It took Mallory over two hours to suture up the wounds and put medicine on the cuts and abrasions. He knew she was exhausted but it never showed in her work. The impressive efficiency of her work impressed him and that didn't happen often.
Maggie and Chase went back to the barn to help with the hay that was delivered. Luke only stayed a little longer, but soon went back too. Their father needed help with the hay delivery.
Mallory finally sat down on the edge of the tarp and took the water Ridge offered to her. She drank heavily from it and wiped her brow. "We can't move him for several hours. The heavy sedation will not wear off for a couple of hours and then it will be a long trip back. Once he wakes and tries to stand we'll have to make sure he doesn't tear open the sutures."
Ridge looked up at the clouds that were circling overhead. "I'll ride back to the ranch to get a canopy before that rain hits."
"That's a good idea. It looks like it should be about an hour or two out." She looked back at the horse. "These sutures don't need to get wet."
He rode hard back to the barn. Time wasn't on his side as he loaded the canopy on the back of his horse and Maggie brought out sandwiches from the house. When he arrived back Mallory was checking the horse's vitals.
"How's he doing?" He jumped down and quickly started assembling the canopy that they used for emergency situations.
"He's holding his own, but it may be touch and go for a little while. He lost a lot of blood." She continued checking the horse as he pulled the canopy overhead. It was in place only moments before the rain started.
Ridge gathered rocks to place under the edges of the tarp to keep the rain water from running onto the tarp. She was surprised at his quick work. Then he pulled the side down on all four sides. This would keep the blowing rain out. When he stepped back into the enclosure he placed their saddles on the edge of the tarp behind Blazes head.
"This is great. I take it you've had to set up emergency camp before." She said as she opened the sandwich he handed to her.
"A couple of times. I learned about the rocks under the edge of the tarp while in combat. Although we didn't see a lot of rain, when we did it was important to stay dry." He sat down across from her and ate his sandwich.
"You did really well helping me earlier. Thanks for that." She took a drink from her water, then looked up at him seriously. "I'm sorry for my earlier anger. I guess I was just a little upset from our last chance meeting."
"It's fine. I have that effect on most people. As for my help, I had to administer medical help several times on the battle field. It wasn't always easy, but it had to be done to save my men." He leaned against one of the saddles.
"How many did you lose?" She was curious about his time at war. From the stories she heard from Maggie, he was highly decorated for his service.
He didn't answer her for a few minutes as he chewed his sandwich. Clearing his throat he looked up into her gorgeous eyes. "I lost five of my men and many friends from other units."
"I'm sorry for asking." She looked uncomfortable for a moment. "I know you probably don't want to talk about it."
"No I don't like to talk about it." His voice held more emotion then he wanted it to. For some reason he couldn't control his emotions around her. "Let's talk about something else."
"What would you like to talk about?" She raised an eyebrow at him in question.
He grinned devilishly. "Why aren't you married?"
The question took her off guard. "Well, I've never found the right man." Looking down at her hands she tried to hide the look on her face, but he saw it before she managed to look away.
"But you thought you did at one time?"
"Yes, I was engaged to a man in college. I thought he was the one, but when I found him cheating on me, let's just say I'm glad I didn't make that mistake."
"He's not much of a man if he cheated on you. You're a beautiful woman and from what I can see a very nice one. Good thing you found out before you married him." Anger bubbled up inside him at the thought of someone hurting her. Why was he so affected by her?
"Well, it didn't help that it was my best friend he was with." The hurt showed in her eyes as she looked up at him.
"Not much of a friend was she?" He sat up and pulled a bag of cookies from his knapsack. "Here, have one of mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies."
"Thanks." She said as she took one from him. Their fingers touched briefly but the bolt that went through both of them was intense.
They ate their cookies in silence as each tried to figure out what just happened. He knew there was an attraction between them, but he also knew it wasn't good, or he wasn't good for anyone right now. She didn't need an ex-soldier with anger issues.
The rain seemed to grow heavier as the sound grew to a low roar overhead. Thunder rumbled in the distance. He was glad that the poles were plastic, but he didn't relish the thought of being in the middle of the pasture with a lightning storm.
She looked slightly out of sorts as she pulled the tarp apart and looked out at the storm. "I think it's going around, or at least I hope so."
"You're safe in here." He felt immediate protective instincts. The thunder rumbled again and she jumped.
Slowly he moved over to where she sat. "What made you want to be a large animal vet?" He knew he had to keep her mind occupied.
Smiling she looked toward the horse. "My father was a large animal vet. I would go out with him on calls and I just fell in love with the thought of doing it myself. When I graduated from high school I received a scholarship and I never looked back."
"I bet he's proud of you."
A sad look came across her face. "He was killed in an accident a couple of years ago."
"I'm sorry. What about your mom?" He didn't realize he'd moved closer.
