Beau was confident that Alyssa would be an asset once the cattle started giving birth. He felt like she was capable of overseeing the simple cases. She had a good handle on procedures and drew good conclusions from reading over the historical records. He would like to see her in a difficult situation to see how she reacted, but he just couldn’t predict if that would happen. There would certainly be some challenging births—it was a matter of when and where they would occur. But more importantly, how many happened at the same time.

His dad and Grandpa K were good in a pinch, and Adam was too. Plus, his mother was no slouch—she’d waded right into difficulties more than once. None of them had any vet schooling—but they had experience—and that was often much more valuable than an education. He wasn’t completely clear on how much Alyssa had been able to help on her home ranch. She’d made a couple comments about them patting her on the head and treating her like a child. He was pretty sure his sister would say the same thing about being the youngest, but he knew he could call on her to lend a hand. As long as Tony was safe and taken care of, she wouldn’t hesitate. So, Alyssa’s family probably felt the same way. They had a much smaller herd, so maybe they just didn’t need her that often.

The Rockin’ K had some pretty solid hired hands too, so he was confident it would be a good season. Busy yes, but not overwhelmingly so.

At dinner, Grandpa K started asking questions about the plans for calving. “So, is Alyssa here ready to solo, or are you going to keep her joined at the hip with you, Beau?”

Beau nodded. “Alyssa is ready, she’s studied everything and knows the herd as well as anyone. I haven’t seen her in a critical situation but hopefully the two of us will be able to work together on any of those that come up. It’s always better to have two trained vets work together, but all of you are capable of assisting if we need to be separated. Just make sure to keep your cell phones charged and call as needed. For non-emergencies, group text is good.”

Emma said, “I have Tony pre-enrolled at the daycare in town, if you think you might need me, and all my bookkeeping clients are up to date and capable of waiting a couple of weeks, if we’re too busy on the weekends.”

“That’s great, Emma sweetheart, but hopefully my grandson will be able to stay home with his mama. We have a couple extra hands hired and with Alyssa being almost graduated that will help with any troubles we run into.” Travis winked at Tony. Tony waived to his papa.

Meg said, “We can trade off watching Tony. I would be happy to stay with that little cutie rather than being out with the animals, at least part of the time.”

Emma laughed. “I’ll take you up on that, mom. I love calving season—all the new life springing forth.”

Beau said dryly, “Yeah the first fifty or so I agree with you.” He shrugged. “After that it just gets monotonous.”

Alyssa slowly turned her head and looked at him. “I’ve never done more than a hundred calves, you do three times that. The last few years dad’s increased production for the tourist influx, but I’ve been at school here in Colorado and missed the spring calving. Oh boy, I might have some culture shock.”

Beau grinned at her. “Like I said the first fifty are special, after that it’s the same thing over and over and over and over and over.”

Cade patted her hand. “Stick with me kid and I’ll show you the ropes.”

Alyssa rolled her eyes at his stupid brother. He might have to pound some sense into Cade if he didn’t stop flirting with Alyssa. It set his blood to boil every single time and he wanted to knock him into next week. Alyssa didn’t appear to encourage the flirtation, but it still made him half crazy. He narrowed his eyes at his brother who grinned at him. Cade was skating on thin ice and appeared to enjoy taunting him, which ticked him off.

He stood and threw his napkin down. “I’m going to go check on Dolly and the preemie.”

“But we haven’t had pie yet,” his mother said.

“I’ll get some later.”

“Do you need my help?” Alyssa asked.

Beau growled. “No, stay here and flirt with my idiot brother.”

Alyssa frowned and Cade grinned and Beau stomped out of the house as he heard his mother say, “What’s that all about?”

* * *

Alyssa waited a few moments and then excused herself and followed Beau out to the animals. She was boiling mad and going to give that man a piece of her mind.

Beau turned toward her as she walked into the birthing barn. “I told you, I don’t need you.”

“Yeah, I heard you.” She walked right up to him and poked him in the chest with one finger. The man was hard as a rock; he had muscles on top of muscles. “I thought you were done acting like a dumb ass. What was that comment about me flirting with your brother? I don’t deserve it, and I don’t appreciate it. Just what in the hell is wrong with you? Cade is teasing me like he does your sister. It’s not flirting, you big jerk.”

“Well, you might not see it as flirting, but it is.”

“Bull shit. Cade is pushing your buttons and you’re letting him. And for the life of me I can’t figure out why in the hell you give a crap about his comments. He’s got nothing on you—you’re older,”—poke—“and smarter,”—poke—“and sexier,”—poke—“than he’ll ever be, so stop acting like an ass.” On that, she smacked him in the chest with the heel of her hand because her finger hurt from poking his steel-like muscles.

She watched as a slow grin slid over his face. “You think I’m sexier than Cade?”

“Oh, for God’s sake, is that all you heard? Yes, you’re sexier, but you’re also a dumb ass and a jerk and just a plain ass. And, apparently, an idiot too.” She fumed and then turned to march away from the idiot standing there grinning at her. How in the world did humanity survive with men being as stupid as the one in the barn with her? She just didn’t know. Why hadn’t a bear or lion or dinosaur have eaten them long ago? What was wrong with natural selection anyway?

She was halfway to the door when Beau called out.

“Alyssa, wait.”

She stopped but didn’t turn—she didn’t want to see his stupid, sexy face.

He spoke right behind her. “I’m sorry, Alyssa. I don’t know what it is about you, but every comment any of my brothers make about you just makes me see red.”

She slowly turned toward him. “Why is that Beau? It doesn’t mean anything.”

He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “I don’t know, but it makes me crazy. I mean, you’re just an intern and too young, and you live hundreds of miles away. So, nothing can come of this, but I just can’t stand to hear my brother flirting with you.”

Every word from his mouth deflated her. Just an intern. Too young. And the real kicker, lived too far away. Like she wasn’t worth a two-day drive. Like a person couldn’t move. What a lame excuse. Fine, idiot. “Well, get over it. If you aren’t interested, then you don’t get to dictate who is. You’re just my old teacher this semester, Beau. So, stop acting like a dog in heat.”