Page 22 of Stables

“Pssh.” She waves me off and takes a long drink from her latte. “You’d do the same, I know it. I’m sure one of these days I’ll have some crazy guy I’ll need rescuing from.”

Blinking away the burn, I smile at her with the less tender half of my mouth. “I doubt you’d ever have that problem, you’d probably just run him off with your pistol.”

Fuck, it hurts to laugh.

“But if you didn’t, I’d totally be there.” Holding up two fingers, I give her the best impression of a scout’s oath I can muster.

“Deal.” She winks at me before settling back. “Now. What the hell is this about that hot-ass doctor cominghere?” Her lips wrap around her straw as she wiggles her eyebrows.

“Funny. Paisley is fighting an ear infection, I guess. She spiked a fever last night and I broke my bottle of meds for her.” I still can’t believe he cleaned that mess up for me.

Libby shakes her head like she just ate something sour. Her blond ponytail whips around her ears. “Why didn’t you call me?” Her tone raises.

“You were working, remember? Besides, I already felt awful for how much of yesterday I took up.” My stomach tightens at the memory of Matt dragging me down the hall.

The pain.

And embarrassment when she saved me.

Her lips twist. “Girl. If you weren’t all sore, I’d shake some sense into you.Call me.You know I don’t make that offer lightly. I mean it.” She tightens her face into a glare before busting into a wide grin. “Okay, fine. Tell me more about that doctor.”

I’d shrug if it didn’t hurt. “Not much to tell. He came in while I had Paisley in the bathtub trying to cool her off.” And all I could pay attention to was how he filled that tiny space.

“Then he gave her a quick check over, and left me with a bottle of Tylenol.” And his smell of leather and oats.

It was faint, but still in the bathroom this morning.

“Oh. That’s not nearly as exciting as I was hoping for. He’s hot. And huge.” She leans forward and puts her fingers over her mouth. “Do you think he’s that bigeverywhere?” Giggling, she takes another long sip of her coffee then swirls the ice.

“Well, I hadn’t thought about it, but now I am. Gee, thanks.” I don’t remember staring, but I saw how snug his scrubs were across his back. How they bound around his biceps when he lifted Paisley from the tub.

I was trying so hard to stay out of his way and hide my face, I didn’t look except when he couldn’t see me.

Every time he glanced at me, it wasn’t with pity, though. When I caught his gaze, his amber eyes would narrow. It’s almost like the sight of me made him angry.

Libby throws her feet onto the table, showing off her mismatched socks. “He’d be big enough to beat Matt’s ass, too.”

“You were more than enough to run him off with your pistol. That’s all it takes to scare Matt. He’s just a pus—” I bite the corner of my lip, barely remembering Paisley is listening. “He wouldn’t want to get hurt. He’s only mean when he’s the biggest threat.”

“Then I’ll stay as much as I can. Oh, I already checked on the horses for you. The water tank was full, and I knocked a bale down from the loft into the feeder.” She fidgets with the lip of her plastic drink container, popping it with her thumbnail. “I have to be gone a bit the rest of this week, though. We have a batch of first year fresheners working through the milk room, so it takes forever.”

“Libby.” My hand finds her elbow. “You already do so much, I really appreciate it. Please don’t feel guilty for not being able to do more than is humanly possible. I’ll keep my pistol close, I’ll be fine.”

A knot twists in my stomach.

If I was being honest, I’m terrified to be alone.

Chapter 6

Dixon

My last shift ofthe week starts before daybreak. Working twelve hours on, twelve off, leaves me a week at a time to do whatever I want.

I need to head to the ranch. Mason mentioned that he’s hired a couple of new guys, but doesn’t quite trust them to work on their own yet.

In a roundabout way, I suppose that is him asking me to come ride range with them to feel them out. Not that I blame him.

After finding out one of his own men was working to sabotage the operation, it makes me worry about everyone he has on staff.

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