Page 78 of Forever After All

They’d made quite a few rounds by the time the vet showed up. Tucker Lawson wore the same gray slacks he always wore, but his usual button-up was replaced by a “Blackwater Animal Clinic” sweatshirt.

“Any update?” he asked.

Linc shook his head. “About the same.”

After giving the vet a thorough history on the horse, Jess stood with her hands on her hips watching everything he did, while Linc paced back and forth behind her with his arms crossed over his chest. Nervous energy radiated from him, pressing into her back and shoulders with every pass.

“Can you stand still?” Jess asked.

Linc let his arms drop and fisted and relaxed his hands. “I’ll be in the feed room.”

She expected some relief when Linc left, but the worry didn’t leave, pinching the back of her neck and holding on.

Tucker gave her a few updates during his assessment and finally propped his hands on his hips. “The colic is mild, and it could resolve on its own. You know what we’re looking for. Her gums are fine, and abdomen sounds are normal, and her heart rate is great right now. I don’t think she’s in enough discomfort to tube her yet.”

“Right.” Thankfully, the vet seemed to share all of Jess’s opinions.

Tucker handed Jess a syringe and a bottle along with a printout. “Call me if things turn south.”

“Thanks. I’ll try not to bother you unless it’s an emergency.”

“I’m going to give her a pain reliever, but that means you’ll need to observe her through the night.” Tucker raked his gaze down her oversized shirt and pajama pants. “I’m going to assume you’re staying.”

“I am. Linc will be here too. We’ll let you know if anything happens.”

Tucker pressed his lips together and wiggled his mustache. “Good. I’ll give her this pain reliever and be on my way.”

Jess walked Tucker to the door and came back to lead Applejack into her stall. She seemed to have calmed considerably over the last hour, and the pain reliever hadn’t taken effect yet.

Jess wrapped her arms loosely around the horse’s neck and closed her eyes. She said a silent prayer that the Lord would lay His hand on all three of them throughout the night.

Lifting her head, Jess looked up at Applejack. “You’re gonna be okay, girl. I’m here.” She leaned in to whisper, “So is Linc. He acts tough, but he’s a softy. He loves you too.”

When she turned around, Linc was propped in the doorway. His face was darkened by shadow, and everything about him should have told her to keep her distance, but she couldn’t do it. She wasn’t strong enough to push him away, and she didn’t want to.

She had a night alone with Linc ahead of her, and despite the heat that had been building under her skin all evening, there wasn’t anywhere else she’d rather be.

Chapter23

Jess

Jess bunched the blanket in her hands as she stared at the barn’s ceiling. She’d stayed up with a horse before, and it was never fun. Over-worrying about the horses was her default. Add in a lack of sleep, and she was guaranteed to be a wreck.

The one o’clock alarm had just gone off, and Linc, who had been pretending to sleep in the cot beside her, got up without a sound and checked on Applejack.

She’d been doing her part at pretending too. They’d been lying in the cots just outside Applejack’s stall for over an hour, but sleep was the last thing on her mind.

She was still counting the wooden beams holding up the roof when Linc stepped out of the stall. Trying his best to be quiet and stealthy, he slid into the cot beside hers.

Having him so near in the dark had every nerve ending in her body firing. They weren’t touching, but his heat radiated against her left side.

“You awake?” Linc whispered.

“Yep.” So much for battling her thoughts alone.

Linc reached up and rested an arm behind his head. “She’s gonna be okay,” he said softly.

“I know.” Jess had seen enough colic to know this was a minor case. She hadn’t crossed out all of her worries, but she was fairly confident Applejack would pull through.

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