Single Father: Wife and Mother Wanted

Three long strides took him to the door. He was about to jerk it open when the significance of the soft noises from inside sank in. Forcing himself to calmness, he eased it back and looked inside. The smell of ammonia clogged his breath and he realised the floor was awash with urine.

Apparently unconcerned by the stench or the fact that her boots were getting wet, the woman was at the horse’s shoulder, talking softly. The animal’s long ears flicked in response to the soothing voice.

Without the bulky jacket enveloping her, the newcomer had a very nice figure. Matt froze, his feet rooted to the spot.

A very nice figure.

Naturally padded in all the right places.

The ribbing of her jumper accentuated a narrow waist and he could see the gentle curve of one breast.

Unaware of him, she bent, lifting the canvas rug, to look at the horse’s belly. The way the black denim stretched across her rear had him drawing in a quick gulp of air.

‘What’s happening?’ His voice sounded strained.

Two sets of eyes snapped around to look his way. The effect would have been comical except for the anxiety he could read on both faces.

‘Could you open the back of the trailer, please? She’s in labour.’

‘She’s in labour?’ he repeated, his glance bouncing from the woman to the horse and back again. The words wouldn’t form a reasonable picture in his head.

‘You know…in labour? She’s going to be a mother.’

‘I know what in labour means. I’m a damned doctor.’ He squashed a wave of dismay. So much for his hopes that the situation in the trailer had improved. ‘I’ve just never had a patient with this many legs.’

‘Isn’t that a handy coincidence, then?’ She arched a shapely, dark eyebrow at him. ‘I’m a damned vet. Most of my patients have this many legs.’

And then she smiled. It was as though the sun had come out.

Matt blinked. She’d wanted him to do something…at least he remembered that much.

What was wrong with him?

CHAPTER TWO

DESPITE the seriousness of the situation, Caitlin Butler-Brown found herself smiling. As she watched the man absorbing this new crisis, the details of his face burned into her brain. Medium gold-brown hair, tussled as though he’d run careless fingers through the short thatch. Strong cheekbones and chin, stubbled jaw, slightly crooked nose. But it was his eyes that held her. An astonishing clear green and filled, right now, with naked disbelief.

With her hand on the mare’s back, she felt as much as heard the shuddering groan, the restless shift to find a more comfortable position. Her concern switched instantly back to her patient.

‘Perhaps you could hurry. She needs to move around, find a spot for her birthing.’

‘Right.’ He pulled back and the latch snicked softly behind him. Caitlin turned to soothe the fidgety mare.

‘There, then, sweetheart. At least he’s not the sort to blather on when a girl’s got urgent business.’ She kept up a steady flow of patter as she reached for the hitching rope and untied the knot. ‘We’ll have you out of here in no time.’

A loud clunk at the back of the trailer told her that the man was doing as she’d asked.

‘Here!’ At a shout from the cab of the truck, Caitlin glanced through the grubby haze of the window. A blob moved rapidly towards the trailer and then, down the side, out of sight. ‘What’re you doing?’

‘Your master’s not best pleased, darlin’.’ She caressed the sweat-damp neck. ‘Let’s hope our intrepid doctor is up to the task of overruling him.’

Conditions were already less than ideal—without any obstructions from a belligerent owner. Caitlin tamped down the unease in her belly, knowing the mare needed her to be calm.

‘Your mare’s about to deliver, Jim.’ The second bolt clattered back. Their rescuer wasn’t allowing himself to be distracted. ‘She needs to get out of the float.’

‘But—’ The protest was cut off as the ramp lowered with a grinding squawk.

Caitlin ducked under the chest bar and moved to the back of the float. When the doctor caught her eye, she sent him a grateful smile. His answering grin made her heart skip a beat and her fingers fumbled with the chain looped behind the mare’s haunches.

She blew out a small breath. The man was far too distracting. Best to concentrate on her patient, she told herself sternly as she encouraged the mare to back slowly down the slope, step by uncertain step.

Mentally, she ran through the stages of a normal delivery. Heaven help them if there was a problem. She had her bag in the car, but any serious intervention could require more specialised equipment.

‘She can’t foal here.’ Jim reached for the lead rope. The mare’s ears flattened against her skull in clear warning and he snatched his hand back.

‘It won’t be perfect.’ Caitlin decided to act as though his concern was for his horse’s safety. Moving methodically, she unfastened the canvas rug and slid it off. She ran a professional eye over the heavily pregnant belly. The membranes of the placenta were just visible beneath the arched black tail. ‘But don’t worry. She’ll manage, Mr…?’

‘Neilson. You don’t understand.’ He waved his arms and the mare sidled away, rolling her eyes. ‘I’m taking her to stud. She’s supposed to have her foal there so she can be put to Johnny Boy.’

‘You’ve left it too late for that,’ she said keeping a tight hold on her temper. ‘She’s in stage-one parturition.’

‘What?’

Ignoring his confusion, she handed him the folded rug. ‘Would you have a longer lead, Mr Neilson?’

His shoulders sagged. ‘There’s a lunging rein. In the truck.’

Caitlin bit back a retort when he stood clutching the canvas, staring uselessly.

‘Get it for us, Jim.’ The masculine voice commanded, reaching Jim where hers had not.

‘Eh? Oh, right.’ He set off towards the truck.

Caitlin shut her eyes briefly and puffed out a small sigh. ‘Thank you.’

‘No problem.’ He gave her a lopsided smile, moving broad shoulders in a faint shrug. ‘You looked like you could’ve taken a chunk out of his hide and I figure he’s had enough free medical attention from me this morning.’

Her gaze was caught, trapped by the appeal of his smile. He had a lovely mouth, the sort to turn a girl’s head if she was foolish enough to let it. Just as well she wasn’t so daft as to be tempted by such superficial things. Her parents’ relationship had taught her the danger in that.

And yet, mesmerised, she watched the curve slowly straighten. Now that it wasn’t stretched into a smile, the bottom lip was plumper.

Kissable and—

The mouth pursed.

Oh, God. He’d caught her staring. Her heart stuttered as heat rushed into her face.

Flustered, Caitlin jerked her eyes away as long loops of rope were thrust into her hands. Relieved to have an excuse to move, she stepped forward quickly to clip the lunging rein to the halter.