Turn and Burn_A Blacktop Cowboys Novel

by Lorelei James

  “Both.”

  Tanna had no logical response for that.

  Since the woman stared at Tanna so blatantly, she stared back. The woman’s coal black hair hung loose, almost to the waistband of her faded jeans. Her eyes were brown. Not golden, or chocolate, but basic brown. She had a prominent nose. Full lips—too full for her angular face. A regal neck. She was rail thin. From nervous energy? She threw off that vibe. She also wore a dingy T-shirt at least three sizes too big. But with the shirtsleeves hacked off, Tanna could see her arms were corded with muscle. She could also see the woman’s skin was marked with odd tattoos.

  She should be plain-looking. But something about her unadorned nature was striking. Compelling. Ethereal. Yet, as hard and rigid as the rocks surrounding them.

  The woman didn’t look away as Tanna scrutinized her.

  Then their eyes met. Tanna said, “I’m Tanna Barker.”

  “I know. I’m Summer Red Stone.”

  “I’m glad to meet you, Summer, mostly because you’re not a figment of my imagination so I can cross going insane off my list of mental defects.”

  Summer smiled. “I’ve been called a ghost on more than one occasion.”

  Cryptic. And a little creepy.

  “You wonder what I want,” Summer said.

  A statement, not a question. “Maybe. I heard your name at the branding so I’m guessing you’re involved with Eli?”

  “Not just involved, we’re intertwined.”

  There was the possessive tone. “Are you here to warn me off your man?”

  Summer didn’t smile or shake her head or laugh. She merely said, “No. You are a beautiful, damaged woman, Tanna. As much as that appeals to my Eli and his penchant for saving souls, well, I got here first. And he’s got his hands completely full saving mine.” Then she did smile. “But he can help you if you’ll let him.”

  “You sound so sure.”

  “I am. Be patient with yourself. Overcoming fear is one of the hardest things there is and it doesn’t have a set time frame.”

  Tanna stretched out from her protective little ball and sighed. “It’s been nine months—”

  “Since the fear started,” Summer inserted. “And it’s been one hour since you faced it. Permit yourself to fail. Forgive yourself for the failure. Each time you try it’ll get easier.”

  “Are you some wise medicine woman or something?” Tanna demanded.

  Summer laughed. “Not even close.”

  Eli strolled into view. Summer didn’t turn around to greet him. She waited, her body perfectly still, for him to come to her. Then Eli’s arms encircled her. He placed a soft kiss on her neck and a smile of pure serenity spread across her face as she closed her eyes.

  “You okay?” Eli asked Tanna.

  “No. But I had my first little freak-out session and I’m done with it. For today, anyway.”

  Summer opened her eyes. “I’ll leave you two to talk. Nice meeting you.”

  “You too.”

  Summer placed a kiss in the center of Eli’s palm and disentangled from his embrace. She didn’t turn around. She knew she had Eli’s undivided attention as she walked away.

  Tanna watched her disappear up the path and noticed Eli’s house for the first time. Hidden at the top of the rise and surrounded by trees, it’d been easy to miss. “I didn’t see your place. It’s well camouflaged.”

  “The wind blows a little in Wyoming, if you hadn’t noticed,” he said dryly, “and that spot offers the best protection from the elements.”

  “What did you build it out of?” It looked modern, and yet rustic.

  “From materials I scrounged. Which is why it’s a mishmash of logs, wood, rocks and metal. The roof joists are from an old building they tore down in Rawlins and didn’t cost nothin’.”

  “It’s really cool. How’d you come up with such a personal design for it?”

  He chuckled. “I didn’t. I revamped the traditional house I inherited, which had started to crumble but it had good bones. So I moved a trailer out here and worked on it whenever I had the time and cash. I’ve always lived simply, in small houses.”

  “This is a wonderful place.”

  “Thanks. It is. It feels like a home, now that Summer is here.” He glanced at the house and then back at her. “You wanna talk about what happened today?”

  Tanna shook her head. “I need time to think.”

