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She couldn’t explain how she knew. She just did. Maybe it was something to do with the light in his eyes and the way the heaviness of two weeks ago didn’t seem to be there any longer. But whatever it was, she knew she’d do all she could to help him see his way forward. Maybe she’d even talk to him about using the bank of his brothers, instead of the one in Trinity Lakes.
* * *
Jackson’s phone crackled,the wayward breeze allowing the phone signal to connect for once. He dropped his gloves and pressed to answer, making a face as he recognized the name. “Jess.”
“Have I caught you at a busy time?” the vet asked.
Any time was busy. He grasped the now-tightened fence post. “It’s fine.”
“Look, I won’t keep you. I was just doing some more research about Brutus, and—”
“I don’t want you to waste your time,” he said. Or any more of his money. “I’ve made arrangements for him to be trucked away.” Regret twisted. Poor Brutus. What a waste.
Silence met his ear. Then, “When?”
“Next Thursday.”
She blew out a breath. “Look, I hope that’ll give us enough time, but—”
“Enough time for what? I don’t want any more testing.”
“But—”
“Jess, I appreciate all you’ve done, but it’s obvious. Brutus is a dud, not a stud. It doesn’t matter what treatment we try, he’s never going to perform, and—”
“I rechecked his breeding soundness exam results, and everything was fine.”
“Everything looked fine, sure. But then he came here, and ever since then, nothing.” Every time he had to explain was another stab to the heart. “I think it’s time to let it go.”
“I don’t,” she said bluntly. “I’ve had another idea and want to run one more test—”
“No.”
A beat. “I’m sorry, Jackson. I just want to be sure. It would be awful to send a healthy bull to the slaughterhouse when it’s simply an infection.”
“An infection? Haven’t we already tested for every disease?”
“Almost every disease.”
He shook his head, clenching his jaw as he eyed the cows who Brutus should be breeding with. “No.”
“Please? For Brutus’s sake?”
He closed his eyes, scratching the scruff on his face. Why’d she have to guilt him with that? Why was he surrounded by women who pulled at his heartstrings? When had he gotten so soft? “Fine.”
She exhaled. “Thanks. I’m going to use a sample we drew from my last visit. We should know the results in a day or so.”
“He’s still booked to leave for next Thursday.”
“We’ll have the results by then,” she said. “And in the meantime, give the poor guy some time out in the fresh air. Who knows? If what I’m thinking is right, we might find the answer to our prayers.”
Yeah.
The call ended, and he tried to refocus on the fencing, but the squally weather and Jess’s last challenge unsettled him. Sure, God might answer some prayers, but there came a time when a man had to cut his losses and own his mistakes. Even if a miracle happened with Brutus, it didn’t change the fact that Jackson had another meeting at the bank tomorrow. They needed finances now, rather than waiting on results that wouldn’t be evident for another few months.
By the time he reached the ranch house, his mood matched the blustering winds. All he wanted to do was to find Lexi, spend the evening kissing, and forget all his worries. But she seemed a little distracted. When he finally got her alone on the sofa after dinner, instead of kissing, she wanted to talk.
She wrapped her hand around his, and despite her asking about his day, her brow held creases deeper than a newly plowed field.
