Hawk glared. Emery glared back. Gemma picked up her two-way.
“GH to base.”
Hawk groaned.
“Go for base,” Mom said, a hint of anxiety in her tone.
“Mommy, Em wants x-rays just to be sure, but Hawk isbeing a dumbass.Over.”
“Language, Gemma Rose. There are little ears.” Over the line, we all heard Payton’s giggle. Mom continued over the sound. “Hawk Alexander Harrington, if your brother, the doctor, wants x-rays, then you get x-rays. Over.”
Hawk snatched Gemma’s two-way with a wince. “I’m fine.”
I tuned out the continuing banter and turned to Mal. He was standing there, gaze bouncing between all of us, a hand over his mouth. I had a sneaking suspicion that he was trying to hide a smile.
“Welcome to the circus,” I offered under my breath.
“They’re your monkeys, not mine.”
I laughed from my toes, which drew everyone’s attention, but I was focused on Mal and the way his face lit up. Damn, but I loved those smiles. I didn’t see them often enough and every time it seemed like a gift. I wanted that to be his standard expression.
In the end, Mom and Emery got their way. Em bundled Hawk into his SUV and headed to the clinic, Gemma went to collect her client’s horse to work on halter training—the two year old gelding was barely halter broke, but he was pretty and the owner wanted to show so they were starting very slowly—and Mal was left to do the grunt work. He didn’t mind, it seemed. There was a bounce in his step as he headed to clean stalls.
With nothing left for me to do, I got back on the ATV and went back to my own work.
Hawk’s x-rays were clear. After he got out an “I told you so,” he was over his grumpiness. Hawk, in general, wasn’t prone to being cranky, but he wasn’t the biggest fan of coddling and he’d been hurting. He had a wicked nasty bruise on his hamstring, a few more that weren’t as bad on his ribs, and he heeded Emery’s warning for light duty.
“At least a few days,” Emery said, shaking out a couple of ibuprofen and handing them to Hawk. Hawk took them without protest. “And no riding Humphrey either. Just take it easy, all right?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Hawk said, closing his eyes. He would abide the decree though. He wouldn’t do anything to put him out of commission longer than necessary. “Problem is, the Adelmann’s auction is the day after tomorrow.”
Mom joined us at the table, bringing a plate of sandwiches. After all the excitement, we were sitting down to a late lunch. The rest of the hands and Pay had already eaten, but me, Hawk, Emery, Gemma, and Dad were finally getting a chance.
“That’s in Kansas right? Westfield?” Emery asked. Hawk nodded. Emery pursed his lips. “Yeah, you’re not riding in the truck for five hours.”
“It’s four and a half,” Hawk corrected.
Emery threw a chip at him. “You’re not doing that either.”
“Skip it?” Mom suggested. “Why do you need to go anyway?”
“Looking for a horse for Cahill.” Hawk took a big bite and chewed. He didn’t need to say more than that. He’d told us all about the pushy, rich client who was willing to pay an absolute fortune for Hawk’s services. It was way out of pocket, but if the man wanted to throw money at Hawk, none of us were going to object. Not when it would fuel Hawk’s endeavors.
“I can’t go,” Gemma said with her mouth full. Mom shot her a look and Gemma had the good sense to look chagrined. Shechewed and swallowed before she continued. “Marlice is coming in that day. She wants to see Tudor’s progress.”
Tudor was a three-year old Gemma had started training for the show pen. Marlice Rhodes had sent the gelding to us six months ago. Gemma definitely needed to be here to meet with the client.
“Mal’s going. He knows what I’m looking for. But he needs someone with buying power with him. Plus, it’s too soon to send him on his own.”
“I’ll go,” I blurted. Everyone turned to stare at me. I made my eyes wide. “What?”
“That was quick,” Gemma muttered. Mom gave her a light smack.
Dad gave me a measured look. “I can go.”
I squinted at him. “You’re moving the cattle to the west pasture day after tomorrow.”
Dad stared right back. “It can wait an extra day. Or I can do it tomorrow.”