  “I figured as much. Luckily, I’ve got stalls that need cleaning, and that’s as good a place as any to sort things out.”

  “I’m shoveling shit today?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  After thirty seconds or so, she shrugged. “Fits, given my mood.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Fletch’s phone rang and the caller ID read Eli’s home number. He answered with, “You’ve got great timing, cuz. I’m on the road.”

  “Hey, Fletch. It’s not Eli; it’s Summer.”

  The hair on the back of his neck stood up. “Summer, is Eli all right?”

  “Yeah. I’m calling about Tanna.”

  His stomach churned. “Did something happen to her?”

  “No. It’s just . . . she had a rough go of it this morning.”

  He’d called Tanna last night and she’d breezily reminded him she was riding the hobbyhorse with Eli today. He’d laughed because the woman had such a way with words. Now, it didn’t seem so funny. “What happened?”

  “That’s the thing. You need to ask her.”

  “How long ago did she leave?”

  “Four hours. I thought it’d be best to wait to call you until near the end of your workday.”

  “Eli knows you’re calling me?”

  “Of course.”

  “Thanks, Summer. Tell Eli thanks too.”

  Fletch glanced at the clock. Four thirty. Twenty minutes from the Split Rock. The procedure at the Ludlow Ranch wouldn’t take more than two hours, but he didn’t want to risk Tanna making other plans if he waited to contact her after he finished. He called her, hoping she’d pick up.

  “Hello?”

  “Tanna. It’s Fletch. What’re you doin’ right now?”

  “Burning tater tots in the oven and lamenting the sorry state of my cookin’ skills. Why?”

  “I’m on my way to pick you up. Be by your truck in twenty minutes.”

  “And if I say no?”

  He actually felt her bristle across the phone lines and bit back a chuckle. “You won’t. You secretly can’t wait to see me. And you’re dying to know the surprise I have for you.” He hung up.

  Thirty seconds passed before his phone rang. He answered, “This is Dr. Fletcher.”

  “What’s with this I have a surprise for you bullshit?” Tanna demanded.

  “You’ll see. Now you gonna let me pick you up? Or should I keep goin’ to my original destination all by myself?”

  “Fine. You can pick me up. But if I’m giving up hot tater tots, you’d better feed me after this surprise of yours.”

  Fletch grinned. This was working out better than he’d planned. “Deal, sugar twang.”

  “I’ll warn you I haven’t showered.”

  “Neither have I.”

  “Oh, and I’ve been drinkin’.”

  “Then I’ll be sure not to let you drive.”

  Tanna laughed. “You’re a hard one to rattle.”

  You’ve rattled me since the moment we met. “Yep.” He hung up again.

  His cell rang fifteen seconds later. “This is Dr. Fletcher.”

  “I hate it when people hang up on me. Hate. It.”

  “So noted.”

  Silence.

  “Why aren’t you talking to me?” she demanded.

  “Sugar twang, you called me. So what do you wanna talk about?”

  “Nothin’
. I just wanted to hang up on you first this time.” Click.

  He laughed. Hard. Such a crazy, funny, ornery woman.

  Fletch made it to the back side of the Split Rock in fifteen minutes. When he saw her leaning against the tailgate of her pickup, the sunlight glinting off her mahogany hair, her arms crossed over those ample breasts—pity that—his pulse sped up.

  She hoisted herself into his truck. “Monster rig you got here, Doc. I didn’t know you operated on elephants too.”

  “Gotta be a big rig. I’m a big guy, I work on big animals and I gotta have most my stuff with me.”

  “So what’s the surprise?”

  He whipped a U-turn. “Hey, Tanna. Damn, woman, you’re lookin’ fine. How’s your day been?” He peered at her over the tops of his sunglasses. “Go on. Take a stab at bein’ all polite and shit to me. I’ll wait.”

  Tanna smirked. “Why, August Fletcher, DVM, how very thoughtful of you to ask about my day—sucky day that it was. I’m glad you think I look fine. God knows my day is complete with that stunningly original and heartfelt compliment.”

