by Nancy M Bell
“Whatever it takes. Even if the damsel in question was a dog.” He leaned his head against hers; the musk of his aftershave filled her senses.
“Are you going to Doc and Mary’s for brunch?” Michelle broke away and stood up.
“Want a ride into town with me?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“Yeah, if you don’t mind, I’d like that.”
Cale carried his cup to the sink before pulling the kennel for the puppies out of the pantry. By the time Michelle washed up the few dishes, the puppies were in the kennel, and Storm was waiting by the door.
“All packed up and ready to roll.”
Cale lugged the kennel out to his truck with Storm tailing him closely. Michelle turned off the coffee pot, dressed warmly, and joined Cale and the dogs in the truck. George can make his own coffee when he drags his butt out of bed; the dregs will be cold by that time. The thought brought a smile to her lips.
The inside of the cab was warm and toasty. Cale settled the kennel of puppies on the back seat, and Storm scrambled onto the front seat. Michelle joined them, laughing when Storm called “Shotgun” in dog fashion by neatly walking over her lap and pushing Michelle toward the centre of the bench seat. With a huge sigh, the black dog leaned on the back of the seat and rested her chin on the edge of the window frame. Cale shot Michelle a look that started shivers in her stomach. She jumped when he stretched his arm across the seat behind her. Her breath came out in a tiny gasp as he removed his arm once the truck was backed out of the yard. She fought back a stab of disappointment and stroked Storm’s head to hide her reaction. Her leg felt hot where it came in contact with Cale’s thigh. She shifted away slightly, but the big dog on her right left little wriggle room. The sudden warmth of Cale’s hand startled her as he twined his fingers with hers.
“Relax, I promise not to bite.” The humour in his smile melted her resolve just a little, and she allowed herself to smile back at him.
There were a couple of other trucks in the yard when they pulled up to Doc and Mary’s. Storm refused to move, so Michelle slid out the driver’s side. She glanced into the bed of the truck, and her breath caught in her throat.
“Cale, there’s a tail feather in the bed.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the tailgate. “What are we gonna do with it?” Panic and hysterical laughter vied for control of her voice.
“Oh, for God’s sake.” Cale snagged the long peacock feather with his gloved hand. “Cover me.” Throwing her a wicked grin over his shoulder, he made his way to Doc’s burning barrel which was producing some feeble flames and smoke. Quickly he lifted the grate and folding the feather in two thrust it into the glowing embers.
“Is it gone?” Michelle peered past his broad shoulders as he returned to the truck.
“There’s enough flame left; it’s gone.”
Suddenly, the absurdity of the situation struck Michelle, and she burst out laughing. Cale joined her, wiping his eyes with his gloved hands.
“It feels like when I was ten and putting something over on Grampa,” Michelle managed to get out between gasps of laughter.
Cale shook his head in agreement, still trying to catch his breath.
“What’re you two caterwauling about out there?” Doc’s voice cut across their shared mirth.
“Private joke, Doc. You had to be there.” Michelle pushed away from the truck and grinned at Cale.
“Get your butts in here, I’m starving, and Mary won’t let me eat without you.” Doc managed to sound plaintive and put upon while amusement curled the edges of his words.
“Coming,” they chorused together and gathered Storm and the puppies from the cab.
“The things I do for you, dog,” Michelle whispered to Storm as she set the dog carefully on her three good legs.
“The things I do for both of you girls.” Cale’s breath was warm on her cheek as he reached into the cab for the kennel.
Chapter Eight
Doc held the door open while Cale wrestled the kennel in, Michelle and Storm followed close behind. The dog settled in a heap under the table, the puppies crawling over their momma once the kennel was open. Cale and Michelle took the two empty chairs at the table.
“Thought I was gonna starve, girl. What took you so long?” Doc helped himself to the scrambled eggs and hash browns.
“It was kind of a weird morning. George gave himself quite the Christmas present,” Michelle remarked dryly.
