Handing Hemi back to me, he brushed off his shirt. “But I don’t want a dog.”
I held her up and pushed her into his face. “Twipp, Daddy… Pwease take care of me until momma can keep me? Pwease!”
His lip snarled. “Mallory is allergic to dogs.”
My smile faded, and I held Hemi close. Making my way down the hallway, I opened the door and stepped outside. Tripp followed me and was practically on top of me when I set her down.
“It’s only until I can get all her shots. I know who the breeder is, Hank Philips. I’ll see what shots he’s already given her and give him some money for her. After that, I’ll take her and you don’t have to be bothered with her. Heaven forbid we make Mallory suffer.”
He frowned, and I knew I had just acted like a bitch. “How long are we talking?”
“Well, it’s about every three to four weeks, and they get their last shots around sixteen weeks.”
He frowned. “How old is she?”
I shrugged. I wasn’t about to tell him I thought she was only eight weeks old. “I’ll have to ask Hank.”
“What kind of a vet are you? Shouldn’t you be able to guess how old she is?”
Anger pulsed through my veins. “Fuck you, Tripp. Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of the dog your niece took, and I’ll figure out a way to deal with it. Wouldn’t want to put you or your girlfriend out.”
I picked Hemi up and left, walking backwards. “By the way, she’s about eight weeks old. Dick.”
“Harley, wait!”
I made my way around the house to get the portable crate I had in my trunk. It was only by luck I had the damn thing in there.
“Harley!”
“Just leave me alone, Tripp.”
“Let me talk to Steed and Paxton. They might be able to help.”
I stopped and faced him. “Paxton doesn’t want the dog. She already told me.”
He removed his cowboy hat and raked his fingers through his hair and said, “Shit.”
My stomach pulled. Which pissed me off even more. I was mad at him. Why was my body reacting like this?
“Like I said, don’t worry about. I’m a vet, I should be able to figure it out. Right?”
“Wait, Harley.”
Picking up my pace, I almost started running to my car. When I walked around the corner all the air was knocked out of me when I saw Mallory and her daughter. The little girl took off running and ran straight to Tripp.
I tried like hell not to let my emotions out as I forced a smile and walked by Mallory.
“Hi Mallory.”
She returned the gesture. “Hey there, Harley. You’re here for the branding?”
It wasn’t lost on me that she didn’t seem very happy.
“John likes to have a vet here during the process.”
She nodded. “Makes sense.”
Glancing at the puppy in my arms, she took a few steps back. She wasn’t just allergic to dogs; she was afraid of them.
“Whose puppy?”
I huffed. “I guess mine. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get her settled and down to the corral.”
“Oh yes, of course.”
Walking around her, I didn’t bother to look behind me. I already knew what was happening. Tripp was taking her in his arms and kissing her good morning, I was sure. I wanted to hurl. I wanted to scream. I wanted him to be kissing me good morning. Damnit, when would this pain lessen?
I set Hemi on the ground and opened my trunk. Pulling out the crate, I sighed in relief when I saw the samples of puppy food in a box. I was taking them to donate to the shelter and was so glad I hadn’t dropped them off yet. In the back seat was a blanket I could use to cover the crate in case I didn’t find shade.
“Let me help you carry that down to the corral.” I was shocked to find Tripp standing behind me when I assumed he’d have accompanied Mallory.
His voice was starting to physically cause me pain. My chest ached and my head spun.
“I don’t need your help.”
“Come on. You’re being ridiculous over a stupid comment.”
Looking up into his beautiful blue eyes, I took in a sharp breath. His cowboy hat was back on and he looked so handsome I wanted to cry.
“You insulted me, Tripp. This is all I have. Being a vet is my life and the only thing I’ve ever gotten right. I’m sorry that doesn’t mean anything to you, or if you think it’s a stupid career. We all can’t dress to the nines and own cute little boutiques and look the part of the perfect woman for the town’s mayor, now can we?”
“What?” He looked like I’d slapped him.
