Page 52 of Roping Her In

She looked over to Jake. “We can tether them outside, can’t we? I can check them out there, and we can get things cleaned up in here.”

“I’ve been out twice a day to change their bedding,” Henry said as he returned. “I know it looks bad.” He sighed.

“It’s fine,” Hailey said. “I want to watch them walk.” She turned and collected a lead, then returned to the horse. “What’s his name?”

“Cocoa,” Henry said.

“Come on, Cocoa.” Hailey looped the lead around the horse’s neck, but she didn’t need it. He simply came with her, taking a moment to get his plodding step in line with hers. She led him right outside and passed him to Jake, so she could step back and watch him walk.

“He’s a bit short-strided,” she said. “But not bad.” She watched as Jake led him in a wide arc and came back. “No sores. No limp.”

Henry brought out the next horse, a pretty white and brown paint. “She’s got a little limp.” He gazed up at the animal. “Don’t you, Mickey?”

Hailey smiled at the horse and stroked one hand down the front of her nose. “Let’s take a look at you, girl.”

Henry held the rope while Hailey took another moment to ground herself with the animal. Then she slid her hand down the horse’s chest and leg—the front left one she’d been favoring. “She’s got an enlarged, inflamed frog,” she said, and she quickly reached into her pocket to pull out her phone, so she could start dictating.

Jake joined her, and Hailey nodded to the horse’s hoof, which wasn’t bleeding, but needed to be cleaned. “I think it’s probably the beginnings of thrush,” she said. “See how there’s that dark discharge along the edge?”

“I’ll get my farrier kit,” Jake said. “Let’s get it flushed and cleaned up and see what we’ve got.”

Hailey nodded and reached out to press gently against the frog. Mickey tolerated it but didn’t seem super happy. “I don’t see any visible puncture,” she said. “But this is definitely thrush, and she’ll need solid, dry footing for recovery.”

As she spoke, more voices joined the party, and she put down the horse’s leg and looked back toward the front of the house.

Dawson, Duke, and Brandon Rhinehart appeared, and Henry whooped, which startled both Hailey and the horse. He shoved the rope into her hand and went to greet the cowboys. Of course Hailey knew them—the Rhineharts lived on the ranch bordering Shiloh Ridge to the south.

Duke carried a toolbox, while Brandon and Dawson had various construction equipment—saws and lumber. “We’ll find the leak and get it fixed,” Duke said, and he ducked into the barn ahead of his brothers.

Jake shook hands all around and nodded to where Hailey stood with the two horses and Wrangler. “We’re out making our rounds. I’m sure you guys know Hailey.”

Dawson and Brandon both smiled and nodded silent hellos in her direction. Jake grinned at her too. “I guess I should just tell everyone that we’re dating.”

Henry tipped his head back and laughed. Then he held up his phone. “Bro, we know. Ty sold you out.” He grinned at Jake and clapped him on the shoulder while Hailey turned back to the horses.

A small smile touched her face, because she wasn’t embarrassed to be dating Jake. He finished up his conversation with the Rhineharts, and they moved into the barn with Henry.

“Let’s see what we’ve got,” he said, and he didn’t seem bothered by his friends’ good-natured ribbing, or the fact that Ty had told everyone on their text string that the two of them were dating.

Angel joined them, and she stood with Hailey as they watched Jake pick around the frog, clean it up, and carefully trim away the affected tissue.

“It’s not bad,” Jake said. “We’ll put on a topical antiseptic and leave some with you.” He nodded to Hailey, who’d do that. She handed him the ropes and moved over to the medical kit he’d brought out.

“It has to stay dry and open to the air.” He looked over to the barn. “I think your problem will be fixed shortly, and this isn’t too bad yet.”

“Thank you,” Angel said. “Henry’s practically been sleeping in the barn with these horses.”

Jake grinned at her and held Mickey steady while Hailey applied the antibiotic antiseptic to the horse’s hoof. “I can imagine,” he said. “You two live, breathe, and will sleep with horses.”

Angel grinned. “I mean, you’re not wrong.”

“Have you been to Lone Star since the storm?” Jake asked.

Hailey finished up with Mickey and stuck the tube of ointment in her pocket. She loved on the horses as Jake and Angel chatted, and then they checked the remaining two. One more had the first inklings of thrush, and Hailey cleaned the frog, treated the affected area, and put the antiseptic on herself this time, Jake guiding her every step of the way.

That done, she packed everything up and finally returned to where Jake stood with his friends. He immediately reached for her, sliding his fingers through hers and pulling her into the group.

And she went, easily fitting into the space beside him. No one made it a big deal, and she joined the conversation as if she belonged there.