Fresh-Start Ranch

by Leann Harris

  She thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. “My senior year in college, I got engaged. We both applied for scholarships. I got one, he didn’t. His solution to that was that I continue with the vet I was working for and support us while he went to law school. When he got his degree, he’d put me through veterinary school.”

  Ethan wanted to laugh, because he could guess what her reaction to that proposal would’ve been. “I assume you didn’t take him up on his offer.”

  Her mouth twitched. “I considered it, but when I saw my fiancé having coffee with another woman, holding her hand and looking like a lovesick schoolboy, I knew what the score was. He was simply looking for someone to fund his law degree. And it wasn’t going to be me.” She toyed with her fork, pushing around her flauta. “It kinda took the bloom off the rose for me. After that, I was too busy in veterinary school to date. With my scholarship, I wanted to keep up my grades. I guess you could say I was single-minded on graduating.”

  He could understand her attitude. At least Mary hadn’t tried to use him.

  “Once the guys in school knew I was there for an MD and not an MRS, I didn’t have problems with them wanting to date. They still wondered if I could cut it, along with my professors, but they watched, observed, then were okay with me.”

  He wondered if she lumped him in with that group of uninformed males.

  The waitress appeared and they paid their checks. He walked her back to her car parked before the court building.

  “Thanks for the help, Dr. Grant.” He flashed a big smile.

  “I think you can call me Tessa.”

  As she drove away, Ethan was surprised by Tessa’s reaction to his being-left-at-the-altar story. She hadn’t offered any platitudes, and no wonder. His experience with a broken engagement had been bad, but Tessa’s experience was worse.

  He found himself admiring Tessa. She fought for what she wanted and believed in and was even stronger after her broken engagement.

  She might be only five feet tall, but she threw a mighty big shadow. And he felt himself responding to that amazing woman. With his history, though, he doubted she’d be interested in him. And oddly enough, that saddened him.

  * * *

  “How’d things go at the hearing?” Dr. Adams asked as Tessa walked into the clinic office. He sat at the rolltop desk, reviewing file folders. Doc still preferred the handwritten files that he wrote himself. None of his records were electronic.

  “The Society was awarded custody of all the horses.” She put her briefcase on her desk. “Ethan said he’d notify the different ranchers caring for the horses of the decision.”

  Doc turned in his chair. “Well, Lady and Hope are getting stronger every day. I expect that with good care and feed, the other horses should do as well.”

  “I hope so. Those horses were in bad shape. It might take a month to six weeks to get them in any type of shape to adopt.”

  Leaning back, he replied, “I agree,” then asked, “How did Doris take the verdict?”

  “She wasn’t happy. I expect we might have trouble from her.”

  Doc sighed. “I don’t doubt that. The woman is the most stubborn individual I’ve ever seen. Once she gets something in her head, she’s like a dog with a bone. We’ll need to be on our guard.”

  “I don’t doubt that from her reaction in the courtroom. Her son had to drag her from the court.”

  “Sounds like the Doris I know.” He studied her and she tried to control her flush. “Did something else happen?”

  “Nothing else that has anything to do about the court case.”

  “Oh?” He stabbed her with a look.

  She didn’t want to admit her misstep with Ethan but the question in Doc’s eyes made her squirm. She’d learned early on how to put on a brave face to the outside world while things at home were falling apart. Her father’s drunken episodes were never talked about at home or in public. After her dad disappeared, her mom and Tessa started back to church and found acceptance, love and compassion. With prayer, Tessa learned to trust others, although sometimes it was a struggle.

  But Tessa knew trust between vets in this small a clinic was imperative and she needed to fess up. “I kinda stepped in it with Ethan. Last time Kevin was here he taunted Ethan about Mary. I noticed how tense they were at the hearing and asked him if what Kevin said was true.”

  A slow smile appeared on Doc’s face. “How’d that go?”

