Wild Cowboy Country

by Erin Marsh

  For a moment, Clay didn’t move. He stood under the bright fluorescent lights. Vaguely, he noticed the milk supplement growing heavy on his shoulder.

  He had problems, and not just those caused by a pocket-sized dynamo with chestnut-brown hair and pixie-like features. He was fairly certain Lacey hadn’t told her grandfather about their kiss. Hell, she was probably doing everything she could to scrub it from her mind. Which meant Pete Thompson had called Buck Montgomery. Firing Pete would cause him a shitload of trouble, but keeping him around seemed to be doing the same. The man’s thinly veiled hostility had started to seep out. Clay himself was seething over Thompson’s attack on Lacey. Every time Clay thought of Lacey’s pale, horrified face, a fresh surge of anger thrummed through him. He’d wanted to terminate Pete on the spot, but he hadn’t. Long ago, he’d learned a white-hot temper only caused problems. When he made a decision regarding Pete, it would need to be carefully considered.

  Another shopper appeared, startling Clay from his thoughts. Evidently, it was neighbor day at the feedstore. Tim Forrester walked in his direction. He held a box of bullets, which didn’t surprise Clay. The guy liked his target practice. Clay often heard gunshots coming from Tim’s spread. Tim had purchased the land only a few years back, so he didn’t have any animosity toward Clay. Forrester wasn’t exactly friendly though. He was polite, but he was the kind of man who liked to put some distance between himself and others. Like Clay, he hailed from back East, and Clay figured he’d moved West to get away from people.

  Clay didn’t think much of the man’s son, not that he’d ever admit that to Tim. Linus was three years ahead of Zach in school, but the two had become close friends. Linus had a tendency to drag Zach into stupid pranks like turning the sprinklers on during football practice, and Clay wouldn’t be surprised if the older teen had masterminded the illegal campout at Rocky Ridge. He was the right height for the kid in the security footage stealing alcohol, but since Zach wasn’t willing to talk, Clay had no proof of who else was involved.

  “I just saw Buck Montgomery storm out of here,” Tim said.

  Clay grunted. Of course, Forrester would pick this moment to become chatty.

  “You two fighting over Lacey’s wolves?” Tim was the only other person who called the park’s canines that, and even he only used the appellation around Clay. He got the impression Tim wasn’t too happy about the pack’s presence either, but the rancher publicly supported them. Unlike Clay, he didn’t seem willing to risk the town’s wrath.

  “Something like that,” Clay said.

  “Did you catch them on your land this morning?”

  Clay shook his head. “No. Two of my ranch hands went looking but came up with nothing. We did spot tracks near the pasture where the cows and the calves are.”

  Tim whistled sharply. “It would be a damn shame if you lost some of your herd again.”

  Clay nodded. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

  “No problem,” Tim said. “I’ve been seeing them more and more on my land.”

  “Shit,” Clay said. “I hadn’t noticed any uptick. I’ll have to ask my guys if they have.”

  “That might be a good idea.”

  As Clay turned to head to the checkout counter, the clerk’s cheerful smile flattened into an emotionless line. Although the staff at the local establishments stopped short of being downright rude to him, they weren’t welcoming either. Clay just gave the older woman a cheerful smile. He’d become immune to everyone’s reaction.

  By the time he’d left the store, he’d already pushed the encounter with the saleswoman from his mind, but he hadn’t the ones with Lacey’s grandfather or Tim Forrester. Maybe it was a good thing the past made a future with Lacey impossible. If the wolf pack was expanding its territory, his professional world was about to collide with hers once again. He had a duty to the ranch, and he couldn’t allow any nascent romantic feelings to get in the way.

  * * *

  The footsteps in the hall to the zoo’s nursery woke Lacey. When she’d arrived at the animal park mid-Saturday afternoon, she hadn’t felt well. The stiff, stilted ride with Clay and his nephew hadn’t helped her head, nor had the overhead lights in the nursery. Lou had noticed her paleness and ordered her to lie down. Luckily, Bowie had set up an air mattress in an adjacent room since he needed to stay with the wolves overnight.

