Fresh-Start Ranch

by Leann Harris

  Tyler snorted and Beth’s eyes widened, then she laughed. “Well, he’s kinda rusty,” Beth added.

  “Ya think?” Tessa grinned, and immediately Beth’s expression changed and Tessa knew she’d won an ally. “I guess I was being naive. If he was going to compete, he needed his horse.”

  “I’ll give it to my brother, he’s the only guy I know who’d take his horse on a date.”

  Tessa laughed and Beth joined.

  “I guess if you’re going to ask a vet out, it isn’t beyond the realm of possibility.”

  The women laughed harder.

  When she could talk again, Beth added, “You know, he’s a very special guy. Rusty, but special.”

  Tessa knew exactly what Beth was saying. It touched her heart that Beth was protective of her older brother. In the light from the dash’s lights, Tessa looked Beth in the eye. “I do know.”

  Beth searched Tessa’s face, and Tessa knew Beth was weighing and evaluating her. Apparently, Beth approved, because she nodded her consent.

  They pulled into the clinic’s parking lot.

  “Thank you for the ride.” Tessa opened the door and nodded to Tyler and Beth.

  “We’ll see you tomorrow night,” Beth called out.

  “See you then.”

  Tessa opened the screen door on the breezeway and tried the back door. It was unlocked. The lights in the kitchen were on, but the rest of the house was dark. Her mom sat at the table, a mug in her hand. When she looked up, there was a world of confusion and hurt in her eyes before the mask went back up.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?”

  “Nothing. What makes you think anything is wrong?”

  “You’re up, drinking coffee at this hour.”

  Tessa put her purse down on the table.

  “The phone rang and Doc Adams answered it. He went into the clinic. That was several minutes ago.”

  Tessa walked into the clinic and found Doc packing his medical bag. “What’s the emergency?”

  “The Barlows. The rescue horse at their ranch. He was fine earlier in the evening, but now he’s down rolling. I’ve got to get there.”

  “Do you want me to go?” Tessa asked.

  “No. I can do it.” He walked into the kitchen and pulled his keys off the hook inside the back door. Tessa followed him.

  “Are you sure I can’t help? I mean, wasn’t that one of the reasons you hired me?”

  “It is, but since your mom’s here, I want you to be able to spend time with her.” He glanced at Joan who sat at the table staring at her coffee before turning back to Tessa. “So how was your date? I didn’t hear Ethan.”

  “That’s because Beth and Tyler brought me home.”

  Doc paused. “Oh, I hope that isn’t a bad sign.”

  “No, it’s a good sign. Ethan is one of the finalists in the calf-roping competition and needed to stay in Albuquerque. He offered to drive me home, but his sister and brother-in-law were there so they volunteered to bring me.”

  Doc nodded. “I’m glad for Ethan. I’ll contact you if I need any help.”

  Tessa watched Doc get in his truck. She slowly turned around and faced her mother.

  “I’m surprised you’re drinking coffee this late.”

  Joan looked up from the mug. “I couldn’t sleep.” One shoulder lifted. “And there was coffee on the stove.”

  Her mother couldn’t sleep and she drank coffee? That didn’t make sense.

  “So, you had a good time?” Joan seemed to come out of her “mood” and turned her attention on Tessa.

  “I had fun.” Tessa sat across from her mother at the table. “Watching Ethan was, well, it was amazing.”

  “Oh?” Her mother’s all-seeing gaze rested on her.

  “Before the event, we ate sandwiches in the refreshment area, and I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more if we’d gone to a four-star restaurant, which we did for the board meeting.” Tessa thought about their laughing and the pure joy of the moment. “He’s special, Mom.”

  Reaching out, Joan clasped her daughter’s hand. “I’m glad. I’ve been worried that you buried yourself in your schooling, ignoring all the boys who were interested in you after that rotten engagement.” Releasing Tessa’s hand, Joan wrapped her hands around her mug.

