A Heart to Bear (Bear Creek Forever #4)

Chapter Eleven – Tammy

The bull was stunning. His coat gleamed as the sun caught the rich mahogany hues, highlighting the ripple of powerful muscles beneath.

Tammy could see why Old Ma was so proud of this animal, who was a docile giant next to the frail elderly woman.

Although Tammy suspected Old Ma was not as frail as she looked. Her eyes held a steeliness born from years of ranching and the hardships that came with it. Tammy admired that resilience, wishing she could borrow some of it for herself.

“He’s magnificent,” Tammy breathed, reaching out a tentative hand to stroke the bull’s broad flank. The animal turned his massive head, regarding her with intelligent brown eyes.

Old Ma Hinchcliffe chuckled, a sound like dry leaves rustling. “That he is. In his younger days, Hercules won every competition he entered.”

“All right, big guy,” Tammy murmured, reaching out a steady hand to pat Hercules’ broad flank. The bull watched her with mild interest, occasionally flicking an ear or swishing his tail. “Let’s see if we can’t figure this out.”

The bull’s hide was warm and rough beneath her palm, as Tammy gave him a visual examination, running her trained eye over his muscular frame. She couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer size and power of the animal. It would not have taken much for him to bowl Uncle Gavin over. But seeing him today, so relaxed and calm, it was hard to imagine Hercules on a rampage.

As she moved around him, she noticed a slight favoring of his left hind leg.

Tammy moved in closer, hunkering down to get a closer look. “There’s some swelling around his hock. Might be a sprain or a minor injury.”

“That’s an old injury. It’s what ended his showing career. Like me, he gets a little stiff when the weather changes,” Old Ma Hinchcliffe said with a wry smile. “But most of the time it causes him no bother. And it does not prevent him from passing on his genes. If you know what I mean.”

“I do.” Tammy nodded, her hand still resting on Hercules’ flank. She could feel the steady rhythm of his breathing, the quiet strength that emanated from him. It was oddly comforting.

As she straightened up, she was acutely aware of Dougray leaning on the fence, watching her with the bull. But despite his outwardly relaxed demeanor, there was visible tension in his shoulders. Like he was coiled and ready to pounce.

Was he worried Hercules might repeat his strange behavior and run amok?

Or was it something else?

“I’ll just get my stethoscope and listen to his heart and lungs.” Tammy went to the gate where she’d dropped her bag when she entered the orchard and opened it up.

As Tammy rummaged through her bag, she felt Dougray’s gaze on her back. She tried to ignore the warmth that spread through her at his attention, focusing instead on the task at hand. Finding her stethoscope, she returned to Hercules’ side.

“Easy now, big guy,” she murmured, placing the cool metal against his chest. The bull’s heartbeat was strong and steady.

She moved the stethoscope, listening intently for any irregularities in Hercules’ lungs and abdomen.

Old Ma Hinchcliffe watched with keen interest, her weathered hands resting on the fence. “How’s he sound, dear?”

Tammy listened for a few more moments before removing the stethoscope. “His heart and lungs sound good. No irregularities that I can detect. His digestive system is working as it should.”

She turned to face Old Ma, a small frown creasing her brow. “I’m not seeing anything that would explain his recent behavior. Physically, he seems to be in excellent health, aside from that old injury. I’d like to take some blood and run some tests. Sometimes there can be an underlying condition that can cause behavioral problems.”

“Anything for this old fella.” Old Ma Hinchcliffe smoothed her hand across the bull’s wide forehead.

“He sure is a credit to you,” Tammy said, her admiration evident in her voice. “You’ve done an amazing job with him.”

Old Ma beamed with pride, her weathered face softening. “He’s been my joy these past years. When my Jim passed, Hercules here kept me going. I know some people think I’m a little…cuckoo. But we were never blessed with children…”

Tammy felt a pang of empathy. She’d often seen how animals could heal a broken heart. How they could be a reason for living when confronted by loss.

