Thanks to celesse201 for another wonderful idea. Just as a forewarning I don't know a lot about horses or running a farm. Everything I learned has come from the tv show Heartland.
The Vet
"Brett! That new vet is stopping by!" Jennifer shouts at him.
"Why? None of the horses are sick!" Brett shouts back at her as he walks around one of the newer horses to the farm.
"She's here to check up on the new horses and pick up Ashely who's spending the summer as her intern." Jennifer shouts back.
"Do we have the money?" Brett asks walking up to her.
"Let me worry about that little brother." Jennifer says.
"Jen," Brett says.
"Whose older?" Jennifer asks raising an eyebrow.
"Shut up," Brett says folding his arms.
At six foot three he's eight inches taller than his older sister and very imposing.
"Go feed the horses and fix the fence in the south field. We need to be able to put horses out there." Jennifer tells him.
"But-"
"I'll deal with the vet, you go." Jennifer orders crossing her arms.
They stare down each other for several minutes before he gives in and walks back to the barn.
"Is Santana here yet?" Ashely asks coming out jumping on one leg as she tries to get her other boot on.
"No, go see how the Brown horse is doing while you wait." Jennifer says.
She sighs leaning against the front door of the Pierce family farm house. The farm has been in the family for four generations. They live about an hour outside of Dallas where Brett is a police officer a few nights a week. Being the oldest she holds the most responsibility on the farm ever since her mom got sick seven years back, she's better now but Jennifer has stayed on. The farm was struggling much more than she had realized. Since then her and Brett have basically taken over, Brett does the hard labor taking care of the horses with the help of their younger sister Ashely while she keeps the books, making sure they have enough money. She has had to take some side jobs doing other businesses books to keep the farm going. Being as she went to college for accounting everyone trusts her. At thirty-three she would like to have her own family and life, but can't actually leave the farm to fall apart.
"You worry too much." Judy, their mother says placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Someone has to worry about the money mom." Jennifer says.
"You should be more like your younger brother." Judy says. "All he does is smile and work not a worry in the world."
"Mom," Jennifer says shaking her head.
Brett at twenty-four isn't nearly as worried about money, but he does worry. That's why he got a part-time job as a cop for the Fort Worth/Dallas area, to help pay the bills. Even though his love is to work with horses he'll do anything to keep the farm going.
"Vet's here," Brett says coming up to grab some work gloves he left.
"Be nice," Jennifer says walking down the driveway to meet her.
"Woah," Brett says when she gets out of her truck.
"That's Santana Lopez, she just finished up her training and is opening her own office." Judy tells him.
"You don't mean the Lopez farm across town?" Brett asks recognizing the name.
"Yep, she's their only child." Judy says smiling at how love struck her son looks.
"Interesting," Brett says heading to the barn.
Judy watches her son and two daughters wishing that they didn't have to take on so much responsibility on the farm, but ever since her stroke she hasn't been able to do as much. She feels awful that her daughter had to give up her job in LA to come back and her son had to give up his girlfriend and their plans to move to Montana. She loves having them here but wishes she didn't have to rely on them so much.
"Mom come meet Santana!" Ashely shouts.
"I'm coming honey." Judy says.
Ashely is the baby of the family. At seventeen she's a senior in high school and even though she wants to help out on the farm her family wants her to focus on school. She wants to become a vet which is why she's so happy to be helping out the new vet. Her only real chore is to feed the horses.
"Hello," Santana says shaking Judy's hand.
"It's very nice to meet you too Santana." Judy says. "We're so happy that you've offered to help our little Ashely out."
"I'm just happy to have some help. You have no idea how busy I am. You'd think there weren't any other vets." Santana admits.
"Well you come highly recommended from Taylor who has retired and I know he's recommended you to every one of his clients." Judy says loving how nice this young woman is.
"Yeah, I hope I don't let down his expectations or any of yours." Santana says blushing..
"Mom, the phone's ringing." Jennifer says not wanting her mom to embarrass the new vet.
"I'll grab it. Show her around." Judy says running back into the house.
"Sorry about her, she tends to talk too much." Jennifer says.
"Don't worry about it. It's nice to hear that I come highly recommended." Santana says. "So what horses am I looking at today?"
"We just got a new batch of rescued horses we'd like you to check out." Jennifer says leading them into the barn.
"I'll get them out." Ashely says running ahead.
"So what is it you do here exactly? I take it you don't breed horses or race them." Santana says.
"No, we rescue horses, treat them, train them and re-home them. We also work on horses with problems." Jennifer tells her. "It's not as glamorous or makes anywhere near the amount of money your family farm, but we get by."
"This place is a lot more homey than my family's farm." Santana says. "Plus I think it's cool that you guys rescue horses. I know my dad is looking into getting into the rescue business too."
"Here you should check Flash Dance first." Ashely says bringing out a brown mare.
"Okay, how about you help me." Santana says.
