Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 104448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
The large building was surrounded on one side by a fenced paddock and on the other by another fenced area for dogs.
I pulled in next to Tully and hopped out, going straight to the trailer door latch to check on Trigger.
Before Tully had a chance to say anything, Pete himself came striding out of the front door. “Way called. Let’s get him checked out.”
I appreciated his calm demeanor when all I wanted to do was scream. A nervous lump in my throat kept me from speaking, but Tully found his voice just fine.
“I saw Trigger out the window pawing the ground, turning to look at his flank, and just acting off.”
I moved up next to the horse, murmuring reassuring words as Tully continued. “When I got downstairs to take a closer look, I realized he was doing that thing where it looks like he’s trying to urinate, but nothing came out.”
As he described all the typical symptoms of colic, my heart began to beat faster with panic. We worked together to back him out of the trailer and help get him through the open bay doors on the side of the building and into Pete’s large animal exam room. Two vet techs met us. One immediately began helping Pete, and the other gently led Tully and me out of the exam room and into a quiet waiting room off the lobby before returning to help the doc.
“I should be in there with him,” I said, immediately pacing to the other side of the room.
“No. You shouldn’t.” Tully sat down on one of the chairs and rested his elbows on his knees. I realized he was dressed in the outfit I’d taken off the night before.
I stared at him. “You’re wearing my clothes.”
He looked in confusion down at the blue jeans. “Oh shit. I’d just stepped out of the shower when I glanced out the window and saw Trigger. I grabbed the nearest clothes and went running out to check. I didn’t think. Sorry.”
I waved away his concerns. “How did you know what was going on?”
He glanced up at me without smiling. “I grew up on a ranch. I’ve been around horses since I was Lellie’s age and riding since I was three.”
The words jangled between us like an old rusty can filled with bottle caps. “What?”
He rubbed his face with both hands as if he was exhausted already. Considering the recent spike in adrenaline, I wasn’t surprised. “Can we not do this right now? You’re going to say, ‘Why didn’t you say something?’ And I’m going to reply, ‘I tried. Several times.’ And then you’re going to act like even though I grew up on a ranch, I still probably don’t know beans about horses. And that’s just going to piss me off. So… can we just wait in silence until your friend has something to tell us?”
I opened my mouth to argue with him. To tell him he didn’t know me well enough to predict what I would or wouldn’t say.
But then I realized he was right. In fact, I’d done the same thing with Indigo.
I dropped into the seat next to him. “I’m grateful you noticed and acted quickly. Thank you.”
He leaned his head back and sighed. “I hope I overreacted.”
“You didn’t.”
“Okay, I hope it’s not colic or anything else serious.”
I closed my mind against all the possibilities and tried to distract myself. “Your family owned a ranch?”
He inhaled through his nose. “My dad ran a small cow/calf operation. Failed at it, mostly.”
There seemed to be a story there, but it sounded like one he didn’t feel like sharing. “He still around?”
Tully glanced out the window toward the road, keeping his gaze away from mine. “As far as I know. We had a falling-out when he strongly suggested I should stay home and work the ranch instead of accepting a scholarship to college. He doesn’t keep in touch with me or my little brother.”
“You have a brother?” I asked, careful not to make it sound accusatory. I could hardly be upset that he hadn’t mentioned his brother when I hadn’t mentioned my own, but it blew my mind how much I didn’t know about Tully. How much I hadn’t asked.
“Nolan,” Tully confirmed. “He’s a junior at Texas A&M. Studying animal science.” He darted a look at me. “He said one person in the family who wore thousand-dollar suits was enough.”
I barked out a laugh before I could hold it back. “I dunno. You make them look damn good.”
Tully released a breath. “Thanks.”
“And you made the right choice,” I offered. “Taking the scholarship.”
“Agreed.”
Hearing the two of us had something in common intrigued me. Hearing him open up made me think I needed to do the same. Maybe that would bridge the distance between us.
I cleared my throat. “Money was always tight when I was growing up, so my dad helped me get work at a nearby ranch when I was fourteen. That’s how I met Katie. It was her grandparents’ ranch.”