The girls were still chattering away with Andie and Tanna as they left the barn. The instant they saw him, they shrieked, “Doc Fletch!” and raced toward him.

Tanna meandered over, waiting until there was a break in their fawning to say, “I see you’ve got some admirers.”

“Me and these girls go way back to last summer, right, ladies?”

“Uh-huh! It was so cool! We were there when Dr. Fletcher rescued a baby kitten that’d gotten lost from its mama.”

“Yes, the good doc has a penchant for caring for lost things.”

Was that how Tanna saw herself? Saw him? Fuck that.

She smiled at the chubby freckled girl. “So then what happened?”

“After he checked her out to make sure she wasn’t hurt, he let her go. The baby kitty ran back home where she belonged.”

“Interesting how that happens,” Tanna murmured. “She’s lucky she had a home to run back to.”

He wasn’t ready to touch that one. “These two here,” he pointed to the two smallest girls, “have sworn to me they’ll study hard so they can go to vet school and help save all the animals in the world.”

“I’ve been practicing wrapping my dog’s legs in bandages,” the freckled girl announced. “And I’ve gotten really good.”

“You wish,” the dark-eyed one he called “feisty” argued. “Lady just lays down now when she sees you get the tape out because she’s scared. That don’t count.”

Tanna and Fletch exchanged a grin.

Then the other girls vied for Fletch’s attention until Andie let loose a shrill whistle.

“Pipe down or you’ll miss the surprise Eli lined up for you.” She gestured to Eli. “Go ahead.”

“Dr. Fletcher is gonna demonstrate the proper way to brush down a horse. So I know you’ll use your best manners and listen to him. Then he’ll answer all your questions.”

“Who’s gonna be his assistant? ’Cause all vets have assistants.”

Shouts of “Pick me! Pick me!” rent the air.

Fletch signaled for quiet. “Not all vets have an assistant. Most days I don’t. But you’re in luck today because Tanna will be my assistant. She’s an expert horse groomer. And the extra surprise is she’s gonna talk to you about bein’ a three-time world champion barrel racer and show you some tools of the trade.”

Tanna froze beside him.

Amidst the buzz of excitement, Eli said, “While we’re giving Doc and Tanna time to get ready, head on up to the house. Summer baked a whole batch of monster cookies for you little monsters.”

The girls said a hasty good-bye and loped off, Eli and Andie behind them.

Fletch stepped in front of her. “You wanna discuss how we’re gonna present this here? Or as we’re walking to the pasture to round up a horse?”

“Fletch. I . . . can’t.”

“I’m not asking you to climb on a horse and run barrels, Tanna. I’m asking you to help me show them what good horsemanship is all about. How much time and energy goes into an animal that’s entrusted to the owner’s care.”

“Need I remind you of what happened to the last horse that was ‘entrusted to my care’?” she snapped.

“It wasn’t your fault.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Please, sweetheart, you need to believe that because it’s true.”

“Fletch—”

“It wasn’t your fault,” he repeated stubbornly. “You were seriously injured. You need to let go of the guilt that you weren’t there for Jezebel in her last moments. God, Tanna, I know you. You would’ve crawled across glass to be with her if you could have. So, please. Stop punishing yourself.”

Tanna shook off his touch and was at a loss for words for several long moments. “I can’t. Especially not today . . . in front of . . .”

“Which is why I want you to talk about how you got to be a world champion. Show them the different types of bits and bridles and training harnesses. You’ve landed on the top of the heap of your sport three times. These girls, who have so little, who most likely don’t have many women like you in their lives to look up to—they need inspiration.”

Fletch read the questions in her eyes as easily as if she were speaking out loud.

What if I’m a disappointment because I won’t get on a horse and show them how it’s done?

What if they ask why I’m not doing it anymore?

“They are gonna ask questions. But if you can answer a bunch of curious preteens, who have no filter, imagine how much easier it’ll be to answer questions from industry reporters when you get back into the sport.”

“That’s not the part I’m worried about.”

Bingo. “I’ll be right there beside you as we’re brushing the horse down. We, sweetheart. Not just you.”

His reassurance didn’t help: Tanna’s panic was palpable.

Then he was right in her face. “Breathe. Come on, sugar twang. You’re a strong-minded woman. Put your mind to this. You’re strong willed too. You can do this,” he said softly. “I know you can. You just need to believe it.”

That got her back up. “Is that why you’re here? To give me a pep talk before you force me to do something I’m not ready for?”

“That’s the thing—you are ready for it. Besides, is it so bad, me bein’ on Team Tanna? I am here for you, I have been for weeks even when you wanna shut that damn barn door and keep me out at every turn.”