Читать книгу Reuniting With The Cowboy - Shannon Taylor Vannatter - Страница 12

Chapter Two

“Maybe you should consider revoking your no-kill policy.” Mr. Humphries wouldn’t even look at her as he flipped to the appropriate form on his clipboard.

“I can’t do that.” Ally’s heart squeezed. Kill a perfectly healthy animal just because no one wanted it?

“You know I’m against it, too. Maybe you could take some of the cats to another shelter.”

A lump lodged in her throat. “So they can put them down?”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Curtis.” The inspector strolled toward the front of her clinic.

Come on—think of some way to change his mind. Ally hurried after him.

“Excuse me.” Cody met them in the lobby, removed his cowboy hat. “I came to pick out those cats we talked about.”

Mr. Humphries’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Ally’s insides lit up. “How many would you like?” She held up three fingers behind Mr. Humphries’s back.

“Four.”

“Four?” Mr. Humphries echoed.

Four? Her heart warmed.

“Just moved in next door. Cody Warren.” He offered his hand and the older man shook it. “My barn is infested with mice. I’m thinking four cats should take care of the problem.”

He sounded so convincing she wanted to hug him.

Mr. Humphries examined Cody a moment longer, then turned to Ally. “You run a clean operation here.” He slid his pen into his pocket, tucked the clipboard under his arm. “I don’t want to have to shut you down. See that you stay in compliance. I doubt that your neighbor can rescue you next time.”

“Thank you, Mr. Humphries.”

“And I trust—” he gave her a stern look “—that if I come back in an hour, you’ll be down three cats.”

“Four and they’ll be in my barn.” Cody clasped his hat to his chest. “You’re welcome to come visit them.”

With a slight nod, the inspector exited the clinic.

Ally waited, held her breath. A car door shut and an engine started. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She jumped up and down.

“Just call me Ally’s hero.” He shot her a wink that made her heart take a dive.

Her fists clenched. Now he wanted to be her hero?

“You should have told me you were over the limit. I’d have taken the cats before your inspector came.”

“It’s really weird.” She nibbled the inside of her cheek. “I’ve already been inspected for this year. Someone had to complain for Mr. Humphries to show up again.”

“Who would do that? We don’t have any other neighbors.”

“I don’t know, unless it was a client.” She twirled the end of her braid round and round her finger the way her dad used to do. “I’ve had a few new ones lately. Maybe someone didn’t like what they saw.” Not everyone liked her strays or her shelter. Some people could be so heartless.

“If that’s the case, they should find another vet instead of hassling you.” He gestured to the shepherd. “What’s he in for? Armed doggery?”

She suppressed a grin. “Hoss is just staying with me while his family is on vacation. I didn’t have time to put him in a run yet.” The dog’s tail wagged as she snapped a leash on his collar. “Why did you really stop by?”

“I brought your dish back. All washed and everything.”

“You didn’t have to do that.” She raised an eyebrow. “You walked across my rutted yard for that?”

“I took it slow with my trusty stick.” He patted his cane, cleared his throat. “I also wanted to discuss...uh...to ask you for contacts on some hands. Since you do cattle vaccinations, I figured you’d know the right people.”

Nervous? Cody Warren nervous? About asking her for ranch hand contacts? She strode over to the bulletin board.

“A large ranch in the area just downsized. Lots of layoffs.” She removed a business card and pulled two stubs bearing names and numbers, then passed them to him. “The card is the ranch owner for references. The numbers are hands.” She rubbed the ache in the back of her neck.

“All your tension still lands in your neck and shoulders, huh?” Cody stuffed the contacts in his shirt pocket and limped around behind her. His warm hands grasped her shoulders, kneading her sore muscles.

She stiffened, almost pulled away. But when she began to relax, all thought of getting away left her. She had to focus on something other than the shivers he was stirring up. “I won’t hold you to four cats. If you’ll just take three, I’ll be under limit.”

“I want four. I was thinking I’d take the ones who’ve been here longest. But it would be a shame to separate the mama and her kittens, so I’ll take those three plus one of the veterans.”

