Rocky Mountain Romance (Six Pack Ranch) (35 page)

“I think, maybe, I can go along with that.”

He helped her up, steadying her as she wavered on spaghetti-like legs. “They said you shouldn’t operate any heavy machinery for a couple of days,” he teased.

“Drat, there goes the test drive on the earth mover I had scheduled for this weekend.”

He grinned as he led her to the bathroom. “You’re definitely waking up.”

He gave her some privacy, and by the time she’d made herself feel human again, there were amazing smells drifting from the kitchen.

She settled at the table. “Chicken noodle soup?”

“From Allison.” He stirred slowly, gesturing toward the fridge. “Of course, if you’d like something different we also have tomato, mushroom, beef barley, Mexican taco, Italian—”

“Did you raid the kitchen at the restaurant?”

“That’s only what you got from the Coleman side of the family.”

He lowered a bowl in front of her, slipping a package of saltines beside it before catching her eye. “Everybody’s been worried about you, including Emily Dalton, who sent a casserole.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Check the freezer. I think I’m going to get attacked by a cougar more often—it’s a great way to stock the pantry.”

Well, it was good to know that half of the Dalton family was willing to give her another chance. Melody savoured the soup, grilling Steve for details. “Bear. Did Tom do the surgery?”

“He did, and he did a great job—Callie told me that. Bear is under surveillance in the clinic. If you feel up to it after you eat, we can check up on him.” He urged her spoon toward the bowl. “My brothers went out to Ian’s to deal with the cougar, and while they were there they gathered up the cats that were hovering around the house. They’ve been relocated to a bunch of Coleman barns.”

“Thank you.” She placed her left hand over his fingers, holding him while she ate, more of her worries sliding away. “I can’t believe I slept that long.”

“You’ve been under a lot of stress—it makes sense.” He cleared his throat. “And I promise I’ll take you to see Bear, but then you need to rest. One more good sleep, and you’ll be back up to speed.”

The idea of crawling into bed should have been terrible, but it was actually quite appealing. “I won’t even argue with you.”

“Melody?” His expression had gone serious. “I’m telling you this now so you can try to put it aside, and I didn’t think it was my place to keep it from you. Mathis phoned. He returns tonight, and some of the locals have been in contact with him. They want to hold a meeting first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Damn. He’s home early.” She put her spoon down on the table and deliberately relaxed as she exhaled. “I figured that would happen, I just didn’t expect it to happen that soon.”

“Sooner the better,” he insisted. “Once we get the meeting out of the way, everyone can move on.”

It was one thing to nod in agreement, but there was still an edge of uncertainty twisting her gut. She tried her best to shove it aside, laughing as Steve helped her pull on sweatpants and escorted her across to check on Bear.

He was awake but groggy, his furry black tail moving slowly as he lay on his side and stared up at her. She stroked his fur, careful to stay away from the fresh stiches that seemed to cover far too much of his body. “You’re a survivor, aren’t you, boy? Such a good dog.”

Another thump from his tail, then he closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling in waves as his breathing settled.

Melody looked around for his paperwork. “Did he have any internal injuries? How long until he—”

“Slow down, sweetheart.” Steve helped her to her feet, guiding her out of the clinic even as he soothed her. “Tom said everything went well, and he’ll give you a full report tomorrow. Let Bear rest. You need to go give Charlie a hug as well. She’s been worried about you.”

Thoughtful, caring. Melody held on to Steve, grateful for everything that had changed between them as he led her to Charlie’s doghouse and waited for her to pet and soothe another animal.

When he slipped a treat into her fingers for her to share with Charlie, she was seconds away from tears all over again.

This man? She could trust him with her heart. With everything.

By the time they were back in the house, she was exhausted and sweaty.

Steve ixnayed her request for a shower. “One more day with dry bandages. That’s what the doctor ordered.”

“I’m not going to sleep feeling like I just ran a marathon,” she complained.

“Of course you’re not.”

