Down to Earth: Contemporary Western Romance by Carroll Patricia PacJac

Author:Carroll, Patricia PacJac [Carroll, Patricia PacJac]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: PacJac Publishing
Published: 2014-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Clay left the kitchen. Jenna had introduced him as someone who was just helping out. A hired hand. A quick look back sent a sharp blow to his ego. The banker stood next to Jenna, his hand resting on hers. No wedding ring? She’d taken that ring off for the banker.

Storming to the front door, Clay attempted to squelch the jealousy that blindsided him. He thought the banker would be old, wrinkled, and gray or better yet, bald. But then, Clay had no rights to her. So what if the man held her hand? She was a free woman.

Anger rumbled inside Clay’s chest, proving him wrong. He jerked open the door but resisted the temptation to slam it shut. Running a hand through his hair, he wished he could straighten his thoughts as easily. Ever since he’d landed in her tree, Jenna had eased her way into his life.

He’d learned early on from his father to ignore his feelings and hide them behind a wall of indifference. His brief encounter with his ex-fiancé had proved his father right. Stoic numbness certainly beat the rough gnashing his emotions were dishing out now.

Baas greeted him as he reached the barn. Clay glared at the wooly beasts. “Take it easy, I’m coming.”

My friends are skiing down powder and partying, and I’m talking to sheep. He grabbed a bucket and filled it with feed. Grumbling, he stomped to the pen and dumped the green stuff into the trough. One ewe, almost swayback with the lamb she carried, nudged him. Clay rubbed her tan ears, noting that one of them was torn. The wooly animal seemed to like the attention, and amazingly the emotional storm sweeping through him began to calm. Maybe I need a pet.

“Your name’s Powder, got that?”

A soft baa and gentle nudge answered him.

Tires crunched on the gravel drive and drew his attention from his fleecy friend. Doc’s battered car sputtered up to the barn. Despite the morning’s turmoil, Clay had to grin at the resemblance of automobile and man as both were big, old, and loud.

Finished watering the sheep, he walked toward the vet. “Hi, Doc. Here to check on the animals or Maril?” The torch the older man had for Maril was as obvious and large as the one on the Statue of Liberty.

Wearing his usual overalls, the vet kicked the car door shut and ambled toward him. He gave Clay a wry smile. “Come to check on those girls over there. By the looks of ’em, they’re liable to burst any day.”

Eyeing his pet, Clay pointed to her. “I noticed. My friend, Powder, was just telling me her little one was getting anxious to see the world.”

“Didn’t take you for the animal-lover type.”

“Yeah.” He wasn’t about to tell the vet it was Powder’s owner he was interested in. At least before he saw her with that banker.

“I see your knee’s healed all right.” Doc opened his black bag then unlatched the gate. “How are you getting along with Jenna?”

Touché for the Maril remark.

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