Page 4 of Broken Trust
“I need it. I’m winning that purse so I can take the summer off and enjoy some R & R at home in Wyoming.”
His eyes widen. “You? Taking a break?”
“A short one.”
We fall into a comfortable silence for a minute before the opening to the tent rustles and another bloody cowboy stumbles in.
“Busy night,” I say. “Where’s your help?”
I glance around, hoping to catch sight of Dr. Chastain’s lovely assistant.
“Don’t bother,” he says. “Ashley’s not here tonight.”
“Damn. She’s the only thing that makes our visits tolerable,” I say with a laugh and instantly regret it.
“That’s too bad because she’s leaving us this fall,” he says.
That catches my attention. “Yeah?”
Ashley has been a part of Dr. Chastain’s team for as long as I can remember, and she’s good at her job, helping to fix up busted cowboys.
“Her son is starting preschool in the fall, and she wants to be home more.” He adjusts the brace he placed on the bridge of my nose, making sure everything’s set. “Can’t fault her for that.”
“No,” I agree. “Family comes first. But, damn, we’ll miss her and her magic hands.”
He nods. “I’ve got a physical therapy applicant I’m considering—a doctorate student in Colorado, graduating next year. She worked as a certified medical assistant at a friend’s practice in Laramie while earning her undergrad. He was really impressed with her. She’ll actually be interning at a rodeo school near you this summer.”
“Yeah?” I say again, curiosity piqued. “Where at?”
“Wildhaven,” he confirms. “I’m looking forward to seeing how she performs there before I make a final decision.”
“Raintree-Storm Rodeo Academy?” I ask.
His brows lift slightly. “That’s the one.”
I grin, ignoring the pull in my face. “I’ll be working there this summer too.”
“Well, I’ll be,” he says. “Small world.”
“Yeah,” I say, leaning back carefully. “Wildhaven Storm Ranch—that’s my family’s place. My cousin Charli’s engaged to Bryce Raintree. Academy’s set up on our land.”
Bryce is currently on a two-year rodeo retirement tour before hanging up his hat for good, settling down, making Charli a housewife, planting babies in her, and running the academy full-time.
He lets out a low whistle. “That is a small world.”
“Who’s the student?” I ask. “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
He glances at me as he finishes taping. “A Miss Asbury.”
I frown slightly. “Asbury …”
He nods.
“Yep,” he says, “Jovie Asbury.”
I bark out a laugh, then wince again because that was a mistake. “You’re kidding me.”
“What?” he asks, stepping back to assess his work.