She was too tired to ask any questions as he led her to her bedroom. She was too tired to lodge a protest when he stripped off her clothes and laid her on the quilt. The second dose of painkiller she’d taken after eating hit her system, and she wasn’t complaining about
anything
when he put a warm cloth to her skin and proceeded to give her a sponge bath.

“I think this is turning me on,” she commented, the words dripping lazily off her tongue.

He ran the sponge over her breast. “I know this is turning me on, but that’s not the goal.”

“Oh.” She dragged her fingers through his hair, pulling him toward her until his smiling lips met hers. Such a soft, tender kiss, combined with his touch, and she was completely relaxed. On the verge of falling asleep. “I
like
when the goal is to turn me on.”

“Soon. Right now we’re doing something else that’s special.”

“What’s that?” She closed her eyes, caressing her fingers over his biceps and upper body. “Those are good drugs,” she commented.

Steve laughed. “And on that note, it’s time for you to go to sleep.”

Maybe she shouldn’t have said it, but there was no stopping the honest truth from escaping. “I want you to stay with me.”

Steve pulled off his shirt, his pants hitting the floor a moment later. Then he was under the covers and curling himself around her like the best human blanket in the world. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

He slipped one arm over her, hand resting across her belly. His hard, muscular body was pressed against her, his legs carefully arranged to cradle her bandaged thigh.

Melody laid her hand over his, linking their fingers. “You said we were doing something special,” she reminded him.

Behind her, his chest moved in rhythmic waves, slow and even, the timing urging her to join him. “This is another way to make love.”

She fought to stay awake. It didn’t seem as if they were about to have sex, and she highly doubted
that’s
what he was talking about considering she was higher than a kite. “Making love?”

“Everything we do together, every time we touch. Every time I get to care for you, or you care for me—it’s part of love.”

She wasn’t far enough gone to miss that Really Big Clue. “Are you saying you love me?”

“Hell, yeah.”

Huh. “I hope you plan to say that sometime when I’m wide awake.”

“Hell, yeah,” he repeated. “Now, go to sleep, and when you wake up, we’ll deal with the next thing. Together.”

That sounded like a great plan, and even if it had been a terrible one, she was all out of energy to protest. She cuddled against him and let sleep take her.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Mathis stood at the side of the room, his expression serious in spite of the tan and casual clothing. Melody felt horrid that the first thing he had to deal with upon returning from vacation was controversy.

He was never going to go away again.

Her mentor had brushed off her attempts to explain when she’d walked in and found them setting up. Instead, he led her to a chair, smiling as he seated her. He dipped his head toward her ear, speaking quietly as the first of the ranchers joined them. “I put you in charge for a good reason—I trusted you. Now, trust
me
.”

Cryptic words. Ones that effectively tied her hands. She sat and watched as the room filled.

The growing crowd was quiet as a good two-dozen local ranchers gathered in the large-animal surgery at the back of the clinic, settling into folding chairs that had been gathered for the occasion.

The dread in Melody’s stomach was a solid brick, and she took a deep breath, fighting to keep from twitching with nervous energy.

There were more than just the men who’d complained about her. Steve was there, his dark gaze offering support from where he sat.

He’d been gone when she’d woken. A note on the table giving her details of the meeting time, and a promise he’d watch her back. He’d signed it with Xs and Os, and she wasn’t sure if the giggles that escaped were hysteria-based, or just what she’d needed to break the tension so she could get ready.

There were other Colemans present as well—Gabe and Blake, Travis and Lee, and Jaxi, who sat with baby Peter in her lap, a stern, unwavering glare aimed pointedly at Sean Dalton.

“I have to admit I’m surprised by your complaints,” Mathis said, opening the discussion. “These are some serious charges you’re considering.”

“Nothing against you, Mathis,” Sean Dalton insisted. “We just want you to know what kind of trouble you’ve got under your roof.”

“And you really think she’s incompetent?”

The question made Melody cringe, another shot shaking her when Sean responded instantly, “Incompetent and insolent—the girl is plain, outright rude for no reason. Think the power you gave her went to her head.”

Melody itched to respond, but Mathis had asked her to wait until the men had a chance to voice their concerns.