  He laughed. “I figured you didn’t want me to confess you looked so tasty that I wanted to lick you up one side and down the other. Ending with my face buried between your amazing breasts. Then between your thighs.” He flashed another smile. “Bein’s we’re just friends and all.”

  She abruptly changed the subject. “What’s the surprise?”

  “You’re gonna help me with my last official vet duty today.”

  “Doin’ what?” she asked sharply. “Because if this is some sort of forced equine intervention you and Eli cooked up after my disastrous morning—”

  “Whoa, there. First off, I haven’t talked to Eli at all today, so I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Fletch wanted to look at her to gauge her facial expression but he refrained and kept his eyes on the road. “Secondly, I’m aware of your discomfort around horses right now, so do you really think I’d force your hand and put one of my client’s animals in danger? No, ma’am.”

  A few seconds passed before Tanna reached out and squeezed his forearm. “Sorry. I’m a little touchy if you hadn’t noticed. Especially after today.”

  “What happened?”

  “Eli eased me in to the horse pasture. Or he tried to. I panicked and fled, then berated myself for bein’ afraid of horses. It was . . . humiliating.”

  Fletch twisted his wrist to clasp her fingers in his. “You tried. That’s all you can ask of yourself.” Impulsively, he lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “So no horses. This client we’re helping runs sheep. They’re Australian and do things a little differently than the Wyoming sheep raisers, in what’s predominantly cattle country. They’re more successful, which makes anyone suspect, right?”

  “Right.” Tanna relaxed and kept hold of his hand. “So, what’s different about these Aussie sheepherders?”

  “It’s two separate operations. They lamb twice a year, with two separate flocks.”

  “Smart. Continual income. Not all the ranchers in Texas calve in the spring. A lot of them calve late fall. Or spring and fall.”

  “These guys are brothers, who married sisters. They ran big sheep ranches Down Under and each had their own way of doin’ things. So Harland, the older brother, lambs late fall. And Kirk, the younger one, lambs early spring. Which means it’s time to preg test Kirk’s ewes.”

  She smiled so widely his damn breath caught in his throat. “That’s what you’re goin’ to do?”

  “What we’re gonna do. So I don’t wanna see you off frolicking with Harland’s little lambs when we’re on the clock.”

  “Wait. Will I be sticking my hand . . . ?”

  Fletch shook his head. “That’s the other way the Ludlows are different. We’ll use ultrasound on the ewes. Ewes are more prone to twins, or even triplets, and they can keep a better eye on those mamas needing extra feed, et cetera, if they know ahead of time about the multiples. Not many sheep ranchers utilize the service.”

  “I didn’t think sheep were part of a large animal practice.”

  “They aren’t. But the Ludlows had an emergency right after I opened my practice and I was the only vet who’d take their call. They’ve stayed loyal to me. It’s a nice change from working with mostly cows and horses. Keeps me on my toes.”

  “What else about them? You’ve got that sexy little smirk on your lips.”

  He shot her a grin. “You are picking up on some of my quirks already and I don’t know whether to be happy about that or nervous. Anyway, Harland and Kirk help out and provide sheep for the mutton bustin’ event at the Mountain Springs Indian Rodeo. At first no one wanted to supply stock and take it to the rez because of all the sovereign nation issues. The Ludlow brothers had no qualms. That earned my respect and gratitude.”

  Tanna frowned. “Sovereign nation issues? What’s that mean?”

  “To some it means anything you take to a reservation can be confiscated at any time by the tribe. So you can understand why few rodeo contractors want to take their prize horses and bulls to the rez.”

  “Does that happen often? The tribe just taking over someone else’s property?”

  “More often than you think, sadly. It’s better now than it used to be. The last couple years Renner has brought his best stock to the little rodeo. Before that . . . the rough stock wasn’t a challenge.”

  “How’s the barrel racing competition?”

  Fletch wondered if she’d ask. “Honestly? Dismal. One year there wasn’t a single entrant. The cowboys can just show up with their tack and climb on a bronc or a bull provided by the stock contractor. But given most Indians on the reservation live at poverty level, few of them have horses. If they do, they’re ranch horses, not specialized barrel racing horses.” He slowed and hung a left on a blacktop driveway that stretched into the distance. “Here we are.”