"She died of cancer when I was five. I don't remember her well. My father tried to keep her pictures around so that I didn't forget her face, but I can't remember her voice anymore."
"That must've been hard for a five year old to face." He put his hand on her shoulder as she shivered. The damp air and growing darkness made the air chilled.
"It was hard on both of us, but dad made it as best he could. He never remarried. I don't think he ever dated anyone either. If he did, it was kept from me." She looked up at Ridge. With darkness creeping in, his face was shadowed, but she thought she saw compassion.
"Let me light the lantern Luke sent." He pulled it over closer and lit it. Soon the light was a warm glow surrounding them.
"That's better. I need to check on Blaze." She quickly checked his vitals. "He seems to be doing well. We need to keep an eye out for any movement. When he wakes we'll have to keep him calm."
She sat back down beside him and felt the heat coming from his nearness. Then a clap of thunder jolted her toward him. He easily caught her in his arms as she lost her balance.
Her gaze found his and they stared at one another for a long moment. He knew he shouldn't kiss her, but his better judgment flew out of the tent when she ran her tongue across her lips. The kiss was light at first, but when the thunder rumbled again he deepened it. The electrical charge inside the tent was higher than the lightning outside.
His arms wrapped around her as he pulled her onto his lap. When her arms came up around his neck he groaned and deepened the kiss. He lightly stroked her back as the kiss grew heated. Neither of them realized when the storm passed and the rain stopped. The pounding of their hearts was loud as they explored the possibilities of the kiss they shared.
He knew it wasn't a good idea, but he couldn't help the feelings she pulled out of him. It had been a long time since he'd kissed a woman. His heart was pounding hard in his chest as he suddenly pulled back. This couldn't happen, not right now in a tent in the middle of the pasture. What was he thinking?
Quickly he placed her back in her place beside him and he stood up. Running his fingers roughly through his hair he turned his back on her. "I'm s
orry, I shouldn't have done that."
She touched her lips lightly and smiled. "It's alright for you to show feelings Ridge. It doesn't make you less of a man." Standing up she reached out and touched his shoulder.
"Don't, please don't. I'm not a whole man right now and you deserve more than I can give." When he turned back to speak the other side of the tent opened and Oakley stepped in.
He gave Ridge an apologetic look as though he realized he interrupted a private moment. "Do I need to step back out for a moment?"
Ridge spoke quickly and with a rough edged voice. "No, there's nothing here to interrupt. Thank goodness you're here."
Mallory stood shaking in the wake of their kiss. Her heart was affected and she felt as though she could burst into tears. He'd just brushed her off as though she was nothing. "I need some air." She walked out of the tent and left the brothers.
"What did I interrupt?" Oakley said as he grinned at Ridge.
"Just help me get this horse awake." When Oakley stood grinning and not moving he let out an impatient breath. "Look Oakley, you didn't interrupt anything, just a moment of lapsed judgment."
"It's about time you let your judgment lapse if you ask me."
"Drop it Oakley, now." The tone of his voice made his younger brother go silent, but the grin was still there.
"How's Blaze?" He knelt down and checked the horse's eyes.
"Doing well thanks to Mallory. We're just waiting for him to wake from the sedative." He picked up his knapsack and walked over to place it on his saddle.
"Looks like it might not be too long. His eyes are moving slightly."
Mallory stepped back into the tent. They looked up at her and she blushed. "Did you say his eyes are moving?" She knelt down beside Oakley. "Maybe he'll be up soon and we can get him back to the barn."
The horse was on his feet in another thirty minutes. They checked his sutures and walked him out of the tent. Ridge put his saddle on the other horse and then picked up Mallory's saddle.
"I can saddle the horse myself." She said in a huff as she watched him saddle her horse.
"It's the least I can do." He turned and looked at her without any sign of what happened earlier. "Thanks for what you did to help Blaze."
"That's what I do." She said and turned to go back to check on the horse. "He's ready for the walk back home."
Oakley walked over and pulled his jacket off to place across her shoulders. "Here Mallory, you might need this, it's a little chilly out here."
Ridge bristled at the easy communication between Oakley and Mallory. Why did it bother him so badly? They were great for one another. Oakley was going to college to be the same thing she was. Why not let it be?
"I'll walk Blaze home so you two can head back to the barn." He climbed into the saddle and grabbed the reins to the bridle Oakley put on Blaze.
"I need to stay with you since he might open a suture." She stepped up into the saddle and rode up to the other side of the horse.
"It's cold Mallory. I can handle it if anything happens. Just go back with Oakley."
"I'm a big girl and can handle a little chilly air." She looked at him daring him to say anything else. At this moment all she wanted to do was slap his arrogant face.
Oakley looked uncomfortable and decided he'd go ahead and prepare a clean stall for the horse. "I'll just meet you two at the barn." He rode off without waiting for a response. These two needed some alone time he thought as he started across the dark pasture. It was a good thing he knew it like the back of his hand.