Falling For The Single Mom

“Well, ma’am,” he responded in his best down-home accent, “I think you’ll find we do things a little differently around here.”

“I’ve never lived anywhere other than Michigan,” she confided. “I guess I have some things to learn about how things work in Kentucky.”

Josh had no doubt that before long she’d have men lined up to give her a few lessons on the subject. Not him, of course, he thought with a muted grin. She’d made it plain that she wasn’t interested in him. While he didn’t understand her chilly behavior toward him, he’d been raised to have a healthy respect for women. Especially the feisty ones.

When he realized she still hadn’t made a move to go inside, he turned to her with a sympathetic smile. “Nervous?”

“A bit.” Peering into the vacant lobby, she frowned in concern. “This is my first time being in charge of a veterinary practice, and I’m not sure what to expect.”

In her confession, Josh heard that she wasn’t worried about the actual doctoring, but about handling the people involved. Inspiration struck, and he said, “Around here, we get some of every critter around. How ’bout a tour of the animals before you meet the staff?”

“Are you sure? I mean, don’t you have other things to do?”

Josh had never had to contend with a nerve-racking first day on the job, or moving with a child hundreds of miles from the only home he’d ever known. But he could imagine it was pretty intimidating, even for this intelligent woman making a career in such a challenging field. His late father had taught them all that a little patience went a long way with most creatures, whether they were the four-legged or the two-legged kind. “Yeah, but they can wait a while longer.”

He skirted the kennel building and took her out to where temporary corrals held an interesting collection of wild animals healing before being released back into the forest. Today, the group included a mother duck with a broken wing and her fuzzy yellow brood of ten, an injured armadillo and a llama that had escaped from somewhere and taken up residence in a local farmer’s herd of dairy cows.

As they strolled along the enclosure, Josh filled her in on how each animal had come to be here and what he knew of the plans to rehabilitate and release them back to their homes. While he was talking, a new arrival ambled over and eyed them with obvious curiosity.

Heather’s eyes just about popped out of her head. “Is that a bear cub?”

“Yeah. My niece and nephew named him Teddy. You’ve never seen one?”

“Sure, in zoos and on TV. Never up close like this.” She glanced around and said, “Mama bears don’t normally stand by and just let you scoop up their babies. I wonder where she is.”

Josh had a hunch about what had happened to the absent mother, but he kept his mouth shut to avoid distressing this lovely city girl with one of the less appealing facts of country life. But she was a sharp woman, and after thinking on it for a few moments, she frowned. “Hunters, right?”

“That’d be my guess. Bears are pretty smart, so they don’t tangle with cars, and not many big trucks come through here.”

“What a shame,” she commented sadly, hunkering down to greet the orphaned cub that was coming to the rail of his enclosure to check them out. Unlike many folks who visited, she was smart enough not to reach through the fence to pet him. In spite of her caution, Josh had no trouble picking up on her sympathy for Teddy. Apparently, neither did the bear, which sidled over and gazed curiously at her. “What’s going to happen to this poor baby?”

“There’s a wildlife rehabilitator who works here as a volunteer. She’ll figure out what he needs and make sure he can take care of himself when they let him go.”

Heather stood and faced Josh, interest lighting her eyes. “You seem to know a lot about this place. I thought you were in charge of the farm.”

Josh couldn’t keep back a laugh. “Not hardly. Big brother Mike runs the horse training business, and Drew’s our foreman when it comes to the farmwork. I manage the fields and try not to lose us too much money.”

When he laid it out that way, he realized that his job didn’t sound like much, but it had taken up most of his waking hours since he was ten years old. While he didn’t usually dwell on the impression he made on folks, he couldn’t help wondering what this highly educated woman thought of his very simple existence.

“I’ve never lived on a farm myself, but I think there’s a lot more to it than that.”

Josh pretended to consider her comment before shaking his head. “Nope. That pretty much sums it up. Works for me, though. I like keeping things uncomplicated.”

“So do I,” she agreed with a quick laugh. “Unfortunately, in my world they never seem to stay that way.”