  “After I got over feeling stupid, Ethan told me about his broken engagement. I told him about mine.”

  “Oh?”

  “It’s an old story. My fiancé wanted me to pay for his law degree. I was to put my degree on hold, even though I was the one with a scholarship.”

  “Obviously, you didn’t take the deal.”

  She laughed. The first time she’d ever laughed at the subject. “You’ve seen that play before?”

  “I have.”

  “But when Ethan was talking about Mary, I got the feeling that there’s something more—” She shrugged. “I shouldn’t try to analyze him. I’m an animal doctor, not a psychiatrist.”

  Doc nodded. “Good call. I watched Mary and Ethan grow up. They were good friends, but there didn’t seem to be that special spark that you want in a spouse.” He shook his head. “Look at me. I’m not a shrink, either, but common sense said they just needed to stay friends. It took a while after that ‘almost wedding’ for the talk to die down. Luckily, Ethan was away at school, and Mary was gone for more than ten years. She only recently has come home. Ethan hasn’t said anything about it, but there’s a tension. I know both Ethan and Mary are horse people, and they’ll put the horses first and work together.”

  Tessa understood that passion. Growing up, she’d loved her horse. When her father lost their ranch, she asked the new owners if she could continue to board her horse there and work off Blue’s board and feed. Eventually, they hired Tessa as a stable hand and paid her to work. She didn’t go to high school football games or dances or her junior or senior proms. She spent those nights in the stables talking to Blue. Shaking off the bittersweet memories, she said, “Let me get changed and I’ll check on Lady and Hope.”

  As she walked out of the room, she caught a glimpse of Doc’s face. He smiled, a big satisfied smile.

  Now, what was that all about?

  * * *

  Ethan slipped in the back door of the family ranch house that led to the kitchen. His mom stood over the sink peeling potatoes.

  “Hey, son, how’d the court case go? Did the rescue group get custody?”

  He leaned over and kissed his mother’s cheek. In her mid-fifties, Lynda McClure was still a vibrant woman. She wasn’t afraid to work outside with her children and husband on the ranch, but she also liked for her husband to take her into Albuquerque to see an art exhibit. Her zest for life made her seem years younger than her actual age. She was also a woman who could smell out a lie at thirty feet. Her children knew they couldn’t pull anything on her, so it always amazed Ethan that she’d never probed his secret.

  “It went well. The court awarded us custody.”

  “Good. I’m sure Doc’s testimony helped.” She pointed with her potato peeler. “Hand me those carrots.”

  He grabbed the bag and handed them to her. “Doc didn’t testify. Tessa did.”

  “Oh?” She turned toward him. “How’d she do?”

  “She did a great job. It was obvious the woman has experience in the courtroom testifying.” Thinking about Tessa’s testimony, he remembered the way she’d covered all the angles that the judge wanted to know. Judge Sanders had even commented afterward what a thorough job she’d done.

  His mom’s eyes narrowed. “That good, huh?”

  Ethan immediately realized his mistake in showing too much interest. His mother’s antenna was up.
“Yes.”

  Lynda turned back to the sink, but he could feel his mother’s smile.

  “Don’t get any ideas.”

  She didn’t turn around. “I didn’t say anything.”

  “No, but I know you. You’re thinking it.”

  “You’ve turned into a mind reader, Ethan McClure?”

  He heard the mirth in her voice. “I know you’re itchy to get your last chick married off.”

  Turning toward him, she pointed her potato peeler at him. “I think my son protests too much.”

  Ethan knew he was cooked. He leaned over and kissed her cheek again, hoping to distract her.

  “What’s that for?”

  “Just because.”

  “What else happened?” his mother asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “Your ears are turning red.”

  He grabbed a carrot and walked out of the kitchen and started toward the barn, not willing to talk about the lunch meeting afterward.

  “Chicken,” he heard his mother call out.

