Page 7 of The Cowboy Who Stayed

“Yeah, but take it from one vet to another, not all vets are good with animals.”

Her right brow arches. “You’re a veterinarian too?”

“More like veteran,” I say. “But my point still applies. You see Jeb Morris over there? He’s a nightmare with the cattle. Clumsy and bad tempered. Buttercup doesn’t like him either.”

A flicker of subtle amusement passes over her face for the first time. “You and Buttercup are real close, are you?”

“You kidding? Thick as thieves. That’s my girl.”

“Then I’m happy I was able to take care of her for you.”

The bartender slides me a cold beer from across the counter. I eyeball her watery drink, but before I can even ask, she’s cutting me off.

“I order my own drinks,” she says. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t call me ma’am. I’m not your mother.”

I’m almost taken aback by the sharp correction ’til I meet her gaze and realize she’s giving me shit.

She’s picked up her drink and taken a sip, red lips pursed on the straw as her bold stare speaks for her.

It earns another low laugh out of me.

I’ve always enjoyed a woman who can bust chops every now and then. Makes things interesting, unlike a lot of the local ladies who are endlessly agreeable.

“Alright, Dr. Murphy,” I say formally. “My apologies. How can I make it up to you?”

“You can start by calling me Vivica. Especially off the clock.”

“And what brings you to Ironhaven, Vivica?” I ask, emphasizing her name. “Don’t tell me you came all this way to look after Buttercup.”

She takes another slow sip of her cocktail then turns her gaze to the stage where the drummer from Haven’s Chicks has started a drum solo.

“It’s a long story. But the short of it is, I got divorced and was given a new chance at life. So I decided I wanted to go somewhere different. Leave that past behind.”

I give a nod. “Ironhaven’s new to most, considering most’ve never heard of it.”

“You?” she asks in return. “You said you’ve been here a few months.”

“Vet… as in veteran. Discharged against my will. Heard about Silver Creek from my old bud, Joaquin. Decided to come give the place a shot. Use it as a chance to figure myself out.”

“Seems to be a lot of that around here.”

We fall silent for a beat or two, returning our focus to our drinks and the performance on stage.

It’s been a long while since I’ve talked to anybody and forgotten my surroundings. I’m usually alert and situationally aware.

But Miss Vivica’s got me so homed in on her that I’ve got to remind myself I’m in a crowded bar. I glance over my shoulder and notice some of the guys sneaking glances our way.

Turning my back on them, I decide I might as well go all-in on our conversation.

“How’re you liking it so far?”

“Ironhaven?” she asks, and I nod again. She pauses long enough to think. “It’s a nice little town. Definitely what I was looking for.”

“You came here alone tonight?”