“What did that boy do this time?” Mary’s eyes twinkled with supressed laughter.
“Like you don’t know,” Michelle accused her.
“Seriously, what did he do that has you so riled?”
“His new friend Stacey spent the night. I ran into her in the bathroom this morning.”
“What’s wrong with him offering her a place to stay for the night?” Doc spoke around his mouthful of pancakes.
“In his bed?” Michelle raised an eyebrow at him.
Doc choked on his pancake, and Cale helpfully smacked him on the back.
“He only just met the girl. I don’t know what to make of young people today.” Mary shook her head.
“You haven’t heard the best part yet. George told her she can stay as long as she wants. I told him to take a long walk off a short pier.”
“What did George say to that?” A frown creased Mary’s forehead.
“Oh, it’s all okay with him apparently. He ignored my opinion as usual. I think he expects me to babysit her when he goes back to work.” Michelle stabbed a sausage with a little more force than was necessary.
“And you said….” Doc let his voice trail off.
“We didn’t actually get to discuss it. He had more pressing matters in his room to attend to.” She snorted.
“What are you gonna do? I can’t see you going along with that scheme for too long.” Clint, Doc’s neighbor ventured to ask.
“I haven’t figured that out yet, Clint. You don’t have an extra room do you?”
“Land sakes girl, I can’t have a pretty young thing like that staying with me. What would people say?” Clint’s face reddened at the mere thought.
“I meant me, not her.” Michelle glared at him.
“That’s your home, Chelly. Don’t be silly and let yourself get pushed out by a flash in the pan. You know how long George’s relationships last.” Mary scolded her.
“Mary’s right; the girl will be gone by New Year’s.” Doc agreed.
“I wouldn’t bet on that, Doc. Stacey can be pretty determined if she sets her mind to something.”
Michelle felt Cale’s gaze on her, but she refused to look at him.
“You think she’s set her hat for George?” Clint leaned forward on his elbows eager for some gossip to share with his cronies at the hotel.
“Stacey’s never been one to bed hop, so I’m guessing she likes him enough to hang around and see where things end up.” Cale shrugged.
“She’ll end up in the river pretty darn quick if she thinks I’m gonna be her personal maid and errand girl.” Michelle growled.
“What’s really eating you, Michelle?” Mary rested her hand on Michelle’s arm. “C’mon and help me with the coffee.”
Michelle waited until they reached the counter on the far side of the big room. “I don’t know, Mary. I can’t stand all the lovey dovey crap right now. First Rob and Kayla and now George and Cale’s old girlfriend, right under my nose.”
“Is this more about Rob, or more about the fact that she’s on old friend of Cale’s? Are you worried she was more than that?” Mary prodded gently over the gurgle of the coffee maker.
“That’s just it, Mary, I don’t know.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m kind of over Rob. I mean, I don’t think I even know him anymore. It’s like I was in love with who I thought he was and not the man he grew up to be.”
“What about Cale? He certainly seems to be sniffing around a lot. Looks to me like he’s pretty interested in more than that black dog of yours.”
“I know, and I have feelings for him, too. I’m just scared, and I need time to figure it out. Without George and his lady love prancing around half dressed.” She blinked the tears from her eyes. “Do you think Clint will rent me his spare room?”
“I don’t think that’s gonna fly.” Mary laughed.
“I suppose you’re right about that.”
The coffee maker finished brewing with a loud burp. The two women quickly filled the mugs and brought them to the table. Conversation flowed around her barely noticed as Michelle drank her coffee. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what it was about Stacey that bothered her so much. Am I jealous? She had to admit she was, if she were to be perfectly honest. But why? I don’t care who George dates. I just hate the fact she’s so friendly with Cale. A faint heat crept up her neck, growing hotter until her cheeks burned. I can’t be falling that hard for Cale. I don’t want to be in love with anyone right now. Damn, damn, damn. With an effort Michelle dragged her attention back to the conversation, ignoring the questioning look Cale shot her.
