Page 17 of Nate

“I have to know if he’s involved first. I won’t go after another woman’s man.”

“Good for you. I wouldn’t either.”

“I’d never want another woman going after any man I’m with.”

As the women ate their lunch, Markie couldn’t stop thinking about Nate. She was sure she wasn’t someone he’d want to know now. He did say he’d like to know her, but she probably ruined that.What is wrong with you?

“I have no idea,” she murmured.

“No idea about what?”

“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”

Sydney stared at her a few seconds then continued eating. Once Markie finished, she stood, paid for her meal, and told Sydney she’d see her later.

When she walked outside, she sighed at the heat. She was ready for cooler weather already and summer hadn’t even arrived yet.

Entering the hospital, she smiled at Jodi, then made her way to her office to get ready to see the next patient. She had to keep busy to keep Nate Jefferson off her mind and how she must have made him feel.

****

Nate entered his house after a long day of work. It seemed like anything that could go wrong on a ranch, did today. He was tired, hungry, and needed a shower.

He hung his hat on a peg, pulled a chair out from the table, collapsed on it and leaned his head back. Damn, what a day and it started after he got back from lunch. It had been bad enough dealing with Dr. Russell and her condescending way, but then everything at the ranch went wrong. From the horses running through a fence to the tractor breaking down and then new fence needing to be strung. It was hot and the ranch hands were all miserable. Nate hated to see what summer was going to be like.

Sitting up, he removed his boots and stood. He carried them to the mudroom, then stripped off his clothes. Dust rose from them when he dropped them to the floor. Picking them up, he tossed them into the hamper, then padded barefoot to the bathroom. He didn’t feel like showering, but he knew he had to.

It had been a long time since he’d been this damn tired after work. The hot sun blazed down on the men and by the time they got the fence finished, they were all soaked with sweat. It was rarely this hot in early May and he wondered if a cold front was coming behind it.

He found out the next day when temperatures plummeted. The day before it was almost seventy-five and today it was in the low fifties. As he walked through the barn, he saw one of the ranch hands enter.

“Hey, boss. You wanted to see me?” Jobe said.

“Morning, Jobe. Did you guys check the horses after they ran through the fence?”

“Bart said he did.”

“And he didn’t see anything?”

“He didn’t say. What’s wrong?”

“One of them has a cut on its leg. It should have been tended to yesterday.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll tell him.”

“Call the vet. It needs to be looked at.”

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry.”

“It was Bart’s responsibility. Please call him and tell him I need to speak with him. We can’t let this happen.”

“He’s off today, but I’ll let him know.”

“That’s fine. He can’t be doing half-assed jobs.”

“I know. Hey, have you heard about the weather?”

“No, I haven’t had time this morning.”

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