  “At first, I was glad you didn’t give up your career for ‘that man’ who wanted a ticket through law school.” She closed her eyes. “I wanted you to finish school and have a career so you could always support yourself. But afterward—”

  Leaning forward, Tessa whispered, “It’s not been that long. Some of the girls I graduated with from high school are still single.”

  Joan waved that point off. “I know.” Joan sighed. “But there were other guys who were interested in you and didn’t need a meal ticket.”

  “Mom, you encouraged me to finish my education above all else. I wanted that, too.” The unspoken thought between them was that neither of them wanted Tessa to be in the position of marrying straight out of high school and ending up with a man who drank and gambled.

  The clock in the kitchen chimed eleven.

  “You’re right. I did want you to have your degree, but I also want you to be happy. And that’s why I’m excited that you like Ethan.”

  Tessa opened her mouth to respond, but her mom continued to talk.

  “When that special man walks into your life, it’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced. You just know.”

  “Really?”

  Joan’s eyes took on a faraway look as she remembered her own love. “It doesn’t matter what age you are, when that man shows up, your heart kicks into overdrive and you just want to spend time with him. You think about him and can’t wait to talk to him again. Just walking out with him, hand in hand in the park, is a wonderful experience.”

  Tessa stared at her mother. She’d never heard her mom talk like that about her father. “Is that how you felt about dad?”

  The question jerked Joan out of her musings. “It was.” She stood and walked to the sink and emptied her coffee mug into it. “I’m going to bed. I’m glad you had a good time, sweetheart. It’s time.”

  Tessa sat at the table and thought about what her mother had said. From what she could remember, there had always been a strain between her parents, which made her nervous about how her relationship with Ethan would fare.

  The memories took the joy out of her evening.

  Chapter Ten

  Tessa got up early to fix breakfast for everyone. When she glanced outside, Doc’s truck still hadn’t returned. She located the Barlows’ phone number and called.

  “They’re finishing up now,” Connie Barlow explained. “Doc was able to pull the horse through, but it took work. I’ll feed Doc breakfast before he leaves.”

  “Thanks, Connie.”

  Doc arrived back at the clinic a little after nine. From his expression, the night’s work had exhausted him.

  “I’m glad you were able to save the horse,” Tessa told him as she poured him a cup of coffee.

  “Thanks.” He settled in a chair and took a sip of the coffee. Joan sat watching them.

  After he took several sips, he shook his head. “That horse was poisoned.”

  “What?” both women exclaimed.

  “The hay in the horse’s stall was tainted. Oddly, we didn’t find any other contaminated hay anywhere else in the stables.”

  “Only in the rescue horse’s stall?” Tessa asked.

  “Only there.”

  “Did Steve have any explanation?” Joan asked.

  “No, he didn’t. But I know Steve Barlow. He wouldn’t feed any horse bad hay.”

  Tessa sat at the table with her mom and Doc. “How could that hay only be in that one horse’s stall?”


  Doc sighed. “I’ve seen this before. When Doris had an argument with one of her neighbors several years ago, his stock ended up being poisoned. No one could prove Doris had anything to do with it, but she seemed pleased with what happened.”

  Joan’s eyes widened. “This Doris person would do something like that?”

  “I’m afraid so. She wasn’t happy her horses were taken from her.”

  “Have you notified the sheriff?” Tessa asked. “You know the court issued that restraining order against William and Kevin.”

  “Steve was going to call him. I’ll need to put out the word to the other people caring for those rescued horses about what happened. They’ll need to be on guard.”

  “And tell everyone you talk to about the restraining order. I’ll call Mary, and let her know about this development.” Tessa remembered when Kevin showed up at the clinic wanting his horse. “We’ll need to keep extra watch on Lady and Hope.”

  Doc pushed away the coffee cup. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to hit the sheets for a couple of hours of shut-eye. I’ll leave everything in your capable hands, Dr. Tessa.” He stood and disappeared down the hall.

