LITMIR.BIZ

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nodded. “I haven’t lived here long myself. I moved here a few months ago when Aaron Starke hired me to work with his veterinarian practice. It’s a friendly place and I’ve been making friends ever since, but I knew I hadn’t met you before. Where’ve you been?” He smiled and Nathan couldn’t help but like the guy.

      “Nashville. I moved back here about a week ago,” Nathan said.

      “What was in Nashville?”

      “Work, mostly. I decided I needed a break so came home while I try to figure out my next step. Becca hired me to help her out around here.” It was true enough.

      “Good for her. It’s about time she hired some help. She’s needed it ever since her accident and hasn’t had enough of it. Her neighbors to the left are the MacDougals and they have their issues.”

      “Yeah, I’ve met Brody Mac.”

      “He’s a good kid.”

      “Actually, he’s a man.”

      Zeb blinked. “Yeah, I guess so. Seems more like a kid, though. Anyway, her neighbors to the right are the Staffords. Jean and Hank pitched in quite a bit right after her accident and still check in on her.”

      “The Staffords? Are they new to town? I thought the Howards lived there.”

      “The Howards moved a little over a year ago, and the Staffords moved in about six months ago. Nice people. Jean used to do some pro equestrian work. Was in shows and everything. So she and Becca hit it off famously.”

      Nathan shot a glance and a scowl toward the MacDougal farm, then turned his attention back to the vet. “It’s nice to know Becca’s got at least one good neighbor.”

      “Yep. Of course, her cousins pitched in almost immediately after her accident—and they’d still be right over if she asked, but they’ve got their own businesses and whatnot and had to get back to them once Becca was on her feet again.”

      “And I feel sure Becca’s not going to ask.”

      Zeb’s eyes narrowed. “You know her well?”

      “We were in high school together and were good friends before she moved to Nashville.”

      But this guy had only known her a few months and he sure had a lot of information on her. Had the man done his own research or had Becca shared it all with him?

      A surge of jealousy flickered through Nathan and he shoved it away. He didn’t have any right to feel jealous. She had moved on with her life and that was the way it was supposed to be. It was a small town and people talked. A lot. It wouldn’t take Zeb long to get the scoop on Becca if he asked all the right questions. And besides, Nathan didn’t have any interest in resurrecting feelings she didn’t return.

      Better to keep a protective barrier erected around his heart this time. Once she found out what he was up to, she’d hate him forever anyway. He did find it interesting that there’d been no mention of her parents helping or even visiting.

      He couldn’t help wondering where they’d been during such a hard time for her and what kind of severe falling-out would keep them from putting their anger aside to come to their daughter’s aide. Surely her leaving the medical profession wasn’t justification for cutting her out of their lives, was it?

      He wanted an answer to that, but he wasn’t going to ask Zeb. “What can I do for you?”

      “I wanted to check on Pete, the horse that threw Becca.”

      “What caused him to do that, anyway? Becca’s been on horses her entire life. I can’t see her getting thrown—especially by a horse she knows very well.”

      “Even the most experienced riders can get thrown, but I know what you’re saying. It does seem strange. Everyone still talks about her awards and everything. She’s made the town proud. Well, until the drug rumors started.”

      “Yeah, I’ve heard the rumors.” And he didn’t want to discuss that either, but if he was here to investigate...“What do you think about those rumors? Any truth to them?”

      “That Becca’s involved?”

      “Yeah.”

      The man scowled. “Absolutely not, so don’t go saying she is or asking questions, understand? No need to get that all stirred up again. Not that it’s exactly died down yet, but still...”

      Nathan raised a brow at Zeb’s quick defense and lifted his hands in surrender. “I promise I won’t stir that up.” Interesting. The man’s instant defense of Becca sparked his curiosity. But he’d think about that later. “So what about Pete?”

      “From what I can tell, poor Pete had an abscess up under his hoof and was in major pain. When she tried to jump him, he balked.”

      Nathan nodded. “Makes sense. Just a freak accident, then.”

      Zeb shot him a funny look. “Yes, why? Is there some reason you think it wasn’t?”

      Nathan shrugged. “Nope. Guess not.”

      “Hi, Zeb, glad to see you here,” Becca said as she joined them.

      “No problem. I heard you had some commotion out here yesterday. Are you okay?”

      Her smile flipped. “I’m doing fine. People in town are talking, huh?”

      “Of course. When anyone mentioned it to me, I told them to get the facts before they opened their mouths.” He shrugged. “Some will, and sorry to say it, but some won’t.”

      “I know. The fact is, I was attacked in my barn and Nathan here scared him off. Probably some junkie looking for something to sell.”

      “You need security out here,” Zeb said. “It’s not safe. Especially since your two helpers had to quit.”

      Becca frowned.

      “What are you talking about?” Nathan asked.

      She sighed. “I had two teenagers working for me, but...”

      “But what?”

      “But Clay came out to search my ranch for drugs because he found my cell phone number on a dead man’s phone.” Her jaw tightened and her eyes narrowed. “That’s not exactly confidence inducing for the parents who were allowing their kids to work for me, so they made them quit.”

      Nathan winced. “Ouch.”

      “Yes.” She shrugged and looked at Zeb. “I’m safe enough. Yesterday was a fluke. Nathan’s living in the bunkhouse for now, and Brody Mac will soon be here for winter break. I’ll be fine.” She nodded toward the barn. “You know where the horses are. How long do you think you’ll be?”

      “A few hours. But I won’t get in the way of anyone you’ve got coming in.”

      “Great.”

      Nathan handed her the cell phone he’d found on the table in the bunkhouse. “Are you looking for this?”

      She rolled her eyes and took it. “Thanks. I’m always looking for that.”

      Zeb gave her a salute and headed off to do his job. Nathan looked at her. She had a streak of dirt across her forehead. “How’s your back?”

      “Hurting a little.”

      “I thought so.”

      She gazed out over the pasture. “It’s not terrible, but I guess I’ll take you up on your offer to finish up out there. Four horses are in the north pasture and I need them brought down. I need to conserve my strength for this afternoon, so I’m going to go sit and pay bills.”

      “What else is on the schedule today?”

      “A special education class from the elementary school is coming out for a tour and some pony rides. There are six students and three teachers.”

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