Page 29 of Texas Made
“How do you know it’s his?”
“I recognize the sound.” He laughed and added, “It’s diesel and it’s crazy loud. Can we talk more later?”
“Okay. But you’re right, it’s my decision. I just need to try to look at it objectively.”
“Come on,” Marshall said. “I’ll introduce you to Jason.”
Jaclyn followed him out of the stall and to the wide center aisle of the barn to the front opening. A man was getting something out of the truck bed. He turned around with a satchel of what she assumed were veterinary tools and greeted Marshall.
“Hey, Marshall,” the tall, good-looking man said. “My patient in her stall?”
“She is. This is Jaclyn Carson,” he said, indicating Jaclyn. “Jaclyn, meet Jason Barrett.”
He wasn’t simply tall. He was a big guy too. Not massive but big, with well-defined muscles you could see even with his shirt on. Wrestling cows and horses undoubtedly made for a strong person. He had piercing sea-blue eyes, medium-length brown hair and if she hadn’t been in love with Marshall she’d have been flirting with him like crazy.
Hold it. I’m in love with Marshall.How had that happened? It wasn’t supposed to happen. And it was far from a good thing, since she’d be going back to Dallas and there was no way Marshall would or even could leave Whiskey River. She wouldn’t expect him to.
She stood outside the stall, watching the two men. Marshall was crooning to Snowdrop, telling her what a good, brave horse she was. She’d known Snowdrop was special to him but seeing him with her now, how sweet and patient he was with his mare, just solidified to her what a good guy he was. Snowdrop was his foundation broodmare, so it made sense. But it was quite clear that Snowdrop was more than simply business to Marshall.
The vet knelt down by Snowdrop’s leg, cleaning the wound, she assumed, since he was pouring some kind of liquid over it. It didn’t seem to faze the mare. In fact, Marshall seemed a lot more shaken up than his horse did.
She heard Damaris before she saw her. “I’m pretty sure I found what it was,” she was saying as she approached the stall. She carried a large piece of splintered wood that on closer inspection looked like it had blood and hair on it.
“Let’s see it,” Marshall said, holding out a hand.
Damaris gave it to him. “Oh, Jason. I didn’t realize you were here yet.”
“Hello, Damaris. I came as soon as I could.”
“By the way, Jason, how was your date with Penny?”
“She’s a nice girl.”
“Well, that’s the kiss of death,” Damaris said, disgusted.
He laughed. “You can tell Angel and Chantel that it was a bust. The thought of sticking your hands into the insides of a cow or horse nixed that idea in the bud. I’m actually surprised she made it through dinner.”
“Hello, can we see to Snowdrop instead of discussing your dating life?” Marshall asked irritably.
Damaris laughed and in an aside to Jaclyn said, “My sister-in-law, Chantel, and her sister Angel are matchmakers. Informally.”
“I hope they’ve been more successful than it sounded like that one was.”
“Oh, they have. That’s how Chantel and Gabe started dating. She tried to set him up with someone else.”
“How funny. I remember now she said something about that the first time we met. When Gabe warned me she might be trying to set me up.”
“Less chatter,” Marshall said sternly.
“It’s not too bad,” Jason told Marshall. “She’ll need penicillin, but it should heal fine. I’ll stitch her up.”
“Good. I wonder where she got into this wood? It looks like part of the fence but I don’t recall seeing a break in it. Where did you find it, Damaris?”
“Close to where you found her, in the far side of the pasture. It looks like one of the horses kicked it and broke off this piece.”
“I’ll fix it first thing in the morning. Lucky you found it so quickly.”
Before long the vet had stitched up the mare. “Is this your last call?” Marshall asked Jason.
