She worried her bottom lip. She didn’t want to lie to him, but at the same time, he worked for the man she desperately wanted to bring down. Kettleson couldn’t get away with killing off the wolves. Even if he wasn’t doing it directly, he was the reason so many died in the area.
“A movie sounds nice, actually.” Cyan couldn’t remember the last movie she’d gone to. Getting her degree and working on her Masters had taken up all of her attention. The few guys that had bothered to ask her out were often put off by her impassioned discussions on species management and hunting regulation.
Most men in Montana hunted – for sport or need. They didn’t like a woman they were interested in to be in favor of letting the animals live.
Between her animal love and Sherri’s fascination with bugs, there weren’t a lot of dating opportunities for the three girls from Clearwater County.
Whitefish appeared, its holiday lights and decorations fluttering in the slight breeze off the lake. A movie theater set up along the main drive didn’t detract from the small town feel and Jareth parked as close to the front as he could.
Climbing from the truck, Jareth rushed around to her side to help her down.
Cyan smiled gratefully at him, ignoring the sting in her shoulder. He’d wrapped his warm jacket around her shoulders before they left her house. She snuggled into the heat and scent of him clinging to the dark leather.
“I’m not sure what kind of movies you like, chick flicks?” He shut the door and walked beside her, ready to help her but not holding her hand.
Cyan bit back her disappointment. She wasn’t interested in him like that, right? So why then did she want to hold hands? “I’m good with anything. Chick flicks are for girlfriends to hang out and watch.” She looked him up and down, taking in the well-stacked jeans, trim waist and broad shoulders. “You don’t look like any girlfriend I’ve ever had.”
He chuckled, and turned his gaze up to the movie times. “Oh, Cyan, there’s nothing on until four. We have another five hours or so.” Jareth frowned, looking around.
The town’s attention to detail with holiday decorations wasn’t lost on Cyan as she admired hand-painted snowflakes in the window of the book store next door to the cinemas. Even mistletoe hung above the doorway. She glanced shyly toward him, in case he spotted the aphrodisiacal plant, but he wasn’t looking in that direction.
Jareth pointed across the street. “Are you up for something different?” He studied her face like she was a wildcard he had no idea what to do with.
She followed his gaze, unsure which building he indicated. “As long as I have both feet on the ground, I’m good.”
Leading her over the snow-dusted pavement and watching for cars as they crossed, Jareth glanced her way. “Are you afraid of heights?” His eyes widened at her nod. “Really? I never took you as scared of anything. That’s actually cute.” He pointed at a wooden plaque sign painted with a dog. “We’re here.”
The pound. He’d brought her to the pound. Was he a mind reader? Did he know how much she loved animals? It’d been forever since she’d been there. Forever since she’d spoken to the woman who used to run it.
Going to the pound had been her favorite activity when she’d lived with her parents on a permanent basis. The visits were always bittersweet with friends she’d made having been adopted and gone or not adopted, but still gone.
And Maria… Cyan’s old nanny. After Cyan had been too old for a nanny, her parents had endorsed a job for Maria with the down on their luck animals. Coming to see her had led to Cyan’s continued love for unfortunate animals. It’d been one of the few places on earth Cyan could be herself.
No one cared who she was or what she ate or even what her cause was as long as she had a friendly touch and a soothing voice.
Cyan bit back her excitement. She ducked through the door he held open for her and inhaled the familiar smell of pet food and clean straw. How many times had she changed the stalls and fed the dogs and cats inside? How many times had she run to the store and bought bags and bags of feed because the pound was short on money but no shortage of animals?
An older woman with her back turned to them called from behind the small counter. “I’ll be right with you. This light isn’t going to fix itself.”
Maria.
Covering her mouth, Cyan bit back tears. Maria. Her salt and pepper hair was styled in a long French braid and she wore her traditional blue t-shirt over jeans. Cyan would know her anywhere. Her long ago friend climb down from the stepstool and dusted her hands off on her jeans.
