Chapter 8
As soon as Vanessa spotted Dax entering the barn, the bunched muscles around her neck loosened. She stayed on the hay-covered floor with a little white goat in her lap. Frankie stood at attention beside her. His ears perked up at the sight of Dax, but he stayed rooted to his guard post.
Dax jogged down the aisle with a canvas bag draped across his chest. “How many goats are down?”
“All but two of them,” she said, unable to stop tears from filling her eyes.
The poor animals had stirred since she’d first found them, but she wasn’t convinced they could fight whatever ailed them much longer.
“I don’t understand what happened. They were fine.
I was only away from them for an hour or so. ”
Dax swung open the gate and dropped to his knees beside one of the animals.
He dug into his bag and pulled out little syringes.
“This is a gel we need to get into their system as soon as possible. It’s activated charcoal, which combats poisoning and has added electrolytes to keep them hydrated until we get a vet here. ”
Frankie walked over and sniffed the tube.
“They’re not even moving. How do we get them to eat?” Vanessa asked.
“We force them.” Dax pulled one of the goats onto his lap. He cradled the animal like a baby and pried his mouth open, squirting a little of the substance in its mouth. “We’ll get as much in them as possible. There are more syringes in my bag. Grab one,” he said, tossing his bag toward her.
She rummaged through and found the charcoal then used the tip of the syringe to pry the little goat’s lips apart just enough to squeeze some of the medication inside his mouth. His tongue moved, licking at the gel until it disappeared.
“He did it!” she said, hope beating back the dread. When she’d first spied the animals on the floor, she’d never imagined there was anything that could revive them.
“Get as much in him as possible then move on to the next,” Dax said. He gently laid the white-and-brown-spotted goat on the ground and scooped up another sick animal.
Her heart continued to hammer against her breastbone.
“I can’t believe this happened. My uncle was right.
I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I should just go back to Chicago.
I mean, I might have killed my goats.” Okay, so that might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but she couldn’t help feeling responsible.
Once the little guy in her lap took in as much medicine as possible, she gave him a little kiss on his nose then placed him beside her. She picked up another sickly animal and repeated the process.
Frankie whined and sniffed at his friends.
Dax scowled. “You didn’t do anything wrong, and if your uncle told you any different, he’s a dick.”
She snorted. “You might be right about that, but that doesn’t change the facts.”
“I want you to go over everything you noticed with the goats this morning.”
Sighing, she poured over the details of her morning from the time she came out to the barn until she found the animals unmoving in their pens.
“Did I feed them wrong? Do you think they ate something bad for them yesterday when they got out of the pasture? Maybe I missed signs last night that would have clued me in to things going on below the surface.”
He shook his head, his scowl showcasing his thoughts.
“If they’d gotten into something then, we would have known it fairly quickly.
I’ll take a walk back there later to scout the area, see if there are any poisonous plants.
But if that was the case, some of the sheep would be sick, too.
This looks deliberate. We need to look at their food. See if someone tampered with it.”
Anger heated her cheeks. “Why would anyone do that?”
“Same reason they cut your fence,” he said, shrugging. “To mess with you, scare you off or discourage you from staying. You mentioned your uncle. You told me yesterday that you’d had minimal communication with him. When did he tell you that you should leave?”
She ran her hand over the soft fur of the goat she held, focusing on getting her to swallow the medicine. “He stopped by earlier with my aunt and cousin.”
“And?”
“And he told me to go home.” Sadness pressed down on her shoulders and she struggled to put her feelings into words.
“I didn’t expect some grand welcoming from him, but I didn’t think he’d be so nasty.
He didn’t show an ounce of kindness or happiness at meeting his niece for the first time.
And do you know what the weirdest thing is? ”
“What’s that?”
“I went through some of my mom’s boxes this morning, and she and Chip seemed to really get along. Lots of smiling and laughing in the pictures I found. I wish my mom was alive so I could ask what happened to cause such a rift—a rift so strong that he even hates her daughter.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t hate you,” Dax said.
