Page 47 of Inheriting Miss Fortune

Indigo looked like he was about to throw up, himself. “Tully. He said one of the horses was sick. I think he’s, like, taking him to the vet? He said he knew where to go.”

I explained what he’d said about Trigger and suspected colic.

Way met my eyes. “Go after him and make sure he gets there. I’ll call Pete to give him a heads-up.”

I hesitated, taking a step toward the truck before remembering I had Lellie in my arms and then doubling back.Shit.

I needed to go, but I also needed to stay.

Indigo reached for Lellie. “I can take care of her.”

I was afraid she would freak if I tried handing her off to anyone else. What kind of parent left their kid when they were upset? “Maybe I should take her with me.”

Indigo opened his mouth to speak but seemed to second-guess himself. Way didn’t show that much restraint. “No. Leave her with us, Dev. She’ll be fine. Go.”

I pressed a long kiss to her dark curls before attempting to hand her to Indigo. “Can Indigo hold you while I go find Tully, sweetheart?”

Thankfully, she didn’t fight me and went right to him, murmuring, “Tuh-wee.”

My heart cracked.

After thanking them and jumping back into the truck, I lit out after him. A million questions tumbled through my head. How did Tully know what to do? What made him react so quickly? How did he even recognize the signs of colic in a horse?

And how hadn’t I noticed them myself?

I thought back over my movements this morning and realized I’d never gone out to the paddock to check Trigger. I’d taken care of all the high-needs horses first and then run up to the ranch house.

Fuck. This was my fault.

I sped up enough on the highway to catch sight of the burgundy trailer ahead. He slowed down before the edge of town and hung a careful left at the large sign for Majestic Animal Hospital. I silently thanked Pete for making sure the signage was large and clear on the highway. Tully must have noticed it when driving between the ranch and town earlier in the week.

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?”

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