Page 95 of Roping Her In

“So whether it’s a chicken on a family farm or a racehorse worth millions, the impact we have as veterinary technicians on the animals and the people we serve is untold.”

Jake couldn’t stop smiling at the gorgeous woman behind the mic. His Hailey, giving an amazing speech.

“Because that chicken means something to a little girl on that small family ranch. And that racehorse deserves the best care he can get, so he can be healthy and strong and perform the duties for which he was raised.”

She held more passion for animal care in her little pinky than anyone Jake had ever met.

“…through the work we do,” she said, and she had to be getting close to finished. He’d offered to listen to her speech and go over it with her, but she’d been too nervous.

“When we commit ourselves to excellence, you may save a life—be that equine or human.” Hailey smiled from behind the microphone, and Jake would swear he fell all the way in love with her in that moment.

“We’ve worked hard over the last two years to be here. Now let’s go out and use the skills and talents we’ve been given to bless those around us.” She flipped her folder closed, and Jake couldn’t wait to tell her that she hadn’t even looked at it once. “Thank you.”

Jake yelled, “Yeehaw!” his voice louder than the other applause and cheers from the crowd. Her daddy cupped his hands around his mouth and yipped for Hailey, and Nellie stood up and waved that oversized card as hard as she could, creating a clacking racket that made Jake laugh right out loud.

Hailey sat down, now wearing her embroidered scrub shirt over her blouse. All of the graduates did, and Dr. Hearne got behind the mic again and said into the still-thundering cheers, “We invite all of our graduates to make two lines on either side of the stage. Dr. Millard and I will be reading a brief tribute for each graduate and presenting them with their pin.”

Orchestral music filtered through the auditorium as the graduates got to their feet and moved into their lines without much fuss. Hailey had been on campus every day this week, practicing for commencement and finishing up her classes. The actual graduation ceremony would be tomorrow, with all associates and bachelor’s graduates at Amarillo State.

He’d turned in her final internship paperwork, and she wouldn’t be out at the ranch anymore—at least in that capacity.

Jake was attending commencement with Hailey and her parents as well, and he’d heard from Smiles and Wilder that the majority of Glovers would be in attendance as well. If what he’d seen from her siblings and Daddy was any indication, Jake expected to be deaf when they read Hailey’s name tomorrow, and she walked across the stage.

He loved the Glovers, and his heart caved in slightly when he thought of his family. He’d been talking to Carson a little bit, but he knew his brother was still irritated with him. He’d invited his parents to her graduation, and they were planning to come. But Carson hadn’t been able to get work off. He said he’d be at Shiloh Ridge for the evening dinner celebration, and Jake had thanked him for that.

He’d also arranged for him and Hailey to have dinner with his parents after church on Sunday, as his mother wanted to celebrate in a smaller group. Jake knew his family didn’t have to measure up to the Glovers to be good, and he let his pinching feelings float away.

The music lowered, and Dr. Millard stepped up to the mic, her smile absolutely huge. “We just heard from our top graduate in this year’s veterinary tech program,” she said. “Hailey Winters is a shining example of hard work, determination, and light to those around her. She consistently put in the time to learn the material and help those around her, and she is a fierce mentor and friend to many in this program, including myself.”

Jake beamed at the stage, all the things he would’ve said about Hailey coming out of the professor’s mouth.

“Following her graduation this week, she’s taken a job as a farm manager and veterinary consultant at the prestigious Seven Sons Ranch in Three Rivers.” Dr. Millard stepped back from the mic, and Hailey moved forward. Her professor affixed the pin to her shirt, and then hugged her tightly.

Hailey beamed out that light that had first drawn Jake to her as she turned toward the crowd and waved both hands high in the air to another round of roaring applause. She looked at her mother and father, and her eyes skimmed over her siblings until they landed on Jake.

He put both hands over his heart, and he wondered if Hailey knew that she had completely captured his most vital organ.

She touched one hand to hers and then moved down the line to shake Dr. Hearne’s hand before continuing across the stage and back around to her seat.

Jake did his best to pay attention to the rest of the tributes, but for him, the most important one had already been done.

Jake’s blood felt like someone had poured an army of stinging ants into it. He wasn’t sure why, other than he currently followed her parents onto a ranch that wasn’t Three Rivers.

Hailey was moving into her new house today, and she’d start her job with the Walkers on Monday. It had been a busy week of ceremonies and celebrations, and Jake couldn’t wait until this was over. He’d been feeling guilty about just wanting life to go back to normal, but when Hailey had told him the same thing last night, his guilt had dried right up.

He’d once thought he and Hailey were complete opposites, but as he’d gotten to know her in the past several months, he knew now that they were more alike than different. He still wished this beautiful tree-lined lane didn’t sit an hour and ten minutes from where he lived and worked, and he still prayed daily to know what the future held for him and Hailey.

He wasn’t sure anyone could truly know the future, and he realized as the trees thinned and the farm opened up that perhaps he’d been praying for the wrong thing. Perhaps he needed more patience for the distance between him and Hailey. Perhaps he needed insight and guidance in how to keep that distance only physical until they could take the next logical step in their relationship.

She’d brought up marriage about three weeks ago now, and Jake had been thinking about what their two lives merged into one would look like. Where would they live? Could he really leave the ranch and live somewhere else?

He thought of Brynn and Ethan Greene, Ty’s parents, and they’d never lived on-site. They’d commuted out to Bowman’s Breeds every day, and yes, sometimes they’d worked long hours. Perhaps Jake needed to speak with one of them about why they’d chosen to live off-site, and how they’d made that work.

He pulled up to the farmhouse with no more answers than he’d had before, and he gazed at the dark blue paint on the exterior walls that was somehow still bright enough to make his eyes hurt.

“No wonder she loves this place,” he whispered. Because this house was beautiful and big, and the land surrounding it only had to be maintained. He looked over as Hailey pulled in beside him, and he found all the joy she possessed sitting right there on her face.

He could not ruin this for her today, and he quickly stitched a smile onto his mouth too, though he wasn’t feeling particularly happy.