AlmostHome (6 page)

Dooley released his charge and hurried back for the last
horse. He and Haley unhooked the leads from the halters and the animals
immediately tucked into the sweet Texas grass. Haley shook her head and he
wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze.

“They’re gonna be fine. I’ll call my vet, have him come out
and take a look at them.”

Haley nodded. “Thank you for taking me to get them. Jesus,
they could have starved to death.”

Dooley came back with the final mare and turned her loose.
“That boy should be horsewhipped.”

Wyatt laughed. “Haley took a quirt to him. Beat him like a
rented mule.”

Dooley tipped his hat back and grinned. “Is that right? I’d
give a month’s pay to see that.” He resettled his hat, opened the gate and
stepped through. “Reckon I’d best see what kind of damage the boy caused these
mares’ hooves.”

The damage wasn’t as bad as they’d feared. Three of the four
animals had bad cases of thrush, the fourth had the beginnings of white line
disease. Wyatt held onto the halter of a mare named Lolly while Haley trimmed
loose flaps of mushy tissue from around the frog, then scoured the hoof in an
iodine solution and patted it dry, repeating the process on all four hooves.
Next came a generous application of homemade sugardine that Dooley mixed up.
All four horses got the thrush treatment.

“Soon as that little sorrel’s thrush clears up some, we’ll
need to get pads on her.” Dooley took the sugardine from her and started
working on the sorrel, Fancy.

“Shit. You know a good ferrier?”

Dooley gave her a terse nod. “Emmet Gruber. His name should
be in Jack’s Rolodex. If you were to call him now, he could schedule it.”

Haley uttered a deep sigh. “I’ll go make the call. Y’all
want some tea while I’m inside?”

Wyatt moved to hold Fancy’s halter while Dooley trimmed
around the frog. “Tea sounds good. Dooley?”

“That’d be fine, Miss Haley.”

Haley smiled. “Dooley. I ain’t the schoolmarm. Plain ol’
Haley is just fine.”

“Whatever you say, boss.” Fancy struggled to free her foot
and Dooley crooned to her. “Whoa now, Miss Fancy.”

Wyatt chuckled when Haley rolled her eyes. “I’ll be back.”
He watched her walk away, enjoying the way her jeans hugged her backside just
right.

“Boy, you got it bad,” Dooley said.

Wyatt wasn’t ready to admit to anything. “You don’t know
what you’re talking about, old man. Just tend to your own knitting.”

“Hooo-we, son. It’s worse than I thought if the idea makes
you that crotchety.”

“I ain’t crotchety.” But he had the good grace to offer up
an apologetic grin.

“Hell, it ain’t nothing to get all swole up about. She’s a
fine woman and good-looking to boot.”

Wyatt raised an eyebrow. “You’re a married man, Dooley.”

Dooley gave him wink. “Yup. But I ain’t dead.” He finished
with the first foot and moved on to the next. “I’m gonna say somethin’ and I
don’t want you to get your back up.” Wyatt waited. “That girl, she’s had a hard
life. She and my Maria been talking and appears her pa and brother used her as
a meal ticket these past years. That little gal’s trying to make a life for
herself and to hear Maria tell it, she ain’t looking to get tangled up with
anybody. Don’t you be pressing her to do something she ain’t ready for. If all
you want is a piece a tail, best you look someplace else. Miss Haley don’t need
another ordeal to get through.”

Wyatt didn’t know whether to be mad or happy that Haley had
someone like Dooley watching out for her.

“You make me sound like some cowboy Cassanova and I ain’t.
And I’ve had my own ordeals to get through.”

Dooley released the horse’s leg and stood, stretching his
back. “I know that, son. But that one’s got a real tender spot around her
heart. All I’m saying is take it slow and be sure she’s what you want before it
goes any further.” He leaned back, groaning as his spine cracked. “Ah, that’s
better. Here she comes with the tea.”

Wyatt and Dooley hopped up on the fence and took the tea
Haley brought them. Strong and sweet, just the way he liked it. Liked his women
that way, too, if he was to be honest, and Haley Kilpatrick fit that bill to a
T.

“Fancy behavin’ herself?” Haley asked.

“She don’t much like having her feet messed with but she’s
tolerating it.”

