Chapter 11
Tegan took off his gloves and slapped the dirt and dust from his jeans with them. He’d waved to Kate that morning when she’d stopped by the stockyard, but the semis had just arrived, and he was literally ass deep in cows. She’d blown him a kiss, jumped off the fence, and that was the last he’d seen of her. Damn, he wished he could have gotten that kiss the right way.
“Tegan, the count is good.”
Donovan Pike called to him from the farthest holding pen. Tegan gave the man a thumbs up and walked over to Senior, who was sitting on the top of the fence. “The count on each semi is correct. Noah will be by shortly. I noticed one in the first delivery with a snotty nose, crap in her eyes, and a cough. I’m betting it’s brD. We pulled her and put her in an isolation pen, but …”
“Yeah. Well, I’ve grown to expect one or two hiccups. Have Noah call me when he figures out the preventive we need for the others and tell him that calf cost me, so I want her well.” Senior smiled when his son and Barry Marks, the newest hand on the Hollister ranch, made their way toward them. Tegan had worked with Barry. The guy had some issues, but from the scuttlebutt, the guy was a hard worker trying damn hard to fit in. Tegan got the sense the Hollisters were working just as hard as Barry to make sure he succeeded, too, but it wasn’t Tegan’s business.
“Didn’t see anything out of the norm in the second semi,” Andrew said, leaning against the fence where his dad was sitting. “How about you?”
“So far, one cow in the first load looks like she has brD.”
Barry’s head lifted sharply. “What’s that?”
“Bovine respiratory disease. It spreads like wildfire. All our calves are inoculated against it. These were, too, supposedly,” Senior said, nodding toward the pens holding the new calves.
“Where’s Noah?” Andrew looked around.
“He’ll be here shortly. He’s pulling porcupine quills out of Ranger’s snout.” Tegan chuckled. Kerry Ross’s old hound dog never learned. It was dumber than a box of rocks but one of the happiest dogs Tegan had ever seen.
“That dog will never learn.” Andrew laughed and looked over at Barry. “I think this is the third or fourth time he’s tangled with a porcupine.”
Barry gave a half smile before Senior got down off the top rail of the fence. “I think it’s lunchtime. I’m buying.”
“What’s on the menu today?” Barry asked as they headed to the front of the stockyard.
“Today’s Monday, so roast beef.” Andrew took off his gloves and shoved them in his back pocket.
“I swear I’m going to leave this place five hundred pounds.” Barry shook his head.
Andrew laughed and pushed the guy a bit as he said. “Who said you were leaving? I want to see you hit seven hundred pounds.”
Senior and Tegan laughed as they got into the trucks Senior’s truck since Tegan was hitching a ride to the diner with Senior. When they left the parking lot, he brought up the idea he’d proposed to Kate. “Sir, what would you think of a small animal vet working out of the stockyard?”
Senior glanced over at him. “You mean Noah?”
“No, sir. Kate Johnson, Lawrence Johnson’s sister, is back from the military. She’s a vet who specializes in military working dogs. Noah practically begged her to take his small animal practice. But with the limited spaces and the fact we have office space sitting open except for when we have auctions, I thought maybe it would be a good place for her to hang her shingle.”
“Military working dogs, you say? Like bomb dogs and such?”
“Yes, sir. She even deployed to combat areas to take care of them. Said some of those dogs jump out of airplanes and such.”
Senior was quiet, and Tegan had said his piece, so he shut up and let the man think. “Who is this woman to you?”
“Right now, my girlfriend. I’m hoping for more, but it’s been a spell since we’ve been together. I knew her before she joined the Army.” Tegan wouldn’t deny the fact he was involved with her.
“And Noah is okay with this?”
“He even offered to let her work out of his office.”
Senior chuckled. “At his house?” The man tossed him a look as he pulled up in front of the diner. “I can see why you’d like to have her at the stockyard.”
Tegan blushed. It was true. He was guilty of trying to stop that from happening. “She said if you were amenable, she’d like to talk to you, and she wants to pay rent.”
Senior nodded. “Sure, we can talk. Let me stew on this, not because I’m not going to agree. I have no problem with her using the office space at the stockyards, but I want to make sure I can’t find a better fit for her.”
“Just let me know when you want to talk with her, sir. She isn’t looking to start working right away. She needs to settle some things with Lawrence.”
“How’s he doing? Seems like forever since I saw him in town.”
“He doesn’t come in often. Kate’s got a handle on it, though. She is the direct and in-your-face type.”
“Completely different from you, then?” Senior laughed as they got out of the truck.
“Basically, yes,” Tegan agreed.
“Well, what do they say about opposites attracting? They’re right. My Valarie was shy and didn’t talk much. But let me tell you, when no one was around, she had no problem taking me by the ear and telling me what was what.” Senior laughed and opened the door for him, and they walked through. Corrie waved them to a booth. “Figured you’d be in. What can I get you for drinks? It’s roast beef Monday.”
“Coffee and water, please,” Tegan said after Senior asked for just coffee. Andrew and Barry came in, and Barry gave Corrie a hug.
“You want a soda?” Corrie asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Barry said, and Andrew asked for water and a coffee.
“How can you drink that rotgut?” Andrew asked him as they sat down in the same booth as he and Senior.
“I like it.” Barry frowned. “Is there something wrong with that?”
“Nope.” Andrew shook his head. “Nothing at all.”
