Page 21 of The Rancher's Addiction

Charles walked that way and waited for Mac to give one of his ranch hand's instructions.

Mac shook Charles's hand.“It’s good to see you.”

Charles smiled.“You, too.”

They walked side by side down the middle of the barn, where he kept the pregnant horses and the ones that had just given birth.

“How’s that mare doing that Jenny helped with?”

Mac’s jaw tightened, but he took him over to one of the stalls.They both watched as the foal drank greedily from his mother.

“He looks like a fine horse,” Charles commented.

“Yes.”

Charles hid his smile.Mac was trying to avoid talking about what happened, but Charles wasn’t going to let him get away from it.

“Jenny said you don’t want her to set foot on the ranch.Is that right?”

Mac sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.“Yes, that’s correct, but don’t I get to choose who my vet is?”

Charles nodded at the man’s belligerence.“Absolutely.I just wanted to know if there had been a problem?”

“No.”

“Then, can I ask why?”

“She’s too damn small.”

Charles’s eyebrows rose.“That’s it?”

“And she irritates me.”

Charles sputtered and then laughed.“Really?How?”

“She’s ...sweet.”

Charles nodded and bit back his grin.“She is that.I think it’s a miracle she’s stayed so upbeat and happy.”

“Really?Why?”

Charles was pleased by his interest, but he was going to make him work for it.Charles shrugged nonchalantly.“Oh, she’s had a time of it.That’s for sure.”

Charles walked on, biting on the inside of his mouth to keep from laughing when Mac growled behind him and started stomping after him.

“What are you talking about?”Mac asked.

“She’s had a lot to overcome, but she’s doing great, and she is fitting in well around here.”

“You haven't told me anything?”Mac grumbled.

Charles looked innocent.“Oh?About what?”

“Why she’s had a hard time of it.”

“Oh, well, her childhood was not good.Her parents didn’t have any time for her, so she had nannies raising her.She commented once they would come home from work and go to their wing of the house without seeing her, and the only time they would seek her out was if she weren’t living up to their expectations.”

Mac looked deep in thought, so Charles moved on.

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