My Cowboy of Convenience: Chapter 3

 Chapter 3 Erin

“What in the world am I doing? Why did I, Erin Murphy DVM,think it was a good idea to move to Texas?” I complained to my co-pilot. Theafternoon sun beat into the windows of the vet truck, heating the inside. Sweattrickled down the back of my neck and it was only the middle of April.

Clifford sighed and opened one eyeto look at me.

“I know I woke you up.” I rubbedhis long red ears. “Did you see the size of the spider in the bathroom thismorning?” I shuddered thinking of the large black spider crawling up the sideof the shower.

He nudged me with his nose beforetucking it back and falling to sleep.

“I know. I have to tough it out fora while. We can always move back home if Texas doesn’t work out. Not that Iwant to do that.” I sighed and thought about going home. Not desirable.

“It’s just that there are snakes,poisonous ones. And spiders.” I shuddered.

Clifford didn’t respond, not that Iexpected him too. He took his nap time seriously and spent twenty-three hours aday practicing it. I rubbed his long silky ears as we bumped down the gravelroad in my vet truck.

The first two weeks of myemployment went fast; from learning how they did things to meeting people topracticing medicine.

It was the long hours in betweenwork that seemed to stretch on forever. The walls of my duplex shrunk everynight and I found myself pacing with boredom. Even my online chess games andmystery novels didn’t help break up the time.

 The GPS signaled to turn into the long drivewith a gate blocking the entrance. I flipped through my notebook. This was myfirst day out in the country without Louisa or Connie. Patty hadn’t mentionanything about a gate that needed a code to enter when I left the office. Iopened my cell phone. The dreaded line through the bars. No reception. Nowwhat?

“How do I get in? Do you have anyideas, Clifford?”

He twitched in his sleep.

I tapped my fingers on the steeringwheel and chewed on my lower lip. What was I going to do?

A cowboy rode a horse down thedriveway. The horse tossed his head and danced the whole way. He turned hishorse toward the gate when he saw my veterinary truck. He trotted the horseforward to the outbox. He leaned over and hit the open button. The gate swungopen silently. He held the horse steady as the truck inched forward. The gateswung shut behind me. I rolled my window down and leaned out of it.

“Thanks, I didn’t realize I neededa code.”

The cowboy swept off his hat. Hisblack hair sticking up in all directions. “I forgot to tell Patty that we putin a gate, so it’s my fault. I’m Levi, the ranch foreman.” He slapped it backon his head. “Follow me to the barn.”

He turned his horse around and trottedin front of me. The drive made a wide sweeping turn before it forked. A largeranch house sat off on one side, shaded by trees. We followed the horse andrider to a red and white barn. A few horses stuck their heads out of the stalldoors and whinnied at the horse.

Levi dismounted and loosened thecinch on the saddle. I parked my truck in front of the barn, cracking thewindows.

“Be good, Clifford. This shouldn’ttake too long. You’re in the shade, the A/C is running, and the windows are cracked.No barking.”

He opened one eye and squeezed itshut again. I shrugged and exited the truck.

“So, you’re the new vet.” Leviapproached with his hand extended.

I grasped his hand. “Yep, that’sme. Dr. Erin Murphy.”

“I believe that you met my fiancé,Katie Kisment. She mentioned that the new doc was a woman.” He smiled at me.

I raked my memory. I met so manypeople, but the name stood out. “Oh, the pretty blonde girl I met at the coffeeshop.”

He nodded. “That would be her. I’vebeen looking forward to meeting you.”

“Really, why?”

“Doc said some good things aboutyou and my sister, Annie, saw you a couple of days ago with her new puppy. Sheliked you and Katie talks about you.”

A blush crept up my cheeks. “Idon’t know what to say. I ran into Katie for only a few minutes, and Annie’spuppy is cute.” I pulled my hair back into a ponytail. “Patty said you neededsome blood drawn for Coggins testing.”

“These are therapeutic ridinghorses. The kids are going to a horse show next month and need the blood testto attend. Follow me.” He led the horse into the barn.

I grabbed the supplies I needed andfollowed him in.

The barn was spotless. Brassnameplates on the stall doors announced each occupant. Halters and lead ropeshung next to each stall. The fresh-cut hay bales were stacked neatly at the endof the aisle.

Levi tied up the horse in his stallbefore coming back out.

“Alright, Doc, I need four done.Jasper, Billy, Penny the little pony, and Kit.” He haltered the first horse.

The job took a few minutes to drawblood and take pictures of the four horses for the blood test that allowed themto go to horse shows. I slid the last full tube into my green coverall pocketand capped the pen I used.

“That’s it. Patty said that theybill the ranch?”

“Yep, I’m just the ranch manager.Kade Kisment and Delilah Allen own the ranch.”

“Sounds good.” I wiped my hands onmy pants and turned to exit the barn.

“So…” Levi followed me out of thebarn. “Not trying to be creepy. But what do you like to do for fun?”

“That’s not creepy…yet… if youstart stalking me or buy me breakfast every morning…well, then…” I placed theblood tubes in the cooler in the truck.

He laughed.

I paused with my hand on the doorhandle of the truck. What did I do for fun? Play chess, read books. That makesme seem boring and unsocial. “For fun? I used to dance back home, but aftermoving and work, I haven’t had the time to join a studio.” I shrugged. Also, Ididn’t have the money, but he didn’t need to know that.

“Really.” A grin spread on hisface. “This is kind of awkward.” He ran a hand through his hair. “My fiancéwants me and my best man to take dance classes. She has this idea for our firstdance where we would dance with a couple of other couples. She hates being thecenter of attention.”

I frowned at him.

“The class requires us to comes ascouples for lessons. My best man needs a dance partner…”

“You want to know if I would come?”

“That’s the idea. Dance with himand help him learn the steps.”

“What about at the reception?Shouldn’t he be learning how to dance with the maid of honor.”

He shrugged. “She doesn’t livearound here. What do you say?”

I chewed on my lower lip. Thiswould break my boredom and I had a little room left on my credit card to put afew lessons on. Come on, Erin. You promised yourself that you try new things. Andthat decided it.

“I don’t know anyone here, so sureit would be fun.” I pulled out my business card, scribbling my cell number onthe back. “Text me the details and I can meet you there.”

He pocketed my card. “Lookingforward to it. Talk to you soon.” He headed back into the barn.

I climbed into my truck and turnedit back up the driveway.

“Well, Clifford.”

He raised his head off the seat. Irubbed his long soft ears.

“Texas may not be so bad.”