She took a drink of tea. “Gruber’ll be here first of the
week. Says he’ll use a CVP gasket pad.” At Wyatt’s raised eyebrows, she
elaborated. “That’s copper sulfate, Venice turpentine, and polypropylene felt.
He’ll pack her hooves with the felt soaked in copper sulfate and turpentine.
It’ll kill any leftover bacteria and stop the moisture from gettin’ to the
hoof. He’ll leave it on until it’s time for re-shoein’ and she’ll be right as
rain.”

Wyatt shook his head. “I thought I knew horses but I’m a
kindergartner compared to you. Where’d you learn this stuff?”

“Picked it up over the years. When you’re a kid growin’ up
on other people’s ranches, you learn to make yourself useful. I took to horses
from the time I was little so I gravitated toward the wranglers. Made a point
of watchin’ and askin’ questions. By the time I was sixteen and old enough to
earn a paycheck, wasn’t much about horses I didn’t know. You’re like that with
cattle, I expect.”

“Yes ma’am, I surely am.” He drained his tea and hopped off
the fence. “Speaking of which, I’d best head on back home and make sure the
hands ain’t rustled the herd.”

Haley nodded. “I’ll walk you to your truck.” The way she was
wringing her hands, he knew she was struggling to find the words for whatever
it was she wanted to say to him. When they got to the truck, he leaned against
the bed and waited. She looked up at him. “I’m sorry you had to see that
today…my brother behavin’ like a horse’s ass the way he done.”

“Haley—”

She shook her head. “Please, let me finish. I reckon I can
count on one hand the number of times people didn’t treat me like trash because
of my pa and Conner. I ain’t never had nobody open doors or pull out a seat for
me. You made me feel like I was worth somethin’ and I thank you for that. For
everything you done. I know you was just bein’ neighborly but you made me feel
special and I appreciate that.”

Wyatt’s chest tightened. Jesus. What must it be like to go
through life never knowing the milk of human kindness? To be grateful for the
small considerations he’d show to any woman? She stood there, pink-cheeked,
staring down at the tips of her boots, embarrassed by her gratitude. “Haley.”
He tipped her chin up. “Look at me. You are special and you deserve to be
treated with respect. Any man that can’t see that is a damned fool. So, you’re
welcome.” He leaned down and kissed her, a gentle press of his lips against
hers. He would have left it at that if her hands hadn’t fisted in his shirt. He
deepened the kiss, pressing his tongue between her lips for a taste before
pulling away. He reached up, tapped the brim of her hat. “Sweet as a spring
morning, but I got to get home and get to work.”

She stepped back, nodded. “Me too. I’ll see you later.”

“Count on it.” It pleased him that she watched him go,
waving as he pointed his rig down the driveway before turning back to her work.
Still, Dooley’s words weighed on his mind.

* * * * *

Haley pressed her hand against her mouth. Wyatt had kissed
her, and damned if she hadn’t kissed him back. Why the hell had she done that?
She didn’t want him kissing her. Didn’t want any man kissing her. Near as she
could tell, every mother’s son of them was nothing but a bucket full of
trouble—even the nice ones—and she was dumber than a bag of hammers if she let
any one of them weasel his way into her life. If her pa and Conner had taught
her anything, it was that men couldn’t be trusted.

Trouble was, she liked Brody and she halfway trusted him
already. Her conversation with Maria scrolled across the forefront of her
addled brain, wanting her to believe what her friend had told her. That Wyatt
was different. That he was a good man. As if such a thing existed. Oh, Dooley
was all right but Dooley was a married man and wasn’t interested in her the way
Wyatt was, and the fact that she liked him, had liked kissing him, made him
dangerous to her new found peace of mind. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” She
scrubbed at her mouth, trying to wipe away the feel of Wyatt’s lips on hers.

Chapter Five

Haley could barely contain her excitement. For the first
time in her life, she had the money to do more than look around at a stock
auction. Today, she could afford to buy. The parking areas at the county
fairgrounds were filling up fast and it looked as if the entire county had
showed up. She found a space, hopped out of the truck, and locked it, before
heading for the pens to check out the stock. Walking around, Haley stopped at
holding pen full of yearlings. A young girl pointed to a pretty sorrel gelding.
“That’s him, Daddy, that’s the one I want.”