“I’m sure he does. The question is, would he deliberately hurt these animals to scare me into leaving?
” The question took shape in her mind. Her uncle had access to the house and property.
He could have been the one in the house, waiting for her to arrive to spook her.
A deep pit of despair opened inside her and threatened to swallow her whole.
“I’m a real treat. No mom, a grandfather I loved and never met, I have no clue who my father is, and my uncle might be actively tormenting me. ”
Dax lifted the corner of his mouth in a sad, half smile. “We’re all from messed-up families one way or another. Sometimes it’s just easier to see from the outside.”
She studied his blue eyes. Something lingered behind the cobalt hues that told a story she longed to know, but now wasn’t the time to pry. “Yeah, well, my issues have a freaking spotlight on them right now, and that’s something I’m not used to.”
“If it makes you feel any better, people in this town are used to knowing everyone’s business—and that includes your uncle. Everyone knows he’s a jerk, so try not to take it personal. The rest…well, you just have to figure out if it’s worth it to stick around and see what you can build here.”
His words touched a place in her heart. “How do you do that?”
He frowned. “Do what?”
“Say the exact right thing at the right time.” The creature on her lap squirmed and maaed. She set her down and repeated the process with the next sick goat as Dax did the same.
“Well, you might be the first person who’s ever told me that, but glad I can help.”
The sound of tires crunching on gravel lifted her gaze to the driveway. Through the open doorway, she spied a large, white van. “Someone’s here.”
“Dr. Hatcher, the town vet. My dad called her.”
Before she could thank him again, a middle-aged woman with her light locks pulled into a ponytail ran into the barn. “What’s it look like, Dax?”
Vanessa kept working while Dax gave her the rundown.
“Have they all gotten activated charcoal in their systems?” Dr. Hatcher asked.
Dax dipped his chin to the goat in his lap. “This is the last one.”
“Good work. Let’s get them in crates in my van. I’ll take them to the office and get IVs in them. Keep an eye on them.”
Vanessa stood and held the animal tight. “Are they going to be all right?”
Dr. Hatcher aimed a pleasant smile her way. “I hope so. Sounds like you acted fast, which is key in these situations, and the McKays know a thing or two about keeping animals alive. You’re lucky he was here.”
Hurrying toward the van, Vanessa hung on to her thoughts. She agreed with the vet. Her last twenty-four hours had been filled with more lows than she’d anticipated, but one truth remained. Meeting Dax McKay had been one lucky break.
* * *
Dax wiped his palms on the thighs of his jeans and studied the neatly organized storage room.
“All right. I think you’re all set. We tossed out what you fed the goats this morning, and everything that’s left in here is unopened.
You’ll have to pick up some more goat food soon, because what you have left won’t last long. ”
Vanessa sat on an overturned bucket and leaned against the wall. Dirt was smeared across her cheek, and her dark braid hung across one shoulder. “Does that mean you think they’ll live?”
“Dr. Hatcher was pretty optimistic when she left,” he said. “I’ll call her later and check. Or I can give you her number to call yourself.”
She let out a long breath. “I can call, and I’ll pick up some food to put some positive energy in the air. I might just need to know where to go and what to buy,” she said, scrunching her nose. “I’m a pain in the ass, aren’t I?”
He couldn’t help but grin. He had a thing or two to say about her ass, but he’d keep those thoughts to himself. “Nah. I like doing this stuff.”
“What? Rescuing damsels in distress?”
His grin widened. “You’re far from that, but no, I meant being outside.
Working with my hands and helping to show someone the ropes.
You’ve been given something special here, and it’d be a shame for you to walk away before you understand what all you have.
If I can be the one to show you, great. Which reminds me. ” He held out a hand to her.
Eyes narrowed, she cocked her head slightly to the side. “I’m scared.”
He chuckled. “Don’t be. This won’t be work. I actually think you’ll like it.”
She slid her hand into his and let him help her to her feet. “Oh yeah?”
Making sure to ignore the jolt of electrical currents shooting up his arm, he cleared his throat then broke the connection. “I want to take a walk to where the animals were yesterday and double-check nothing was back there that would harm them.”
