Page 18 of Nate

“It’s supposed to snow tomorrow night.”

Nate laughed. “Welcome to Montana.”

“No shit. You know, being from Louisiana, this weather is crazy to me.”

“I’m sure it was a shell shock for you. May is one of our wettest months, so snow is always possible.”

“I remember my first year here and it snowed in April.”

“You get used to it.”

“You’ve lived here all your life, haven’t you?”

“Yep. I love it. I know I bitch about the cold, but I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”

“I’ll call the vet now.”

“Okay, you stick around here and wait for them.” Damn, Nate hoped it wasn’t Dr. Russell who showed up.

“Uh, sure, but I’m supposed to be stacking hay.”

“Just hang out here for a minute for the vet. I’ll be in my office.”

“Yes, sir.”

Nate nodded, then walked to his office. He went inside and closed the door behind him. He had no desire, whatsoever, to see Dr. Russell. She made it clear what she thought of him and no matter what he told her; she had made up her mind. He wasn’t the type of man to beg. If she wanted to think the worst of him, that was her problem, and he’d just stay the hell away from her.

****

Markie sighed. “Why is it always me that has to come here?”

She stopped her vehicle beside the barn, got out, then entered the barn. The weather had changed so quickly, she was beginning to think they were going back a season instead of forward.

She glanced around and saw a man coming toward her but she knew it wasn’t Nate. He wasn’t tall or built like Nate.

“Ma’am. I’m Jobe Harrington, one of the ranch hands. I’ll show you where the horse is.”

“Alright.” She followed him, looking around and wondering where Nate was.

“We brought him inside. A bunch of the horses were playing around yesterday and ran through the fence.”

“You should have checked them.”

He stopped, turned and looked at her. “Yes, someone was supposed to.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just that it could have gotten infected.”

“They’ve all had their tetanus shots, but I think it might need stitching.”

“I’ll take a look.”

He stopped beside the stall and nodded for her to enter as he opened the gate.

“Hey, big boy,” she said quietly as she ran her hand down the horse’s face. She noticed the cut and it was going to need stitches. She clenched her jaw in anger because it should have been taken care of yesterday. She looked at the ranch hand. “It will need stitches. Could you hold his head, please?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

As Markie numbed the leg, then stitched it, her anger built. This was so uncalled for and she thought Nate would know better.

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