Turn and Burn (Blacktop Cowboys 5)

Tilda placed a kiss on the top of Ripper’s head and hugged him one last time. She rose to her feet as regally as a queen.

Tanna put her arm around her, throwing a quick look over her shoulder as Fletch lifted the big dog and carried him outside. As she fixed tea, she cried silently for Tilda, for herself, for the animals that came into their lives and changed them for the better. She even cried for Fletch. It went above and beyond his job to bury a client’s pet. But he was outside at midnight, doing just that. Such an incredible man.

“There are lemon bars in the fridge,” Tilda said after Tanna served her tea.

“Would you like one?”

“No. But I know the doc has a sweet tooth.”

Tanna sat next to her. “I’d ask you for the recipe, but I’d just botch it.”

“I’m not much of a cook either. Vivien made the bars. I had to stop myself from eating the whole pan.”

Several more minutes passed.

“Do you want me to call Vivien or another of your Mud Lilies pals to come stay with you?”

“That’s okay. It’s late. I don’t want to bother them.”

She leaned closer and took Tilda’s hand. “Tilda, darlin’, if one of them was dealing with this and called you, would you consider it a bother?”

“Heavens, no. I’d be there right away.”

“Then you gotta let them make that decision, don’t you think?”

Tilda nodded and more tears fell.

“So who should I call for you?”

“Vivien,” Tilda choked out. She pulled her cell phone from her purse on the table and handed it over to Tanna to make the call.

Within thirty minutes Vivien and Pearl showed up. Tanna wandered to the front window while they fussed over their friend. She wanted to fuss over Fletch. Where was he? Should she go out there and offer to help him?

A light bobbed in the darkness and then it disappeared.

She heard heavy footfalls on the steps.

Fletch came through the door and headed straight for the bathroom.

Vivien, Pearl and Tilda returned to the living room.

Pearl said, “Where’s the doc?”

“Washing up.”

He’d barely left the bathroom before he was surrounded.

Vivien pressed her palms to his cheeks. “You are such a dear, dear man. Thank you for everything you did tonight.”

Fletch blushed.

Pearl elbowed Vivien aside. She whispered something in his ear. Then Pearl too, gave his cheek a motherly pat.

Tilda merely threw herself into his arms and sobbed.

His eyes met Tanna’s when neither Vivien nor Pearl stepped in to console Tilda.

Tanna moved beside them and patted Tilda’s shoulder.

She stepped back and wiped her eyes. “Sorry. I’m just so grateful.”

“I know. Try and get some rest tonight.”

Pearl held out a bottle of whipped cream–flavored vodka. “We’ll all sleep well.”

He curled his arm around Tanna’s waist. “Good night.”

Fletch was so distracted he didn’t open Tanna’s door.

Once they were speeding down the gravel, she reached for his hand. “You all right?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you been doin’ this long enough that animal deaths don’t bother you?”

He looked at her strangely. “It bothers me. I hope I never get cynical enough that it doesn’t bug me. But to be honest, this was a reminder of why I didn’t go into a regular veterinary practice, despite the more reasonable work hours. People losing pets is about the most heartbreaking thing.”

Tanna brought his hand to her mouth to kiss his knuckles. “Have I mentioned what a wonderful guy you are?”

“Jesus. Not you too. Can we please drop it?”

“Fletch. You really have no idea how much it meant to Tilda that not only did you show up, but you eased her dog’s suffering and you buried him for her.”

“She’s in her seventies. How was she supposed to haul a one-hundred-fifty-pound dead dog out of her house?”

“Would any of your colleagues have done the same thing?”

“How should I know? It’s done. Now can we please drop it?”

And a humble man too.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about what you said that day at Eli’s when you forced me to groom that horse with you.”

He stayed quiet—but a tensed quiet.

“You said that I needed to let go of the guilt where Jezebel was concerned. I guess I’ve always known I didn’t do anything to cause her death, despite the thinly veiled accusations from the owners. But looking back, I realize they were hurting from the loss, and they were just lashing out at me because they couldn’t be with Jezebel either. So seeing Tilda tonight, watching her stay with Ripper to the very end? It’s like I was finally able to let go too. No more guilt about not bein’ by Jezebel’s side. From here on out I’m gonna concentrate on all the good years we had together.”

Fletch swept his thumb across the inside of her wrist. “I’m so glad to hear that, sweetheart.”

Then he slipped back into silent mode. He’d had a long day before this midnight call. “You tired?” Tanna asked.

“I’m a little wired if you wanna know the truth.”

“So if you go home alone in this state, what do you usually do to take the edge off?”

“Some nights I drink. Some nights run on the treadmill. Some nights I lift weights. Depends.” Fletch shot her a look. “Why?”