Hi Dear Reader!
How has it been going this week?
The weather has been beautiful here, which has been a blessing. I am easing back into work from being on maternity leave. On of my first appointments was to geld/castrate a colt. It was a bittersweet appointment as this was the last colt that my client had bred as they are getting out of the horse breeding visit. Thankfully, the appointment went well. The colt behaved and the surgery went smoothly. Baby Bock came along and spent the hour in the arms of my client’s wife while Big sister sat next to me and watched the whole surgery. She is not squeamish with blood. :)
A few years ago, I had to geld a colt for them. He was huge, wild, and a little mean. They tried to handle and halter break him before hand but he was pushing 16 hands (a hand is 4 inches) and knew that he was bigger than the humans handling him.
I went to sedate this horse for the surgery and he towered over me, looking down his long nose, like “come on, Doc, give it your best”. As I slid the needle with the sedative into his vein, he reared up, striking out with his front feet. Dodging the flailing hooves, I was able to give him the medicine. But it wasn’t enough to calm him down. After another dose, he was sedated enough to be brought out to the grassy area. We always geld the colts laying down in a flat area covered in thick grass. Most of the time, it is in people’s front yards. I give him another injection which puts him under anesthesia and Hubby helps the horse to lay down on the grass.
Hubby’s job is to monitor the horse, give more drugs if needed, and to help the horse lay down and stand up. He was monitoring this horse and said, “You better make this quick.” He placed a blindfold over the eyes to help the horse relax.
The surgery went well. As I was finishing up, Hubby calls out, “you done?”
“Yep.” I dropped my surgical instruments into a bucket.
“Then, you better get back. He’s going up.”
I pulled off my gloves and stepped back.
The colt jumped up like he had been taking a nap, tossed his head, and sent the blindfold flying. Then, he took off.
Hubby held onto the lead rope trying to wrangle this young horse into the barn. Did I mention this was a future racehorse? They went around in circles in the yard, tearing it up, until the owner was able to make a runway into the barn. We herded the colt into his stall and slammed the door.
That was an experience. That horse is currently being trained as a racehorse and they said that he is fast.
Thankfully, this year’s colt was a perfect gentleman.
What have you been reading? I’ve been on a historical romance kick lately. This one is next on my TBR. Have you read it?
Blurb:
1866 Montana. Neglected. Mistreated. Abandoned. Mariah Nichols is stranded and alone. After a past filled with hurt, trust is not easy. Sheltered by a family in town, she begins to heal from her past. All she wants to do is start over. Zeke Brown has traveled across the country to forge a new life after a letter from an old friend. When he comes to her rescue, their friendship blossoms. He admires her strength and optimism. But is it something more? Will her past keep her from love? Welcome to the town of Keerny. Love will lead you home.
Welcome back for chapter 10 of Second Chance with My Bull Rider. If you are just joining us, you can read Chapter 1 below.
Kade
I clenched my fists as Dr. Glanders flirted with Delilah. She blushed a lovely pink color at his attention. She brushed her hair back with the back of her hand and fluttered her eyelashes at him. Did she just do that? My eyes narrowed as he laid his hand on her shoulder. Her laugh was high and fake when a knock sounded at the door. The nurse stuck her head in.
“Dr. Glanders, do you want Kade to be back in a cast?” She carried boxes under her arm. The door swung closed behind her. Dr. Glanders drew his attention away from Delilah.
“Yes.” He glanced back at Delilah. “I’ll call you later.”
“That would be great.” She looked down at her shoes and twirled a loose strand of hair. With that, he strode out of the room. The nurse wrapped my leg and rolled on the casting material. She put pressure on my ankle to bend it and the casting material grew hot. When I tried not to wince, Delilah stepped over and reached for my hand as I raised an eyebrow at her.
“What was that about?” I slid my hand out of her grasp to the edge of the exam table and gripped it.
“Oh, nothing,” she mumbled with more blushing.
The nurse snorted. Then, she glanced up apologetically. “Dr. Glanders still has the hots for you, Delilah.” She wrapped another couple of rounds of casting around my calf. “Rumor has it he hasn’t dated anyone since you broke it off with him.” She folded the cotton wrap down and ran the cast material under the upper edge. Delilah sat down in the chair and crossed her arms. The nurse looked over her and sighed. “But it’s not any of my business.” She cleaned up her materials and ran her hands down the length of the cast once more. “That should do it. You’ll need another appointment in two weeks for more radiographs and another cast.” Then, she quickly left the room.
