Tempting the Cowboy by Melissa Keir

Author:Melissa Keir
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Melissa Keir
Published: 2021-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Pain radiated across his back and down his arm. Johnson put his hands on the stall door and rolled his shoulders, trying to alleviate some of the tension. Jake hadn’t made it into the stables today, but, luckily, the local veterinarian, Preston Hall, came in to pick up the slack. Johnson liked the former New Yorker. He fit right in with the small-town life of Whisper. It probably didn’t hurt that Preston had spent most of his summers in town working for his grandfather, the previous veterinarian.

“Are you feeling okay?” Preston’s voice carried through the quiet barn.

“Yeah. Must have overdone it today.” He lifted one arm over his head and stretched it up high then did the same with the other. “Nothing a few Motrin won’t cure.” He turned to face the doctor. “How are you feeling? I know you don’t usually have to muck stalls or lift kids onto horses.”

Preston rubbed at the small of his back. “You’d be surprised. I still have cages to clean at the hospital, poop to scoop in the yard...and, if you’ve forgotten, I do my share of lifting, with my daughter being in a wheelchair.” He chuckled. “Luckily, we did get a power lift sling last year. Otherwise, I’d be the only one doing the carting. Connie has gotten too big for Michelle or her mother to lift anymore.”

“Since you’re such an expert, I’m all for you coming back any day,” he teased. “But seriously, you have a wonderful way with the kids. Thanks for helping. I couldn’t have done it alone.” Johnson held out his hand, and Preston shook it.

“I’m glad I could reschedule my appointments. Jake sounded pretty bad when he called this morning. I had heard about the break-in. Frightening that it happened here, but I’m sure it was just kids. Fall football season seems to send them into a frenzy of testosterone. Even the ones who don’t play.” He leaned against the side of the barn. “Back in high school, the football team acquired a sailboat. They painted their biggest rival team’s name on it, placed it on the front lawn of the other team’s school, and set it on fire. What a stupid thing to do. When the principal found out the star kicker was involved, he was benched, and we lost against that rival. Cost us the title.”

“Probably right about the culprits. But I can understand why Jake’s worried. Our past has a way of jumping back up and biting us in the ass when we least expect it.” Johnson flexed his hands, opening and closing them. “We’d better get back home to the wives. Again, thanks.” He watched Preston head out into the fading sunlight. Brushing a hand across his forehead, Johnson took a deep breath. Jake had better be back tomorrow. He grabbed the shovel and moved it back to the supply area then checked on each horse to be sure they had fresh water and feed before closing and locking the barn.

He jogged over to Jake’s house, which sat off to the right of the barn.

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