Skyler was surprised. “That’s funny. The last few days, she doesn’t appear to be in that much pain during our training sessions. I was under the impression the leg was getting much better.”
Kate scratched her head. “Hell, I don’t know. Jessica has always been a very private person, but she’s really closed down since the accident. Maybe she needs some professional help.”
Their conversation was cut short when Jessica and Tory returned. As Tory injected a numbing agent in the skin around the splinter, Jessica asked, “Is that the same thing they use on humans?”
“It’s similar,” Tory said. “Carbocaine lasts a bit longer than the lidocaine they use on people. Vets use it because you can’t exactly lay an animal down on a table and have easy access to the wound. So, it sometimes takes longer to stitch them up.”
Skyler frowned. Jessica seemed really interested in what Tory was explaining. She didn’t want to think about why Jessica’s attention to Tory pissed her off. Turning to Kate, she said, “Well, it doesn’t take four people to take out a splinter.”
The two women working on Rampage didn’t seem to hear her. She stalked off toward the feed room, leaving Kate squinting quizzically at the vet and rider. It certainly looked like Tory and Jessica were hitting it off.
“Maybe I’ll get Tory to stay for dinner,” Kate said when she arrived in the doorway of the feed room a few seconds later. “A new friend could get Jessica to open up some.”
Over dinner, Jessica found the attractive vet a wonderful conversationalist. The subject matter, of course, was centered on horses. With Kate and Charlie rounding out the group, the conversation was lively and the time went quickly. When the time came for Charlie to get off to bed he was reluctant to leave and shuffled toward the stairs only after a stern look from Kate. Pausing at the bottom of the stairway, he announced, “Hey, you know what? When I grow up, I’m going to be a vet, too.”
The women laughed as he sprinted up the stairs.
“He’s really cute,” Tory said.
“Yeah, well, he wanted to be a trainer like Skyler until Jess arrived,” Kate said. “Then he wanted to be a rider. So tonight’s revelation doesn’t surprise me.” She sighed. “I would adopt him in a skinny minute, but he has an uncle coming to get him in about two weeks.”
They cleared the dishes and Tory picked up her jacket. “I’d better be heading home. My own animals haven’t been fed and I’ve got a few hours of paperwork waiting on me.” She turned to Jessica. “Walk me out?”
“Sure.” Jessica led the way. They paused on the porch and leaned against the railing.
“Kate says you haven’t been out at all since you got here,” Tory said.
“I guess I have been training pretty hard,” Jessica admitted. “Tonight, though, was great. I think it was the first time I’ve forgotten about my leg and training for even a few hours.”
“I have a problem myself putting work aside and just having fun. So, I thought maybe we could go to a movie or dinner sometime. I can always use another friend.”
“That sounds good.”
“Great. How about Friday night? I’ve been dying to try out that new Mexican restaurant in town.”
Jessica smiled. “I’d like that.”
“I’ll have to call you to let you know what time. I never know how my schedule is working out until the last minute… what with emergencies and stuff.”
“I can imagine.” Jessica looked into Tory’s beautiful eyes. “See you on Friday.”
As the veterinarian’s truck headed down the drive, her thoughts turned to Rampage. The anesthetic she’d injected into her knee that afternoon had long since worn off, but she needed to check on him before she turned in. She found her cane and hobbled wearily down the drive to the Creek Barn.
The stallion was lying down when she peeked into the stall, but got to his feet when she slid the stall door back. Her throbbing leg, the long line of stitches across the stallion’s chest, and the memory of freezing at the water jump suddenly weighed heavily and her eyes began to fill with hot tears.
“Hey, I thought I heard someone down here.” Skyler’s low, rich voice was the last straw. Jessica leaned against Rampage’s shoulder and choked back a sob.