Page 8 of Falling For Her Cowboy
“But you are a doctor, right?” she said haughtily. She wasn’t sure where this was coming from. It had been forever and a day since the last time she’d even attempted to flirt with someone. Again, not that she was looking for a man, but for some reason she felt relaxed around him. “I called you to come see about my horse.”
“That I am, but again, you can call me Ridge. Unless you want me to call you by your title?”
“It’s Corporal Battle, if you want to use it. But I’m a civilian now, so Miss Battle will do.” She folded her arms and met his gaze head-on. “But if you insist that I call you by your first name, then I guess I can, Ridge.”
“I insist.” His eyes crinkled in the corner as he smiled. He jerked his head toward Daisy. “I’ll need a little help. Think you can distract her?”
“Sure. She’s usually good when she’s getting her shoes done,” Melah said.
Ridge positioned himself to hold Daisy’s leg between his while he assessed her hoof. Melah watched how gentle he was with her.
“When was the last time she saw a farrier?” he asked.
“About a couple months ago. I was going to see about setting her up with the one who comes here.” Melah winced at the sight of Daisy jerking her leg back.
“My bad, girl. I see the problem.” He prodded her hoof, and she tried to jerk away again.
Melah continued to rub Daisy on her neck while she spoke softly to her as the doctor worked.
“It’s definitely an infection. I’m just going to clean it out, then we’ll need to put an antibacterial ointment on it. We’ll need to keep this dry and clean so she can heal.”
“But she’ll be okay?”
“Oh yeah. Daisy girl is strong. I’ll show you what to do, and she’ll be right in no time. She’s limping because she’s in pain. I’ll give you something for that tonight. By tomorrow she should be pain-free.”
A foul smell reached Melah. She glanced downat Ridge expelling some drainage from a wound on Daisy’s hoof.
“Was it something I did? Or missed?” Melah felt horrible that Daisy was going through this. She racked her brain on what she could have done to prevent this.
“Nah, it happens sometimes. She’s going to need some good loving care. Make sure she gets in with Mike. He’s good. I’ll take a look at her other hooves to make sure she’s okay, but let’s get this one dressed up to keep it clean and dry.” He motioned to his bag and asked her to bring it over to him.
She became his assistant, handing him the items he needed to place a clean dressing around Daisy’s leg. She didn’t mind. It kept her busy instead of standing back and worrying. They worked well together to take care of Daisy.
“Let’s wrap her up. Hand me that white roll right there.”
Melah shifted things around in the bag where she knelt until she found what he’d described. She pulled it out and opened the plastic package, then placed it in his waiting hand. His fingers closed around hers. She gasped, an electric current zipping along her arm. She snatched her arm back and fellonto her butt. Her pulsed raced, and warmth filled her face.
“You all right, darling?” Ridge arched an eyebrow. His blue eyes twinkled as he took her in. He went back to work wrapping Daisy’s leg and hoof. But it wasn’t before his lips curled up in the corner.
“Yeah. I’m good.” Melah closed her eyes for a moment, truly embarrassed. She pushed up from where she’d landed. Her knees were weak when she stood. She brushed off the debris from her pants and tried to get herself under control. Ridge was taking care of Daisy. That was all that mattered.
The way he made her heart race didn’t mean anything.
Or the way he appeared to see right through her.
The confident way he carried himself, or how he was with her horse shouldn’t have her wondering what he’d look like without the t-shirt, or what it would feel like to have his large hands running along her naked skin.
She blinked and inhaled sharply. She wasn’t on the ranch to find a man. She was here to work. Find herself. Figure out what the next stage in her life would include.
Not to lust over the sexy veterinarian.
But daydreaming and lusting after a person wouldn’t get her in trouble. She could dream, right?
“And we are done,” Ridge announced. He allowed Daisy’s leg to drop down. He stood to his full height and stretched out his back.
Melah’s gaze dipped down to his stomach where his shirt was drawn tightly from him stretching. It molded to the ridges of his abdomen. The air escaped her. She tore her gaze from him and watched Daisy test out her hoof.
“I’ll check back on her in a day or two to make sure everything is good. You’ll have to make sure her dressing stays on so the wound can remain clean and dry.”