  Dr. Tessa. She liked how that sounded and hoped others would start calling her that.

  Joan turned to her daughter. “You need any help with the animals in the clinic?”

  It touched Tessa that her mom offered to help. “It’s been a while since you worked in a barn.”

  “True, but I think things will come back to me.”

  “Sure, if that’s what you want.”

  “It is.”

  “Let me contact Mary and tell her what happened, then we can go into the barn and work.”

  After the call, arm in arm, they walked into the stables, reminding Tessa of one of the good memories she had from her childhood of all three of them working together in the barn. They were among her very few good memories.

  * * *

  The day passed swiftly for Tessa and her mom. They went on one call together and when they got back, Doc was up. Anticipation built for Tessa throughout the day. When she got ready to leave at five, her mother and Doc were in the kitchen waiting.

  “I thought it might be nice to see Ethan ride,” Doc said. “I think Joan would like to see it, too.”

  The shock and surprise must’ve shown clearly on Tessa’s face because her mother hastily added, “If we go with you, besides seeing Ethan, we can drive your truck back to the clinic and you could ride home with Ethan.”

  And his horse, Tessa silently added. The looks on their faces told Tessa that Doc and her mom didn’t want to spend another night alone together. “Okay. I think that might work out.”

  Doc’s shoulders sagged and her mother sighed in relief. What was the matter with them?

  “Since I’m going to drive,” Doc began, “why don’t we take my truck?”

  “You don’t want to take Tessa’s new truck?” Joan asked.

  Doc froze.

  “Mom, let’s take Doc’s truck. If anything happens at the rodeo, he’ll have his supplies.”

  “Oh, that’s a good idea.”

  Tessa caught Doc’s nod of thanks, but there was something else in his eyes she couldn’t identify.

  * * *

  Ethan couldn’t wait to see Tessa tonight. Hopefully, the second half of the date would turn out better than the first. As Ethan was checking out Ranger’s hooves to make sure he hadn’t picked up anything, he heard his parents’ voices. When he looked up, he saw his mom and dad accompanied by his sister and her husband barreling down the aisle. Trailing behind were Zach and Sophie.

  Ethan stood.

  “Son, we’re here to lend you our support,” Lynda announced as she came to his side. He’d told his parents he was coming to the rodeo, and might stay overnight, but he hadn’t wanted to tell them he was going to try to compete in case he ended up eating dirt. He glared at his sister.

  She shrugged. “When Mom called this morning and asked if I saw you last night, I told her yes and that you finaled in calf roping.”

  Lynda kissed her son’s cheek, then gave him a stern look. “Imagine having to find out from your youngest child that your oldest son was a finalist in the calf roping? I’m lucky one of the ladies in my Bible study didn’t call and ask about you competing.”

  “Mom, it’s the old-timers’ competition,” Ethan defended himself. “Not something to brag about.”

  From her expression, his mother wasn’t buying.

  Zach stepped up and said, “I think if he did a face-plant, Mom, he wouldn’t want witnesses—particularly his mother.”

  “Zach,” his mom chided.

  “What?” he asked innocently.

  Lynda ignored him and turned back to Ethan. “You’re forgiven for not telling your mother, but even if you hadn’t made the finals, I would’ve wanted to see you.”

  Recognizing his mother’s chastening, he nodded. “Thanks, Mom, for the support.” Glancing over his mother’s shoulder, he saw his dad grinning from ear to ear.

  “Can we join the party?” Doc Adams asked, stopping by Lynda. Tessa and her mother stood beside Doc.

  Ethan caught Tessa’s gaze, silently asking what had happened. She shrugged and nodded toward his family. He could only shake his head. So much for their date.

  “Please, join us,” Ken McClure spoke. “Are you here to see Ethan?”

  “She is,” Beth volunteered. “She was here last night and watched Ethan.”

