Page 6 of High Intensity

“JD’s with me. It’s just two boards, so fifteen minutes, tops.”

“Okay, I was going to put a call in to Doc Richards anyway, Bo says two of the mares are snotty and coughing. He put them in the birthing stalls to separate them from the rest.”

Coughing can be a sign of EIV, horse influenza, which is highly contagious. Even though the herd is regularly vaccinated, like any other virus, EIV has many variant strains with new ones developing all the time.

“Rather than have Doc come out there, one of you can walk Ares back to the ranch. He should probably be inside until he’s healed anyway.”

“Sure thing.”

JD has already ripped off the remainder of the broken boards and is pulling out any exposed nails when I join him.

“Jonas wants Ares at the barn,” I share as I fit a new board over the opening in the wall. “Couple of the stabled horses may have the flu so he was calling Doc Richards anyway. Ares is gonna be a handful though.”

“I’ll bring him in,” JD offers. “Unless you wanna?”

I shake my head. “You’re better at handling the difficult ones.”

It’s true. I do all right with the horses, but I know my limitations. Dan and JD really have a knack with them—particularly the ornery ones—they grew up around these animals. My contact with horses was limited to summer camps at the dude ranch my parents sent me to as a rebellious teenager. I did catch the equestrian bug, fell in love with the majestic animals, and rode every chance I had.

Which wasn’t very often until I met the High Mountain Trackers team. I liked working in law enforcement—catching the bad guys—and I worked hard to become a federal agent. Unfortunately, that job comes with a lot of paperwork and red tape and even the occasional corrupt agent. So, when Jonas Harvey offered me a place on his team, I didn’t hesitate.

How often do you get the opportunity to live out a childhood dream and get paid handsomely for it?

“I’ll take the truck and hit the next shelter. We’ve gotta keep moving before the snow hits,” I add.

“Okay.”

He sounds and acts indifferent, but I don’t believe for a second he is. Like his father, JD Watike isn’t exactly a talker and tends to be quietly observant, which is what makes him and James exceptional trackers. But I’m no slouch either, and observing was my bread and butter working as a federal agent, which is why it hasn’t gone unnoticed that JD likes to hang around the stable when Doc Richards pays the ranch a visit.

I have to admit, when I first met the new vet, I was pleasantly surprised. We talked a few times and I thought she was nice, smart, and definitely attractive, but I don’t like playing so close to home. It reeks of messy entanglements.

Of course, since meeting Jillian Lederman just a few months after that, I barely even notice Doc Richards anymore.

You could’ve knocked me down with a feather when she showed up at my mom’s residence yesterday. So much for steering clear of the petite woman now my mother’s radar is pinging. Mom knows me too well. She’s always had the ability to see right through me, which is why I was never able to get away with anything growing up.

That, and I lie for shit.

Jillian has my full attention, and I’m not happy about it. She doesn’t even have to try to worm her way into my awareness,she’s simply there. Has been from the start, which is what set off all kinds of red flags for me.

Don’t get me wrong; I like women. I like spending time with them, sharing a meal, having a conversation, and some of them I like taking to bed. Hell, I’m not even averse to a longer arrangement—I’ve had a few of those—but nothing serious or binding or restrictive.

The bottom line is, I like my bachelor life, and I don’t want to let it go.

Jillian freaks me out because she’s the kind of woman I could see giving up my independence for. Hell, we haven’t even had a proper conversation, and yet I can’t stop thinking about her.

I’m fucking obsessed.

When I make it back to the ranch hours later, the snow has started coming down and combined with the heavy winds, visibility is reduced to near nothing. I hope Dan, Fletch, and Sully were able to find some shelter from the elements. They went out to find a couple who left to go snowshoeing near the Nordic ski trails but never returned home last night.

I pull up to the barn, shove my hat down on my head as I get out of the truck, and dart for the doors. Inside, I notice right away the overhead lights are off.

“Power’s out,” JD announces, stepping out of one of the stalls.

I can just see Ares move restlessly behind him.

“I see that. How’s he doing?”

“Being a pain in the ass, but otherwise fine. Stitched up, and she put him on antibiotics.”

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