Over the next hour the two of them check the five new horses and a pregnant mare they are housing for a friend. Jennifer headed back into the house to go over the books shortly after they started.
"Well who is this?" Santana says when a large brindle dog comes up and sniffs her followed by another one.
"Brett come take care of your dogs they're bothering us!" Ashely shouts.
"Calm down Ash they're just saying hi, aren't you boys." Brett says kneeling and both dogs run at him, knocking him over.
"They're very beautiful dogs." Santana says looking this young man up and down.
There's no doubt in her mind that this man is cowboy and is the one thus far that she's seen who does the hard labor. He's very muscular with is tight workout shirt on which is turning her on. On top of that she can see parts of tattoos on both arms and his hair is pulled back into a tight short pony tail. She licks her lips as she stares shamelessly at him.
"Thanks, they're German Shepherds with some wolf and a few other dog types mixed in." Brett proudly says.
"What are their names?" Santana asks.
"Dozer and Copper, their three." Brett says.
"Well Dozer and Copper aren't you two very handsome boys." Santana says petting their heads.
"Santana your phone's going off with a nine one one." Ashely says breaking up the staring contest between the two of them.
"You coming? Looks like Ms. Elizabeth's cows are in labor." Santana says looking over at Ashely.
"Can I?" Ashely asks Brett as she doesn't start with Santana officially until tomorrow.
"Go, I'll feed the horses." Brett says waving her off.
"You're the best." Ashely says hugging Brett before following Santana to her truck.
Brett watches them leave, leaving against the barn door. Never in his life has he seen a woman more beautiful than Santana. She's not only drop dead gorgeous, but she likes his two dogs and more importantly they like her. The whole time she was staring at him all he could think of was how small she is and how much he wanted to wrap his arms around her to protect her.
Dozer nudges Brett's leg to get his attention.
"What is it boy?" Brett says looking down at the dog.
"Where did Santana go? I was hoping she could take a look at Lord Tubbington." Jennifer says coming back out.
"She got a nine one one text about pregnant cows. Ashely went with her." Brett tells her.
"Did she finish her chores?" Jennifer says looking around the barn.
"I told her she could go. The more she learns the better." Brett says wanting his little sister to have every advantage possible.
"I guess, but don't wear yourself out. Let me and mom help out with stuff in and around the barn. You can't do it all yourself." Jennifer reminds him. "Plus you have to work three nights a week."
"Don't worry big sis, I won't over work myself." Brett says.
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"So is Brett your brother?" Santana probes as they drive down the driveway.
"Yes he's my older brother. He's the one who works with the horses and fixes things around the farm." Ashely happily says.
"Is it just your family? Or do you have other help?" Santana asks.
"It's just me, my older sister, older brother and mom. Sometimes the neighbor's sons help if Brett needs it." Ashely says. "He doesn't need it very much."
"It's very impressive that your family does all of that yourselves. Don't you have like five hundred acers." Santana says.
"Five hundred and fifty actually." Ashely says. "It's been in the family for years. But your family's farm is even bigger isn't it."
"Yeah, it's a huge business not a family farm like yours. Personally I like your family farm way more." Santana says winking at her new intern.
"It is pretty cool, but still it would be nice not to live pay check to pay check." Ashely softly says.
Santana doesn't know what to say to this. She's never had to live where she worries about money. Her father really expended their farm from a smaller yet highly respected race horse breeding farm to a very big training and breeding farm for race horses. They currently have seven horses racing for their farm with an additional twenty that were breed there. Her whole life she's been around horses and that's what drove her to become a vet.
"Who are those two boys?" Ashely asks. "They look like you."
"Those are my two boys, Jason and Nick. They're my whole world; everything I do is for them." Santana says smiling softly at the thought.
"Oh," Ashely says deflating slightly.
She had hoped that maybe Santana and her brother would hit it off. He needs someone in his life.
"Jason is nine and Nick is five. They're at the age where they ask all the time about their dad." Santana says spilling out some concerns she normally keeps hidden. "I don't know what to tell them. That their dad is some loser who knocked me up left because he likes drugs more."
"Wow," Ashely says not expecting that.
"Sorry, I just needed to say that. Forget it please. I don't want all that getting out." Santana says.
"Sure," Ashely says not wanting to screw up her internship.
Santana pulls into the Elizabeth's driveway and they drive the half mile to the barn.
"Now let's go bring some baby cows into the world." Santana says.
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"Brett!" Jennifer shouts in the barn looking for her little brother franticly.
When she doesn't get an answer she tries to call him only to have his cell go to voicemail.
"Damn it B." she says kicking a post only to hurt her toes. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."
"What did you do?" Brett asks riding in.
"Did you know?" Jennifer asks waving a piece of paper around like a mad woman.
"What is it?" Brett asks getting off his horse.
"It's a letter from Charles. He's planning on coming back to live here." Jennifer says.