“Hey, what’s going on out here?”
I turned to see Mitchell and Corina walking up.
“Oh my gosh! A puppy!” Corina screamed as she took Hemi from my arms.
“Sorry we’re late. Corina wasn’t feeling very good.” Mitchell looked from Tripp to me. “Is everything okay?”
With a nod, I replied. “Everything is fine. Mitchell, can you help me carry this stuff down to the corral so I can get it all set up?”
“Of course,” he answered. He looked at Tripp and frowned.
“Where did she come from?” Corina asked.
“Chloe snuck him into the house last night after she saw Hank selling them in town last night.”
“She stole it?” Mitchell asked.
“No. Hank told her to take the last puppy. I’m going to take care of her…I guess.”
“Harley—” Tripp started to say but I cut him off.
“I really need to get down there. Thanks, Mitchell.”
Corina handed Hemi back to me. “She’s so cute. I wish we could take her, but a new dog and a new baby? I don’t think so.”
“Plus, Milo would be pissed,” Mitchell added with a chuckle.
Laughing, I shook my head. “Yes. Milo would not be too thrilled with the idea of a dog.”
I ignored Tripp as I walked away. “Corina, I believe Melanie and everyone else are in the kitchen still preparing the food.”
She gave me a sweet smile. “Great. I’ll see you down there soon.” Turning, she gave Mitchell a kiss and they exchanged I love yous. When Mitchell bent over and kissed her stomach, my eyes burned with the threat of tears. It was the sweetest thing I’d ever seen—and yet it was cutting me to the quick.
“Don’t do too much, Corina!” he warned.
“I’m pregnant, Mitchell, not dying. I can very well help out in the kitchen.”
“Make sure you drink lots of water, Corina! You threw up earlier. It’s supposed to get up to the low eighties today.”
She tossed me a wink. “Yes, doctor.”
Mitchell started to head around the house and down to the corral. Tripp grabbed my arm and pulled me to a stop.
“Harley, please let me talk to you.”
I jerked my arm free. I could see Mallory standing on the porch waiting for him. Her little girl had followed Corina inside the house, and she was watching our interaction, as if she was waiting to see one of us show all our cards.
“There’s nothing to say, Tripp. Mallory is waiting for you.”
“I don’t give a damn about her right now,” he whispered.
I sucked in a breath at his admission. Does he even realize what he just said?
“Do you really think I don’t care about what you do, Lee?”
My eyes bounced around his face. I couldn’t form any words. All I heard on repeat was….
I don’t give a damn about her right now.
Breaking the tension that surrounded us like a blanket, we turned as Mallory called out, “Tripp? Are you heading down to the corral? Should I go in with your mom or come with you?”
Lifting my gaze back to Mallory, I smirked. “Your girlfriend needs you.”
Spinning around, I walked away as fast as I could. Hemi let out a few puppy barks at Tripp, and I pretended she was telling him to fuck off.
I snuggled my face into her and whispered, “Good girl.”
Riding up on my horse, I looked at the cattle. Yesterday, Wade, Jonathon, Steed, Trevor, and a few other local cowboys rode out in the pastures and gathered up the cattle. We were getting off to a late start this year. We normally started at six AM, but it was already eight.
“About damn time you showed up,” Steed said with a huge grin. He lived for this shit. So did my other brothers.
“Yeah, well, I’m here for the best part.”
Trevor walked up and shoved a bag in my chest. “Throw this feed into the pasture to entice them, then we’ll get them into the sorting corrals.”
I took the back of feed and headed over to the holding pasture.
It didn’t take long before there were about fifty people helping out. Most were herding the first batch of calves into the tub. Once they were in that smaller corral, Mitchell pushed them into the calf shoot where they stood on a scale. Paxton recorded each calf’s weight and tag number before the next gate opened and they went into the calf table. The process took only about a minute and a half for each calf. We had about three hundred to do. The day would be a long one, to say the least.