“How do you know what to look for?”
“City girl,” he muttered, shaking his head.
She swatted at his arm and laughed. “I can’t help where I was raised.”
“Fair point.”
Silence settled between them as they wound around the same path they’d traveled the day before.
All of yesterday’s rain made the ground soft.
His boots made imprints in the long blades of grass.
The sun sent warm rays onto his face and the song of the birds echoed in the sky.
Buds blossomed on the trees, promising colorful life to come.
Vanessa stayed in step beside him. “It really is beautiful out here.”
He glanced down at her, and the warmth of the morning sunrays didn’t hold a candle to the heat simmering in his veins. A part of him screamed to turn around and head home. Between horse training, working for Madden and caring for his father, he didn’t have time for anything else.
Especially a gorgeous stranger who might not even stay in town.
But he meant what he’d told her. He understood more than most what a family’s land meant, and if her grandfather wanted her to have it, he’d do what he could to make sure she honored that wish.
“So, what did you do for a living back in Chicago?” he asked as the shadows of the trees welcomed them.
“I taught yoga,” she said.
Images of her in formfitting clothes contorted into mind-blowing positions made him groan. “You planning on doing that here?” he asked, hoping she didn’t pick up on the strangled quality of his voice.
She shrugged. “Not sure yet. Between the inheritance I got from my grandfather and life insurance policy from my mother, I don’t have to figure out an income right away.
I really want to take my time and see what makes the most sense.
I know it sounds silly, but I’d hoped once I got here things would click into place.
I’d just know what I should do. That clearly isn’t the case. ”
He stepped over a fallen log and walked parallel to the river. “If you were in Chicago, would the plan be to keep teaching? Or is there something else calling to you?”
She stopped and leaned against a thick tree trunk; her attention was fixed on the rapids pushing the water downstream.
“The last few years I’ve been wrapped up in caring for my mom, so I didn’t have much time to think about my future.
Then once she passed, I was lost in a sea of grief.
Just getting out of bed was tough some days.
Losing my grandfather was another blow, but one that provided me a new opportunity I jumped at.
” She glanced at him, and a shy smile spread across her lips.
“That doesn’t really answer your question, does it? ”
Jamming his hands in the pockets of his jeans, he lifted a shoulder. “Kind of. Tells me you haven’t had a chance to figure out your dreams. Did you have any before your mom got sick?”
“Silly ones, probably.” She stared into the sky, as if searching for the right words.
“Why do you say that?” He took a step closer, pulled into her orbit by some unseen force.
“I was young.”
“So. Tell me what little Vanessa wanted out of her life.”
She kept her gaze glued heavenward but swished her mouth to the side.
“I wanted to create a community. Use my hands and talents to make people happy. I wanted to make a space that was mine, a space that was sustainable and could also provide that same peace to others. I don’t even know what that means or looks like.
I guess I just want to find a way to give back to the world. ”
“That’s not silly at all,” he said, captivated.
“Sounds like a cowboy, if you ask me—use what God gave you to leave the world a better place once you leave it. I bet if you really think about what you can do to make those dreams a reality, you’d be surprised by how you could achieve that here.
You have the space. Now you need to figure out how to make it yours. ”
Her gaze finally met his. Her mouth was slightly open, cheeks flushed from the bite of the wind. “Well, in that case, maybe I need to buy myself a hat.”
Laughing, he swept his hat off his head before placing it on hers. The wide brim sat low on her forehead but couldn’t hide her amusement. “Phase one complete. Now let’s keep looking. Who knows what’s waiting to be discovered.”
He could think of a hundred things she could do with this land that would accomplish what she’d always wanted, but this wasn’t his dream—wasn’t his life. She had to make the choices that would take her where she wanted to go. He was just along for the ride for as long as she hung around.
And he hated the feeling in his gut telling him if she cut ties and decided to leave, he’d spend an awful lot of time lost in his own grief—longing for a woman who’d captivated him in ways he’d never experienced.
In a way, that scared the hell out of him.