Cyan rushed forward, ignoring the pain in her shoulder as she forgot to hide her emotions. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Maria, I can’t believe you’re still here!”
Maria turned to face them, surprise lightening her weathered, sweet face. She bit back tears herself and taking in the sling, wrapped her arms carefully around her former charge in a hug.
The last couple years when Cyan had been away at college, she’d failed to come to the pound, so caught up in her own issues, her own causes. Too busy to return to one of her favorite places on earth. The time away showed itself in Maria’s gray-streaked hair and the fine lines framing her eyes.
Pulling back enough to see her, but not enough to take her arms away, Maria wrinkled her nose. “Well, I’ll be. Cyan Burns. I watch for you every day on the news. When are you going to save this God-forsaken world?” She pulled Cyan back into her embrace and rocked her back and forth and chortled. “Lands’ sake, girl, you’re thin. And what’s with the shoulder?” Maria glanced up at Jareth then back at Cyan. She wiggled her eyebrows and widened her eyes. “Did you go get hitched to this handsome cowpoke and not invite me? That’s unforgiveable.”
Cyan burst out laughing. She had missed so much of Maria, regretting her choice to let life take her time. “No, I’m not married, Maria. This is my…” What did she call him? What was he to her? Suddenly shyness overtook her vocal chords and she couldn’t speak, but stared at Jareth like a puzzle she’d never be able to figure out.
He spoke, extending his hand. “I’m the man who shot her in the shoulder.” Grin wide, he acted like he hadn’t just said the most preposterous thing.
Maria’s eyes widened further and while she shook his hand, she searched Cyan’s face.
Cyan nodded, rolling her eyes. “Yes, he shot me. He brought me to town for a movie and instead brought me here. How’s that for adding excitement to my life?” She ignored the amusement on Jareth’s face. “Not to mention he thinks that’s how to make it up to me.”
Folding her arms across her waist, Maria glanced between them both. “Well, we need to catch up, Cyan. Can you call me later? My number is the same.” She continued on, not waiting for an answer. “What can I do for you, kids? I was just about to feed the residents.” She eyed Cyan expectantly, like she offered the chance to go to Disneyland to a child.
“Really?” Cyan turned to Jareth, gripping his forearm. “I came here a lot after we moved here. The best is feeding time. Can we help?” Why had he brought her to the pound. Not many men would think of that to replace a movie or eating or something else more common for a date. Could she call what they were doing a date? Or more like a pity party? She couldn’t be sure.
Showing up at the pound had thrown her for a loop and she couldn’t be certain what anything was with him. At some point, she needed to ask about Kettleson. She needed to focus more on her objective, rather than on how much fun she had around him.
He watched her. “Of course, if that’s what you want to do.”
“We just got a litter of puppies in, if you’d like to help with them. They’re the cutest little things. Some kind of a Golden Retriever mix. Beautiful coloring all around.” Maria led the way to the back where clean cages stacked on shelves lined the walls. Gray speckled linoleum blended into the background of the gray painted wood. Every horizontal surface not painted gray was shiny stainless steel.
Small yips and the sound of nails scratching on plasti
c swept over them as they passed through the doorway. Jareth followed behind Cyan, and she was glad he couldn’t see the vulnerability in her face as tears welled in her eyes.
She’d been gone so long, run from this place so hard, that she’d forgotten how peaceful and comforting it was to visit the animals . A pound wasn’t anyone’s idea of fun, but she could serve animals here. She’d come here because the animals were nonjudgmental,, hung out here when no one wanted to be around her, just because of the money she came from. Even in one of the richest towns of Montana, she stood out.
But not to the animals. Even the newest ones. Even the ones she’d never met. They didn’t care about money or causes unless they were the ones being fought for.
She knelt down beside laid-out newspaper and waited while Maria fetched four small reddish-gold puppies with floppy ears and wagging tails. “Wow, they have your coloring, Jareth. Well, you’re darker, but there in your whiskers.” Cyan couldn’t help comparing them. She pointed to the thick stubble along his jawline. His hair was darker, almost brown in the indoor lighting, but his facial hair didn’t hide his coloring for long.
