“You could have at least phoned to tell me you were leaving.” It distressed her to detect a hint of unintended pathos in her voice. This was all supposed to have been put behind her, so why did it still hurt so much to remember?
“By that time I was already persona non grata all over town, if you’ll recall. Your parents hadn’t liked me from the beginning, and after I came under suspicion of setting that fire, I knew they’d be furious if I tried to talk to you.”
“You could have called my cell.”
“I know. And you’d have had to lie if they’d asked you about me.” To his credit, Tony looked ashamed. “So I took the coward’s way out and wrote you a note.”
Jaw set, Annette shook her head. She was not about to let him get away with such a transparent fib. After all, she was no longer the impressionable teen he’d once fooled. “Nice try, Valdez. There was no note.”
“Wait a minute. What about my letters? I sent them without a return address on the envelope so nobody would suspect who they were from. Are you saying you didn’t get those, either?”
“Nope.” She rolled her eyes and arched her eyebrows. “You may as well stop wasting your time making lame excuses. We both went on with our lives after a silly, teenage crush and that’s that. What amazes me now is that you came back at all.”
“I won’t be here for long.”
Good thing, she thought wryly before smiling and saying, “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”
* * *
The sun had long ago set. Rusty was nodding off in the only comfortable chair in the apartment while Tony busied himself rechecking Stormy. Her abdomen was tightening on a regular basis and she’d begun to pant.
Soft footsteps behind him drew his attention and he smiled up at Annette.
“Is she all right? Can I get her some more broth? She’s acting awfully thirsty.”
“The panting is normal. I doubt she’ll drink or eat anything more until she’s done.”
“Oh.”
“Is there any hot coffee left?” Tony asked.
“A little. I’ll make more if we need it.”
Tony let himself smile as he glanced toward the old man. “Looks as though caffeine doesn’t keep Rusty up at night.”
“Nothing stops him from napping when he’s tired.” She returned with the pot and refilled Tony’s mug before topping off her own and adding cream and sugar.
“Must be how he’s lasted so long. He listens to his body’s natural rhythms. I’ve often thought we’d all be healthier if we slept when we were tired and ate when we were hungry instead of letting our lives be dictated by clocks and schedules.”
Annette’s soft laugh sent tingles up Tony’s spine before she said, “I imagine my customers would object if I stopped in the middle of a perm and rested. They’d end up looking like one of Julie’s sheep.”
“Julie? That name sounds familiar.”
“It should. Julie Shaw’s dad is the mayor. You probably knew her older siblings. Cord is the eldest, then there’s Austin, Adam and Faith.”
“I do recall some of the Shaws. What’s with the sheep business?”
“Julie raises them for wool, mostly. She’s got quite a successful operation, particularly on the internet.”
“Interesting.” His focus shifted to the blanket as the dog circled twice, then settled again before bending around and beginning to pay more attention to her other end. “Hold on. Here we go.”
He picked up one of the clean white towels and was soon helping dry a squirming, whining puppy. The expression of wonderment on Annette’s face brought him almost as much joy as holding the new life in his hands.
“It’s beautiful!” There were unshed tears in her eyes. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“Then you’ve missed a lot,” Tony told her. “I’m going to put this baby back down so Stormy doesn’t get worried. If she isn’t careful enough, I may have to hand you one or two to hold and keep warm while she has the rest.”
“I’d love to hold one.” She reached out.
“Not yet. It’s always best to let animals do things their way if possible. You’ll have plenty of time to play with them later.”
“Later? How much later?”
The way her jaw dropped when he said, “They’ll be weaned and on their way to new homes in about eight weeks,” almost made him laugh out loud.
Chapter Four
“It was a dark and stormy night,” Annette commented. Looking through the front window of her shop, she could see wet sidewalks by the glow of the antique street lamps. The rain was slacking off, but since the outside temperatures were still low there was no question of transporting Stormy, or her new babies, to any other location. Not yet anyway.
She returned to the blanket and newly arrived litter. “Is that all there are? Do you think she’s done?”
Kneeling, Tony nodded and rocked back on his heels. “Yes. I palpated her. There were only these four pups.”
