Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 114263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
“That’s a good girl,” Sally coos.
“So you give the same dose to every one of these cows.” Mollie glances at the cows lined up behind this one. “And you use the same needle and gun and everything.”
Eyes twinkling, Sally nods. “Yes, and yes. Obviously, we’ll change out the needle if it breaks or there’s an issue, but the whole point of the gun here”—she holds up the scary-looking contraption—“is to make things easier on everyone. Fewer needles means fewer chances of accidents happening, and you can set up the gun so each animal gets the same dose. The quicker we get this done, the quicker the cows can go back to doing their thing out in the pastures.”
John B straightens from examining the cow behind this one. “You wanna give it a try, Mollie?”
Because Mollie is clearly out to make me one heartsick motherfucker, she smiles and says, “If you think that’s all right, I’d love to. Here, I’ll go wash my hands.”
Sally waves her over after Mollie’s done at the nearby sink. “There’s a bit of an art to finding the right spot for the needle. But once you get that, we’re good to go.”
I release the heifer and line up the other in the neck extender so that the cow’s head is secured between two metal panels. Sally shows Mollie how to feel for the correct spot on the cow’s neck—away from bone and tendon—and together, they use their fingers to feel for the perfect “squishy” spot.
Instead of being grossed out, Mollie appears to be rapt. She takes the gun and lets Sally show her how to insert it at a 45-degree angle.
“You’re doing great,” Sally says. “Right there. You got it! Go, Mollie.”
Mollie’s face breaks out in a huge smile when she pulls the “trigger” and administers the vaccine. Again, the cow rustles for a bit, but then she calms down.
John B nods his head approvingly. “You didn’t flinch, Mollie. Well done.”
Handing the gun back to Sally, Mollie turns that smile on me. Holding up a hand, she walks over and says, “Yee-fucking-haw, y’all. I vaccinated my first cow!”
Heart beating a little too fast, I give Mollie the high five she’s looking for. Without thinking, I curl my fingers through hers and draw our palms flush. Her eyes go soft, and so does the stuff inside my chest.
We’re both covered in dirt and stink to high heaven. But I’m not sure she’s ever been more beautiful than she is right now. Lit up. Proud.
At home.
You belong here, cowgirl.
Hill Country is in her blood. And now Mollie Luck is in my blood, and I can’t imagine this place without her.
“You did good, Mollie.” My voice sounds different.
Glancing over Mollie’s shoulder, I see Sally and John B quickly look away. They were watching us. Can’t blame ’em—my girl and I are putting on a goddamn show.
I hear Mollie’s phone vibrating in her back pocket. She ignores it.
Clearing my throat, I try again. “Practice makes perfect. Do it again.”
Mollie’s lips twitch. “Yessir.”
“Is he making you call him sir?” Sally furrows her brow.
Mollie sends a wicked little glance my way. “Isn’t he such an asshole?”
My body pulses. “Don’t make me pull rank, y’all. Get this done.”
They do. Mollie’s confidence grows with every cow, until they’re all done and she’s still smiling like an idiot.
Or maybe I’m the one who’s the idiot, because I can’t even pretend not to stare at her as she digs her phone out of her pocket. She frowns when she sees the screen.
My heart dips. Something happen? Something wrong? It’s close to four o’clock, which means it’s time to turn in. By “turn in,” I mean sneak Mollie away in an ATV so we can shower together at the cabin before supper.
“I need to return this call.” Mollie glances at me. “I’ll see you at dinner. Sally, John B, thanks again for the hands-on coaching. I really appreciate it, y’all.”
“Anytime, Mollie. You’re an excellent student,” John B says, waving goodbye as Mollie scurries out of the barn.
Sally ducks out, too, saying she’s going to clean up.
Then it’s just John B and me and the knowing look he gives me as I pretend to tidy up the shovels by the door.
“Mollie’s turned out to be a lot more interested in the ranch than we initially thought,” he says after a beat of pregnant silence. “Y’all seem to be getting along a lot better.”
Straightening, I draw in a slow, deep breath. Put my hands on my hips. My body is tired, but my blood is anything but. It races through my veins, thrumming with excitement at the prospect of spending the evening with Mollie.
There’s a good bit of trepidation there too.
I swallow. “She’s not who I thought she was.”
“I can see that.”
My face burns. Meeting John’s eyes, I see a knowing gleam there.