Stables (Black Gulch Ranch #2)

6. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Char

Paisley is the first to wake up, but that’s normal. Ever since Matt left, her and I have slept in the big bed.

It’s comforting having someone to cuddle with, and there’s a piece of me that always wants to make sure she’s safe.

Even on mornings like this when she’s sideways and kicking against my tender ribs to try and wiggle her way out of the covers.

“Easy, sweetie.” I try not to grimace, but it really fucking hurts. “Let’s check your diaper before you run away from Mommy.”

Thank goodness Libby helped me get everything staged and handy last night.

I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.

Nope, just an asshole.

“Mommy, owwie?” Paisley’s chubby fingers reach up and brush my cheek.

It’s so hard not to cringe away, but she’s surprisingly gentle.

“I’m okay, baby. Thank you for being nice.” Gripping her palm, I kiss it before tugging her over. She’s a little warm again, so I measure out a dropper of Tylenol first.

At least she isn’t trying to wrestle with me this morning. I’m not sure I’d have the strength to win.

Getting her changed and buttoned back up, I help her slide off the bed so she can follow me down the hall.

Crap. I forgot to clean up the spilled medicine last night. I was so tired after her bath, we pretty much went straight under the blankets.

“Hold on, honey.” I try to get a hold of her before she toddles onto the linoleum. Knowing her, she’d run directly to the sticky puddle.

But it isn’t there.

The red mess is gone.

Dr. McCullough?

He didn’t have to do that. It was already a huge thing that he came to my house to check Paisley.

Giant.

Almost as big as he is.

He filled my tiny bathroom. I’m pretty sure his shoulders touched the wall and the counter at the same time when he squatted down. Strangely, it didn’t make me nervous being trapped in there with him.

Almost comforting.

It helps that he’s easy on the eyes.

Well. If I could see out of both of mine, that would be great.

Damn, he probably thinks I’m a train wreck.

Libby: I’m almost done. Caramel latte or vanilla?

I love how she doesn’t even ask if I want one. She knows me so well.

Me: Surprise me!

Libby: How’d last night go?

Me: Better than expected, but Paisley got a fever.

Libby: Oh no! Do you need me to pick anything up?

Me: No. Dr McCullough came by and took care of it.

Libby: WHAT? I’m on my way.

I can just imagine the look on her face. I bet her big blue eyes are popping out of their sockets over my last message.

My phone beeps again, but I leave it sitting on the counter while I make myself some breakfast. While splitting a small jar of homemade applesauce with Paisley, I start pulling out the can of coffee to start a pot.

Wait, if Libby’s bringing some, I don’t need to make any.

There’s a secret part of me that loves tea more, anyway. This morning I’m looking forward to a cup of chamomile to soothe some of the aches and pains.

Reaching up into the cupboard stops me.

Pain shoots through my chest so fucking bad when I raise my arm, it makes me gasp.

Why can’t Matt just leave me alone? What’s the point of showing up? It’s not like I’ll ever in a million years go back to him.

Is he tormenting me because I stood up to him?

My hands shake as I measure out the tea into the diffuser. The thought of having to look over my shoulder for him for the rest of my life is terrifying.

Next time, he might kill me.

Or even worse, hurt Paisley.

Tears blur my eyes. What would I do?

Obviously calling the cops doesn’t help. I still haven’t heard if Matt got arrested after yesterday.

Maybe I should run?

I don’t even know where to go. Libby still lives with her parents. Besides, I’d never ask that heavy of a favor.

The mortgage on this place is so high, it’d barely be paid off if I sold it.

It still pisses me off that I let Matt talk me into taking out a loan against the property so he could buy himself a new truck.

That he ended up wrecking.

I should get a tattoo that says “sucker” across my forehead, and build an iron wall around my heart.

The light knock on the door startles me out of my head.

Before I can say anything, Libby pushes it open and steps inside. “You really should be locking that, girl. What the heck?”

She smells faintly like the cow barn when she kicks her boots off and sits cross legged next to me on the couch.

Handing me a sweating iced coffee, her head cocks and she raises a brow over one of her bright blue eyes. “You look hideous. How’re your ribs?”

Wincing when the straw scuffs along the fresh scab on my lip, I try to shrug. “Sore as heck. Trying to figure out how I’ll be able to do chores.”

Every penny I have is wrapped up in the breeding and training program I’ve been working on for years. It’s finally starting to show some meager returns now that some of the foals I’ve raised and worked with are beginning to win ribbons.