“You’re talking about your niece?” She nodded, and he took the opportunity to find out more about her. “Mind if I ask what happened?”

“There’s not that much to tell. When Bailey was two, her mother, Polly, died from complications after an operation. My brother Craig had his hands full working and being a single dad. Bailey was visiting me this past February, and I got a call from the Michigan State Police.” Her chin began to tremble, and she paused for a deep breath before going on. “Craig’s car hit a patch of ice and ran straight into a bridge support on the interstate. He died on impact, and Bailey’s life changed forever.”

“And yours,” Josh added somberly. That explained her immediate connection to Teddy. An orphan like Bailey, he was alone in the world and needed someone to take care of him until he could fend for himself.

“I love her to pieces,” Heather murmured with a gentle smile. “But she’s still lost without her daddy. It breaks my heart to see her suffering, and I wish there was more I could do to help her.”

“I’m not a dad myself, but from what I’ve seen in my own family, kids need love and attention more than anything. Give her those and some time, and she’ll be okay.”

She stared up at him in obvious amazement. “That’s incredibly good advice.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I am, and that almost never happens.”

Heather eyed Josh with the kind of respect he seldom received. Being the youngest Kinley, and laid-back to boot, meant that folks often didn’t take him seriously. This pragmatic woman, with her quick mind and gorgeous blue eyes, had apparently noticed something in him that most people missed.

It seemed to him that there was more to this jaded city girl than met the eye. And he was just intrigued enough to wonder if she might eventually give him the chance to get to know her better.

Chapter Two

The guided tour gave Heather an opportunity to get her bearings and develop a sense of the place where she’d be working. Huge oak trees outlined the clearing that housed the clinic, kennel and a couple of barns that Josh had explained were reserved for injured wild animals that people had brought in for care. A structure with several brand-new sections of lumber amid more weathered planks caught her eye, and she asked, “What’s back there?”

“Feed and bedding storage,” he explained in a somber tone. “We had a bad fire in there last fall, but fortunately my sister-in-law Bekah was here to sound the alarm, and no one was hurt. Now there’s a fire detection and sprinkler system, but the staff decided that it’s still a good idea to keep the dry stuff away from the animals.”

“That makes sense.”

“So, that’s everything out here. Ready to go in and meet the rest of your crew?”

“Sounds good,” she responded, hoping she sounded confident and dependable. She might be the new kid in town, but she was a full-fledged veterinarian now, and she was more than capable of managing a small clinic like this. At least, that’s what she wanted everyone to believe. If any of them suspected that she was a step short of terrified, they’d never give her the respect she needed if she was going to be effective. Not to mention, she didn’t want anyone expressing any doubts to their boss. Succeeding here was crucial for Bailey, and unusual as this assignment might be, Heather knew she’d have to find a way to make it work.

From Josh’s long, assessing look, she realized that despite his casual manner and country boy grin, he wasn’t the least bit fooled by her bravado. She waited for him to call her out, but instead he gave her an understanding smile. “Would you like me to stick around and introduce you to everyone?”

She had to admit she liked the way he asked her for her approval rather than simply bulldozing ahead. So many people—especially men—took one look at her and assumed that she wasn’t capable of managing difficult situations on her own. Stumbling across a guy who thought otherwise was a wonderful surprise. “That would be nice. Thank you.”

“Not a problem. First days are tough.”

He strolled past her to open the door and stepped aside to let her go in first. Bolstered by his encouraging words, she walked through it feeling prepared for whatever might await her on the other side. The lobby was no longer empty, and when she saw what was going on, her confidence began to waver.

There, on a blanket in the middle of the floor, lay a motionless cat that had obviously been hit by a car. As if that wasn’t heart-wrenching enough, two women were sitting cross-legged beside her, staring down at something she couldn’t see. Edging closer to avoid startling anyone, Heather understood why.

Three tiny kittens were curled up in a towel stretched across one of the nurse’s laps, eyes closed while they mewed silently, hunting for their mother. The other woman was cooing at another set of four, gently stroking them while they cried. At one point, she lifted her shoulder, wiping tears from her cheeks with the sleeve of her blood-stained T-shirt.