“Oh, he is pretty,” Haley said, studying the horse.

The girl looked at her and gasped. “You’re Haley
Kilpatrick.” She plucked her father’s shirt. “She’s the best barrel racer
ever.”

Haley laughed. “I’ve done okay but I don’t reckon I’m the
best ever. Can I give you a little advice about that gelding?”

“Please do,” said the father.

“I’d look for something else. He’s pretty but his
conformation ain’t right for a barrel racer.” The pair looked at her and she nodded
at the horse. “See how heavily muscled he is in the front there? He ain’t
balanced. If he’s heavy on his front feet he could go lame down the line.” She
continued to survey the herd. “How long you been riding?”

“I’m taking barrel racing lessons now,” the girl answered,
looking longingly at the little gelding.

“She’s got her mind set on barrel racing and I promised to
buy her a good horse if she kept her grades up and did her chores. Plus,
today’s her birthday,” he said.

Haley nodded. “What a great birthday present. Okay. As a
beginner, you’d be better off looking for a more mature horse. One with plenty
of training that can teach her how it’s done. Say around ten years old, a nice
gelding, no bad habits.

“Your barrel horse has to be fast and agile. Just like
athletes. And barrel racing is tough on a horse so it’s gonna take constant
conditioning to keep him fit. You get yourself a mixed breed, say, a Quarter
with some pony in his line, and you got yourself the perfect barrel horse.”

“A pony?” the girl said with a scowl. “I don’t want a pony.”

Haley laughed. “I don’t mean ponies like those poor little
Shetlands you see at the fair, walking around in circles. I mean a horse that’s
a little over 14 hands. Short. Compact. Well developed legs, and good muscle.”
She squatted down to meet the child’s eye. “See, ponies, they evolved to be
fast and sprightly so they could get away from whatever was trying to eat
them.”

The confused father looked around. “I don’t know…would you
mind? Sara’s a pretty good rider but I don’t know much about horses, other than
I should own stock in Purina for what I pay in horse feed. I’d be happy to pay
you.”

“I’d be happy to help. Finding young Sara a good horse will
be payment enough. She gets good, one day you’ll come out to the One-Eyed Jack
and buy a horse from me.” She smiled at the child. “How old are you, Sara?”

“I’m ten today but I’ve riding since I was little. Daddy’s
getting me a horse for my birthday.”

“Well, happy birthday, ma’am.” Haley stuck out her hand.
“I’ve been a barrel racer since I was a sprout like you.”

The father smiled and shook her hand next. “Kyle Henderson.
Pleased to meet you, Haley. Lead the way.”

The trio wandered around the grounds until they came to a
holding pen containing just the type of horses Haley was looking for. “Now, I
know these horses ain’t bright and shiny like that little gelding but you ain’t
ready for a green broke horse yet.” She whistled through her teeth, and three
horses looked up, as did the wrangler. “Hey, you mind if I get in the pen?”

The man hawked a wad of tobacco on the ground. “Go on ahead.
These are like to go for dog food if they don’t sell.”

A small group of parents with children wandered over as the
three horses made their way to Haley, ears perked forward. “Come on, Sara, the
best way to learn how to pick a good horse is hands on.” One of the animals
snuffled Sara’s hair. “That’s good. See the way they perked up? I think that
one there likes you. Thing is, they’re paying attention to what’s going on and
they’re interested, not afraid.”

She quickly raised her arms and none of the three shied
away. She gave each a cursory exam, checking their teeth first. “Okay, Sara,
see the pointy areas of this one’s teeth? Horse’s teeth need to be filed down
so they’re even, else the sharp spots are gonna scrape their tongues and make
it painful for them to eat. This one here needs a little dental work.”

Next, she showed Sara how to run her hands over each one’s
body, testing musculature. “Okay, these horses are nicely balanced. You wanna
make sure the horse ain’t carryin’ most of its weight on the front legs because
it’s the back legs that deliver the power for forward motion. If a horse ain’t
been conditioned right and counts on his front legs for movement, it can make
him unsound. It’s kind of like lifting heavy boxes without bending your legs.
Keep doing it and eventually you’re back’s gonna break down. It’s the same with
a horse that’s heavy in the forehand.”

