by Jen Peters
He leaned back in his chair, figuring what it would take to have cabins and stalls ready, and what people like Emily would pay. It could work. It could actually save the ranch.
He leaned over and startled Robin with a hard, fast kiss. “You’re brilliant, you know?”
“Oh. Well, yes, of course I’m brilliant.” Her smile lit her whole face. “Just what is it I’m brilliant about?”
“Everything,” he said. “But right now, it’s your great ideas.” He kissed her again, then pulled her from her chair. “Come on, I have a spot to show you out front. Okay, Uncle Phil?”
Phil’s face cracked a smile, and he waved them around the house. “Go ahead, boy. She’s not the only one with good ideas.”
Chapter 30
Two months later, on a freezing December day, a small crowd gathered at the Double J Ranch. Stakes with neon ribbons marked where a new driveway would go, leading to a large square bordered with twine and more stakes. Robin stood bundled in her coat, papers in her gloved hands and Augie on a leash at her feet.
She looked around at all these friends—Mr. Brown with Soldier, having finally adopted him the week before, the Powell family with a slightly less-pudgy Jello, and a few other families with dogs. Her mother, Justin and Cat, and Ree and Mitch surrounded a well-wrapped Grandma Jackson, home from the rehab center and using only a cane. Town council members also showed up, along with a few other guests.
Cliff, her anchor through all the tumultuous times, waited behind her with his aunt and uncle, shovels at the ready.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming,” Robin began. “It’s an exciting day for everyone. Some of you have adopted pets that used to be neglected and abandoned. Some of you are considering it—and we just happen to have some eager pets waiting to meet you.”
Chuckles came from the crowd, and she motioned to her feet. “Augie, here, is a prime example of what happens when one particular dog grabs your heart and doesn’t let go. He’s not available for adoption anymore—I’m his forever home.” She picked him up, nuzzled him and let him give her kisses, then put him down again.
The crowd whistled and applauded, and Robin could see the twinkle in Mr. Brown’s eyes. She smiled back, then looked at the names listed on her paper. “I’d like to especially thank Ms. Tanesha Williams and her company, Northwest Software, and Mr. Mitchell Blake and the McCormick Foundation for the majority of the funding for the shelter. Without their support, both financial and emotional, this project would never have taken off.” Both Mitch and Ms. Williams kept straight faces through the shouts and whistles. “And a big thank you to all who have helped get the word out, placed donation jars, and made your own contributions—you’ll keep us in kibble and chew toys for quite a while.” More applause.
“I’d also like to thank my family and my almost-family for believing in this dream of mine.” She glanced at Cliff, then motioned next to him. “And especially for Phil and Jess Jackson, who are leasing these two acres to us for 99 years, and getting a whole dollar per year out of it!” She pulled Phil and Jess up the last yard to her.
Phil Jackson’s tan took on a decidedly rosy hue. He took the microphone from her and shushed the crowd. “Come on folks, it’s time to get this shelter started!”
Cliff stepped up with two shiny new shovels and handed them to his aunt and uncle. Then he went back for four more. “Mitch? Ms. Williams? You need to be up here too.”
Mitch came readily, and Robin smiled as Ms. Williams picked her way through the dead weeds, white slacks and all.
Once the newspaper photographer had them all in place, Robin grinned and nodded. In unison, they dug their shovels through the frozen crust and into the dirt below.
When their bits of earth were turned over, Robin picked up the mic again. “I now declare the Friends Forever Animal Shelter underway!”
The applause was calm, with one or two separate cheers. Then Cliff took the microphone from her hand, set it carefully on the ground, and dipped her back for a deep kiss. In front of everyone.
The crowd went wild.
Robin didn’t care. She wrapped her arms around him and savored every moment. The crowd faded away and she floated away on his kiss.
* * *
Thank You
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The McCormick’s Creek Series
Trusting His Heart (#1)
Finding Her Heart (#2)
Safe in His Heart (3)
#4—Raine’s story coming soon!
About Jen
"Love, Hope & Happy Endings"
Jen Peters loves the first meetings, swoony kisses and happy endings of sweet romance. She lives in the Midwest, but is thrilled to set her McCormick's Creek series in her beautiful home state of Oregon.
When she's not writing or renovating yet another house with her husband, Jen borrows a horse to ride, forces herself to weed the garden, or takes a time out with Bailey, her opinionated Cavalier spaniel who thinks he rules the world.
Learn more about Jen by visiting https://JenPetersAuthor.com
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