Page 43 of The Coyote's Veterinarian Omega

Vern had called and texted several times. I wondered how he’d known to call the Carlyle place, then flushed.

Of course he’d figured out where I was. I pondered how he hadthe number for about ten seconds, then realized he probably had everyone’s numbers. At least all the ranchers, that was for sure.

I got about three bites into my breakfast before my cell started vibrating again. It was a good thing, actually, because after those three bites, my stomach was turning somersaults again. It wasn’t an insult to Caroline’s cooking; it was delicious, but I was apparently through with food this morning. “I gotta take this,” I told her, pushing away from the table and heading back to the guest room.

“Did you get my text?” Vern asked when I answered.

“I was just reading it,” I offered.

“Well,” he drawled, “hurry up, and meet me over at Mustang Sally’s when you’re done.”

“Where’s—”

He hung up. I stared at the phone for a second, then inhaled deep through my nose.

Fixing my bond with Cam would have to wait. I dressed hurriedly, then popped back into the kitchen. “Thanks for everything,” I told Caroline.

“Dining and dashing, huh?” She barely glanced up from the book she was reading.

“Vern wants me somewhere. Sounded pretty urgent.” I paused. “Uh—you know where Mustang Sally’s is?”

Caroline jolted, her eyes going wide. Then she laughed. “Oh,” she muttered. “He means Roy’s. Two farms down, on your left. Big horse paddocks.”

“Right,” I said. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, sugar.” She smiled. “I’ll let Cam know where you’re off to. Will we see you for dinner?”

“Depends on what’s going on at … Mustang Sally’s.”

She laughed again. “All right,” she said. “Just let us know, hm? We’ll see you again soon, Wyatt.”

Her expression turned a little darker. “Don’t let that bond gotoo long, hm?”

I nodded. She smiled again. “Good boy.”

I gave her another nod, then departed.

I spent all day at Roy’s ranch—Hobby Horse, not Mustang Sally’s, actually. By the time I left, the sun had set, the moon was rising, and the stars were peeking out to play. I drove directly to Vern’s and crashed in my bed, no supper, no shower.

I felt disgusting in the morning. I showered quickly, then wolfed down my breakfast, which left me feeling queasy again. I fought the urge to be sick as Vern explained our day to me: we were back to down to Jed’s with another calf on the way.

Anxiety raced through me. I didn’t want to go to Jed’s. That was where I’d first encountered the wolf. And then the wolf had followed me to Rocky Ridge …

“Something wrong?”

I glanced up to see Vern regarding me with an arched brow. I shook my head and got to my feet. I stretched in an overly theatrical way. “Nah,” I said, “just tired still.”

“Don’t see how,” Vern grumped, clomping to the door and heading outside. I followed, breathing in fresh morning air. I hoped it would help settle my stomach.

I didn’t see the wolf at Jed’s again, although I wasn’t there long. Another call came in, and Vern told me to take it on my own. I headed over to one of the other ranches. Miraculously, I didn’t get lost.

Maybe I was finally starting to figure Coyote Creek out.

Two days went by, then three, then four. Then, suddenly, it had been almost a whole week since I’d seen Cam.

Not that I was counting or anything. The ache in my neck deepened with every passing day, though, and nerves twistedthrough me for a new reason. Caroline had said our bond was wrong, that Cam had messed up when he made it. It needed to be fixed.

And she’d said I needed to do it sooner, rather than later. And yet, I’d let a whole week slip away.