Fresh-Start Ranch. Leann Harris

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      He grabbed a carrot and walked out of the kitchen and started toward the barn, not willing to talk about the lunch meeting afterward.

      “Chicken,” he heard his mother call out.

      He smiled at his mother’s accusation, and kept walking. Slipping into the barn, he saw one of the men who worked for the ranch. “Hey, Josh, how’s it going?”

      Josh Monroe had worked for their ranch for the past ten years. Before him, his father had worked on the ranch. Josh had ridden the rodeo circuit, but had been stomped by a bull and had to retire. He and his wife now lived in a house a mile or two from the main ranch house. When Ethan married, he planned to build his house not far from the main house, but close enough that he would be at the main house in five minutes.

      “Everything’s fine.”

      They spent several minutes discussing the different horses and Josh’s plans to ride out to check on the cattle in Colorado Canyon and make sure all the calves were faring well.

      Afterward Ethan walked out to the corral behind the barn. His horse, Ranger, and the rescued horse his family was looking after were out there. Ethan grabbed a couple of carrots. He called out to the horses and held up the carrots. Ranger immediately came and grabbed his treat. The other horse waited, watched, then when the gelding decided that Ethan wasn’t a threat, he walked to the fence and took the carrot.

      “You’re looking better, guy. A little food and some TLC, and you’ll be bouncing right back. I guess I need to give you a name.” He studied the chestnut with black stockings, tail and mane. “You’ve got guts and a will to live, so how about Will?”

      “You talking to the horses?” his dad asked. He walked to the fence and looked out at the horses.

      “Well, this guy doesn’t have a name, and since the rescue group won custody, I thought I needed to give him one if he’s going to be here awhile.”

      “I’m glad the hearing worked out. I heard Tessa dazzled the judge.”

      Ethan’s head jerked around. “Who told you that?”

      Ken’s right brow arched. “Do you have to ask?”

      He shook his head. “Mom. Well, the horses were starved. The evidence spoke for itself.”

      “Your mom got a different impression.”

      Ethan was sure she did. Turning, he leaned his arm on the fence. First his mother questioned him and now his father. What was going on here? Were they tag-teaming him? “If you knew about what happened, why’d you ask me?”

      Ken looked out at the horses. “Why so grumpy?”

      Ethan scowled, and stared at the rescued horse.

      His father slapped him on the back. “You seemed unsure of Dr. Grant when she first showed up at the ranch. I’m just surprised you gave your mother a good report.”

      Ethan knew what his father was implying. “Well, you have to admit that you wouldn’t have reacted any differently than I did if Chance had been the one who was being examined. I recall a certain farrier you threw off the ranch because you didn’t like how he treated your horse.”

      “So what’s that got to do with Dr. Grant?”

      Ethan shook his head. His dad wasn’t going to admit anything. “Yes, Tessa has proved herself competent with the birth, and her previous experience with horse rescue paid off at the hearing. She scored one for the good guys. But—”

      “I’m glad you think so,” his dad interrupted, “because Saturday, your mom has organized a dinner for the new doc to introduce her to all the local ranches. Both your brother and sister and their spouses will be there.”

      “When’d this happen?”

      Ken lowered his head and stared at Ethan. “Son, when has your mother ever told me about social stuff? She tells me where I’m going and I show up. It makes my life a lot easier. Remember that if you ever decide to make the plunge.”

      Ethan looked back at the horses in the corral. His dad slapped him on the back again. “I think your mother needs you up at the house.” His dad turned away and whistled as he strolled back inside.

      Ethan’s gaze remained on the horses. For some reason, he felt unsettled, as if everyone else knew something he didn’t. What was going on? His world had settled into a predictable pattern now that his younger brother had readjusted to life after his time in the army and losing his leg. It had been rough going, but now Zach was happily married with a wonderful wife and newborn baby.

      Beth, his sister, had also taken the plunge into matrimony. Watching her grin and smile at her husband was both a joy and a pain. She’d been after him to find a wife. So he had both siblings in lovers’ paradise, but he was alone, still living at home. Of course it didn’t help that his ex-fiancée had reappeared in his life, silently pointing out to the community that Ethan was still single. He looked pathetic.

      In his defense, he was taking over the reins of the ranch from his father, but on paper, things didn’t look good. A thirty-five-year-old male living at home with his parents.

      Normally, he didn’t care what folks said, but inside he suddenly felt itchy. And he didn’t know how to scratch that itch.

      Lord, I don’t know what’s happening, but—give me guidance.

      The image of Tessa’s smiling face as she held Hope moments after that filly’s birth appeared in his mind’s eye.

      “Son, you comin’?” his father yelled.

      “Yup, I’m comin’.”

      Chapter Five

      Tessa climbed out of Dr. Adams’s truck and stared at all the cars parked in the driveway of the McClures’ ranch. Tessa turned to Doc. “I thought this was just going to be a family dinner with the McClures.”

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