Such a sweetheart. Not many men thought that way. If he ever grew up and settled down, he’d make someone a great husband. “That would be Bruno. His past shouldn’t be a problem.”

“You know his story?” His thumbs soothed away her aches.

What was she talking about? Oh yes, Bruno. “He killed his former neighbor’s pet rabbit and chickens. We don’t have any of either near here and he won’t be wandering far from home anymore since I neutered him.”

“Hear that, Hoss.” The German shepherd’s ears pricked. “You better stay on her good side.”

“I need to get him in his run.” She stiffened again, pulled away and dug four collapsed cardboard carriers from under the counter. “And we better go get the cats before Mr. Humphries decides to come back.”

And before she melted into a pool of butter at Cody’s feet.

* * *

Mama cat supervised her orange tom and gray female as they clambered and pounced on hay bales, while Bruno checked out the loft.

“You don’t think they’ll run away?” Cody still couldn’t muster up the courage to discuss their past, so he kept coming up with inane subject matter.

“You fed them.” She scratched the mama calico along her cheek. “So they should stay close here.”

Cody settled on a hay bale. Would his leg ever stop aching?

A breeze wafted through the barn, stirring strands that had strayed from her braid around her face. Absolutely beautiful. Why hadn’t some man snapped her up? Was it because of all the homeless pets she kept? Cody loved animals as much as she did, but not everyone felt the same way.

If she’d found some critter-loving man and were living happily ever after, would it make whatever was left of his life easier or harder? “How come you never married?”

“Excuse me?” She propped her hands on her hips.

“Just curious.” He shrugged. “Back when we were in high school, you dreamed right along with Caitlyn about getting married.”

“I did, didn’t I?” Her voice went soft and she settled on a hay bale facing him, elbows propped on her knees. “My parents married right out of high school and Mom never worked outside the home. She didn’t have a clue about how to get a job, balance the checkbook or pay the bills.”

She picked up the gray kitten and cuddled it. “Dad had done everything for her. For a while after he died, I thought I’d have to give up college and stay home to take care of her. It made me realize I never want to need anyone that much.”

“Everybody needs somebody.”

“Look who’s talking.” She caught his gaze. “Mr. I’m-Never-Getting-Married-so-I-Can-Travel-and-Do-What-I-Want.”

“I guess it got old.” But it really hadn’t. Not until he’d seen her again. Only one thing was certain. Being close to her drove it home. If he didn’t have a bubble in his head, he’d go after way more than friendship with Ally.

He had to stop thinking about things he couldn’t pursue. “I could build you a few extra pens above the ones you already have to solve your cat problem.”

“I’d always planned to do that, just haven’t had time.” She bit her lip. “That would be great, but if you really want to help me, there is something else you can do.”

“Just ask.”

“Would you sell me a few acres? I had my eye on five, but one would get me out of a bind.”

He’d have loved to. But the problem with that was that he was only leasing. Yet he needed his family to believe he was willingly retiring to become a rancher. Otherwise, they’d get curious and if they learned about his health situation, they’d hover and he’d have no peace while he decided what to do.

He couldn’t burden her with his secret.

“Well?”

“Ally?” A man’s voice called out, cutting off any response he might have given her.

“Over in the neighbor’s barn,” she yelled.

Footfalls crunched across the gravel and a shadow fell over the doorway.

A gray-haired man wearing scrubs stepped inside. “Everything go okay with the mastiff?”

“She’ll be fine.” She nodded. “The car just grazed her. Lacerations and contusions, but no internal injuries or broken bones. Most of her damage came from the highway.”

“Ouch.” The man winced. “Poor girl. I finished the vaccinations. Derek filled out all the records and he’s putting the ranch file in the office. Just thought I’d check in before I go.”

Ally gestured to the man. “This is Dr. Lance Bridges, the other vet here at my clinic. Cody is our new neighbor. He took Bruno and the three strays I got in yesterday, just in the knick of time. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.”

“Nice meeting you.” Cody clasped hands with Lance.

“Likewise.”

“You go on home. I’m sure Erin has your supper ready.”