The men refilled their mugs and retired to the living room to continue their gossip. Mary and Michelle tidied the kitchen before settling back at the table to play their favorite game of cards.
Cale wandered into the kitchen a couple of hours later, interrupting the game which Michelle was losing badly.
“Oh, my stars! Look was time it is.” Michelle pushed back from the table and looked at the tall man in the doorway.
“Yeah, I have to get back to the house and catch up on some paperwork. I didn’t want to spoil your fun though.”
“No fun really, Mary’s scalping me as usual.” Michelle laughed.
“Not my fault you can’t bluff your way out of paper bag.” Mary wagged her finger.
“Why don’t you leave the puppies here for a bit?” Doc commented as he filled his coffee mug.
“I guess Storm could use a bit of a break. They’re old enough to do without her for a couple of hours. The little heathens just finished eating.”
“Clint’s granddaughter might be interested in one or two, so this will give me a chance to show them off.” Mary grinned.
“Okay then, you ready to roll, woman?” Cale handed Michelle her coat before he clipped a lead on Storm’s collar.
“I’ll take her.” She held out her hand for the leash and led Storm toward the kitchen door.
The dog pulled back and whined in her throat, eyeing her puppies asleep in the kennel. Michelle gently guided her out the door and helped her into the truck. Cale followed, closing the door with a final wave to Doc.
“It’s okay, dog, we’ll come back and get the kids later.” Cale ruffled the black dog’s head affectionately.
Chapter Nine
“Who left the damn gate open?” Michelle scrambled out of the truck before it actually stopped. The pen of first year heifers were scattered around the yard where most of them were taking advantage of the row of round bales. Several rolls of hay were pulled open and strewn about the snow covered ground. A red brockle-faced heifer raised her head and looked at the truck as the diesel rumbled into silence before returning to demolishing the hay bale.
“Are they all here?” Cale appeared beside her.
“I think so. There should be four black baldies, three red brockle-face, and two red white-face.” She hoped her memory was correct.
Silently wishing Rex was still alive, Michelle spread her arms and walked toward the knot of heifers gathered at the nearest pile of feed. Four pairs of eyes regarded her, and then mooing softly, the heifers agreeably turned toward the open gate of their pen. She stepped back to allow three others through the opening as Cale herded them from behind. The remaining two obstinately refused to move from the far side of the round bales. Michelle came around behind to push them in the direction of their pen. Cale stood guard in the open space between the bales and the gate. The young cows rolled their eyes and shuffled through the snow in the general direction she intended. Reaching the open space, the lead animal bellowed loudly and swung her head, spraying the man blocking her way with snot. She lowered her head and charged with her accomplice in hot pursuit.
“Damn it all to hell! I’m gonna kill whoever didn’t latch the gate. Bastard…” She gasped at the black baldy who charged Cale and knocked him flying into a drift. Her legs wouldn’t move fast enough hampered as they were by the heavy snow. She floundered the last few feet in time to see the back end of the runaways disappear behind the chicken house. A snow covered figure emerged from the drift and shook itself, knocking snow everywhere. “Are you hurt?” She struggled not to giggle.
“Only my pride.”
“Can you watch they don’t get out of the yard? I’m going to drag George’s ass out here to help.”
The effort of stomping to the house and across the porch took some of the starch out of her anger. She banged into the kitchen without removing her outerwear.
“George, get yourself down here, and I mean now.” Michelle bellowed and was rewarded by the sound of feet hitting the floor above here.
“What are you screaming about?” Buttoning his shirt, her brother came into the kitchen with a major case of bed head.
“Nothing except the pen of heifers are out.” Sarcasm dripped from the words.
“Shit, did you get them back in?” He glanced out the window on his way to the mudroom.
“Except for two black baldies; they’re over behind the chicken house. It’s gonna take more than two people to get them corralled.” Michelle waited impatiently while he pulled on boots and a coat.
“Sweetie, what going on?” Stacey stood in the doorway wrapped in quilt.
