A Convenient Proposal(35)

He grinned at her, and Arden grinned back, holding the wretched piece of lumber between her hands.

Then he shouldered her out of the way to step in front of the horse. “Stacy, get that big bottle of sterile saline on the floor and pour it into my pan. I’m gonna scrub the chest area, clean out this wound and get our boy here back to business.”

By the time Griff retreated and stripped off his gloves, Rajah had started to wake up. Stacy loosened the rope to the halter, freeing his head, and he looked around, eyes still half closed, but brighter and more aware than Arden had yet seen them.

“He is gorgeous,” she said.

“And he makes beautiful babies.” Stacy smiled for the first time in the last three hours. “His reputation as a quality stud is getting around—we even had a couple of inquiries from Europe this year.”

Then she looked at Griff, whose shirt and slacks were liberally stained with red blood and orange soap. “You, however are not beautiful.”

“The near future includes a shower and change of clothes,” he promised. “I just have to get the mess I made cleaned up.”

Arden stepped forward. “I can help with that.”

“Thanks.” He sounded tired. “Just throw the instruments into the basin, then wrap everything else up in the biggest drape. We’ll tape it up and throw it all out. Careful of the needles and blades—see ’em?”

“I do.” She followed instructions, listening as Griff explained how Stacy should treat the wound, what kind of adverse signs to look for and when to call him.

“I’ll be back out tomorrow afternoon, unless I hear from you before that.” He put a hand on Stacy’s shoulder. “I really do think he’s going to be fine and go on to sire at least two Triple Crown winners.”

Stacy actually laughed. “I hope you’re right.”

“Always,” he told her. “Keep him in the stall but don’t worry if he lies down. I’d be thrilled if he felt like rolling, so don’t worry about that, either. Take his temperature every three hours or so, unless he seems punk, then take it right away. Most important of all…”

He looked at her, frowning, and Stacy’s eyes widened with alarm. “What? What should I do?”

“Get yourself something to eat. Get some rest. Don’t stand up all night watching the horse.”

She allowed her whole body to sag in relief. “Yes, sir. I’ll do that.”

“Good.” He glanced around the area, but Arden had checked to see that she had gathered everything they came with. “I think we’ll do the same ourselves, for now.”

Stacy walked them to the truck, thanking them profusely. “I’m so glad you were here to help,” she told Arden. “I don’t think my brain started working until that board went into the trash can.”

“I’m glad to meet you and Rajah,” Arden replied. “Do give yourself a chance to relax.”

“I will.” Stacy closed her door and backed away as Griff started the engine. She was still waving when they went down the hill and out of sight.

At the bottom of the slope, Griff braked and put the truck into Park. Then he slumped in the seat, letting his hands drop to his sides and his head fall back.

“Man,” he said, with a long sigh.

“Tired?”

He put his palms to his face, pressing his fingers against his eyes. “I haven’t focused that hard, that long, on anything this last six months.”

“That’s quite a case to come back to.”

“I would have chosen a nice, easy dog spay my first day back. But you don’t get to pick and choose. That’s what keeps the work interesting.” He paused. “More or less.”

She wondered at that addition, but didn’t comment. “Would you like me to drive? If you stay awake and give directions, I don’t mind.”

“No, I’m fine.” He straightened and shifted back to Drive. “Again I have to say that you are a woman of many mysteries. I could almost believe you’ve taken nursing training of some kind. You were a big help, and I know Stacy appreciates that as much as I do.”

“I’m glad I could contribute to the process of getting Rajah healed.”

“Have you spent time with horses? Done some riding?”

She shook her head. “Not at all.”

“Are you interested in trying? We could take a couple of the horses for a walk tomorrow, see the rest of the farm. We’ve got an older mare who can be trusted with the greenest of greenhorns.”