  “Wow. Successful sheep ranchers.”

  “Very. And two of the nicest families you’ll ever meet.” Fletch honked twice when he reached the two houses before he headed uphill to the chutes. In the rearview he saw kids and dogs chasing after his truck. He grinned. Guaranteed Miss Ellie would be put out that he’d brought Tanna as his helper.

  “God. Fletch. I don’t . . .”

  The panic in Tanna’s voice ripped him out of his thoughts. “What’s wrong?”

  “I have no clue what I’m supposed to do to help you.”

  “I’ll tell you everything you need to know, okay?”

  She nodded, less than confidently, and bit her lip.

  Fletch wanted nothing more than to lean over and kiss her. But that would fluster her, given they had an audience. “Let’s go. Meet me in the back and we’ll get supplies.”

  Soon as he exited the truck, he heard, “Doc Fletch!”

  “Heya, Harland Jr. What’s up?”

  “One of my rabbits had bunnies and that stupid mama fox got all of ’em but one to feed to her kits.”

  Better the fox was eating the rabbits than the lambs—not that Fletch could say that.

  “But me’n Dad are building a fox-proof cage,” he boasted.

  “Smart thinking.” He unlocked the back doors to his mobile medical office. Then Tanna was right there. “In that bag on the floor is everything we’ll need. But if you’d hop up and make sure there are enough gloves for both of us and syringes in case we need ’em, I’d appreciate it.”

  “No problem.”

  Fletch usually kept this particular ultrasound machine at the office, but he’d loaded it first thing today. He set it on the ground and waited for Tanna to move before he locked up again. “Harland Jr. will lead the way to the chutes.”

  Tanna fell in step beside him. He explained the process and what she’d be doing. She nodded, asked a couple of questions and that was it.

  Harland Sr. and Kirk waved, le
aving Fletch to his own devices. These ranchers didn’t hover or suggest or distract. They knew Fletch did his job efficiently if he wasn’t dealing with their constant interruptions. So he had to laugh when Kirk’s wife Betsy whistled shrilly and all the kids scattered.

  “How many ewes are you—I mean we—preg testing?”

  Fletch gestured to the full pen. “I’m guessing two hundred and fifty.”

  “So we’ll be here all night?”

  “Nope. It’ll take ninety minutes. Tops. If we don’t take a break. Two hours if we do.”

  Tanna smirked. “I’m fully rested. And I wanna see you in action, August Fletcher, DVM. Show me your stuff.”

  “Prepare to be wowed.” After she’d settled opposite him, he motioned to Renee, Harland’s wife, who was manning the chute, to open the gate.

  Then he slipped into professional mode and got to work.

  He didn’t realize how much time had passed, or how deep he’d gone into work zone, until Renee yelled, “Last one, Doc.”

  Tanna said, “Thank God.”

  “This mama’s carrying triplets.” The exit chute gate opened and the ewe trotted out. Fletch shut off the machine and stood, moving his neck side to side and then arching back.

  “I couldn’t believe how many multiples there are,” Tanna said after hopping over the metal corral to his side.

  “Too many isn’t a good thing. A huge percentage of triplet pregnancies end up with all three lambs lost as well as the ewe.”

  They walked in silence back to the vehicle and ditched the equipment.

  Fletch noticed Tanna was limping slightly. “Did you hurt yourself today?”

  That surprised her. “Not here. I fell in the pasture running away from the horses and wrenched my bad knee.”

  “Lemme look at it.”

  “It’s not a big deal.”

  “Then it oughtn’t be a big deal for me to take a look at it.” He pointed to the back of his truck. “Park it.”

  “Fletch—”

  “Now.”

  Tanna grumbled under her breath but she obeyed.

  He clamped her ankle between his thighs and curled his hands on her leg above her kneecap. “Is it a dull throb? Or a sharp, shooting pain?”