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He was glad for the distraction from thinking about Isobel. Which lasted for… all of three point two seconds.
She’d left. No goodbye. No nothing.
What do you expect after you treated her like an ass for weeks?
His jaw clenched as he pulled in beside the few vehicles parked in front of the ranch house. He hopped up in the truck bed and grabbed his tools, then slammed the tool box closed.
He was just here to help a sick horse. That was all. He’d do the same for any horse owner who called so panicked. It didn’t have to be anything more than that.
He jogged around the side of the house. He was familiar with the ranch. He’d come out here for years. The horses Xavier brought in were often in rough condition. He’d helped horses riddled with parasites to difficult foalings to lacerations and other injuries to cases of laminitis. And several cases of colic. Not all of which ended well.
When the stable came in sight, he saw one of the twins, he couldn’t tell if it was Reece or the other one, standing just inside the stable doorway. He disappeared as soon as he saw Hunter. No doubt to announce his arrival.
Isobel came flying out seconds later, ignoring the pouring rain.
It was definitely inappropriate to be noticing how good she looked in a tight pair of Wranglers and a damp maroon tank top that hugged every one of her luscious curves.
Yep. Completely fucking inappropriate.
His eyes still lingered for too long.
He managed to jerk his attention to her face when she came right up to him. Especially when she threw her arms around his neck.
“Oh thank God you’re here.” The hug was over almost as quickly as it began. She let go of him and then jogged back toward the stables, waving at him to follow.
He was still processing the feel of all that warm female wrapped around him, but he did manage to find his legs to follow her.
Four men were standing around the stall of the horse in question.
“Thanks for staying with me, guys. I know your game is starting. I’m good now.”
“We’re happy to stay,” said the biggest of the four. Nicholas, Hunter thought his name was. He’d never actually heard the guy speak before today even though he’d been out here every few months.
Isobel placed her hand on Nicholas’ arm, her eyes softening. “It’s okay. There isn’t anything to do except stand around. But I really appreciate you helping calm me down until the vet got here.”
“You’re the vet,” said the twin.
Isobel just shook her head. She waved Hunter toward the stall. “Don’t be ridiculous, Jeremiah.”
Aha, so it was wundertwin number two. He was glaring at Hunter as he pushed past him. Apparently Twin One had shared what he’d seen out back of the bar. Which made Hunter bristle because it was Isobel’s business and he didn’t like the idea of anyone talking about her like that.
Hunter glared right back, then opened the stall. Right now it was most important to check on his patient. He set his tools down and then entered the stall.
He could tell immediately by the look of the mare that it wasn’t good. Isobel appeared right beside him.
“I just checked her pulse and it was seventy,” she said in a small voice. “She’s getting worse.”
Hunter pulled out his stethoscope and then went to the horse’s side, gently palpating the gut and listening for activity.
It was quiet inside. Too quiet. Not good. A healthy gut should be gurgling away. The blockage was stopping normal functions.
He pulled out a plastic sleeve and pulled it on, then did a rectal exam. He found exactly what Isobel had described over the phone.
“When was the last time you tried walking her?” He withdrew and pulled the sleeve off, balling it in itself to contain the muck.
“When I called you.”
Hunter nodded. “Let’s try taking her out again.”