Chloe was following Harley as she vaccinated each calf. Steed was banding the bull calves, Wade was tagging, and I was branding them. Not all of the volunteers would help. A lot came for the experience. You could guarantee to see about a dozen kids running around watching and asking when they would be old enough to help. It was something I still loved being a part of and knew I would forever love it. It was in my blood.
This was Chloe’s first branding. Last year she wasn’t feeling good and had to miss it, so she was even more excited than usual.
“What’s that spray for, Uncle Tripp?” Chloe asked.
“It’s so they don’t get an infection after we brand them.”
“Does all of this hurt them?”
“It only hurts for a minute, sweetheart,” I replied.
“Then they get to go back to their mommy?”
I nodded. “Yep. Then they go back to their mommy.”
Everything was moving along smoothly until they tipped one of the cows over for Steed to band. Harley was looking at something on the calf, and it kicked, hitting her right in the chin. When she fell to the ground it felt like my entire world stopped.
“Harley!” I cried as I rushed over, leaning close to her face.
Everyone started calling out, “Is she okay?”
I lifted her chin to look at the cut. Our eyes met and Harley drew in a quick breath.
“Baby, are you okay?”
Her eyes filled with tears; I hadn’t been thinking when I called her baby.
“I’m o-okay,” she whispered.
“You’re bleeding.”
Blinking away our intense stare, she moved back. Her anger from earlier returned.
“I’m okay. I’m alright,” Harley repeated.
“Harley, are you okay?” her father Gus asked, pushing me out of the way. I stood there and watched Gus fuss over Harley.
“I’m fine, Daddy. Honestly. It just stunned me. He barely got me.”
“Barely got you? Your chin is cut open, Harley!” I cried. She shot me a dirty look that clearly said fuck off.
“It’s fine, Tripp. I’m fine.” Looking from me back to her father, she gave him a beautiful smile. “Daddy, I’m fine. It’s not the first time an animal has hurt me.”
“You’re sure you don’t want a break? Jonathon can vaccinate,” my father stated from next to me.
She shook her head. “I’m good. I promise.”
“That’s my tough girl. Takin’ it on the chin like a trooper,” Gus said with a huge smile.
When she kissed Gus on the cheek and headed back over to the table, I wanted to scream. Why was she so damn stubborn? She’d always been that way. I knew she was in pain. I could see it in her eyes.
“Damn it, Dad. You should have made her stop and rest.”
He laughed. “Son, do you remember at all who this is we’re talking about? Harley Carbajal has been doing this since she was ten years old. The woman knows what she can and can’t handle. You’d do best to remember that.” He glanced over to Mallory. “And remember your girlfriend is watching.”
I cursed under my breath. I found Mallory sitting on the fence, watching me. Lifting my hand, I smiled and waved. She waved back and looked over to everyone at their respective posts. Mitchell had taken over the branding so I headed over to Mallory.
“Hey, so what do you think about all of this? Want to join in?”
She scrunched up her face and shook her head. “Um, no thanks. Looks a little too dirty for my tastes.”
I forced a grin. Mallory was indeed a high-maintenance kind of girl. I had never even seen her in a pair of old jeans and a T-shirt. And her cowboy boots were in perfect condition. More fashion than function.
“Where’s Laney?”
Mallory rolled her eyes and pointed at Hemi. There was a group of kids all sitting in a circle playing with the puppy. Waylynn was sitting there, as well, watching over the kids.
“My sister certainly looks happy, doesn’t she?”
Mallory glanced back. “Yep. Motherhood looks good on her.”
“It does,” I replied with a smile. Scarlett walked up, and my smile grew bigger. Turning back to look over my shoulder, I found Trevor. He was on his horse getting the next round of calves into the tub.
“I think I’ll go take over for Trevor with getting the calves in the tub.”
“Question, why do you call it a tub since they aren’t being washed?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s what it’s always been called. I guess because it’s a small area.”
“You said this will take all day?” Mallory asked, boredom evident in her voice.