  Feeling better after her nap, she swung her feet off the low-lying bed and headed to the door. When she pushed it open, she saw Zach coming down the hall. He had a smudge of dirt on his face, which didn’t surprise Lacey. In addition to cleaning the animal stalls, Zach was also helping prepare a new wolf enclosure, though the pups would stay in the nursery for a while longer. The zoo had a lot of room to expand, and Bowie was meticulous about the homes he created for his charges. The large, carefully considered habitats were one of the reasons Lacey sent him animals that could no longer survive in the wild. Despite being a relatively small operation, the animal park provided excellent care.

  “Hi,” she called to Zach.

  The teenager jerked his chin in her direction, but he didn’t quite meet her eyes. If Lacey hadn’t spent time with him, she would’ve thought him sullen. Now, she was wondering if he wasn’t just shy around adults.

  “Are you done for the day?”

  Zach shook his head. “Bowie said I’ve been such a big help with the wolf exhibit that I could take a break and help with the pups before I dig more fencepost holes.”

  Lacey hid a smile. Bowie was smart to make one of the chores look like a treat. He’d probably sensed the teenager’s love for animals. Babysitting the wolves was a great way to encourage it, and Zach needed a focus other than causing trouble.

  “I’m headed that direction myself.”

  Zach dipped his chin again. They fell into silence as they walked the short distance to the nursery. When they opened the door, one of the pups lifted his head from the capybara’s flank, while the other remained asleep. The alert lobo’s big blue eyes looked bright against his grayish-brown fluff. His tiny mouth opened next, showing a flash of pink tongue as he squeaked in a clear demand for food. Abby glanced up from her position in the corner of the room where she was working on her homework. She gave a little wave, which Lacey returned. Zach didn’t seem to notice the other teenager as he sucked in his breath excitedly, his gaze riveted to the young canine.

  “His eyes are open!” Surprise had chased away Zach’s protective layer of surliness. The smile on his face made him appear younger…or maybe it just made him look his age. A toughness clung to the teen that typically made him seem a lot older than his fourteen years.

  “Yes,” Lacey said, “but he can’t see very well yet.” Still, she couldn’t help but share Zach’s excitement.

  “I didn’t know wolves had blue eyes.” Zach had lowered his voice to a whisper, his awe apparent.

  “They’ll change to goldish-brown as they age,” Lacey said.

  “Really? That’s kind of fucking awesome.”

  “At this point, I should probably tell you to watch your language,” Lacey said.

  A small grin touched Zach’s features. “Yeah. Probably.”

  The wolf began to squeak as he pulled himself forward on his front legs in clear pursuit of milk. It wouldn’t be much longer before the little guy could stand. His movements woke his brother, who also began to whine.

  “Would you like to feed them?” Abby, Bowie’s daughter, asked. Her voice was soft and hesitant, but it still made Zach jump. He obviously had been too distracted by the pups to notice Abby.

  She must have picked up on his surprise because she added shyly, “I’m Abby. I’m a year behind you in school.”

  “Oh, yeah,” Zach mumbled. “I’ve seen you around. You work here too?”

  “My dad’s Mr. Wilson, so I help out a lot. We live in the house right next to the zoo.”

  “That’
s pretty lit,” Zach said, which Lacey figured meant “cool.” Although she worked with kids as a park ranger, she had trouble keeping up with the changing slang.

  “It is,” Abby said, her gray eyes brightening. “If you want, I can show you how to mix up the formula.”

  Zach swung his gaze toward Lacey. “Can I?”

  Lacey nodded. The kid was trying to hide his interest, but she could sense his excitement. She wondered how much of his cavalier attitude came from true teenage disinterest and how much sprung from his desire to protect himself.

  The teenagers moved over to the counter, and Lacey stayed back. She didn’t want to hover. It was good for Zach to have an adult put a little faith in him, and Abby would get the formula right. She’d grown up caring for animals, and Lou never would have left her alone with the pups if he didn’t trust her.

