Page 84 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

“Keep her moving,” Hudson scrubbed a hand down his face.“Don’t let her roll.”

Hudson pivoted and stalked toward the adjoining cow barn.He called out, “Gia?”

Giawashere.With Hudson.

I’d been stubborn in not reaching out to her after her plea to help Josh.Everything with Jackson had been a lot.I’d planned to call last night, but I hadn’t worked out what to say.Was she already sliding into something with Hudson Raynes?

Doubtful.Not after the warning I gave him the other day.

I moved deeper into the shadows before circling around the back side of the barn.I had a hot need to hear exactly what Hudson needed to say to the woman I’d spent twenty-four hours stewing over until I realized I better convince her to marry me or I’d end up in jail or dead from stress.

Hudson’s voice carried through the open doorway, strained and exhausted.“Gia, can you palpate the mare?I need another opinion before I tell them surgery or euthanasia.”His voice lowered.“Please confirm.”

“You’re the specialist, Hud.You got the initials after your name.”Gia spoke with quiet confidence.No panic.No flirtation.Hell, she wasn’t even making eye contact.She continued to bandage the cow’s hoof.“I’m just a general large-animal vet.”

“Gia.Please.We’re going to lose her.They trust you more than me.”

Gia sighed as she finished the bandage.She nodded and released the cow’s hoof from the restraint.

I eased back toward the paddock entrance just as Hudson waved Shay and Ken over.“Bring her here.”

The mare stumbled toward them, half sedated, half mad with the need to roll.Every few feet she tried to sink to her knees.Shay was openly sobbing.

Gia slipped on a plastic sleeve, her expression turning flat and clinical as she examined the horse.The entire barn seemed to hold its breath.Then she looked up at Hudson and gave one grim nod.

Hudson closed his eyes for half a second.That told me everything before he even spoke.

Gia’s startled gaze collided with mine when she saw me there.

“What’s wrong, Dr.Gia?”Shay whispered.

Ken immediately wrapped an arm around his daughter like instinct had already prepared him for the blow.

“She’s not responding to treatment.”Hudson stopped as if he couldn’t go further.

Gia reached out and took Shay’s hand.Softly, she said, “She has surgical colic.”Her voice was steady.“Without surgery, she’s going to die.If we don’t do surgery, we should put her down.”

Shay made a broken sound.

Gia kept going anyway because that’s what doctors like her did.“Even with surgery, there are no guarantees.It’s expensive, and time matters here.I’m sorry.I know you love her so much.”She pulled Shay into her arms for a big hug.

Ken swallowed hard.“Can you do it, or Dr.Raynes?”

Gia shook her head.“I’m not an equine surgeon.But…” She nodded at Hudson.

Hudson hesitated.“My place is two hours south.It’s too far.You’d have to trailer her to the vet school or Apex.They’re only a little over an hour.I can call ahead and?—”

“She won’t make that long a haul,” Gia cut in softly.

The mare groaned and tried to go down again.Ken shoved her upright while Shay cried harder.

“What about Vision?”Ken asked desperately.“They got that new-fangled surgery building.”

Hudson looked at Gia instead of answering, putting the pressure on her.

Gia frowned.“Our two lead surgeons are out of town lecturing in Ohio.That leaves Dr.Green to do the cuts right now while they’re out.She’s okay in surgery, but she’s at the equine complex three hours south.”

I stepped forward and waved, getting everyone’s attention.I looked between them.“Gia, who’s the best surgeon within an hour that can save this horse?”