“There’s nothing wrong with being a little cuckoo,” Tammy chuckled as she prepared to draw blood from Hercules. “We can all be a little like that sometimes.”

“How about you, Dougray?” Old Ma Hinchcliffe called out as she rubbed Hercules’ neck. “Do you get a little crazy sometimes?”

Dougray cracked a grin. “Oh yeah. You know us Thornberg boys. We’re all a little wild at heart.”

“Oh, I do remember you all in your younger days. You boys and your cousins,” Old Ma replied. “The town never knew what you were going to get up to next. But you were never bad boys. From what I recall.”

“No, ma’am,” Dougray said. “We never set out to hurt anyone.”

Tammy glanced up from her work, catching the sudden darkness in Dougray’s eye as his humor faded.

It seemed Old Ma Hinchcliffe’s comment might have hit a nerve.

Did her mate have a secret, something he was ashamed of?

She wasn’t going to push him for answers. When he was ready, he’d share that part of him with her.

After all, everyone had a skeleton or two in their closet.

Focusing back on Hercules, she carefully drew the blood sample. “There we go, big guy,” she murmured, pressing a cotton swab to the small puncture site. “All done.”

“You have a gift with him,” Old Ma Hinchcliffe complimented.

“I’ve always found animals a lot easier to understand than people,” Tammy admitted with a small smile.

“I know exactly what you mean,” Old Ma Hinchcliffe replied.

She patted Hercules’ flank one last time before stepping back. “I’ll send this sample to the lab, and we should have results in a few days. In the meantime, keep an eye on him and let me know if you notice any changes in his behavior.”

Old Ma Hinchcliffe nodded, her steely eyes now filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Tammy. It’s good to know you are here helping out your uncle. I feel bad about what happened, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise.”

“How so?” Tammy asked, her curiosity piqued.

Old Ma smiled knowingly. “Well, sometimes life has a way of steering us where we need to be, even if it’s not where we thought we wanted to go. You might just find that Bear Creek has more to offer than you expected.”

Old Ma arched her eyebrows and glanced toward Dougray and heat spread across Tammy’s cheeks.

Her gaze inadvertently followed Old Ma Hinchcliffe’s to Dougray before glancing away. She busied herself with packing up her equipment, trying to ignore the flutter in her stomach at Old Ma’s words, which mirrored her uncle’s.

“I suppose you’re right,” she said. “Uncle Gavin would never have admitted he needed help if he hadn’t injured his ankle.”

Old Ma cackled again as she turned Hercules around and removed his halter. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I meant, isn’t it, Hercules?”

Hercules gave a soft snort and then lowered his head to eat the grass beneath an old apple tree.

As Tammy watched Hercules graze peacefully, a sense of contentment washed over her. Old Ma Hinchcliffe was right. This was where she was supposed to be.

She might not like the route she had taken to get here, but she had a feeling her destination might be worth the heartache she had endured.

“Well, I suppose we should head back,” Dougray’s deep voice broke through her reverie. “It’s good to see you and Hercules.”

“And you, too, Dougray.” Old Ma Hinchcliffe paused as she placed her hand on the gate. With a glance toward Tammy, she added, “I’m happy for you. For both of you.”

Tammy’s cheeks flushed a deeper pink as she snapped her bag shut, her mind racing. There was no doubt in her mind what Old Ma Hinchcliffe was referring to.

But how did she know? Was it that obvious?

“Thank you, Old Ma,” Dougray replied smoothly, his voice betraying nothing. “And if ever you need a hand around the place, you know where I am.”

“Thanks, son.” With that, Old Ma Hinchcliffe walked toward the house, leaving Tammy alone with Dougray.

“She knows?” Tammy hissed as soon as Old Ma Hinchcliffe was out of earshot.

“About us being mates?” Dougray asked.

“Yes.”

“It’s not hard to pick up on when you’ve been around as long as Old Ma Hinchcliffe,” Dougray replied.

