Fresh-Start Ranch. Leann Harris

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