  Abby showed Zach how to test the temperature of the formula on his wrist, and he listened intently. He was clearly trying, Lacey realized. She was glad he didn’t resent being forced to work here. With his love for animals, he reminded Lacey of her younger self despite the fact that she’d been an outgoing overachiever. But when her world had disintegrated, volunteering at the zoo had given her a stronghold.

  The teens headed over to the wolves. They sat cross-legged on the floor as each lifted a squirming pup. The wolves began to squeak louder, realizing food was nearby. They padded the air in excitement, their long bodies wiggling like fuzzy caterpillars.

  “Keep their bellies flat and don’t tip their heads back too far,” Abby instructed. “If you do, the formula could get into their lungs.”

  “Do they eat any meat?” Zach asked after double-checking his hold on the squirming lobo. The little guy eagerly latched onto the bottle.

  “Not yet,” Abby said.

  “Their first teeth should appear in a week or so,” Lacey explained. “Once that happens, we can introduce strained meat into their diet.”

  Zach’s face screwed up as he pondered this. “How does it get ground up in the wild?”

  Lacey and Abby exchanged a look. The thirteen-year-old answered, “You know how a mama bird feeds a baby bird?”

  Zach screwed up his face. “They eat regurgitated food? Gross!” Then he looked down at the wolf greedily sucking on the bottle. “The stuff you’re going to get will practically be gourmet in comparison, little buddy.”

  The pup stared up at the boy as the lobo noisily drank. Although the animal wouldn’t be able to make out Zach’s features, the kid didn’t know that. He gazed down at the tiny ball of fluff with unmistakable affection. Unfortunately, as he did so, he changed the bottle’s angle. Lacey was about to correct him, but Abby was faster. She reached over and gently nudged the glass container to the right position.

  “Thanks,” Zach said, but Lacey could see the flags of color on his cheeks. He hadn’t liked making a mistake in front of the other teenager.

  “No problem,” Abby said. “It can be tricky until you get the hang of it. You’re doing better than some of the adult volunteers.”

  Zach dipped his head, but Lacey could tell the comment pleased him. She wondered how often he’d received encouragement growing up with addicts. Although she didn’t doubt Clay praised the boy, it would be hard to undo years of neglect. Plus compliments always meant more coming from a peer, especially one of the opposite sex.

  “What are their names?” Zach asked.

  “They just have numbers right now,” Abby said. “The Mexican Gray Wolf Survival Species Plan assigns them to help with the breeding program.”

  “That sucks not having an actual name.”

  “We’ll give them one,” Abby said quickly as she turned toward Lacey. “We were actually waiting for you, Ms. Montgomery. Dad thought you might want to name the pups since you saved them.”

  “You know,” Lacey said slowly, “Zach helped with the rescue. If it’s okay, I’d like to transfer my naming rights over to him.”

  Zach swung his gaze in her direction. His aquamarine eyes were comically wide with surprise. “Seriously? You’d let me do that after I…” He trailed off and shot Abby a glance. Obviously, he didn’t want to admit in front of her that he’d endangered the wolves in the first place. He took a breath and concluded with “after I messed up.”

  Lacey nodded. “You’re the one who stuck around to help save them. I’d say that qualifies you.”

  Zach switched his attention to Abby. When he spoke, his words tumbled out in a rush. “Are you sure you don’t mind? This being your dad’s zoo and all.”

  “Nope.” Abby gave him a little smile. His excitement was infectious. Lacey felt a tug on her lips too.

  “What do you think, little guy?” Zach asked as he carefully lifted the wolf to stare into the pup’s vibrant blue eyes. “What would be a good name for you?”

  The wolf yawned, showing off toothless pink gums.

  Zach chuckled. “I don’t think ‘Sleepy’ would be a good one. That’s a dwarf’s name, not a predator’s. You need something more badass.”

  Abby’s grin broadened at the swear word, and Lacey wondered if she should correct Zach’s language. Bowie wouldn’t appreciate his daughter learning how to cuss, but then she’d probably heard worse in school. In the end, Lacey decided she didn’t want to interrupt the moment. For the first time since she’d met the teen, Zach seemed comfortable, and Lacey didn’t want to ruin that.