Sweetie? Gag me with a fork. Her brother was many things but sweet wasn’t one of them. Oh well, let the girl find that out for herself. She pinned the petite blonde with her sharp gaze.
“Someone left the gate on the heifer pen unlatched.”
“Which pen?” Stacey asked, her blue eyes wide and fixed anxiously on Michelle.
“The one nearest the chicken house.”
“I closed it after George went through with the big bale,” she said firmly.
“That’s nice, but did you slide the chain through the latch?” Michelle wrenched the door open to see if Cale had managed to keep the cows cornered.
“What does it matter? Let’s just get the stupid things back.” George stamped past her out the door.
“Translated, that means you didn’t latch the gate.” She glared at Stacey. “Try not to help out again, will you?”
Slamming the door, she felt a little guilty. George was the one to be mad at. Grampa’s rule was a good stockman always checked the gate, especially when working with someone who hadn’t proven their worth yet. It was an unwritten, unbreakable rule. She reached the break in the row of bales and used her body to block the opening after pulling the pen gate open. George walked behind the chicken house, and the two escapees trotted out the other side. Cale encouraged them along with a cattle hook, and they scooted into the open gate. She hurried to close and latch it firmly behind them.
After throwing her brother a speaking look, Michelle turned her back and headed to Cale’s truck. Storm sat in the passenger seat with her nose pressed against the window, covering the glass with dog drool and nose prints. She opened the door and helped the dog down. Storm hopped over to Cale and pushed her nose in his hand. Without hesitation, she limped to George and greeted him in the same manner.
“Don’t be nice to me, dog. Michelle’s pissed, and you might get the fallout.” George’s attempted humour failed to make her smile. She had outgrown the childhood ploy a long time ago.
“Do you want some coffee?” Ignoring her brother, she smiled at Cale and took Storm into the house.
The men followed her into the house. From the kitchen, she could hear them talking in the mud room but couldn’t make out the words. Probably just as well. She allowed herself a grin at the memory of Cale in the snow bank. Her amusement fled when Stacey entered
the kitchen. At least the woman was dressed now. Feeling pigheaded, she allowed the blonde to stand uncertainly by the counter without acknowledging her. It’s a good thing Gramma isn’t here. She would have tanned my hide for sure. With the speed of long practice, she made a fresh pot of coffee and slapped four mugs on the table. Her contrary side prodded her to only fill three mugs and drive her point home to Stacey how unwelcome she was. That is nasty, though, and she really hasn’t done anything, except be stupid enough to sleep with George and believe his line of bull. If she wasn’t so chummy with the vet, I could actually feel sorry for her. She relented and filled the fourth mug.
“Do you want to get the cream from the fridge?” She unbent enough to speak to Stacey.
The blonde smiled uncertainly but hastened to set the carton of cream on the table beside the sugar bowl. As she scurried out of her way, Michelle noticed unshed tears shining in the woman’s blue eyes. Remorse niggling at her conscience, she strengthened her resolve by thinking about the blonde’s designs on Cale. She is pretty open about spending the night with George. Maybe she’s hedging her bets and figures he’s her fall back if Cale really isn’t interested. More the fool her; my brother the gigolo has more women than you can shake a stick at. She’s barking up the wrong tree on this one.
The men brought a rush of cold air in from the mud room with them. Laughing at some shared joke, they plunked themselves at the table. Surreptitiously, she watched her brother smile and Stacey’s face suddenly glow like a million watt bulb. She laid her hand on George’s and twined her fingers with his. To Michelle’s surprise, her brother grinned and scraped his chair closer to the woman. Now, that’s a first. This is usually where he puts his running shoes on. She shook her head in bemusement. She never knew what her idiot brother would do next.
“When does your next hitch start?” Michelle broke the silence.
“We’re shut down, maybe ‘til after break-up.” Her evil brother actually grinned at her, devilment in his brown eyes.
“Seriously? You’re actually gonna be here to help with calving?” Another first.