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“On a Sunday afternoon? There’s no such thing.”
“There goes mine,” Zach said, reaching for his cell. “Dallas. I wonder what’s going on?”
“Who cares?” Chad said.
“I tend to agree.” Zach ignored the call.
“Unreal,” Annie said, as her phone vibrated against her hip. She recognized Dallas’s cell phone number. “You’re never going to guess.”
“Dallas,” Chad and Zach said in unison.
“I have to take it. He might have a sick animal.” Why else would he be calling her? “I’m sorry. Will you excuse me?”
“Sure, Dr. Annie,” Chad said. “Tell him to go jump in the lake for me, will you?”
“Gladly,” Annie said under her breath as she walked into the kitchen. “This is Annie.”
“Hey, Annie, I’m real sorry to bother you.”
“What do you want, Dallas?”
“It’s…well, I’ve got some dead steers, and some more real sick ones. Hell, we can afford to lose a few, but disposal of the bodies is expensive, and a pain.”
“Cut the crap,” Annie said. “I’ll be right there. Tell me this, though. Why’d you call Zach and Chad before you called me? I’m the goddamned vet, Dallas.”
“How do you know… Don’t tell me. Your lunch date with Chad.” Dallas’s husky voice turned icy.
“Yeah. I’m here at his place. Dusty and Zach are here too. Chad and Zach chose to ignore your call.”
“Annie, I—”
“Oh, never mind. I’m losing focus. Your animals are more important than this stupid conversation. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She ended the call before he could say anything more.
She walked back into the dining room. “I have to go,” she said. “Dallas has some dead cattle and some sick ones. It doesn’t sound too good.” She sighed. “Ma, I don’t know how long this’ll take. Thankfully my vet bag’s in the car, but—”
“Don’t worry, hon. I’ll just call a cab. That’s how I got to your place yesterday.”
“That must have been a hell of an expensive fare,” Annie said.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry. This is your job, Annie.”
“I’ll take you, Mrs. DeSimone,” Zach said. “Chad and Dusty should go with Annie. They’re good with animals. That leaves me and the critter as your escorts.”
“Oh, I couldn’t impose.”
“It’s not an imposition. You’re great company.” Zach flashed a winning smile. “You don’t mind, do you, darlin?” He nodded to Dusty.
“It’s a perfect plan,” Dusty agreed. “Let’s go see to the cattle.”
“I’m sorry about this, Ma.” Annie bent to kiss her mother’s cheek. “I’m so glad you came. Next time for longer, okay?”
“And for a more pleasant reason, I hope,” Sylvia said. “Okay, if you don’t mind taking me, Mr. McCray, I’d appreciate it.”
“Not at all. And call me Zach.”
“Okay.” She stood and embraced Annie. “I love you, hon. Go do your job.”
After Annie had transferred her mother’s carry-on to Zach’s pickup, she and Dusty followed Chad’s truck to Dallas’s cattle barn. Dallas and several other men were huddled around a convulsing steer. Annie grabbed her bag and headed toward them, Chad and Dusty close behind. She touched Dallas’s upper arm gently.
