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He opened his mouth like he was going to say something else but snapped it closed again instead. As we both turned our attention back to Rebel and the silence stretched out between us, I started to think that maybe I should have gone with the other guys. I didn’t know Logan Hensley that well, and even though he hadn’t exactly been rude or said anything particularly wrong, I just felt like there was some weird tension in the air that hadn’t been there before.
Logan must have sensed it, too, because he finally sighed and gave me a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to pry. Once this is all over, I’d actually love the chance to get to know you a little better. Maybe over dinner?”
I cocked my head to the side. Was he… was he asking me on a date? Right now?
“That’s a nice offer,” I said. “And thank you, but… I’m really so busy here, you know? Learning the ropes from my uncle and now with taking care of a sick horse plus God only knows what else they’ll find while they’re out looking around. It’s just not a great time for me to try and get away.”
Sadly, all of my excuses happened to be true. But it really would have been pretty irresponsible of me to think of going on a date right now when I had so many more important things to worry about—even if I had been interested in going to dinner with Logan.
Which, for the record, I definitely wasn’t.
He seemed like a nice enough guy and obviously had a good, steady job, but just… no.
Hard pass.
“I understand,” he said. Thank God. “I just thought maybe you’d like the opportunity to get away from all this stress for a while, even if it was only for a couple of hours over dinner. You don’t ever miss the freedom you had while you were in college?”
“Nope,” I answered, maybe a little too quickly. “Never. Most days I don’t even have time to miss it. I always knew I’d end up coming back here eventually anyway. It just happened a lot quicker than anyone could have imagined.”
And most of that was true, at least. Sure, there were things I missed. I sometimes wondered what Becca and Daisy Lynn were up to or wished I could have a little more time to go visit them every once in a while. More often, though, I missed the innocence of that time. Back then, I thought my parents would be around forever. I knew I could come right back home if anything ever got too hard or too scary.
Things were different now. Everything was different now.
But as far as Logan needed to know? Yeah, I was fine. I didn’t miss anything, and I didn’t need anything beyond what he could provide as our veterinarian.
I just hoped he wouldn’t press the issue because I really did need him to make sure Rebel would be okay.
Before he could ask me anything else, though, my uncle came back with Cade and Boone.
“Did you guys find anything else?” I asked before they’d even fully made it through the stable door. I wanted to know for the sake of the ranch, of course, but I was also really thankful for the chance to talk about something other than myself. Or dating.
“Just the tire tracks we saw earlier,” Boone answered. “And some footprints around the building. None of the other animals seem to be sick, though, and there doesn’t seem to be any other damage or theft.” He shrugged. “Whoever it was either did what they set out to do or they got spooked by something and left before they were finished.”
“Either way, it pisses me off that someone would be so cocky to try it,” Uncle Justin grumbled. “They were right here last night, not even a hundred yards from our house.” He shook his head. “I wish I would have caught them in the act. There would have been a whole different story today.”
“The good news is that it looks like Rebel is going to make it,” Logan said, smiling warmly at my uncle and speaking for the first time since his attempt to take me out to dinner. He wouldn’t even make eye contact with me now, though. “I’m going to leave some medicine with you to give her through the day and night, but I think the worst of it is behind us.”
“Thank you, Logan.” My uncle reached out to shake his hand. “I don’t know what we would have done without you. You’re a miracle worker.”
I dropped down to the ground next to Rebel, leaning in to nuzzle her as she tried to lift her head. I wasn’t sure I’d go so far as to call him a miracle worker, but I would gladly give thanks where it was due. And right now, that I was thankful for Logan.
“You’ve really been a great help,” I said, looking up at him as he packed up his medicine bag. “Thank you so much.”
“Always a pleasure to spend a little time out here,” he replied, still smiling. “I just hope we’ve all seen the last of this troublemaker. If you notice anything suspicious with the other animals, please don’t hesitate to call me.” He looked directly at me, then added, “I’ll always be here for you.”
I could only nod.
Did it feel like maybe he was trying to send me a message? Maybe trying to say I could call him if I changed my mind about that whole dinner date thing?
Yeah, it felt a little like that.
More than a little.
But I couldn’t fault him. Because we had needed him this morning, and he had dropped everything to come help—totally true to his word.
Still, I really hoped we wouldn’t need his help again for a while.
Chapter 7