He laughed. “Sometimes my hair is red and sometimes it’s brown. Depends on the sun exposure.” He crouched down and allowed the most rambunctious of the lot to wrestle with his hands. “They’re energetic, aren’t they?”
“Oh, yes, they’re terrific puppies.” Maria stood and gathered the feeding supplies. “We aren’t as full as normal, which is a good thing. Funds have been low again. It’s not election time, so there’s no one to really fight for animal needs.” She opened doors to access bowls.
“I didn’t realize money was so tight.” Cyan kicked herself mentally. She’d been wrapped up in school and her own stupid things. She forgot to check on the needs of the pound. As soon as she got home, she’d send help and make it a more consistent thing.
“Money’s always tight in non-profits, you know?” Maria shrugged and hunkered down by a cage farthest from the door. “Come on, boy, it’s okay. Samson, honey, you’re alright. Come on out. Do you want to go for a walk today?” Her soothing tones caught Cyan’s ears and she turned, holding a puppy in her arms to watch Maria with an animal that must be terrified.
The scared animals were the only ones Maria talked to like that. In the clean, friendly environment, there weren’t many scared animals.
A Lab and Shepard mix slunk to the opening of the door, but didn’t set his paw on the cold linoleum. From sad wizened eyes, he watched Maria as she poured his food and rubbed behind his ear. He settled down, resting his head between his paws and blinked, but didn’t show any interest in the food.
Maria shook her head, sighing.
“What’s his story?” Cyan turned from the puppies. They were cute and a great breed. They’d be adopted out as soon as word spread they were there. But an older dog, like Samson…
Maria heaved another sigh, pushing to her feet and putting the bag of food away. “He was found abandoned on the side of the road. Very sweet dog. He was hungry and very dehydrated when we got him in. We got him back to health and he’s next on the block. With no adoptions, we don’t have anywhere else for him to go. He hit thirty days two weeks ago.” She blinked back tears, scrunching her nose. “You’d think I’d be used to this after the last few years. But I hate when the best ones get put down.”
Cyan approached the cage slowly. She squatted beside it and peered inside. Softly, she murmured, “Hey, Samson. How are you? Are you a good boy?” His tail moved but he didn’t lift his head. To Maria, she asked, “Does he bite or anything?”
“No, very docile. I bet he would be a great family pet. Pass it along to anyone you know, will you?” Maria lifted her head at the sound of a bell tinkling from the front. “That’s the mailman. I’ll be right back. I’ve been flirting with him for ages.” She winked at Cyan and Jareth and left them.
Cyan couldn’t look away from Samson. The dog seemed to call to something inside her. She had to save something, someone. The wolves eluded her care, and she didn’t feel successful in any other part of her life. But Samson… he needed a home. He needed someone to champion him.
She glanced at Jareth who watched her while puppies crawled over his lap and gnawed on the sole of his boots. What she wanted to do wasn’t something she could ask him to help with. She bit her lip. “Would you mind if I canceled the rest of today? I need to get home.” Rachiah and Sherri should be home soon and they could drive her back to town. She needed her purse. Only having one functioning hand made things difficult, not to mention daunting.
Setting the puppies carefully to the side, Jareth stood and moved over to hover above her. “Are you okay? What’s wrong? Is your shoulder hurting you?” Worry creased the sides of his mouth as he frowned.
Her shoulder. She could use it as an excuse, but honestly, the pain had abated. Jareth and the dogs had made it inconsequential.
“No, it’s fine. I…” She glanced at Samson, his loneliness and sadness calling to her. “Honestly, I want to take him home. I left my purse there and I can’t drive, so I’d like to have Sherri and Rachiah drive me here to pick him up and then go to the store.” She’d somehow have to convince them to help her put up a kennel.
Jareth reached out a hand. She gratefully accepted it, thankful he was going to go along with what she wanted instead of making her feel guilty.
Inside the front of the pound, Jareth stopped beside the counter. Cyan moved toward the door, curious what he was doing, but anxious to get going so she could come right back.