Finally, she sat back with the tiniest kitten Heather had ever seen cuddled against her chest. “I count eight altogether, Bekah. How are yours doing?”

“Shaky but still with us,” the other woman replied in a sad voice. “I don’t know how you managed to save all these babies, Sierra.”

“God wanted all of them to make it, so He made sure they were on the side of the road where I’d see them,” she commented, touching noses with the tiny creature in her arms. “I just wish we could’ve saved your mama for you, little one.”

“Awesome job, you two,” Josh approved quietly. “And you couldn’t have arranged a better way to impress our new vet if you’d tried.”

The two women traded a shocked glance before looking up at her, and Heather realized they’d been so focused on their patients, they hadn’t noticed her come in. Instantly, she knew she was in the right place. She’d have no trouble working with people who were that devoted to the animals they cared for.

“Don’t let me interrupt what you’re doing. But if you’d like a hand, I’ll be happy to help.”

“Sierra Walker, Bekah Kinley, this is Heather Fitzgerald.” Josh made the introductions, pointing each of them out as he spoke so they’d know who was who. Then he knelt to gently wrap the dead cat inside the blanket. “You ladies tend to the babies while I take Mom out back to the pet cemetery and find a nice spot for her.”

After he’d gone, Heather felt a little lost. Falling back on years of crisis training, she summoned a helpful smile and asked, “What would you like me to do first?”

“If you can take this one,” Sierra replied, handing off the helpless scrap of fur, “Bekah and I can scoop up the rest, and we’ll take them all back to the nursery.”

A quick peek told Heather the kitten she held was a female, and she instinctively brought the small cat into her neck where it could snuggle against her warm skin. The fuzzy darling nosed its way into a dangling lock of Heather’s hair and let out a sigh that would have shattered a heart made of granite. Heather followed the other two women into a small room whose floor was occupied by nests made from flannel sheets and soft blankets.

They settled the litter of kittens in one of the cocoons together, and Heather sat down to get a better look at them. Their colors ran the spectrum of browns from tiger to calico, ranging in size from small to downright tiny. If any of them weighed a pound, she’d be astounded. Not wanting to disturb them any more than necessary, she lightly passed a hand over each one, feeling for injuries or labored breathing that would indicate distress.

The seven larger ones seemed more or less stable, and they clustered together in a warm lump, using each other for pillows. The runt didn’t seem even remotely interested in joining the group, and she collapsed in an exhausted pile at the edge of their nest, her face pinched and her delicate frame shuddering with every shallow breath.

“I don’t like the looks of this one,” Heather commented somberly. “Do you have an incubator?”

“Sort of.” Sierra half closed the door and took something from a hook attached to the back. She held it out with a grin. “It’s a sling they sell for mothers of preemies. The fabric is soft and light enough to let them breathe. I’ve found it works well for critter babies, too.”

“What a great idea. If you don’t mind, we can take turns with it.”

“You want to papoose a kitten while you’re working?” Bekah asked.

Heather answered by pulling on the hammock-like device and carefully setting her frail charge inside. “She’s not that heavy, so as long as I’m not seeing patients, I can manage.”

“I’ve never met a vet who’d even think of doing that,” Sierra informed her with a smile. “I think we’re gonna get along just fine.”

The quick, heartfelt approval chased off the last of Heather’s lingering nervousness. “We’re more than just coworkers here. We’re a team, and everyone should pull their own weight, including me.”

“Of course, these days some of us have more weight to pull than others,” Bekah joked, smoothing her hands over a modest baby bump. The rings sparkling on her left hand caught Heather’s eye, and she felt a twinge of envy for the pretty young mother-to-be. Then again, she reminded herself, she’d chosen to postpone having children until after she was firmly established in her own veterinary practice. It was a logical decision, and she was comfortable with the choice she’d made.

Most of the time.

“Will we be throwing you a baby shower soon?” Heather asked.

“I’m not due until August, so it’ll be a while still.”

“What are your plans after that?”

“I’d like to keep working here, but that will depend on the baby,” she answered truthfully. “Family first.”

