Page 90 of Tough Love

“Walk with me, Huddy.” Ma heads for the doors.What on earth?

I follow her out the doors and into the street lit with streetlights and shop fronts. She doesn’t say anything for a block.

“I hope Charlie will be okay, I feel bad for letting him out.”

“He’ll be fine, Ma. What’s with Harry?”

She smiles. “He has clinic stuff to talk about with Addy, that’s all.”

“Now?”

“Your father waits for no man, or woman, apparently.”

“Do I need to be in there? Aren’t I supposed to be taking over this sort of thing?”

“Let your father handle it; besides, both of you are exhausted.”

“Yeah well, having to prove your mettle to Harry Rawlins is no easy feat.”

She tilts her head, stopping on the sidewalk. I stop and meet her gaze.

“Who said you had to do that?”

“This roundup was supposed to be me showing Harry I could make decisions.”

She laughs a little. “Coming from the yes-man himself. His father was the same. Always going on about him taking the reins instead of doing only what he was told. Old habits die hard, even when you know better.”

“I would rather earn the ranch than have it handed to me, Ma.”

“It was always yours, but he was right that we needed to make this roundup count. We have business financing to take care of and two more properties in escrow. One for Reed and one for Mack. But that pressure isn’t yours, it’s ours. Your father’s and mine.”

I huff a small incredulous laugh. Ma always has it figured out. Right now, she lives up to her endearment of captain.

“You and Addy should get some rest tonight. We will see you both for lunch Sunday.”

“What about the herd?”

“Your brothers and your father have that under control. Take a moment for yourself—you earned it.” She squeezes both of my arms and her smile wobbles, but she releases me and crooks her arm like Reed does. I wrap mine through hers and escort her back to the clinic. She waits outside for Pa while I go inside. Harry and Addy are still talking shop when I find them in the treatment room.

Harry stops talking as I lean on the doorframe and Addy yawns. This girl is good and worn out. Time to go home. “You two done?”

“I think so. Addy, catch you Sunday,” Harry says and walks out of the clinic, the glass double doors swooshing behind him.

“Can I take you home?” I ask.

Addy closes the space between us and drops her forehead to my shoulder. “You can take both of us home. To your place, Huddy.”

My gut flips in the best way possible. And when she pushes away and heads for the double doors, I scoop up Charlie and follow her to the truck. Charlie sleeps most of the way home and Addy checks him every fifteen minutes. She’s a fucking awesome vet. Lewistown will be worse off without her. When we finally reach the house, I park and shut off the engine. Addy opens the door and slowly climbs out, as if her muscles are too sore to go any faster. My girl needs a hot shower. And a good rest.

I pick Charlie up and carry him inside, settling him by the fireplace. Addy appears by my side and smiles down at him. “He’s content there.”

“Don’t go gettin’ used to it, buddy. Once that leg is better, it’s back to being a ranch dog.”

“He’s all talk, Charlie. He’s really a big, big softie.”

“Only with you.” I wrap my arms around her waist and drag her backward. “Shower time, Doc.”

Spinning in my arms, she pushes me toward the hallway. “Absolutely. You are filthy, Hudson Rawlins.”

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