I scooted myself into my wheelchair and rolled toward the door. “I’m starving. Let’s get lunch.” Delilah followed behind me as I checked out.
Maria’s Pasta Bar was packed with people even when it was not lunchtime. Simmering marinara and freshly baked garlic bread assaulted my senses when we entered the packed building. The hostess seated us in a corner booth and took our drink orders.
“I haven’t been here in ages.” Delilah grabbed a menu and scanned it for the specials. “I think the last time I was here was the night of my prom.” She blushed again and quickly hid behind the menu.
“That was a great night.” I chuckled. “You ordered the spaghetti with the giant meatball. Do you remember that?”
“Kade, how could you bring up one of the most embarrassing moments of my high school career?” She blew her straw wrapper at me. I caught it before it bounced off my nose.
“It is one of my fondest memories of us.” I leaned forward and grabbed her hands before she snatched them back. “You tried to eat that meatball on a fork. When you bit into it, it fell off and rolled down the front of your white dress.”
“My mom was so mad at us. You had to rush me home to put on the dress I wore to your prom the year before.”
“That green dress. It was beautiful on you.” Sighing, my eyes flashed.
I was nineteen years old again and I was taking Delilah to her senior prom. When she walked down the stairs at her mother’s house, the world stopped. That green dress. It was made for her and I loved it when she wore it the year before for my senior prom. A look of nostalgia crossed Delilah’s face as if she were also remembering that night. Was there something there? Something that missed how we used to be? Her brown eyes got wider, and she leaned closer to me. Her lips parted when a throat clearing jerked us back to reality.
“Would you like to order?” The waitress asked sweetly.
Delilah dropped my hand and returned to the menu. “I would like the spaghetti and giant meatball.” She winked over at me as I tried not to laugh.
“I will have the chicken alfredo.” The waitress spun on her heel back to the kitchen, leaving Delilah to sip from her water.
“So, you and Dr. Glanders?” I leaned back to prop my leg up on the seat as Delilah choked on her water.
“Yep,” She flicked a couple of drops of water at me. “We dated for a bit. Nothing serious.”
“That’s too bad. He looked at you like you were the last woman on earth.”
“I don’t need a man like that in my life.” She shrugged. “He needed to be needed and it caused a lot of tension. Not to mention he was boring.” She rolled her eyes up to look at the ceiling.
“Are you going to go to lunch with him?” I realized I had twisted my paper napkin into a small knot.
“Maybe.” She leaned on the table. “Or maybe not.” Her eyes glinted, her hair falling over her shoulders. “Would that bother you?”
I wasn’t going to admit it to her, but it bothered me greatly. I sipped my sweet tea, surprised at my reaction to her question. She leaned closer still. Mischief danced in her eyes.
“Maybe.” I leaned closer to her. “Maybe it does or maybe it doesn’t.”
I was so close I could see the gold specks in her irises, the ones that I had forgotten were there. Her hair swished forward, and the lavender scent of her shampoo wafted towards me. It reminded me of another time where I was close enough to see the gold specks in her eyes and the scent of lavender surrounded us. That night had been magical but had changed everything between us. Our first time together. Her hair splayed out around us and nothing but being together mattered to us.
I pulled back from her. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t lead her into believing that I could be there for her. I wasn’t strong enough. Walking away from her had been easier than staying with her. I knew I broke her heart, but I couldn’t make myself stay for her. I was too weak to be her stronghold. I gulped the sweet tea.
“You and the doc would make a nice couple.” I regretted the words as soon as they came out of my mouth. Her face fell. Her eyes narrowed and glistened. She tossed her hair over her shoulder.
“Excuse me, I need to visit the ladies’ room.” She slid out of our booth just as the waitress brought our food. “That was mean, Kade.” She stormed to the back of the store.
I slumped in my seat. Pain spiked from my ribs at the sudden movement. I popped a couple of pills. It was for the best. She deserved someone to be there for her. I failed her once and I was afraid it would happen again. I didn’t know if I could be the man she deserved.
Hugs,
Allie
P.S. If you want to read ahead, Second Chance with my Bull Rider is available for purchase on all retailers and to check out from your local library.