“Absolutely,” Heather agreed, fearing that she might have overstepped her professional boundaries. Most people she’d worked with were stiffly polite, not open and friendly like these two. Now that she thought about it, Josh and Cam had made her feel right at home, too. Apparently, the residents of this small Kentucky town were the warm, welcoming type. This made her hopeful that Bailey would enjoy Oaks Crossing more than she had Detroit.

“Speaking of family,” Sierra said while she mixed kitten formula in a container, “Erin told us you have a niece who lives with you. Does she like animals?”

“Loves them. She’s settling in at the day care in town, but I’m planning to bring her to work with me sometime next week to see the menagerie we’ve got here. I’ll have to make sure she never sees this little darling, though,” she added, ticking the sleeping kitten’s pink nose with her fingertip. “I’m afraid if that happened, we’d end up keeping her.”

“Occupational hazard.” Sierra chuckled. “If my landlord allowed pets, I’d have a dozen of them.”

“When they’re old enough, Erin will take them to Pampered Paws and display them in the front window,” Bekah assured her, rubbing the striped forehead gently. “These cuties won’t last more than a few days there.”

It hadn’t occurred to Heather that living above the pet store would mean that she and Bailey would be walking past adorable babies every day. While she was practical enough to bypass the temptation, she wasn’t sure that a five-year-old would understand why they couldn’t adopt some of their furry visitors.

Then again, if they already had a cat, she’d have a built-in excuse to say no to more. It couldn’t hurt to think about it, anyway. A pet might also coax Bailey out of her shell and help her adjust to her new home more quickly. Because Heather wasn’t used to worrying about anything other than her job, she felt very out of her element trying to help her troubled niece.

While she was debating, Josh poked his head in through the open top half of the Dutch door. “Everything good in here?”

“More or less,” Sierra replied while she filled small bottles and capped them with even smaller rubber nipples. “We could use an extra set of hands, though. Have you got time?”

He sent Heather a questioning look, which she didn’t understand. Then it occurred to her that while she considered herself an outsider, the others already viewed her as being in charge of the clinic. It didn’t feel quite right to her, but she assumed she’d get used to it. Eventually.

“The more the merrier,” she said.

“My mom always says that,” he commented as he joined them, closing the door to keep anyone from escaping.

“Mine, too,” Heather told him with a smile. “That’s how my dad ended up starting out his retirement touring Europe in an RV with her, a Pomeranian and four parakeets.”

“Sounds loud.” Josh chuckled, taking a bottle from the counter before sitting on the floor beside the kittens. His long legs stretched out in front of him, he lifted a bawling tiger and cradled it against him in a practiced motion.

The small room didn’t have much space for spreading out, so Heather resigned herself to settling next to him with a bottle of her own. “I’m guessing you’ve done this before.”

“Everyone in the family likes to help out down here when we can. Except Mike,” he added with a grin. “Our Kentucky cowboy’s got his hands full wrangling all those horses.”

“I noticed them in the fields when we were driving out here. It looks like you have everything from Thoroughbreds to Shetland ponies.”

“My great-grandfather started out training horses for the military in World War I, then Dad trained racehorses. After he passed away, that business disappeared and we came pretty close to losing the farm. Mike’s kind of a horse whisperer, and he came up with the idea to school retired racehorses and sell them to folks for riding.”

“What about the others? I saw a Belgian in the front pasture, grazing next to an Arabian.”

“Mike rescues some from bad situations, others come from owners who can’t keep ’em anymore and want them to have a good home. If they don’t get adopted, they stay here with us,” he added, grinning down at the slurping kitten. “We’re just a bunch of softies around here, aren’t we?”

Heather smiled at the sight of the tall, brawny farmer cuddling the helpless animal, speaking to it in the kind of gentle tone most people reserved for children. While she had no intention of complicating her life any further right now, she couldn’t deny that he had a special brand of bright, sunny charm.

It was a good thing she’d already committed to staying single for the sake of Bailey and her career. Otherwise, Josh Kinley might have proved to be impossible to resist.

* * *

“Hello?”