“See you tomorrow.” As Dr. Bridges turned away, a younger man approached. Blond, midtwenties.

“Some first day, huh, Derek?”

“I loved every minute of it.” The younger man smiled, scratched the kitten Ally held under its chin. His hand dangerously close to hers.

Huh? Was he flirting with Ally?

Was this guy an assistant? Or working on being her boyfriend?

Ally pushed stray strands of hair away from her face. “You tell that sweet wife of yours I’ll try not to keep you this late on a daily basis.”

Whew. Thankfully the guy was married.

But what should it matter? Ally’s love life was none of Cody’s concern. It couldn’t be.

“Don’t worry. Brandy understands my work.” The guy turned to the door.

“Where are my manners?” Ally stood, brushed the hay off the seat of her jeans. “This is Cody Warren. We were friends all through school, and now he lives next door. Derek Tatum is my new veterinary technician.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ally.”

“Make that Tuesday. Have a nice, long Labor Day weekend. With so many ranches in Aubrey, we have more cattle vacs scheduled as usual. But maybe there won’t be any emergencies.”

“But you’re working tomorrow and Monday. If it’s all the same to you, I’d just as soon do the same.”

“If you’re sure.”

“I am.” With a wave, Derek left them alone.

Ally set the kitten down and it curled around her ankle. “So what about the land?”

He’d hoped she’d forget about the issue. “I can’t sell you any of it.”

“Why not?” Her shoulders slumped. “Just an acre? A half an acre?”

His only option was to be as honest as he could. “I’m only leasing it.” What were the odds of her talking to his parents about his land anyway?

“But yesterday you said you bought it.”

“No, you said I bought it. I decided to test the ranching thing out before doing anything permanent.” Great. He’d just reinforced her notion that he had commitment issues.

“Oh.” The corners of her mouth tipped down and she stood. “I’m really tired and I can’t wait to get cleaned up. Do you want me to walk you across the yard?”

It was tempting to lean on her. But not advisable.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll go nice and slow.” He opened the door for her.

She exited and he followed. By the time he’d made five steps, she’d already reached her back door. Not sparing him another glance, she slipped inside and closed it.

So much for talking about the kiss. It seemed as if without saying a word, they both agreed to forget it. At least things weren’t quite as strained between them. Though maybe that would’ve been preferable.

Ally was his friend. And that was all she could be. So why did he have to keep reminding himself of that?

* * *

Ally stepped into the mudroom, where excited yips greeted her. “Hey, Foxy. Hey, Wolf.” The two puffballs danced for her attention. “Did y’all miss me today?”

Peering through the blinds, she watched Cody slowly hobble to his house. He’d saved her from a written reprimand. But he wouldn’t sell her any land, because he was only leasing. Which meant he probably wasn’t staying.

He frustrated the daylights out of her. So she wouldn’t coddle him. He was an adult. If he was goofy enough to insist on living alone and walking on his bad leg without any help, that was his problem. She didn’t have the time or energy to babysit him while he played rancher next door. On the land he’d leased right out from under her.

She pulled off her manure-caked boots and picked a Pom up in each arm, snuggling them close. They stilled, except for their noses.

“Busted. Mama traitored—petting countless other dogs and cats again.” The sniffing stopped and kisses took over. With both cheeks sufficiently licked, she set them down.

“Mom?”

“In the living room. Did the emergency surgery go okay?”

“Yep, she’ll be fine. Derek was a great help to Lance with the vaccinations.” She strolled into the living room. Home. She loved this house. The worn plank flooring and walls, beams across the ceilings, and ancient windows. Comfortable, unpretentious and cozy.

“Did Dr. Bridges leave already?” Mom was in her jammies, curled up on the couch with a book.

“A few minutes ago.” Ally couldn’t wait to soak in the bathtub for an hour. Except for Mom’s weekly book club meetings, they both were usually in for the evening by six o’clock. Such exciting lives they led. Probably should get out more.

Maybe she’d have more oomph at the end of the day with Derek around. Most applicants would have waited until Tuesday to start work, but she was thankful for his eagerness.

