She closed the door behind her and continued to explore the street. Melissa at the bookstore helped her choose out some novels—sweet Western romance. She figured that if she was going to spend time on a ranch, she might as well read about cowboys. Sadie at the ice cream parlor fed her a decadent scoop of white chocolate raspberry cheesecake, and she took note of the apothecary—what they called their drugstore—in case she needed any aspirin. It was a thoroughly pleasant walk, and yet, she was still just as tense at the end of it as she had been when she started.
And no one could tell her who JJ was.
She sat down on a bench at the end of the street and pulled her phone out. She read his text again, frowned, and then decided she’d reply. I’m here now. Are you free to meet up?
He didn’t reply right away, so she decided to walk back to her room and hang up her clothes. She had just finished putting her second suitcase in the closet when her phone chimed. Sorry—up to my elbows in a project. Dinner?
Took him long enough to respond. Things like that drove her nuts. Okay. When and where?
Dining room at eight?
Eight? She’d starve to death by eight. But she guessed she could just eat her yogurt. Okay. See you then.
Well, since she had nothing else to do for hours, she might as well try out that jetted tub. Maybe that would help work out some of the kinks in her neck. And in her mood.
***
Jamal’s phone chimed with a text shortly after he started Jaclyn’s row of carrots. His hands were all muddy, so he didn’t check it until he was about halfway through. Good—Kerry had made it to the ranch safely. He would have liked to go meet her, but there were so many seeds left to plant. Thankfully, she seemed agreeable to dinner later.
When he finished, Jaclyn came out of the house and waved him over. “I don’t think you got any lunch today, did you?”
He shook his head. “How’d you know?” He knew she consulted with fairies, but he didn’t think creatures from the mystical world cared about his lunch.
“Well, the story of you and that little goat has been buzzing around this place like a hive of bees. Come inside—I made you a sandwich.”
Jamal looked down at himself. The coveralls had helped, but his shoes were caked with mud. “All right if I eat out here on the porch? I don’t want to track through your house.”
“Are you sure? After all the work you just did, I think you deserve a better chair than my rickety old swing.”
“I’m sure. Out here’s just fine.”
She shook her head. “All right. I’m just saying, I know how to use a broom and dustpan. And it’s not like you couldn’t take off your shoes.” She talked all the way back into the house, and Jamal chuckled. True, he could take off his shoes, and the coveralls, and maybe his socks, but that sure seemed like a lot of work just for lunch. He’d eat out here just fine.
Jaclyn came back out carrying two plates. “I can’t leave you out here in exile all by yourself,” she said, joining him. “And I’m sorry this isn’t fancier. I meant to run to the store this morning, but Delilah isn’t feeling herself today, and I didn’t want to leave her.”
“I don’t need a fancy lunch.” Jamal picked up his ham and cheese sandwich. “What’s wrong with her, do you think?”
Jaclyn shook her head. “I think she’s pining away for Hershel.”
“For Hershel?” It was difficult keeping Jaclyn’s rabbits straight. In the first place, there were so many. In the second place, there were always so many more. “The rabbit you gave Oz?”
“Yes. They were in love, you see, and I was the cause of their separation. It’s actually quite tragic. Almost like Romeo and Juliet, except they didn’t sneak off to get married, and they’re both still alive . . . so, no, nothing like Romeo and Juliet at all. Eat your sandwich.”
Jamal grinned and took another bite.
“So, tell me more about the new young lady in your life.”
Jamal raised an eyebrow. “I don’t have a new young lady.”
Jaclyn wagged a finger at him. “The fairies would beg to differ.”
“Oh.” He’d learned a while back never to argue with Jaclyn’s fairies. “Well, a friend did set me up on a blind date, and we’re going out tonight.”
Jaclyn sat back, a triumphant look on her face. “See? You should know better than to try to hide things from me. Tell me about her.”
“All I know is that her name is Kerry, and she’s a friend of one of my good friends from high school.”
