The Wrangler's Last Chance. Jessica Keller

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СКАЧАТЬ quicker than he had anticipated. He would save his exploring for tomorrow.

      Sighing, Carter tugged the folder full of his loan paperwork from his backpack and tossed it onto the kitchen table. When it landed, the folder slid a bit. A small dog-eared notecard peeked out the edge. He picked it up and ran his thumb over the Bible verse he had written there. But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. He had carried this for twelve years. Ever since Audrey.

      Most of the time, Carter put a lot of effort into not thinking about Audrey, but a reminder as he started at a new place wasn’t a bad thing.

      A warning to be careful—not to let his guard down with anyone—no matter how much his extrovertly wired brain begged him to connect with others. Connecting only ever got him burned.

      Audrey was his cautionary tale.

      A lesson he never needed to learn again.

      So why had he told the woman today—Shannon—to keep him updated on the gander?

      Carter scrubbed his hand over his face and shot out a long stream of air.

      He was a veterinarian who had performed a procedure on an animal and he wanted to see if he had done the right thing, learn if there was something else he could have done in the situation. Grow as a professional and be better prepared for the future he one day hoped to have. That was all.

      The fact that Shannon was beautiful wouldn’t—couldn’t—factor in. Though with her short, wavy blond hair, curvy frame and wide eyes, she was impossible not to acknowledge. Even dripping water from a pond overrun with algae, she had caused him to be flustered for a moment there.

      He tucked the verse card back into the file.

      He ruined people’s lives when he got involved.

      He was a liability and always would be.

      Someone knocked on the door and Carter rushed to answer it. Even though he wasn’t set to officially start working until Monday, maybe his new boss wanted him to take care of something today.

      He opened the door to find Shannon smiling beside a bald, hunched-over man with age spots peppering his face and hands. She held a teal-colored plateful of what might have been cupcakes. They were certainly baked in cupcake wrappers, but whatever frosting there had once been had melted and pooled onto the plate in a shiny puddle.

      Shannon grimaced. “These were supposed to be a thank-you.” She glanced down at the plate. “I’m not the best cook. Not like Cassidy—she’s our head chef, and these would make her faint.” Shannon pressed the plate toward him. “They’re just from a box and I think—okay, I know I didn’t wait long enough before frosting them but...” She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug.

      Frosting sloshed onto Carter’s thumb when he took the plate. He looked down at the offering and his chest felt tight. He swallowed hard. “You made me cupcakes?”

      “Well, sort of.” Her laugh was quiet, a little nervous. “I wanted to do something nice for you but you totally have my permission to throw them away when I’m not looking. I probably should have just picked you up something from the bakery in town tomorrow.” She reached to take the plate back. “In fact, let’s do that. Let’s pretend you never saw these and I can just toss them myself.”

      He protectively moved the plate to his side, away from her so she couldn’t reach them. “No, it’s not... I, ah—” Carter cleared his throat. Get it together, man. Baked goods weren’t supposed to make a person emotional. He swallowed once, twice. “It’s just no one’s ever made something for me before. Thank you. I want to keep them.”

      Shannon tilted her head. “I find that hard to believe.” She rolled her hand. “I mean, someone at some point has baked you cookies. That’s pretty standard. Your family or—” her eyes narrowed as she assessed him “—I’d guess a girlfriend.”

      No, but his last girlfriend had called him trash. Did that count for bonus points?

      He shook his head. He had already been too vulnerable and he needed to reel the situation back to somewhere comfortable for him. Carter motioned for them to follow him into the bunkhouse. With great care, he set the plate of cupcakes on his table.

      The older gentleman braced his hands on the other side of the table. “That was some fine work you did on Wing Crosby, if I do say so myself. You’ve got some great instincts.”

      “Wing Crosby?” Carter looked between them for an explanation.

      “My goose.” Shannon frowned. “Well, I guess if I’m talking to animal people I can call him a gander.” Then she added, “I like old movies.”

      “I’m going to bring him back to my clinic to monitor him overnight, but he looks great. Your quick thinking definitely saved our little friend.” The other man held out his hand. “I’m Dr. Spira.”

      Carter shook the man’s hand and gave him his name.

      Dr. Spira held on to his hand. “Shannon said you were a natural with Wing. Seems to me as if you’ve had some advanced training, given the instructions you gave her afterward.”

      There was no reason for Carter to withhold the truth. His degrees had been clearly labeled on his résumé when he applied to Red Dog Ranch.

      “I have my DVM,” Carter confirmed.

      “Ah.” The doctor nodded. “So you’re Dr. Kelly, then. Well, meeting you is my pleasure.”

      “I’m not practicing right now,” he explained as if that mattered. To him it did. “Just Carter.”

      “DVM.” Shannon’s brow scrunched. “I feel as if I’m at some elite convention where everyone talks in codes and I’m automatically supposed to know what you’re saying. The force be with you, and all that. And that’s cool, but can someone please translate for me here?”

      Dr. Spira turned toward her, his smile warm and fatherly. “Doctor of veterinary medicine.”

      “Wait.” She whirled toward Carter. “You’re a vet?”

      He shrugged. “I could be. But not right now. Today I’m a head wrangler.”

      Dr. Spira grabbed Carter’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “It’ll be nice to talk to someone with fresh training. I’m the only one local and don’t get too many meetups anymore. Do you mind if I come and consult with you from time to time when I’m at the ranch? My office is in town, but I’m here often enough.”

      Thankfulness surged through Carter’s chest again. Learn from someone who had years and years in the field with no catch involved? He wanted to hug the man, but he refrained. However, he was certain his excitement was plain in his voice when he said, “Not at all. I’d love that, actually.” It was more than Carter had ever dreamed of when he accepted the position at Red Dog Ranch.

      Dr. Spira excused himself but Shannon stayed in his bunkhouse. She crossed her arms and studied Carter.

      Carter raised an eyebrow. “Still trying to take back those cupcakes?”

      She pursed her lips. “I’m trying to figure you СКАЧАТЬ