  All the McClures turned toward Ethan. His mother’s brow arched.

  “We had a date,” Ethan explained.

  Looks were traded. Color rose in Tessa’s cheeks.

  Feeling like a bug under glass, Ethan wanted to talk to Tessa privately. “You might want to go get seats in the stands before it fills up. The roping contest is going to start in about a half hour.”

  His family said their goodbyes. As they drifted off, Ethan stepped to Tessa’s side. “Let’s walk.”

  She nodded. Once they were away from family and friends, Ethan said, “I’m sorry about the crowd. I wasn’t expecting them.”

  “That’s okay. I brought my own crowd. I think none of us were comfortable leaving my mom and Doc to themselves tonight.” She rubbed her arms. “There was a lot of tension in the house when I got back to the clinic last night. They wanted to come tonight and I thought—if I rode here with them, I could ride back with you.”

  His eyes twinkled. “I like your thinking.”

  “And I wanted to tell you, if someone hasn’t already told you, one of the rescue horses was given tainted hay. Doc went out to the Barlows’ place last night and they were able to counteract the poison, but that hay was found nowhere else at their place.”

  “A deliberate act.”

  She nodded. “We think so. Steve’s alerted the sheriff about what happened.” She paused and looked up at him. “I think all the families housing the rescued horses need to be put on alert. I notified Mary of the poisoning, too.”

  “Good.” Something was going on here beyond just a grudge for Doris and William.

  “Mom and I checked Lady’s and Hope’s hay. Everything looks kosher.”

  “That’s a smart idea.” He paused, then asked, “Your mother worked out at the stables?”

  “Yes. It might’ve been several years since she’s worked at feeding stock, but she still knows her way around and was a big help while Doc was sleeping. He was up all night with that horse at the Barlows’ place.”

  “I think Doc picked a winner when he got you.” The approval in his eyes echoed what he said.

  She blushed. “How’d things go around here today?”

  “I had a few nostalgic memories.” He shrugged. “Saw friends from years ago.” And had some nightmares come back to him tha
t he wished he’d forgotten. He’d learned lessons that he’d been sharing with others for a while now. “I’m glad you’re here now.” He grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Ranger’s been interested in all the activity.”

  “You have a nosy horse?”

  “C’mon, Tessa, you know horses are curious.”

  “Only if they are as well fed and cared for as Ranger is. I will say that Lady had started showing signs of her personality. Today, Mom was in her stall and Lady didn’t like how Mom was arranging the hay and head-butted Mom. I laughed so hard and then kissed Lady on her nose. I think when Lady’s completely recovered she’ll make her wishes known. She’ll be a wonderful horse for some family. And Hope is full of life and joy. She’s a lively filly.”

  Tessa smiled at him and Ethan felt his heart turn over. They shared a special bond over Hope. “That’s good to know.”

  The announcer came on the loudspeaker, announcing the next event, calf roping.

  “That’s my signal. I’ll look for you in the stands.”

  “Good luck, Ethan.” Tessa crooked her finger for him to bend down. When he did, she brushed a kiss across his lips.

  “That’s for good luck.”

  He felt the goofy expression come over his face. “Thanks.”

  Straightening up, he nodded and headed toward Ranger to saddle him for the competition. No matter what happened, he felt he’d won.

  * * *

  As Tessa stood watching Ethan saddle Ranger, a voice whispered in her ear, “That was touching.”

  Turning, she came face-to-face with Kevin. “Are you here to watch the competition?”

  The smile Kevin flashed her made her skin crawl. “I’m here to watch and observe.”

  Something inside of her urged her to walk away. “Have a good night.” She walked past him to get to the stands. His hand shot out, stopping her.

  “I still want my horse,” Kevin told her, all friendliness wiped from his face.

  She looked down at his hand, then up at him. He released her arm. “You need to take up your grievance with the court, Mr. Raney. I have no say.”

  Before he could answer, they heard, “There he is.”