“Yeah, but you don’t have to stay. Or you could head up to the house. They’re making a feast for after all this is over.”
She looked around and brushed off her jeans. “I may do that, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” I said, climbing down.
“Um…no kiss?” she asked.
I paused. “I just figured I was too dirty to kiss you.”
Her forced grin spoke volumes.
“I’ll see ya in a bit,” I said.
“Okay, see ya.”
I headed around to my horse and made my way over to Trevor.
“You want a break?” I asked coming up alongside him.
“Nah. I’m good.”
I glanced over to the oak tree where Scarlett was sitting next to Waylynn. Liberty was in her arms.
“Who is that next to Waylynn?” I asked, knowing damn well it was Scarlett. Somehow my mother and Scartlett’s mother had gotten her into Cord’s Place the other night. It was my job to point her out to Trevor. I knew the moment he saw her, he’d go to her like a moth to a flame.
Trevor looked to where I was pointing. I couldn’t help but notice he sat up a little taller.
“That’s Scarlett, you idiot.”
With a look of pretend recognition, I replied, “Oh yeah. Mom’s friend’s daughter. Isn’t she the one Mom was getting on you about dating?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes. I asked her to the dinner tomorrow night.”
“No fucking way. What did Mom bribe you with to do that?”
Trevor laughed. “Nothing. I hadn’t seen Scarlett since she got back home from Boston and she mentioned she was at the bar looking for Joey Meed. I guess her friend from work set her up on a blind date with the idiot. He was planning on asking her to Mom’s dinner tomorrow night, so I decided to save her from his endless talking about Star Wars and I asked her myself.”
“You’re bringing a date?”
“I figured I could do something nice for both Mom and Scarlett. Get our mother off my back by taking Scarlett out, and save Scarlett from the most boring man in Oak Springs.”
Laughing, I asked, “And the fact that the woman is hot as hell and has a body to die for had no bearing on your decision?”
/> He turned and gave me a shit-eating grin. “Oh, it did. I’m neither stupid nor blind. I did it just as much for me.”
“Trevor, don’t screw her.”
Glancing toward Scarlett, I saw her look over and smile.
“Yeah, sorry, big brother. If she gives me the green light, I’m proceeding.”
“Christ, Trevor. You better be careful. It’s Mom’s friend’s daughter.”
He motioned his horse to turn and face me. “Dude, I’m always careful. The stick is always wrapped, and the ladies are always smiling.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, well I have a feeling one of these days your whoring ways are going to catch up with you.”
A whistle from behind made us turn to Jonathon. “Next batch coming in!” he shouted.
“Open it up!” I called out and went to work alongside my brother. Best damn place to be.
Two large tents covered my parents’ back yard. Some of the folks from around the neighboring ranches had helped set everything up while we did the branding. Rows of tables were lined up with chairs on each side. Another table had coolers filled with drinks, and small bags of every kind of chips and pretzels you could think of.
It was always the same meal each year. Barbecue catered from one of the local restaurants, while my mother and her friends spent most of the day baking desserts and sides. My mom’s baked beans were one of the favorite items on the menu, along with her grandmother’s famous potato salad.
“Tripp! Grab this before I drop it!” Waylynn called out.
I ran up and took one of the large plastic bowls out of her hands. “Damn, that smells good.”
She nodded. “Tell me about it. I’ve been smelling barbecue and beans the last two hours while Liberty napped. Look at my hand!”
Shoving the back of her hand in my face, I laughed. It was red.
“That’s from mom slapping my hand every time I went for a brownie, or a rib.”
My mouth watered at the thought of Johnny G’s dry-rubbed ribs.
“Fuck. I’m going for the ribs first.”
Waylynn chuckled. “Well, they will be placed on the far right. I heard Mom telling some of the girls how she wanted the food table set up.”
We set the two bowls of potato salad in the middle of the sides table. Even with Saran wrap over them you could smell the heavenly dishes.