“That’s it?” Jaclyn looked disappointed. “No juicy tidbits?”
“I’m sorry. That’s really all.”
She slumped down. “Well, the fairies seem quite enthusiastic, so I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see why. I do hope you’ll come and report, young man.”
“Sure. I can do that.” Jamal ate his last bite. “Thank you for the sandwich, Jaclyn. Is there anything else you need done around here before I go?”
Her disappointed look immediately disappeared. “Would you mind helping me rake up some dead bark? I have this stack of firewood back here, you see, and got to rearranging it, and now there’s bark just everywhere, and it’s just about done me in.”
“Sure. I’ll get right on it.”
Jamal walked around the house, found the wood pile, and grabbed the rake that was leaning up against the side of the house. He shook his head, smiling to himself. He didn’t know what kind of report Jaclyn wanted—what they ate? Everything they said? Probably all of it. She was such a character.
By the time he was finished, it was time to bed down the animals for the night. He told Jaclyn goodbye, repeated his promise to come back and report, and headed off to the barn. The nightly routine was pretty simple—check the water levels, put out the feed, and make sure everything was latched up. When he came to the coop where Billy had been put, he crouched down and looked the little goat in the eye.
“Well, buddy, it’s been an interesting day, hasn’t it?”
Billy bleated.
“I think this chicken wire is just what we need for you. I’ll get on that tomorrow, okay? You won’t have to live in this coop forever.”
Billy didn’t answer this time. Jamal wasn’t sure if he should take that as approval or disapproval, so he nodded, stood up, and moved on to the next bunch of animals.
When he came to the mama cat and the new kittens, he knew immediately something was wrong. The kittens were crying, and Mama looked weak and defeated. She pushed her babies away with her paws whenever they came near, making them cry even harder.
Jamal knelt down and gently touched her chest. It was hot, and her nipples seemed distended.
He grabbed his cell phone and punched in one of his pre-programmed numbers. Jess, one of the Weston cousins and the vet who took care of Jamal’s animals, answered right away. “What’s up?”
“I’ve got a mama cat with probable mastitis.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. How old are the kittens?”
“Not even a week.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Thanks, Jess.” He hung up, then stroked Mama’s head. “It’s all right. Help’s on the way.”
She pulled away from his hand, a clear sign that she was in pain. She usually loved being petted.
Jamal stood up and paced while he waited for Jess to get there. He couldn’t stand to see any living creature in pain, and not only was Mama sick, but her babies were hungry, and they couldn’t understand why she was rejecting them.
At last, he saw the headlights of Jess’s truck pull into the parking lot, and a moment later, she scurried across the grass, carrying her bag. “Sorry it took me so long to get here,” she said. “The movie just let out, and I got caught in the middle of all the cars in Riston trying to get on Main Street.”
“That’s okay,” Jamal said, then paused. The movie had let out? The six o’clock showing? “What time is it?”
“Eight thirty.”
“Oh, no.” He’d completel
y forgotten about Kerry while he waited for Jess. He was such a moron. He pulled out his phone. I’m so sorry. I had an emergency come up. Can we have breakfast together in the morning? Diner, seven thirty?
She responded about five minutes later. I’m on vacation. I won’t be getting up before ten the entire time I’m here.
It was impossible to tell from that if she was angry or joking. How can I make it up to you?
This time, her reply was almost immediate. I’ll think about it and get back to you. Goodnight.
Ouch. That was definitely a dismissal. He put his phone back in his pocket, shaking his head.
“What’s the matter?” Jess asked, looking up from where she was kneeling next to the cats.
“Oh, I just stood up a blind date, and I’m not sure I’ll be forgiven. No big deal.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sure my being late didn’t help.”
“I would have been late regardless. No worries.” Jamal crouched down next to Jess. “What do you think?”
“Definitely mastitis. You caught it before she was too bad, though—great call. I’ll get her on antibiotics, but I’m worried about the kittens, with the way she keeps rejecting them. She won’t be out of pain for a day or two, and that’s going to mess up the whole nursing cycle. Not to mention, they’ll starve.”