“Then why are you picking on it?” Barry asked.
“Because I want to?” Andrew lifted his eyebrows and held up his hands.
Barry narrowed his gaze. “And you wonder why I’m pissed all the time.”
Senior and Andrew both guffawed over that comment, but Tegan just kept to himself. The dynamics of what was going on between the three of them was unique to them. Corrie was there with the drinks before long, and then four platters of food were put down in front of them. Corrie stayed for a moment and said, “The weather is really nice for this time of the year.”
“Which means winter will be coming back hard before you know it,” Senior said. “This is a fake spring. Don’t put your winter gear away.”
Tegan nodded. He’d seen it many times before. “That’s what Mr. Marshall said when he stopped in this morning for a cup of coffee.” Corrie looked at the table. “Anything else I can get you?”
“No, ma’am,” Senior answered for the table.
“Then eat your food and get back to your cows.” Corrie put her hand on Barry’s shoulder as she left.
“That’s a fine woman,” Senior said as he slathered some butter on his dinner roll that was served with the platter of roast beef, mashed potatoes, and candied carrots.
“She’s a good woman,” Barry agreed. “Put up with more of my shit than she should have.”
Andrew snorted. “We all have.”
Barry once again narrowed his eyes at Andrew. “Are you sure you want me to get rid of my anger issues? Seems to me like you’re prodding me every chance you get.”
Tegan did laugh at that one. When Barry swung his head in Tegan’s direction, Tegan shrugged. “What? I agree with you. He’s being a dick.” Tegan pointed his fork at Andrew.
Andrew laughed. “That’s what I get paid for.”
Senior reared back and looked at Andrew. “Wait … I pay you?”
The entire table exploded with laughter. Tegan cut his meat and enjoyed his meal. When they finished, Senior nudged Andrew. “I’m heading out to Frank’s. Did you want to come with me?”
“I can. I haven’t been out to their place in forever.” Andrew reached into his pocket and tossed his keys to Barry. “Drive Tegan back and then head on home, please.”
“Can do,” Barry said and stood up. Tegan slid out of the booth as Senior dropped cash onto the table.
“Miss Corrie, that was a delicious meal,” Senior said as they walked out.
“Give me a minute?” Barry asked Tegan before they exited.
“Sure. I’ll wait in the truck.” He figured Barry wanted to have a word with his mom.
A couple of minutes later, Barry was in the driver’s seat, and they were heading back to the stockyard. He glanced over at Tegan. “You seem like a quiet man, like a man who doesn’t tell secrets.”
Tegan turned to look at the guy. “Not unless I need to, no.”
Barry pulled into the parking lot of the stockyards. “Okay, so if I wanted to take a woman out and make it special, where would I take her?”
“Around here? Man, that’s a hard one. I would say Belle is the closest option for a dinner, but that’s hours of driving.” Tegan rubbed his chin and cocked his head. “Why don’t you cook her dinner? Candles and such? Women like that kind of stuff. Get some flowers, maybe some chocolate.”
Barry tapped on the steering wheel. “Dude, I don’t cook.”
“But your mom does. She could set you up.” Tegan shrugged. “Unless she’s spending time down south, your pickings are pretty slim around here.”
Barry stopped tapping on the wheel and turned to him. “What did you say?” Tegan frowned but repeated himself. Barry nodded. “That’s it. She’s going to a conference in Rapid next weekend.”
“Well, there you go. You could spend some time together in the evenings.”
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to anyone.” Barry blew out a deep breath. “I don’t need shit from Andrew or Senior.”
“Why would I tell them any of this?” Tegan opened the truck door. “I can’t see a reason I would.”
“You never treated me like I was different. I appreciate that.”
Tegan paused. “Everyone has their issues.”
“Not everyone flies into a rage at the slightest provocation.” Barry sighed and shook his head. “I’m trying, man, but sometimes, I just want to tear shit apart. Destroy something, you know? I could rip every board off that corral and smash them into pieces when I get into one of my moods.”
Tegan thought about that for a minute. “Ever ask yourself why?”
Barry barked out a laugh. “Every single day. The answer is complicated, but I’m working through it. Some days are black as sin, though, and I can’t escape it, and the truth is, when I’m there, I don’t want to leave. Shit … sorry, man, didn’t mean to dump on you.”
Tegan shrugged. “Got to talk to someone, right? You ever need a place to go, come here or out to my ranch if I’m not working. I can’t make it better, but I can give you some space from whatever is tripping you up.”
Barry nodded. “Thanks. That means a lot. Being judged by your past sucks, especially when you’re trying to walk away from it.”
“I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but the offer stands. You’ve got my number, right?”
“Yeah, from the roster at the ranch.”
“Then use it if you need to.”
Barry nodded and put the truck into drive. Tegan shut the door and watched the guy drive away. He hoped the kid made it. Seemed like the Hollisters had his back.
Tegan shut the door and walked to the stockyard. Noah’s truck was parked out front, so he knew they’d be busy. Bovine respiratory disease was contagious, and Noah and his crew would be putting in some overtime taking care of the new cows.
Tegan turned at the sound of boots crunching in the gravel and glanced over by Noah’s truck. “Noah?”
“What?” Noah said from the front door of the office building.
Tegan spun around. “Nothing. I guess I’m hearing things.” He glanced back over toward Noah’s truck. It had already been a long day. Maybe he was hearing things.