Page 23 of His Tenth Dance

“He’s skittish. Won’t let anyone near him except me—not even Tag—and even then….” Steele trailed off, his eyes drifting down the table to Gerty.

Mission nodded, understanding all too well how it felt to have strong opinions about animal care that others might not share. His mind went straight to Kristie and how she’d handled that emergency call last night. He’d been impressed by her calm professionalism, even as she’d raced to help a mare in distress.

“Even then?” he asked when Steele didn’t go on.

“He needs to be isolated until he’s healed up and properly socialized, and I think it’s the first time me and Gerty don’t agree about something.” Steele crossed his arms, then sighed as he relaxed again. “He’s causing problems with all the other horses, but she doesn’t want to move him.”

He glared down the table to her, but softened when he looked at Mission and then Deacon. “She’s just stubborn, and I’m still learning how to talk to my boss like an equal.”

Boy, Mission understood that, and he flicked a glance over to Deacon.

“She wants your opinion,” Deacon said. “I’m sure of that.” He finished the last of his pasta salad and wiped his mouth, his eyes zeroing in on Mission. “How’d your date go with Kristie?”

Great. Another topic change—this time straight to what Mission didn’t want to talk about.

“You went out with Kristie?” Steele asked, keen interest in his voice. “Kristie Higgins?”

Mission ducked his head. “Yeah, sure did.” He grinned over to Deacon and then Steele. “It went pretty well, I think.” He could still feel the shape of her in his arms, smell the fruity scent of her perfume as he stood close to her, see the way she smiled as they twirled and danced.

“I’m sensing abut,” Deacon said.

“But we got interrupted by an emergency veterinary call.” Mission glanced over to Steele and shrugged one shoulder. “It wasn’t how I’d have liked to have ended the date. That’s all.”

“That’s rough.”

“She’s a mobile vet,” Mission said as if Steele didn’t know. Of course he did; Kristie had come out to Gerty’s farm to work plenty of times. “Had to go deliver a foal.”

Steele’s phone chimed and chimed, and Deacon chuckled. “Go talk to her,” he said.

“Hazel’s fine to wait,” Steele said, but he still swiped up his phone as he stood. He picked up his plate, then stacked Mission’s and Deacon’s on it before he headed back into the farmhouse.

“We have apple pie for dessert,” Opal called down the table. “I’ll go start the coffee.” She went inside too, and Mike and Tag got up and started taking in dishes too.

Mission’s thoughts went right back to Kristie and stuck. She hadn’t texted him at all that day, and since he’d left her at the Clovis farm last night, he could totally ask her for an update without seeming clingy.

It only took a few taps to get a message sent.How did everything go last night? I never heard from you.

He set his phone on his thigh, screen up, and looked over to Tarr as he started telling a story about one of the calves he and Tucker were training for a roping event in the rodeo.

“And how’s Rosie settling into life in Colorado?” Deacon asked, and now Tuck and Tarr had plenty to say.

Fine by Mission. He looked down at his phone and found Kristie had messaged him back.

Both doing well! Mama had some complications, but I got her stitched up, and the little guy is nursing like a champ. Got home around 3 AM.

Mission smiled, imagining Kristie’s tired but satisfied expression after successfully delivering the foal.

Glad to hear it. Sorry our night got cut short.

He hesitated, then added:I had a really good time.

He wanted to ask her out again. Had he been able to see the date through to completion, with him walking her to her door, he’d have asked her out again.

I guess I did too, she said.

You guess?He sent the message with plenty of irritation firing through him, because what kind of response was that?

Sheguessedshe’d had a good time? What wasn’t to like?

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