“Wow. You’re a great assistant already.” Jude smiled for the first time since we’d arrived. “Sedative first to calm him down, then I’ll prep the area.”
I had seen plenty of blood draws, but a repair like this was new to me. However, I was able to follow Jude’s orders easily as he prepared the sedative. He carefully injected the sedative into a neck vein, and we waited a few minutes for it to take effect. As Jude had explained to the Youngs, Bono gave a series of soft snores as he drifted into a sleepy state.
The horse remained upright, though, even while sleeping, which was what we wanted. I moved so I could hold his head up and further soothe him while Jude shaved around the wound and cleaned in preparation for the stitches.
The whole process took a far shorter time than I’d expected. Jude’s extensive experience showed in every practiced movement. His small, even stitches were neater than some I’d had from field medics.
“Could have been an MD,” I joked as he finished stitching.
“Nah. Give me animals over human patients any day.” Stepping back from Bono, Jude examined his handiwork with a critical eye. “That should do it. I’ll text the Youngs now, so they can come have a look.”
Of course, there was much fussing over the horse and Jude both when the couple returned, but Jude was correct that their love for the horse shone through all their anxious concern.
“We can’t thank you enough, Doc.” Mr. Young pumped Jude’s hand up and down.
“Happy to help. You did the right thing by calling.” Jude escaped the handshake as I zipped the last case shut.
“Do you want payment now?” Mrs. Young patted her jeans pockets. “I’d have to go in the house to grab a card. Or can the business office send the bill?”
“No accounting department.” Jude gave the same chuckle my Aunt Georgia used when someone asked who did payroll for her diner. “But I’ll get the invoice sent round to your email. No worries.”
After another round of thanks, including a hug from Mrs. Young, we made our way back to the truck.
“That’s done.” Jude gave a heavy sigh as he slid behind the wheel, his exhaustion finally showing. I wished I could offer to drive, but I settled for a discreet pat on his thigh.
“Hungry?” I asked.
“Starving.” Jude’s stomach rumbled for good measure. “My place is closer, but do you need to get back to the ranch?”
“I’m in no hurry.” I stretched in my seat, anticipation over some alone time blooming low in my gut. “No curfew.”
“Good.” Jude shot me a heated look.
Hmm. Seemed he might be one of those people who liked to work his stress out between the sheets. And I was only too happy to help.
Chapter Eighteen
Jude
Tired and wired.I’d told Carson that stress tended to hit me after an emergency, so I shouldn’t have been surprised by my jangling nerves as we turned onto the long drive that led to my house.
“So this is my place.” I parked near the side of the house.
“It was your parents?” Carson likely knew that fact from his mother and aunt, but given land prices around the area, he’d also be justified in assuming a vet couldn’t afford even a small rural spread.
“And grandparents. And great-grandparents.” There were times that my legacy felt like heavy wool socks in August, but I also took pride in our history. “Our family arrived in the early 1900s, but the original homestead has been substantially sold off over the years. I lease haying and water rights to the rear parcel.”
“Nice extra income.” Carson was undoubtedly familiar with the endless local discussions around water being more valuable than the gold settlers had sought way back when.
“Yeah. It’s part of why I have more breathing room financially.” I hopped out of the truck. Mild guilt over the big purchase continued to prick at me. And when I parked at home, my parents’ thrifty ways haunted me. “My father was reluctantto do the land lease. He tended to be even more set in his ways than I am.”
“That’s possible?” Carson snorted, the sort of good-natured ribbing of a longtime friend.
“Oh yeah.” I chuckled because Carson had no idea the lengths my father had gone through to pay land taxes without leasing water rights and to keep his veterinary fees low. “Modernizing the practice some also improved finances, and Luna’s been terrific at bringing in the small animal clients. Dad only brought her on because my mom insisted before she passed. I made Luna a full partner after Dad died.”
“Some change is good.” Carson’s voice held the weight of experience. He’d certainly been through enough changes this year. I admired his resilience, but it was his compassion I appreciated the most.
I wasn’t entirely certain why I’d confessed my suspicions about Dad’s death to Carson, but unlocking that secret from the vault in my chest had felt like taking off a hundred-pound pack in the desert. Sharing with Carson was a pleasure I hadn’t known existed, let alone how much I needed it.