Steve rose to his feet. “I disagree. She’s competent. More than that, she cares.
We
trust her skills completely. I speak for all of the Coleman families when I say Melody is our choice when it comes to having someone work with our animals.”

Her throat tightened at his words. Then someone in the back shouted, “Of course you’d support her. You’re sleeping with her.”

His grin should have seemed out of place, except as Steve faced down the heckler, his easy shrug was so reminiscent of a typical, laid-back ranching attitude, it made his words hit with more impact. “Don’t know that has anything to do with her work skills. As far as I’m concerned it just shows I’ve got better luck than I deserve.”

Steve paced forward a couple steps, looking the other ranchers in the eye as he spoke.

“At the end of the day, we want strong work animals and strong breeding animals. We need healthy herds to deliver for sale. She’s more than capable of helping us met that goal. Fact is, between the four Coleman ranches, we pretty much pay her salary.” Another shrug lifted his shoulders as he focused on Sean. “Anyone who doesn’t want to work with her can call some other vet to come out. Drayton Valley is closest—although your visitation fees will go up. I hear he charges by the mile.”

Mathis chuckled. “I should’ve known when you asked to be a part of the meeting you weren’t going to play nice.”

Steve’s grin was back as he tilted his head toward Melody. “I’m not here to defend her. Her work speaks for itself, and any fool who is too bigoted or blind to see that doesn’t deserve to have her work with their animals.”

“Agreed,” Mathis said.

“What?” Sean was on his feet, glaring at Melody for a moment as if she’d somehow forced Mathis to say the words. “You mean she can waltz in and charge whatever the hell she wants? You’re okay with her coming on our land and making rash accusations?”

Melody held her breath. She hadn’t had a chance to tell Mathis about the horses yet.

“Sometimes rash accusations look a whole lot different to an experienced eye, Sean. Maybe you want to let that one go for now.” Mathis advised.

Mathis knew about the horses
—Steve had to have told him.

She glanced across the room at him and the flicker of hope inside her chest grew a little brighter.

Especially since Sean was now so mad he was sputtering. “You’re going to believe the word of one person, when all of us don’t feel comfortable working with her?”

Mathis took a deep breath, his shoulders shifting wearily as he shook his head. “Sean, it always comes down to a choice. You don’t have to have Melody out to your place. Like Steve said, she’s got enough people who will work with her. I believe she’s a better vet than I am, and the time is coming when I plan to retire. At that point, you can either hire her, or get yourself another vet for the job.”

“Tom is talking about putting out his own shingle,” one of the other ranchers mentioned.

A low rumble washed over the gathered crowd.

That was enough. It was great to discover she had the support of the people who meant the most to her, but at this point what Melody wanted was to honour her mentor. He didn’t deserve to have to wade through anymore of this crap.

She rose to her feet.

The angry voices and murmuring didn’t die away until she hauled her chair from the wall and stepped up on it so she could be seen.

“I stand by all the treatments I gave, and the bills I delivered. If any of you want to file a formal complaint, I will help you fill out the forms so you can get in contact with the proper authorities.”

Her offer sent a ripple of consternation through the crowd, this time at a much lower level.

Melody focused on the worst of the lot, and it was Sean’s turn to squirm in his seat like a kid being held in at recess. “If you don’t believe that I have you and your animals’ best interests in mind, then we
should
part ways. But I’ll tell you right now, you won’t succeed in suing me for breach of skill or for trying to cheat you financially. I can guarantee that, so put that idea out of your head right now.”

Sean sat back in his chair, his arms folded over his chest as he deliberately broke eye contact to stare at the front wall.

So be it. She looked into the crowd instead, examining the faces of people she’d worked alongside, some of them during situations where she knew she’d saved their animals’ lives. She’d given her all, and damn it, they had to know that as well.

If the ringleaders were quelled, the others might see reason.

“When you call us, you’re trusting us to work alongside you as you care for your animals, for your livelihood. It’s not a trust I take lightly. Every time I’m in the field I fight to do what’s best for today and for your future. You matter to me, and your animals do too. Hell, it’s why I became a vet in the first place.”