“Why does one look so different from the others?”
“You mean the spotted gray-and-white and cinnamon-colored one? She either had a different daddy than the others or Stormy carries a recessive gene for lighter coat color. Could be both. It’s impossible to tell unless you want to spring for a DNA test, and even then you wouldn’t know much more than the basic breeds in their background.”
“Hmm. Well, it’s awfully early to be certain, but that little one looks like the spitting image of Julie’s dog, Cowboy Dan. He’s an Australian shepherd.”
“Which would explain why her tail is naturally bobbed,” Tony added.
“It is?” Annette wasn’t too weary to appreciate the significance of the very short tail. “Wait till I tell Julie. She’ll be so excited!”
“Unless she thinks you’re cooking up a paternity suit,” Tony gibed. “Maybe it would be best to just invite her to see the litter and let her come to her own conclusions.”
“Right. I will.”
Now that the excitement was over, Annette began to gather up the soiled terry cloth. “Ick. I see why you warned me to bring you old towels.”
“Sorry. You won’t be able to bleach those enough to use them in your shop again, but they will make good scrubbing cloths.”
She paused and inclined her head to one side to give him a quizzical look. “Scrubbing? Scrubbing what?”
“Whatever.” Tony’s glance darted back to the occupants of the blanket.
“Oh, no. I am not keeping those dogs.”
“Okay. Fine with me. For the present, however, you and I both know they’re safer and happier right where they are. Poor Stormy’s had a rough night.”
“And we haven’t?”
“You and I may have. Rusty slept through the best parts.”
She huffed. “All right. They can stay for a little while. But as soon as she’s rested enough, they all have to leave.”
Although Tony was nodding sagely, she strongly suspected that he was not in total agreement. He knew, as did Rusty, that she was too tenderhearted to boot the poor dog and her babies out into the cold. Annette didn’t deny that she had already formed an attachment to the brood. After all, she’d seen them born and heard their first little mews, as if they were baby kittens instead of robust pups.
They were sleeping now, snuggled next to their mother after having nursed, while Stormy took a well-deserved snooze. Gazing down at them, Annette could not help feeling as if she was already a part of their lives.
“Where will you be taking them?” she asked.
“I suppose there might be room at the
dog pound over in Ennis.”
“No! You can’t send them there.”
“Then what do you suggest?” Judging by Tony’s lazy smile and nonchalant pose, thumbs hooked in his jeans pockets, she had just committed herself. Unfortunately, he was right about the lack of good options, particularly in such forbidding weather. Any ranchers who might have adopted Stormy and the pups would be too busy caring for livestock right now to bother with a stray dog. Even Julie Shaw, who was a real altruist in regard to helpless animals, would be up to her neck in newborn lambs and stressed-out ewes.
“Okay, here’s what we’ll do. I’ll take a picture of Stormy tomorrow and make up flyers to post around town. She’s so gentle and sweet, I know somebody must be missing her. And until her owner claims her, she can stay with me, providing she behaves.”
“As long as you keep her fed and exercised, she should do a good job of keeping you from being lonesome,” Tony said.
“Who said I was lonesome, huh? I like my own company just fine.” She wanted to ask what made him think she wasn’t content to be by herself but chose to quit while she was ostensibly ahead.
“Okay. Whatever. If we don’t hear something in a day or so, I’ll come back and build you a puppy box.”
“A what?”
“A big, open, wooden box with sides that are low enough for Stormy to come and go on her own but will keep the pups from following her.”
“Following her where?”
Annette made a wry face when Tony began to chuckle and said, “Outside. Unless you plan to teach her to use your bathroom, I suggest she be let out regularly.”
“Oh, that. I told you I wasn’t used to having pets, particularly not ones kept in the house. My mother never wanted to put up with the mess.” She looked toward the blanket and her five new roommates. “I can certainly see her point.”
“All you need is a regular schedule,” Tony told her. “Once Stormy has you properly trained, there won’t be nearly as many problems.”
“You mean, once I have her trained, don’t you?”