  “Fang?” Zach offered. The puppy yawned again, and Zach stroked the animal’s soft fur with one finger. “Too obvious, huh?”

  The lobo’s little pink tongue flicked out to capture a droplet of milk on his muzzle.

  “The history of wolves goes way back,” Zach continued, his focus still on the animal, “so maybe you should have an old name. How ’bout Theseus? He was tough. He even killed the Minotaur and found his way out of the labyrinth, just like you had to escape the cave where you were born.”

  The lobo settled his tiny chin on Zach’s forearm. The pup heaved a huge sigh as he pressed his eyes closed.

  Zach brushed his hand over the animal’s neck. “You like that one, don’t you?”

  “Do you read Greek mythology?” Abby asked.

  Zach jerked at the question. Lacey realized he’d momentarily forgotten Abby’s and her presence. Baby animals had a tendency to make people do that. Zach’s face immediately reddened. “Yeah. There’s a lot of fighting and shit.”

  It didn’t surprise Lacey that Abby knew about Greek heroes. The girl read everything. Her habit had started when she was very small. When Lacey had volunteered at the zoo, Abby had been a toddler. If she wasn’t pointing at the animals, she was waddling up to an adult with a book in her hand in a clear demand for a story.

  Lacey hadn’t expected Zach to start spouting ancient stories though. She would have thought he’d name the lobos after video game characters. Lacey could sense that the boy’s knowledge embarrassed him, but she couldn’t help but ask, “How did you learn about them?”

  Zach shifted uncomfortably. Theseus peeped, so the teen settled, his fingers buried in the pup’s fur. “My dad gave me an anthology of Greek myths during one of his visits. It was my fifth birthday.”

  That was an odd gift for a five-year-old. Clearly, Abby felt so as well. She bit her lip as she stroked the other wolf and finally said in a tentative tone, “My dad always bought me books for my birthday too.”

  Zach’s gaze slid toward hers and then back to Theseus. He traced his fingertips lightly down the animal’s spine.

  “Yeah, my dad didn’t normally. I think it was what he could shoplift the easiest. The book was probably part of a sidewalk sale or something. It would’ve been too big for him to smuggle from the store. It wasn’t really for little kids, but it had good illustrations. I liked looking at them before I could understand most of the words.”

  At his explanation, Lacey’s heart broke a lit
tle, and she suspected Abby’s did too. Zach had probably revealed more than he’d intended. Lacey could clearly see a blond five-year-old balancing a massive anthology on his lap as he pored over one of his tenuous connections to his absentee father. No wonder Greek mythology fascinated him.

  “Well, I think Theseus is a perfect name,” Lacey said. “He did emerge from a labyrinth of sorts.”

  “And he likes it.” Abby reached over to pet the pup’s fur. Lacey noticed that the girl was careful to avoid Zach’s fingers.

  A cautious smile broke over the boy’s face. “I think so too. He went to sleep when I said it. That means he’s comfortable with it, right?”

  “Absolutely,” Abby said. “Wolves are very sensitive. I love all animals, but canines are my favorite. They’re the most in tune with people.”

  “My uncle has a dog named Ace,” Zach said. “He’s huge but really friendly.”

  “So what’s this little guy’s name?” Abby asked, gently lifting the other pup. The lobo’s eyes were half-lidded, but he hadn’t quite fallen asleep yet.

  “Should I give him a Greek name too?”

  Abby nodded solemnly. “Most definitely. You can’t let him feel left out.”

  “Perseus was always my favorite.”

  It struck Lacey how many Greek heroes grew up without their fathers under rough circumstances. Zach probably saw a bit of himself in the ancient warriors.

  “Who was he?” Abby asked.

  “The one who slew Medusa with the snake hair.”

  “Oh,” Abby said. “I don’t remember the good guys. I’m better with the monsters.”

  “Most people are,” Zach said softly, and Lacey wondered how many modern monsters the boy had faced.