“Maria, I’d like to purchase Samson for Cyan over there. What do you need from me?” Jareth pulled out his wallet and smiled confidently at the woman whose answering smile spread across her face like a rainbow on a cloudy day.
“If you don’t keep this one, Cyan, I will.” She winked and handed over a clipboard of paperwork. “Come fill this out, honey, and I’ll get the ole boy ready. I’m so excited for him.” She clapped her hands and leaned across the counter to kiss Jareth on his cheek. Half-squealing, she ran into the back.
“Wait, what? You don’t have to do that.” Cyan slowly approached the confusing man.
“Why not? I have the bed cover on the truck and the strength to get everything you need. I kind of owe you, you know? Let me help.” He straightened the collar of his coat on her and chucked under her chin softly. “We can get everything now and I’ll help you get him set up. There’s no reason to make that sad animal wait any longer.”
“Really?” Her breathy question would’ve embarrassed her in any other circumstance, but she was excited. She pushed aside her need to get evidence against Kettleson for the moment. Jareth was showing himself to be sweet, kind, and giving.
Her conscience wouldn’t let her take advantage of him at the moment.
If she wasn’t careful, she’d forget he was a means to an end and she just might start falling for him.
Chapter 13
Jareth
Jareth twisted the hex wrench, tightening the last bolt on the large kennel.
He’d sighed in relief when Cyan used her family’s account to purchase the dog supplies at the general store in town. Jareth wasn’t a fan of spending anything more than his weekly budget and after buying the dog, he didn’t have much left.
Around Cyan though, his pride had him offering to purchase the dog even though he had little money left in his wallet. Her account at the store left him with enough money to buy sandwiches to take back to her place.
The dog she’d adopted immediately perked up at the sight of Jared’s truck at the pound. He’d easily jumped into the back and let his tongue hangout as they drove.
Cyan’s smile hadn’t faded and grew broader every time Jareth peaked her way.
He rubbed his hands together and blew into his cupped palms. Working on the metal kennel had left his skin chilled.
The lower level door opened behind him. Cyan stepped out, holding a steaming mug. “Wow, you got that up fast. Come inside. Samson’s sl
eeping. I’m sure you’re cold and…” Her voice trailed off like she’d run out of things to say but didn’t want to stop talking.
“We have lunch to eat, too.” Jareth’s breath puffed out in front of him. He looked toward the drive, just twenty feet from the kennel’s position under the large overhanging deck. “I thought your friends would be here by now.”
He’d braced himself for their judgment was more like it. But they hadn’t shown and his jaw ached from the clenching and unclenching as he waited.
“Sherri left a message about meeting some guys in town and coming back some time tonight.” She passed him the mug and showed him inside to a laundry room that deserved a more opulent title with its oversized laundry machines, granite counters, and three deep-basin sinks.
Her softer expression put him on edge. He didn’t want her to trust him. Not that easily. The last thing he deserved was the small smile or the doe-eyed gaze trained on him.
Cyan rescued the food he’d brought and set up some places on the granite counter in another deeper room with bar stools made of antler sheds and woven hemp rugs.
Sitting side by side, Jareth glanced at Cyan. She peeked at him from under her lashes, the same smile playing about her lips.
Jareth unwrapped his sandwich. “You need to stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” She batted her eyelids, her smile growing. A quick glance at her sandwich drew a frown. “Can we put the garbage in your truck? I don’t want to chance my parents seeing that.”
“Seeing what?” Jareth studied his wrapper. The paper didn’t say anything offensive.
“The meat. I wasn’t joking when I said my parents are vegan.” She bit into her roast beef sub. She mumbled around her food. “They would die, if they found out meat was in here.” Half-shrugging, she reached for a chip and popped it in her mouth.
“What will they say about the dog?” Not that the dog had anything to do with being vegan, but he had a hard time understanding why they’d be upset by what she ate but not what she brought home.
Forbidden Trails: A Clearwater County Romance (The Montana Trails Series Book 2) Page 9