  He smiled at his mother’s accusation, and kept walking. Slipping into the barn, he saw one of the men who worked for the ranch. “Hey, Josh, how’s it going?”

  Josh Monroe had worked for their ranch for the past ten years. Before him, his father had worked on the ranch. Josh had ridden the rodeo circuit, but had been stomped by a bull and had to retire. He and his wife now lived in a house a mile or two from the main ranch house. When Ethan married, he planned to build his house not far from the main house, but close enough that he would be at the main house in five minutes.

  “Everything’s fine.”

  They spent several minutes discussing the different horses and Josh’s plans to ride out to check on the cattle in Colorado Canyon and make sure all the calves were faring well.

  Afterward Ethan walked out to the corral behind the barn. His horse, Ranger, and the rescued horse his family was looking after were out there. Ethan grabbed a couple of carrots. He called out to the horses and held up the carrots. Ranger immediately came and grabbed his treat. The other horse waited, watched, then when the gelding decided that Ethan wasn’t a threat, he walked to the fence and took the carrot.

  “You’re looking better, guy. A little food and some TLC, and you’ll be bouncing right back. I guess I need to give you a name.” He studied the chestnut with black stockings, tail and mane. “You’ve got guts and a will to live, so how about Will?”

  “You talking to the horses?” his dad asked. He walked to the fence and looked out at the horses.

  “Well, this guy doesn’t have a name, and since the rescue group won custody, I thought I needed to give him one if he’s going to be here awhile.”

  “I’m glad the hearing worked out. I heard Tessa dazzled the judge.”

  Ethan’s head jerked around. “Who told you that?”

  Ken’s right brow arched. “Do you have to ask?”

  He shook his head. “Mom. Well, the horses were starved. The evidence spoke for itself.”

  “Your mom got a different impression.”

  Ethan was sure she did. Turning, he leaned his arm on the fence. First his mother questioned him and now his father. What was going on here? Were they tag-teaming him? “If you knew about what happened, why’d you ask me?”

  Ken looked out at the horses. “Why so grumpy?”

  Ethan scowled, and stared at the rescued horse.

  His father slapped him on the back. “You seemed unsure of Dr. Grant when she first showed up at the ranch. I’m just surprised you gave your mother a good report.”

  Ethan knew what his father was implying. “Well, you have to admit that you wouldn’t have reacted any differently than I did if Chance had been the one who was being examined. I recall a certain farrier you threw off the ranch because you didn’t like how he treated your horse.”

  “So what’s that got to do with Dr. Grant?”

  Ethan shook his head. His dad wasn’t going to admit anything. “Yes, Tessa has proved herself competent with the birth, and her previous experience with horse rescue paid off at the hearing. She scored one for the good guys. But—”

  “I’m glad you think so,” his dad interrupted, “because Saturday, your mom has organized a dinner for the new doc to introduce her to all the local ranches. Both your brother and sister and their spouses will be there.”

  “When’d this happen?”

  Ken lowered his head and stared at Ethan. “Son, when has your mother ever told me about social stuff? She tells me where I’m going and I show up. It makes my life a lot easier. Remember that if you ever decide to make the plunge.”

  Ethan looked back at the horses in the corral. His dad slapped him on the back again. “I think your mother needs you up at the house.” His dad turned away and whistled as he strolled back inside.

  Ethan’s gaze remained on the horses. For some reason, he felt unsettled, as if everyone else knew something he didn’t. What was going on? His world had settled into a predictable pattern now that his younger brother had readjusted to life after his time in the army and losing his leg. It had been rough going, but now Zach was happily married with a wonderful wife and newborn baby.

  Beth, his sister, had also taken the plunge into matrimony. Watching her grin and smile at her husband was both a joy and a pain. She’d been after him to find a wife. So he had both siblings in lovers’ paradise, but he was alone, still living at home. Of course it didn’t help that his ex-fiancée had reappeared in his life, silently pointing out to the community that Ethan was still single. He looked pathetic.

