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“I think I can fix it actually.”

“Really? Because that’s a bad break.” Her unspoken words hang in the air between us—horses who have this kind of break are usually put down.

“I can’t guarantee a full recovery.” I loop my stethoscopearound my neck. “But I’ve repaired dozens of fractures like this one, and the prognosis is good. If you’ll give me permission, we can operate right away.”

Vance’s eyes bulge. “But the vet office isn’t open until?—”

“We’ll operate right here.” I grin at him. “Have you ever done standing surgery before?”

He shakes his head.

I roll up my sleeves. “We’ll sedate sweet Pepper so she’s nice and calm, and then we’ll use local anesthetic so we can operate. She’ll be standing right here in the barn the whole time.”

“And the recovery?” Ava asks. “What will that look like?”

Dad nods toward the exit, his way of telling me he’s going to get the equipment I need. I tip my head, and when he disappears, I turn back to Ava.

“I think we’ll need to use a full limb splint for her. Then it’ll be box rest for a bit. Nothing too crazy.”

Ava slowly shakes her head. “This is wild. In all my years on the circuit, I’ve never heard of anything like this.”

“Ithaca University teaches all the cutting-edge techniques!” Dad shouts from somewhere.

This time, I do roll my eyes. “I’m sorry about him. He’s?—”

“Really damn proud of you, Sally.” Vance smiles at me. “As he should be. Mind if I assist?” He motions to the foal.

“I’d love that. Here, let’s go wash up.”

CHAPTER 4

Sally

HOT TO GO

I’m sweating bullets.My legs and back ache from squatting, and my eyes are gritty.

But when I look up from the bandage I just wrapped around Pepper’s foreleg, I’m surprised to see thin yellow light streaming through a nearby window.

Pepper’s surgery was a challenge. I debated where to insert the screws, and getting the angle of the plates just right had me cursing like a sailor. My feet hurt so badly that I feel like I’m about to fall over.

At the same time, the procedure seemed to go by in the blink of an eye. My body is tired, but overall, I feel…peaceful. Proud.

Best of all, Pepper no longer has that pained, haunted look about her. She blinks lazily, still sedated, before she noses at the hay at her feet.

“I like your smile.” Dad’s eyes twinkle as he packs up the portable X-ray equipment. “You did good, Sally.”

Vance just shakes his head, staring at Pepper. “That sure was something. I know I already asked you so many questions, but I’d love a debrief if you have time. These are techniques I’d really like to learn. You saved a life today, Sally.”

My chest swells. “Couldn’t have done it without an assist from you and Dad. I’d be happy to teach you.”

“She’s good at that, isn’t she? Teaching?” Dad gives me a look. “Which is why she needs to be at a university, not in a barn in the middle of nowhere.”

The joyful feeling in my chest dims. Truth is, I love working in the barn. I love teaching too. Most of all, I love being surrounded by our little makeshift team. Dad was handing me tools before I even told him I needed them. Vance kept me talking, asking about my residency, the goat cheese I’ve been making now that Lucky River Ranch had goats, how I liked playing in a band with my mom. And Ava was there to fill us in on Pepper’s bloodline, making us all laugh when she shared Mrs. Wallace named the horse Pepper because she liked to read spicy books.

I feel like I had a real support system of people who genuinely cared about the horse and about me too. I feel appreciated.

I feel good.