It was Thursday afternoon, and Josh was buried underneath the oldest tractor in the county, trying to wrestle the drive belt back into place, when he heard a now-familiar voice. Hauling himself out hand over hand, he looked up to find Heather staring down at him with an amused look on her face.

“Hey there, Doc. What brings you out here?”

“It’s my lunch hour, so I decided to go exploring.” She looked around her at the overgrown field, out toward the neatly plowed acreage in the distance, and then back at him. “I’m not an agricultural expert, but this looks like it’s pretty far from where you’ve been working. Do you mind if I ask what you’re doing?”

The crop portion of the farm was his domain. His brothers and their few hired hands were fully occupied with the horses, so Josh was used to doing his own thing without anyone questioning him. As much a part of him as his blue eyes, these rolling hills were the legacy Josh hoped to pass along to his own children someday.

Lately, though, the red numbers had been sinking lower by the month, no matter how hard they all worked. If they didn’t come up with something brilliant to bring in some cash on a regular basis, they’d be forced to sell off chunks of land for the first time in the farm’s long history. And that would be the beginning of the end for Gallimore Stables.

Josh was known as the upbeat one in the family, and for their sake he kept his outlook rosy. But even a determined optimist like him had to acknowledge that something concrete needed to be done, and quickly. So he’d devised a plan but hadn’t told anyone, not even Mom. But he’d been dying to share it with someone, and since it didn’t impact her directly, Heather seemed like a good choice.

“Well, I could tell you,” he said with a grin, “but you have to keep it to yourself.”

Enthusiasm sparkled in her eyes, and she nodded. “I promise.”

After describing the circumstances to her, he explained what he was up to. “So, I did some research and found out that a lot of corn in Kentucky is sold to the ethanol market. To be made into gasoline.”

“I know what ethanol is,” she informed him tartly.

Smothering a grin, he went on. “I got the idea when my nephew Parker built a biodiesel engine for a science fair. I had let this section go fallow to rest, so it was ready for planting this year. I’m just putting in a different kind of corn this time, and then I’ll pray the prices stay where they are till harvest time.”

“That’s a good idea. I hope it works out the way you want it to.”

Her cautious tone made him frown. “You sound like someone who has some experience with plans going awry.”

“More than I’d like,” she admitted softly, as if she hated to confide that to him. Uncertainty darkened her eyes before giving way to the cool look he’d noticed earlier. “When I saw you over here I thought I’d come see if I could help somehow.”

Josh glanced over her neat blouse and trousers, down to the sensible but pretty shoes she was wearing. “You sure about that?”

“I might be a city girl, but I’m no stranger to dirt. Besides, I owe you for the time you spent with the moving van and all those kittens the other day. What can I do?”

She seemed bound and determined to lend him a hand, so Josh hunted for something she could do that wouldn’t leave her either filthy or hurt. “Well, I guess you could brace this for me—” he grasped the shifter “—while I rethread the belt onto the pulleys.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she admitted with a cute half grin, “but I understand the bracing part. Just let me know when I should let go.”

“Will do.”

As he slid back underneath the ancient machine they called The Beast, Josh couldn’t keep from wondering if a walk was all that had brought her so far from the center. While he maneuvered the pieces back into alignment, he asked, “So how’re you getting along down there?”

“Fine. I’m learning about the animals a few at a time. Bekah’s wonderful with them, and Sierra’s very knowledgeable about everything.”

Josh picked up on the annoyance edging her tone and chuckled through the clanking of his wrench. “Yeah, she’s kinda bossy. I think that’s why Erin hired her. They’ve got the same charge-ahead approach to stuff.”

“So, you’re the youngest in your family?” When he grunted a reply, she went on. “I was, too. It’s not easy, is it?”

She was getting at something, but Josh had no clue what it might be. Distracted by his fascinating visitor, he lost his grip on the belt and the entire pulley system let go, jamming his hand against the rusty metal housing. Biting back a curse, he scrambled free to check the damage.

“Oh, that looks bad,” Heather announced, crouching down for a closer inspection of his hand. Then she gave him a knowing look. “You’re thinking something really bad right now, aren’t you?”