Page 22 of Nate

“I don’t care for Nate.”

“I see,” Tess said, then shook her head. “No, actually, I don’t. He’s a great guy.”

“You’re entitled to your opinion, Tess. Just as I am.”

“You’re right, but I’ve known him a lot longer than you have and he has always been cordial. His parents raised him right. He’s a good, honest, hardworking man, and there is no way Beau McCallister would have him working for him if he wasn’t. Sam likes Nate too, and he wouldn’t if Nate was not a good man. It is your decision on how you feel about him, but it ismydecision about you going there if you have to. Okay?”

“Yes. I’ll just ignore him if I have to go back out there.”

“Well, unless there’s an emergency of some kind, we rarely go back once vaccines are given.”

“Yeah, you’re right. He just rubs me the wrong way for some reason.”

“Not that he’s a hot, sexy man?” Tess grinned.

Markie narrowed her eyes. “That has nothing to do with it.”

Tess laughed. “So, you do think he’s a hot, sexy man.”

Markie gasped. “You tricked me into that one.”

Tess stood. “Yes, I did. Look, Markie, if you don’t like him, that’s fine. I don’t get it, but we don’t all like the same people. If it’s possible, I’ll go if there’s another emergency.”

“Thank you.” Markie stood, made her way to her office, and looked at charts to see what patient was next. As she looked around for her medical bag, she couldn’t find it. Not that she needed it, but her stethoscope was in it. There were plenty in the hospital she could use, but she liked hers.

“It must be in the car,” she murmured, then gasped. “Shit! I bet it’s in Nate’s office. Damn it!”

She remembered dropping it when he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She moaned. Damn, that was the hottest sex ever. Now, she’d have to face him to get her bag back.

****

The next day, Nate sat in his office behind his desk, going over the books on the computer, when a knock sounded on the door.

“Come in,” he called out. He glanced up to see Bart entering the room.

“You wanted to see me, boss?”

Nate sat back in his chair. “Have a seat, Bart.”

“Yes, sir.” Bart sat and Nate could see he was nervous.

“Weren’t you supposed to check the horses after they ran through the fence the other day?”

“Yes, sir. I did.”

Nate sat forward, folded his arms on the desk and looked him in the eye.

“You didn’t do a very good job of it, Bart. One horse had a bad cut on his leg.”

Bart’s eyes widened. “I didn’t see a cut.”

“Exactly, so you didn’t check them over very well.”

“It couldn’t have been too bad if I didn’t see it.”

“It needed stitches,” Nate snapped. “Do you realize that if no one caught it, it could have gotten worse? I know they have their tetanus shots, butwounds on the lower legs can damage underlying structures, and lead to chronic inflammation.Damage to tendons, ligaments, or bony structures could cause lameness. You should know this, Bart.”

“Am I being fired?”

---