Lastly, they moved on to feet. “And don’t forget the feet.
If they’re touchy, if the hooves are cracked and dry, or kind of shaped like a
dish, walk away. Could be you’re looking at a horse that’s foundered or maybe
has some kind of hoof disease. That‘ll cost ya a fortune and no guarantee the
animal won’t go lame. Watch how it moves—y’all know how you feel when your feet
hurt. Is the underside mushy?” She had Sara lift each foot, examining them with
her. “Neither of these guys has any problems.”

After giving each gelding a good ear scratch, she climbed
out of the pen. “Good job, Sara. So which do you like?”

“The red one with the blond mane and tail.”

“Ah, the sorrel. I got two at my ranch that look like him.”

“Well, Mr. Henderson, looks like you’ve found your horse.
Happy bidding.” She leaned toward him, whispered a price in his ear. “Don’t let
him get away from you.”

“Haley… Uh— Ms. Kilpatrick, do you have a business card?” he
asked. “Some way we can contact you?”

“Sure.” She reached into her bag and pulled out an old
business card and jotted down her home phone.

Kyle Henderson smiled. “Could I call you sometime? Maybe
take you to dinner?”

Haley looked at his hand. No ring on his finger. “Probably
not a good idea, Mr. Henderson. I’m real busy getting a business up and
running. You understand.” She chucked Sarah under the chin. “You be good to
that gelding, you hear?”

“Yes, ma’am, I sure will.”

Haley continued her leisurely stroll through the grounds,
finding several prospects for brood mares.

“That was a nice thing you did back there.” She startled at
the sound of Ben Bell’s voice. “Helping that dad and his kid. You attracted
quite a crowd.”

“Woo! You gave me a start.” She slapped her hand over her
heart, then smiled. “Well, I do hate to see a perfectly good horse end up at
the dog food factory. Besides, the kid had her heart set on a fiery little
gelding that’s only half trained. Either she would have ruined him or he would
have hurt her.” She smiled up at him, gave him a shoulder bump. “Plus, I just
got myself a future customer. When she’s ready to move up to something a little
flashier, who do you think they’ll come to?”

The vet chuckled. “You?”

“Give the man a cigar.”

“You bidding on anything or did you just come to look
around?”

“Found a couple brood mares I might bid on. You?”

“Came to inspect some cattle for one of the local ranchers.
You got a number?”

Haley fished her bidding paddle out of her bag, waved it at
him.

“Well, let’s go find you a seat where the auctioneer won’t
miss you. As if that’s possible. How many are you looking at buying?”

“Saw four that looked good but I only got a two horse
trailer.” Haley climbed to the top of the bleachers. “So I figure I’ll run up
the price on the two best and let the others go.”

Ben shook his head. “I’ve got my trailer with me. If you
want all four, bid on them and I’ll help you get them home. I can check on your
pregnant mare while I’m there.”

“That’ll work. Much obliged.”

* * * * *

When Haley and Ben pulled up with the trailers, Dooley came
out of the barn to investigate, smiling and shaking his head. “Lucky for you I
ain’t a slacker. Got four fresh stalls ready. What we got here?”

“Four quarter horse mares, two of them yearlings.” She
opened the back of her trailer and lowered the ramp while Ben did the same with
his. “Ben was nice enough to help me transport them and he’s gonna take a
gander at Molly while he’s here.”

“Good enough,” Dooly said, and opened the tack compartment
to grab a couple of leads. He and Haley unloaded the two yearling fillies and
turned them out in one of the paddocks, then Dooly helped Ben with the two
mature mares, each man leading an animal into the barn. “Yes, sir,” Dooly
crooned to the little bay mare. “You’re a pretty girl. Geronimo’s gonna like
you just fine.”

Ben did much the same, leading his mare past Geronimo’s
stall. The stallion immediately thrust his nose in the air and neighed loudly.
“Looks like this little chestnut’s fixing to come into heat. She’s certainly
gotten your stud’s attention.”

Haley laughed. “How soon?”

Ben lifted the mare’s tail. “Give her a couple of days and
you can turn them out together. I’ll come back and check her.” He unhooked the
mare’s lead and closed the stall door. “And speaking of checking, where’s your
Molly?”