"No fucking way." Brett says grabbing the letter to read it himself. "What the fuck, no I say no."
"If mom wants him here we can't stop it." Jennifer says.
"Like hell I can't." Brett growls. "I won't let that drunken, pill popping loser drag us into his shit."
"B," Jennifer says grabbing his arm. "You need to stay calm. You know how mom feels about Charles. We've just going to have to put up with him for the few days he's here."
"Do you know when he's coming?" Brett asks.
"No, but my guess is in the next week." Jennifer says. "We'd better hide the valuables and you might want to stay in the barn. Your dogs will bark in anyone tries to go in!"
"You just don't want me in the house with Charles." Brett says.
"That too, but really I want you to make sure he doesn't do anything in the barn." Jennifer says.
"Okay," Brett agrees also wanting to protect their horses.
Jennifer nods and heads back into the house to see if she can get any more information out of her mother about their brother coming home. Brett's about to head back out to repair the fencing on the south side's field when Santana pulls in.
"So you'll pick me up tomorrow?" Ashely asks hoping out of the truck.
"Yes," Santana says smiling. "Hey Brett!" she shouts parking her truck.
"Yeah," Brett gulps turning around to walk towards her.
She's so beautiful that he's nervous to be around her. He feels himself getting hot when she gets out pulling her long black hair back into a pony tail. Something about her makes him feel like an idiot even though he's only met her today.
"Well I was hoping that I could take a look at your dogs. They fascinate me and I was thinking of getting one." Santana says.
"Sure though to be honest they're really working dogs not pets." Brett says calling them over.
"Oh I know, I'm hoping that it will teach my boys responsibility." Santana says. "I live with my parents still so any dog will have plenty to do."
"You have kids?" Brett says a little shocked. "Your husband must be happy."
"No husband, I'm single." Santana says blushing since this is the second time today she's shared personal information with someone she hardly knows. "He left us."
"What man would leave his family? That's a shitty thing to do." Brett says pissed.
"You're truly an amazing guy." Santana says blushing. "Most people question me about it."
"Thanks and if you need any help getting a dog or with any animals I can help." Brett offers.
"I just might take you up on that. Now I have to head home. I'll see you tomorrow." Santana says. "Call me if an emergency comes up." she says handing him her card.
"I will," Brett says walking her to her truck and opening the door for her.
She blushes getting in and starting the truck. She can't help, but watch as he backs away into the barn. He's something else and she really wants to get to know him more. At the age of twenty-nine she's reaching the point in her life where she wants a steady relationship. The only problem is there aren't many men who want to take on someone else's kids. Having two sons has scared away so many men. She hopes in coming back that she can find some serious to date. Pulling in front of her parent's huge house she's not surprised at all to see her sons waiting for her.
"Mami!" Nick shouts running to her.
"Mami your home." Jason says smiling hugging her.
"How are my big boys?" Santana asks picking Nick up and walking into the house. "Where you good for grandpa?" she asks.
"They were very good." Mario Lopez says hugging his daughter and grandson. "It was nice to have a break from working so much."
"We got to boss people around." Nick says wiggling in his mom's arms.
"You did, well isn't that cool." Santana says kissing the top of his head.
"And we got to ride horses." Jason happily says.
"None of the race horses right." Santana says looking at her father narrowing her eyes.
"Of course not." Mario reassures her.
She nods glad her dad didn't let them ride race horses who tend to be temperamental.
"Boys why don't you two go pick out a movie for us to watch after I get changed." Santana says.
"Yes," Nick shouts fist pumping.
"Grandpa you're watching with us." Jason says.
"Of course I am. You know I wouldn't miss a chance to spend time with my three favorite people in the world." Mario says smiling.
Santana shakes her head as her father runs after her sons. She loves that her sons have her dad to look up to and enjoy spending time with him. Their father was her high school sweetheart and worked for her father training race horses. When she got pregnant with Jason he (Alex) left for the rodeo. Three years he came back a drug addict and they had a one night stand where she ended up pregnant with Nick. Her dad banned him from seeing her or the boys again and she heard a few years back that he was in jail.
"Honey you need to go take a shower." Maria says standing next to her daughter. "You smell like the barn."
"Mami I'm a vet, get used to it." Santana says.
Her and her mom don't always get along. They love each other, but her mom wants her to be a trophy wife and she has zero interest in doing that.
"Still what if we had had company." Maria says.
"Then if they said anything I would have said I'm a vet who just delivered six baby cows." Santana tells her.
Maria is about to say something when Nick runs in.
"Hurry up mami, we watch Star Wars." Nick shouts.
"Are you joining us mami?" Santana asks.
"Yes grandma come." Nick says grabbing her hand.
"I guess I am." Maria says being pulled.
Santana smiles softly following them no longer caring about showering. She'd much rather spend time with her family, even her mom who she loves to watch interact with her sons.