Today’s ranch vaccinations had been so much easier with help, and when she’d gotten the emergency call, Derek had been able to stay with Lance and finish. Best of all, she didn’t ache quite as much with an extra set of hands at work.

Wolf and Foxy pranced circles around her, offering unconditional love—even though she’d been with other critters all day.

“Y’all don’t care who I play with, do ya?” Her high-pitched tone sent the tiny bundles of energy into excited jitters and she settled on the floor, leaning against the couch. The Poms fought for lap space, then stilled as she stroked their soft coats. “You’ll never guess who showed up after you left, though.”

“I saw you with Cody after I got out of the shower.”

“He arrived just as the state inspector was about to write me up for having too many cats. Cody took Bruno and the three I got in yesterday and saved the day.” And rubbed her shoulders. She could still feel his touch.

“I wonder why the inspector came again. Good thing Cody was there to be your hero.”

“Until I asked him to sell me an acre and he admitted he’s only leasing the land.” She picked up Foxy and rubbed noses with her. “What’s up with that, Foxy?”

The only problem with furry friends—they never answered back.

Wolf let out a yip.

Not in people language, anyway.

“Maybe once his lease is up, you can buy the acreage. It’ll work out.” Mom gave her an encouraging smile. “Just have faith.”

Mom’s words stung. Faith was exactly what she didn’t have.

Why couldn’t her new neighbor have been someone else? A single woman living alone, or a family with a mom who needed adult companionship. Someone who could have at least sold her an acre or two. And who didn’t stir such confusing feelings in her. Even some animal-hating grouch. Anyone other than landlocking Cody.

Though he probably wouldn’t even stay put. Which, as her mom had pointed out, could be good for her. He wouldn’t even be here if not for his injuries and she was sure he’d head back to the circuit just as soon as he could hobble there.

If Cody moved on, she’d get another chance to convince the owner to sell her a parcel of the land. But that meant Cody would run out on her like before. When she’d needed him most. She had to stay away from him in order to survive this go-round.

For as long as she could remember, Cody had gone from one obsession to the next, never sticking with anything for long. Baseball, basketball, fishing, hunting, soccer, football, racquetball and finally rodeo. He’d pursued rodeo far longer than anything else.

Wolf was hanging off her lap and Ally shifted her legs into a crisscross position to give the dogs more room. Closing her eyes, she twirled the end of her braid around her finger.

Sometimes she could still imagine it was her dad doing it. Even after twelve years, she longed for his presence, his sound counsel. He’d have known what to do about her shelter. But he wasn’t here.

“Ally?”

She looked up. Mom had clearly asked her something. “What?”

“Are you ready for supper?”

“You can go ahead. I need a bath.”

Her only hope was to buy the land once Cody got bored with playing rancher and his lease was done. And that would be best for her wayward heart, too.

A hot bath and a bowl of soup later, she crawled in bed thinking about her predicament.

And Cody. She wouldn’t be his new short-term diversion.

Stop thinking about him.

She closed her eyes and snuggled under the covers—exhaustion fogging her brain.

Dogs barking. Ally opened her eyes. Lots of yapping. And they were close. How long had she slept—minutes or hours? It was still dark outside. She was used to the sound. In fact, she usually woke up only when they weren’t barking. But this frenzied chorus seemed to come from right under her window.

She rolled over, squinted at the green digital numbers on her clock. Four twenty-three. Why were the dogs stirred up in the wee hours of the morning? And why did they sound so near? She threw the covers back, jumped up and hurried to the window.

Three dogs surrounded the live oak in her yard. Barks, yips and growls filled the early-morning air. As her eyes adjusted to the moonlight, she spotted a cat clinging to a gnarled, twisted limb high in the tree. In the distance, the lights were on in the barn.

What were they doing loose? Her heart lodged in her throat. She flipped her lamp on, tugged a warm-up suit over her pajamas and darted down the hall.

“Mom.” Ally knocked on her bedroom door. “The animals are loose.” Flashlight in hand, she bolted through the house and jerked the front door open. A light blinded her as she barreled into something solid.

Someone solid.

She screamed.