarter-sized amount of the clear gel into the center of her palm. “Help her with her Lamaze breathing?”
Ian cracked a smile as he rubbed a generous amount of sanitizer over his hands. “If you can do that then you’d be in high demand and have to give up your acting career.” He reached into the foaling kit and pulled out a roll of green cloth. “She’s in the beginning stages of labor and probably not too uncomfortable yet.”
Tomi snorted. “Says the man who will never experience birth.”
“True.” He unrolled about a foot of the material. “What I meant to say is that the contractions aren’t strong enough to make her agitated, so now is a good time to wrap her tail.”
“What happens when her contractions get stronger? Do you have a horsey epidural you can give her or something?”
“Afraid not.” Ian smoothed a hand over Cookie’s back, careful to avoid getting directly behind her. A person only needed to be kicked by a horse one time to remember that rule. “Just talk to her while I wrap the tail, please.”
“I can definitely do that,” Tomi said, stroking the horse’s forehead. “Hey there, sweet lady. Dr. Ian doesn’t have meds for you, but he’s going to make sure your beautiful tail stays nice and clean.”
Ian listened to Tomi’s narrative as he slowly wrapped the cloth around and around. He held back a laugh as she talked about how unfair it was that the father of the baby got away with the easy part and wasn’t it just like a man that he wasn’t here for the birth.
“Do you want me to track him down?” Tomi asked as if talking to a real person. “I’ll bet he’s hanging out with the guys, tossing back a few drinks and carousing with other girls.”
Ian wanted to defend the male species that all men weren’t like that, but he noticed Carrie had come back inside and was videoing Tomi’s monologue.
Cookie nickered and shifted on her feet. That’s when Tomi changed her mode of entertainment from talking to singing. He was surprised at how good she sounded. Almost better than the original artist of the country ballad. Her voice had a husky quality to it and just the right amount of vibrato.
Since Cookie seemed to be enjoying the entertainment as much as he was, he took his time wrapping the tail. Tomi barely took a breath before she started with another song Ian recognized from the radio. He wanted to ask her why she pursued an acting career when she had a voice like that. The song came to an end just as Ian finished his task. He lingered behind, hoping she would start in on another song.
Carrie got another phone call, nixing any chance of Tomi singing again.
“All done?” Tomi asked.
“Yep.” He moved toward her. “You have a beautiful voice.”
“Thanks.” She licked her lips. “I don’t normally sing in front of people, but this was a good cause.”
For someone as outgoing and comfortable in her own skin as Tomi, Ian was surprised to hear her admit that she didn’t sing in front of other people. He wanted to hear her again.
“Why not?” he asked, standing close enough to catch a whiff of her perfume. “You’re really good.”
She shrugged. “I tried musical theatre in school, but it wasn’t my thing.” Her forehead furrowed. “At least that’s what the director told me.”
“Then he was an idiot.”
A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips. “Actually, he was a womanizing jerk. I dropped out of the class when he told me I had to give him certain favors if I ever wanted to get on stage.”
Something hot burned in the center of Ian’s gut. He could only guess what those favors might be and it made him want to track this guy down and put a fist in his face. “Did you report him?”
“I tried, but I learned very quickly that he had friends in high places. He could’ve really made trouble for me.” She brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “I just avoided him until I graduated.”
She acted like it was completely normal, which made him think it wasn’t an isolated incident. “Has that ever happened to you again?”
“It happens, but not all the time.”
Ian’s fingers curled into his palms as the anger flared up again. He wasn’t a very good actor, so he knew his feelings were reflected on his countenance.
Tomi bit her bottom lip and looked away. “My agent is really good at screening the casting directors, so I haven’t run into a situation like that for a long time.”
Meaning it had happened again. “What about the casting director for this show? Do I need to hunt him down?”
Lifting her eyes to his, a smile creased her lips. “Her name is Lana Johnson, and she is by far one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in the industry.”
“I don’t know much about movies, so this might be a dumb question.”
“My dad says there is never a dumb question.”
Her comment eased some of the tension in his shoulders, and he smiled. “My dad says the same thing.” Their eyes held for a moment, and Ian suddenly wished he could learn everything there was about Tomi. Maybe he shouldn�
��t have shut down Piper when she’d tried to set him up. “So, is the casting director the same as a film director?”
“No, and the director of Whisper Falls isn’t sleazy, so nothing inappropriate has happened.” Tomi lifted one shoulder up. “The PR people can be a little demanding, specifying what the actors should or shouldn’t be doing, even in their off time.”
That could be good or bad. “Like what?” he asked. “No partying?”
She paused for a few seconds before she nodded her head. “They definitely frown upon partying, which is good for me since I don’t drink.”
Ian sensed there was something she wasn’t telling him, but Carrie came back inside the barn. “Do you mind talking to Dan?” she asked, holding her phone out to him. “He’s pretty stressed out after what happened the time before.”
“I don’t mind at all.” Ian took the phone, doing his best to reassure Dan that everything was on track for a good delivery. He wished he could promise him that nothing bad would happen, but nobody could promise that. By the time he ended the call, Cookie had progressed to the second stage of labor. The horse rolled onto her back on the clean bedding, trying to alleviate the discomfort as well as getting into the best birthing position.
It didn’t take long before the foal tried to make an appearance. One hoof was out, and Ian watched carefully for the second hoof, followed by the nose. On the next contraction, the second hoof poked through, piercing the sack. Fluid gushed all over the clean straw, but there was still no sign of the nose.
“Is that normal?” Tomi whispered, gripping onto his arm.
“Yes.” But if the foal didn’t progress any further after the next couple of contractions, things could turn quickly. He monitored the situation carefully through another contraction. Only this time the second hoof disappeared back inside. When it didn’t reappear on the next contraction, he squatted down to the foaling kit at his feet. “Have you ever played tug-o-war?”
“Yeess,” Tomi said, drawing the word out like she wasn’t sure she wanted to say that out loud.
“Good, because I’m going to need your help,” Ian said, sorting through the medical supplies he’d brought along.
Caught Kissing the Cowboy: A Return to Snow Valley Romance Page 6