Jamal pressed his lips together. “Any ideas?”
“Yeah. I have another mom and babies at the clinic right now. I’d like to take this family back with me and see if my cat will feed these kittens.”
“Is that likely?”
“All we can do is try it and see. Some cats are extra maternal and don’t have a problem playing stepmom, and others won’t even think about it. I think it’s worth a shot. If that doesn’t work, I have little bottles at the clinic, and we can try handfeeding them.”
Jamal helped Jess get the cat family moved out to her truck. She had a king cab, so they made a bed for the animals in her backseat. Mama Cat didn’t like being picked up and moved, but Jamal couldn’t see leaving her behind, and Jess agreed. Once everyone was safely nested in the blanket bed they made, Jess promised to call Jamal as soon as she knew anything, and drove off down the road toward her clinic.
All Jamal could do now was wait.
Chapter Four
Great. This was just great. Kerry flopped onto her bed and buried her face in the pillow. She’d waited at the dining room for twenty minutes, decided he wasn’t coming, and was on her way back to her room to order room service when he texted. Breakfast? At seven thirty? What kind of stupid apology was that? And she still couldn’t find anyone on the ranch who knew who he was. It was beyond ridiculous. She was done. She hadn’t wanted to go out with him anyway—she’d only agreed to it because Andie was so eager.
She rolled over. Your friend is a real prince, she texted.
Andie replied a minute later. You sound sarcastic. What’s going on?
Me? Sarcastic? As if. Well, he stood me up for dinner.
A second later, the phone rang. “He did what?” Andie’s voice filled the receiver.
“He asked me to dinner and then he didn’t show up.”
“But that’s just crazy! Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know! He’s your friend.”
“Well, that doesn’t mean I understand why he did that.”
“He texted half an hour later and told me something had come up.” Kerry grabbed a pillow and put it under her head. “He didn’t say what, though.”
“I don’t get it. He’s like, the nicest, most dependable guy I know. Something’s not right here.”
“And no one here knows him.”
“Wait—what?”
“Yeah, I asked a few people, and they all said they didn’t know who I was talking about.”
Andie didn’t answer for a second. “I don’t know what to tell you. You went to River’s End Ranch in Idaho, right? Not some other place like in Wisconsin?”
“I’m in Idaho. Just outside Riston.”
“Well, you’re in the right place. Do you mind if I ask him what’s going on?”
Kerry didn’t know if that was a great idea. “Can you do it in a laidback way? More like, you’re curious how things are going?”
“Sure. I can be tactful.”
“I just don’t want to make this a big deal, you know? I’ve been stood up before, and I’m sure I’ll be stood up again. This doesn’t have to be blown out of proportion.”
“I get it. I’ll be casual.”
“Thanks.”
“So, how are you liking the ranch?”
They talked for a few more minutes, Kerry’s eyes growing heavy. She hadn’t realized the toll traveling would take on her. Finally, she said, “Hey, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m falling asleep on you. Let me know what JJ says, okay?”
“I will. Night.”
Kerry put her phone on the nightstand. She’d get up and change for bed in a minute, but she really needed to close her eyes first. Just for a minute.
***
Jamal hopped in the shower when he got home, trying to work the tension out of his muscles. That day had been crazy. Maybe it was just as well that his date had been cancelled—he wasn’t sure he would have been very good company. On the other hand, it really bothered him that he’d stood her up. He wished he’d realized earlier that he wasn’t going to make it and could have contacted her sooner. No way to go back in time, though—he’d just have to see if he couldn’t make it up somehow.
He had a text waiting for him when he came back into his bedroom. How was dinner with Kerry?
Andie. She’d want just as many reports as Jaclyn did. Jamal punched out his reply. Work emergency and had to postpone. I’ll meet up with her tomorrow.
At River’s End Ranch in Idaho, right?
He frowned. That was a weird question. Yes, that’s where we are.