Haley led him to Molly’s stall and talked softly to the mare
while Ben checked her.

“Looks like she’s progressing fine,” he said. “Won’t be long
now. I’d say probably next month.” Haley nodded and followed him out, securing
the door. He paused and turned, giving her a speculative look. “So, this thing
with Wyatt Brody. Serious?”

Haley’s jaw dropped. “What thing? There is no,” she waved
her hand in the air, “thing.”

Ben shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “He took
you home the other night. People noticed.”

She pulled her chin up a notch and folded her arms across
her chest. “People can notice all they want. Don’t mean anything happened. He
took me home because I had too much to drink and Tracie was otherwise
occupied.” She narrowed her eyes at the vet. “With you, to hear it.”

Ben held his hands up. “Now hold on there, she was not
occupied with me. I just made sure she got home safe.”

“Imagine that. Do you think folks noticed she left with
you?”

Ben sighed. “All right, I take your point, but Tracie and I
are just friends.”

“And me and Wyatt are just friends.”

Ben smiled and pushed off the wall. “So, does that mean it’s
okay for me to ask you to dinner? Lum’s has the best smoked brisket around.”

Haley considered the handsome vet’s invitation. She wasn’t
interested in getting involved with anyone but having supper with Ben Bell
might be the best way to prove to Wyatt she wasn’t the woman for him. She
shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

* * * * *

How did she manage to get herself into these situations? She
didn’t date, never had. Between her pa and Conner watching her every move,
there had never been an opportunity. Not to mention the fact that most of the
men she’d known since she’d been old enough to pay attention were rodeo
cowboys, notoriously free with their affections, like sailors with women in
every port. Seemed all they really cared about was the next ride, be that in
the form a pretty buckle bunny or a feisty bull. Haley figured there had to be
more to life than traveling the circuit and engaging in meaningless one-night
stands. So she avoided dating and now, here she was, sitting across a table
from Ben Bell, trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t make her sound
like the silly little virgin she was.

“Relax,” Ben said, leaning forward so he could speak softly.
“I don’t bite.”

Haley offered up her sweetest closed-lip smile. “Maybe you
do and maybe you don’t. Being as I’m new in town, I don’t know what you might
do. But from the way folks are looking at us, I expect I’ll find out all there
is to know about you soon enough, whether I want to or not.” She picked up the
almost quart-sized glass of sweet tea and sipped, then set it back on the
table. “So what will folks say about you, Ben Bell?”

The vet squirmed uncomfortably. “Who knows? But I’m counting
on the fact that you’re smart enough not to believe everything you hear.”

She gave up a shout of laughter. “That bad, huh?”

“No.” He tried to look offended but Haley wasn’t buying it.
“Well, you’ll probably hear I’ve dated some.”

“Imagine that. Now in girl speak, I reckon that’s code for
you got a few notches on your bedpost.” His mouth opened, then snapped shut
again. Haley figured there wasn’t much he could say without putting his foot in
his mouth. Luckily, the food arrived and neither one of them had to speak for a
while.

“I’m sorry,” Haley said when they’d finished eating.
“Sometimes my mouth gets to running before my brain has the good sense to put
on the brakes. Who you date and what you do ain’t none of my business. And I
was mostly teasing.”

“Not a problem. I like a woman who has the courage to speak
her mind. It’s been my experience that most women will say what they think a
man wants to hear. Until she’s caught him, and then all bets are off.” He
tossed a few bills on the table. “Shall we?”

Haley slid out of the booth. The palm of his hand rested
warm on her lower back as he guided her to the exit and opened the door. As
Wyatt had done when he took her to pick up her stock, Ben opened her door and
helped her into the passenger seat of his truck.

“You know that all bets are off thing you said back at
Lum’s?” Haley said, as they pulled out of the parking lot. “It’s been my
experience that road runs both ways. I don’t reckon a fellow’s gonna show his
bad side to a woman until he’s caught her. Like, if a man’s the kind to
backhand a woman, he’s gonna make sure she believes she’s special before he
raises his hand the first time.” Ben cut her a look she took to be speculative.
“No, I’ve never been in a relationship with a man who hit me but my pa’s a man
who wins an argument with his fists. And he’s done the same with his women over
the years.”