  In his defense, he was taking over the reins of the ranch from his father, but on paper, things didn’t look good. A thirty-five-year-old male living at home with his parents.

  Normally, he didn’t care what folks said, but inside he suddenly felt itchy. And he didn’t know how to scratch that itch.

  Lord, I don’t know what’s happening, but—give me guidance.

  The image of Tessa’s smiling face as she held Hope moments after that filly’s birth appeared in his mind’s eye.

  “Son, you comin’?” his father yelled.

  “Yup, I’m comin’.”

  Chapter Five

  Tessa climbed out of Dr. Adams’s truck and stared at all the cars parked in the driveway of the McClures’ ranch. Tessa turned to Doc. “I thought this was just going to be a family dinner with the McClures.”

  “We’ve got several sets of McClures, plus their neighbors and friends, many of whom you’ve already met. Out here, we take any opportunity to get together and socialize. This is the West, Tessa.”

  She stared at him. Was this dinner just the cover for a surprise party? She hated surprises. Too often, her father had thrown surprises at them, which never turned out good.

  Doc leaned close. “After spending all day looking at only the back end of a cow or a horse, folks welcome dinner invites where we can talk to someone who will talk back instead of moo or whinny.”

  Tessa smiled in spite of her discomfort. “You mean that talking to your horse isn’t enough?”

  Doc shook his head and started toward the outdoor barbecue pit. Tessa reluctantly followed.

  Several folks called out greetings. Doc waved and returned the greetings. He walked to the table set up with iced tea and cold sodas. Ethan stood there talking to a couple who held a baby.

  “Zach, Sophie, Beth, Tyler, I want to introduce my new partner, Dr. Tessa Grant.” He stepped aside and allowed the group to greet Tessa. “You met Lynda and Ken McClure at the clinic when you first got here. Zach and Beth are their other children.”

  Zach McClure shook her hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He grinned at Doc. “I heard she’s from your alma mater?”

  “Indeed. W
as a star in her class.”

  “And she helped on the seizure we did last week,” Ethan added, joining the group.

  Zach didn’t look convinced. “Really? I heard you were—”

  His wife shoved the baby in his arms. “Here, be useful.”

  He took his daughter and his expression softened.

  Sophie stepped forward and offered her hand. “I’m glad you were here when that storm came through. We’d love to have you come out to the equine therapy ranch and watch what we are doing out there.”

  “Are you trying to steal away my vet?” Ethan asked.

  Sophie’s brow shot up. “Your vet?”

  His siblings and their spouses stared at him. Ethan’s ears turned red.

  Tessa’s breath caught.

  Ethan stood up straighter, making his six-foot-plus frame seem even taller. “Yes, the vet for the rescue group,” he qualified.

  Beth and Sophie grinned at each other.

  “What did you think I meant?” Ethan asked looking from one woman to another.

  “Well,” Sophie began. “It sounded like...”

  Ethan waited.

  “...never mind. Dr. Grant—”

  “Please call me Tessa.”

  “Tessa, please come out to visit the ranch.” Sophie told Tessa where their ranch was located. The baby in Zach’s arms started fussing.

  “Let me introduce you to everyone here,” Ethan commented, cupping Tessa’s elbow and guiding her away from his family.

  “Why’d you do that? I’d have liked to hear more about your brother’s equine therapy ranch.”

  Ethan ignored her question. “I thought you’d like to meet and talk to the other people who are housing the horses from our seizure. You didn’t get the opportunity that night since you were so busy.”

  It had been busy that first night when the ranchers took the horses that Doc had seen and released. But somehow Tessa had the feeling that Ethan had other motives for pulling her away from his family.

  Over the next few minutes, Ethan introduced her to every rancher at the dinner. Some she remembered, others she didn’t. The welcomes Tessa received were mixed, but after news of Hope’s birth, most of the skeptical ranchers seemed willing to give her a chance.