Okay. Just checking. Night.
He shook his head and tossed the phone onto his pillow. Okay, whatever that was. Time for a frozen pizza and then calling it a night—if he could sleep. He was exhausted, but until he heard from Jess about the cat family, he didn’t know if he’d be able to relax.
Around the time his pizza was done baking, Jess reported that the other mother cat had been feeding the babies without any problems. Jamal was so relieved. He didn’t doubt that Mama would be all right—Jess would get her on the right antibiotics—but the babies had been a concern. Now that they were getting fed, he knew they’d all come through this just fine.
When Jamal woke up the next morning, he checked in with Jess to see how the night had gone. Everyone had rested well, thank goodness. Now it was time to see how he could set things right with Kerry.
He checked on the animals, made sure Billy was where he was supposed to be, then stopped by the flower shop and asked Whitney to put a few daisies in a vase for him. Roses seemed too formal, and he didn’t figure that Kerry would somehow happen to have a vase in her room. Then he headed over to the bunkhouse.
“Hey,” he said when he walked in and saw Pastor Kevin running the desk. “Filling in last minute again?”
“Yeah,” Pastor Keven replied. “Both receptionists have sore throats. Bridget said they likely shared it with each other while working together.”
“That’s very generous of them,” Jamal replied. “Could you ring Kerry Holt’s room for me, please? And just tell her she has a visitor in the lobby?” He figured she’d accept a call from the front desk more easily than she would a text from him. He’d messed up, and he needed a chance to prove the kind of guy he really was.
“Sure.” Kevin picked up the phone. “Ms. Holt? This is Kevin at the front desk. You have a guest waiting for you in the lobby.” He paused while she replied. “Yes, I’ll let him know. Thank you.”
He hung up and turned back to Jamal. “She says she’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“Great. Thanks.” Jamal glanced at the giant clock on the wall behind the desk. It was ten o’clock sharp. He h
oped he wasn’t there too early—he was trying to honor the boundary she’d set up. If it was actually a boundary and not just a snarky reply. He’d have to find out—if she really didn’t intend to get up earlier, she’d miss some incredible sunrises. Sunrise on the ranch was one of Jamal’s favorite things in the world.
When the woman he assumed was Kerry Holt walked into the lobby, he was instantly blown away. She was tall and sophisticated, her long braids caught up in a royal blue headscarf that matched the simple blouse she wore over her jeans. She was elegant even though she was dressed casually—it was how she carried herself. He stepped forward, now even more nervous about breaking the ice. “Are you Kerry Holt?”
She looked at him curiously. “Yes.”
“I’m Jamal.” He held out his hand and she took it, the question never leaving her eyes. “And these are for you.” He handed her the daisies.
“Thank you.” She looked at them, then back up at him. “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”
“I’m Jamal,” he repeated.
She glanced around the lobby. “Are you sure you’re here for me?”
“Yes, I’m very sure.” Jamal rubbed the back of his neck. She wasn’t making this easy for him. “Listen, I’m so sorry about last night. As I was on my way over to meet you, I found out that one of our mother cats was sick, and I had to call the vet. By the time I realized how late I was going to be, it was already eight thirty. I’d really like to make it up to you.”
Kerry held up a hand. “Wait. I’m not awake yet.” She set the vase on the coffee table between the two lobby couches and sat down. “Last night? You’re JJ?”
He laughed. “No one but Andie has called me that since high school. Yes, I’m JJ. Jamal Jenkins.”
“So . . . no one here knows you as JJ?”
He sat down on the other couch. It sounded like some unraveling was in order, but he wasn’t sure what the tangle actually was. “Nope, I go by Jamal.”
“Oh.” She pressed her thumb and forefinger to her eyes. “And there’s a cat involved in this somehow?”
“Yes. I don’t know if Andie told you, but I’m in charge of the petting zoo here, and a new mama cat developed mastitis yesterday. I needed to have her treated by the vet last night.”
Pet Peeves Page 3