“Really?” Tammy’s brow creased.

“Really.” Dougray chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Are you ashamed of me?”

“No,” she insisted firmly. “It’s just… Well, up to a week ago, I was engaged to another man. And this will look as if…”

“You are on the rebound.” Dougray nodded in understanding. “Don’t worry. Old Ma Hinchcliffe is as discreet as they come. She won’t be spreading any gossip around town.”

Tammy let out a long breath. “I guess I’m just not ready to be the topic of another round of small-town gossip.”

“The thing is…” Dougray began, stepping closer to her. “A whirlwind romance in Bear Creek is so common, it’s hardly gossip-worthy.”

A delicious shiver ran down her spine at his proximity. “Is that so?” she managed to say, her voice a little breathier than she intended.

Dougray nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. “It is.”

“And what about you?” Tammy asked, her heart racing. “Are you ready for the town to know about...us?”

“I’ve waited so long to meet you.” Something fierce flickered in his eyes. “Tammy, I’d shout it from the rooftops if you’d let me. But I understand if you need time.”

His words sent a rush of warmth through her. She found herself leaning toward him, drawn by an invisible force. “I appreciate that,” she murmured.

For a moment, they stood there, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions. Tammy felt her breath catch as Dougray’s hand came up to gently cup her cheek. His touch was warm, his hands, calloused from years of ranch work, incredibly tender.

“Tammy,” he whispered, his voice husky. “I know this is all happening fast, but I want you to know that I’m here. For whatever you need, whenever you’re ready.”

She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment. When she opened them again, his lips were so close, and she wanted nothing more than to kiss him.

Part of her wanted to shout it from the rooftops, too. To tell the world she had found a man, her mate, the one fate had chosen for her. The one who would never leave her, never betray her…

Tammy slipped her arm around his neck and leaned into him. A small smile flickered across Dougray’s lips, and then he kissed her.

Tammy sighed as her lips parted and she melted into the kiss, her body molding against Dougray’s solid frame. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened. Heat flared across her skin, and her stomach clenched with longing.

Who was she to hide from fate? Maybe she should simply take hold of her destiny firmly in both hands and tell everyone she had fallen in love with a cowboy.

When they finally parted, both slightly breathless, Tammy rested her forehead against Dougray’s chest. His heartbeat was strong and steady beneath her ear, a comforting rhythm that seemed to sync with her own.

“I think,” she murmured, “I might be ready sooner than I thought.”

Dougray’s arms tightened around her, and she felt him press a kiss to the top of her head. “The kiss was that good, huh?”

“Oh, yeah, it made me go weak at the knees.” She put her hand to her forehead and feigned a swoon. “You swept me right off my feet, cowboy .”

Dougray chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. “Well, I aim to please, ma’am.”

Tammy laughed, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. She stepped back, but kept her hand in Dougray’s, not quite ready to break contact completely.

“We should probably head back,” she said, glancing at the setting sun. “Uncle Gavin will be wondering where we’ve gotten to.”

Dougray nodded, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it. “You’re right. Though I have to admit, I’m not in any hurry to let this moment end.”

“Me neither,” she admitted. “Although it feels as if this might have been a waste of time. Hercules seems just fine. I have no explanation for what happened before.”

“I might have,” Dougray said as they walked back to the truck.

“You do?” Tammy asked. Had she missed something? Her confidence in her ability to treat larger animals was about to take a nosedive.

But then Dougray added, “For a moment, I could sense something out there.”

“Out there .” She turned to look at the distant mountain peaks.

“Yeah.” He nodded and reached to open the tailgate for her. “How do feel about an evening ride?”

“Tonight?” Tammy slid her bag into the truck bed.

“Do you have anything better to do?” Dougray asked, as he shut the tailgate and made sure it was secure.

“Not now, I don’t.” As she went around to the driver’s side, she stared out into the distance once more, not for the first time wishing she had shifter senses.

But she was just going to have to rely on her mate.