But I’m a long way from being able to breathe financially.

“Oh, shit—I mean darn.” Libby claps her palm over her mouth and looks pointedly at Paisley.

My oblivious little girl is flipping through a picture book, so I don’t think she heard anything.

“I got some milk in the truck, I almost forgot.” Libby sets her drink on the table and bolts up. “I’ll be right back,” she calls behind her.

“Bye bye.” Paisley looks up and waves.

That makes me giggle hard enough to make my side pang. “She’s coming—”

Libby bursts back inside, proudly carrying a gallon jug. “Fresh from the boob this morning.” She grins, kicking her Xtratuffs off before moving toward the kitchen.

There’s the sound of rattling jars and the fridge opening and closing before I hear the hollow sound of the empty container hitting the garbage bin.

She comes back in and throws herself back onto the cushion next to me with a sigh, then pulls the shoulder strap to her coveralls back into place. “I didn’t think you’d be able to lift that thing for a couple of days, so I poured it into quarts for you.”

My throat threatens to close as tears sting my eyes. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Pssh.” She waves me off and takes a long drink from her latte. “You’d do the same, I know it. I’m sure one of these days I’ll have some crazy guy I’ll need rescuing from.”

Blinking away the burn, I smile at her with the less tender half of my mouth. “I doubt you’d ever have that problem, you’d probably just run him off with your pistol.”

Fuck, it hurts to laugh.

“But if you didn’t, I’d totally be there.” Holding up two fingers, I give her the best impression of a scout’s oath I can muster.

“Deal.” She winks at me before settling back. “Now. What the hell is this about that hot-ass doctor coming here? ” Her lips wrap around her straw as she wiggles her eyebrows.

“Funny. Paisley is fighting an ear infection, I guess. She spiked a fever last night and I broke my bottle of meds for her.” I still can’t believe he cleaned that mess up for me.

Libby shakes her head like she just ate something sour. Her blond ponytail whips around her ears. “Why didn’t you call me?” Her tone raises.

“You were working, remember? Besides, I already felt awful for how much of yesterday I took up.” My stomach tightens at the memory of Matt dragging me down the hall.

The pain.

And embarrassment when she saved me.

Her lips twist. “Girl. If you weren’t all sore, I’d shake some sense into you. Call me. You know I don’t make that offer lightly. I mean it.” She tightens her face into a glare before busting into a wide grin. “Okay, fine. Tell me more about that doctor.”

I’d shrug if it didn’t hurt. “Not much to tell. He came in while I had Paisley in the bathtub trying to cool her off.” And all I could pay attention to was how he filled that tiny space.

“Then he gave her a quick check over, and left me with a bottle of Tylenol.” And his smell of leather and oats.

It was faint, but still in the bathroom this morning.

“Oh. That’s not nearly as exciting as I was hoping for. He’s hot. And huge.” She leans forward and puts her fingers over her mouth. “Do you think he’s that big everywhere? ” Giggling, she takes another long sip of her coffee then swirls the ice.

“Well, I hadn’t thought about it, but now I am. Gee, thanks.” I don’t remember staring, but I saw how snug his scrubs were across his back. How they bound around his biceps when he lifted Paisley from the tub.

I was trying so hard to stay out of his way and hide my face, I didn’t look except when he couldn’t see me.

Every time he glanced at me, it wasn’t with pity, though. When I caught his gaze, his amber eyes would narrow. It’s almost like the sight of me made him angry.

Libby throws her feet onto the table, showing off her mismatched socks. “He’d be big enough to beat Matt’s ass, too.”

“You were more than enough to run him off with your pistol. That’s all it takes to scare Matt. He’s just a pus—” I bite the corner of my lip, barely remembering Paisley is listening. “He wouldn’t want to get hurt. He’s only mean when he’s the biggest threat.”

“Then I’ll stay as much as I can. Oh, I already checked on the horses for you. The water tank was full, and I knocked a bale down from the loft into the feeder.” She fidgets with the lip of her plastic drink container, popping it with her thumbnail. “I have to be gone a bit the rest of this week, though. We have a batch of first year fresheners working through the milk room, so it takes forever.”

“Libby.” My hand finds her elbow. “You already do so much, I really appreciate it. Please don’t feel guilty for not being able to do more than is humanly possible. I’ll keep my pistol close, I’ll be fine.”

A knot twists in my stomach.

If I was being honest, I’m terrified to be alone.