Page 53 of Pretty Little Scars

The foal keeps trying to feed on the mare, but she moves away from the baby, so I’ve bottle-fed her throughout the day.

I’m exhausted.

I’m dirty.

I want to go home, and I want to see Tucker.

But it doesn’t look like I’ll be going anywhere anytime soon.

“Let’s start a round of hormones,” Dr. Fisher says. “Maybe that’ll get her interested. We keep feeding that baby until the mare decides for sure if she’ll adopt her.”

“Got it.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

TUCKER

She never came home this morning, which means my girl has been out on a call for almost twenty-four hours.

And I fucking hate it.

She’s texted to let me know that it’s a bad birth situation and she can’t leave, but Jesus, that’s a long fucking time.

I had a greenhouse delivered today and placed in the grassy area where Darby mentioned she’d put one, if this were her house. It’s ready for her to fill with whatever the hell she wants. Flowers, herbs, vegetables—I have no idea what she’s thinking, but it’s all hers.

And is it ridiculous to offer her something so permanent when this is a one-year gig? Probably.

But I don’t seem to give a shit.

Scott’s standing next to me, his arms folded over his chest, and we’re staring at the area around the greenhouse, which as of now, is justnothing.

“How many boxes are we building?”

“Six. Two on each side, and two in the back,” I reply. I can see it perfectly in my head. I can also picture my Duchess out here, tending to whatever she wants to plant, and the mental picturealmost makes me hard. “Each of the raised garden boxes will be four feet wide by ten feet long.”

“Let me get this straight,” he replies, holding up a hand. “Rather than being out fixing fence tomorrow, we’re buildingflower beds.”

I cross my arms over my chest and tilt my head to the side, staring at him. “Yes.”

“Why?”

Because Darby wants them, and it seems that I’m going to do my best to give her anything her little heart desires.

Instead, I simply raise an eyebrow. “Because I fucking said so. It won’t even take a full day.”

My manager shrugs and then nods. “Yeah, okay. You’ve just never really cared about flowers. Does this have anything to do with a certain pretty vet intern?”

“Maybe I just suddenly want a vegetable garden.”

He scoffs and rubs the back of his neck. “Right. And I suddenly love snuggling with grizzly bears.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“But you can’t live without me,” he replies and checks the time. “I need to get home so I can help with the baby, who is the most beautiful creature ever born, by the way.”

“Yes, I know, you show us all at least twenty new photos a day. She’s barely a day old. She doesn’t change that much day to day, you know.”

“You’ll look at the photos, and you’ll like it,” he replies and punches me in the shoulder. I swear, having Scott around is like having another brother. “The guys and I’ll be out here bright and early to get started on this.”