Casting a lopsided smile at the dogs, then raising it to Annette, Tony shook his head. “Nope. You’re new at this. Stormy is an old pro. I’ll be real surprised if you’re the one who makes her adjust to your lifestyle instead of the other way around.”
Raising her chin and stiffening her spine, Annette stood firm. “I will not keep her one more second if she causes me too much grief. Got that?”
By this time Tony’s grin had broadened and his dark eyes sparkled with mirth. “Oh, yeah. I understand perfectly. The question is, does Stormy?”
* * *
Tony knew he should have gone back to the Cosgrove house or stopped by the animal hospital to see if the techs had come back to work now that the storm was over. Anything but linger at Annette’s. Instead, he crossed the street, ducked into Great Gulch Grub and ordered three take-out breakfasts.
Rusty met him at the door to the Cutting Edge when he returned. “One of those for me?”
“Sure is. I figured we could all use some ham and eggs.” Tony smiled. “If Annette wants yogurt instead, Stormy can enjoy her meal.”
The old man had donned his heavy coat and battered Stetson. “Much obliged, but I’ll have to take a rain check. Can’t miss my regular date with Mert. She’d pitch a fit if I wasn’t there to rankle her of a morning.”
“But...”
“Not to worry,” Rusty told him. “I heard Miz Annette phoning Miz Julie, so it’ll be the two of them against one, if you get my drift. Nobody’s gonna think you’re gettin’ outta line.”
“I suppose you’re right to worry about Annette’s reputation. No matter how much good I do in Jasper Gulch, I’ll always be remembered as the kid who got into trouble, way back when.”
The gold tooth flashed in a beam from the rising sun. “Leastwise you wasn’t guilty.”
“You’re right. I wasn’t guilty of anything except making poor choices of friends. Annette was one of the few people who gave me the benefit of the doubt. I just didn’t appreciate it enough back then.”
Rusty’s grin broadened. “Maybe the good Lord is givin’ you another chance.”
That notion had occurred to Tony more than once in the past few hours, but he wasn’t anywhere near ready to accept it. “Like I told you, I’m not here to stay. This is just a temporary assignment I agreed to in order to pay back an old friend.”
Frowning, Rusty leaned closer to continue. “Just see that you treat all your old friends right this time, son. When the time comes for you to skedaddle, be sure you bid everybody a proper goodbye.”
“I will. I promise.”
The old man’s characteristic smile reappeared. “In that case, what’re we standin’ here for? You’d best tote that food inside before it gets cold.”
“Thanks for sticking around last night. I know Annette appreciated it.” He paused, noticing the satisfied expression on Rusty’s lined face. “Are you sure you didn’t know I was in town when you phoned J.T.’s office?”
“’Course I knew. Everybody did.”
“Even Annette?”
“Maybe. Good thing her shop was still open when that storm hit, wasn’t it? Otherwise I might have had to leave the poor dog outside. It pains me to see any animal suffer like that.”
“You knew all along that she was about to have pups, didn’t you?”
“Doesn’t matter either way. Stormy needed a home and Annette needed company. Far as I know, she’s never had a real live pet, not even when she was little.” His eyes twinkled and his ruddy complexion warmed. “In case you haven’t noticed, she’s all grown up now.”
Tony rolled his eyes and nodded. “It just doesn’t matter. I’d rather take up residence in the Amazon jungle than stay in Jasper Gulch.”
“Have it your way,” Rusty told him sagely before touching the front brim of his hat politely and passing him on his way across Main to the café.
“I am doing this my way,” Tony muttered to himself. The only thing that bothered him about that statement was the possibility that he had somehow failed to notice God in the details.
Chapter Five
Annette had considered thanking Tony for the early-morning meal while not actually eating it, but by the time he’d opened the take-out containers and handed her a fork, the delicious aroma of the food had overcome her reticence.
Then, when Julie arrived to view the pups she was able to relax more. “They’re right over here. Look!”
Her friend passed Tony without giving him more than a cursory glance. “Oh, I see what you mean. The little gray one is adorable.” Julie gently lifted it. “And she has a short tail, too. She certainly does look like my Dan.”
“I told you so,” Annette said. “Will you stay for breakfast? We have plenty.” Gesturing at the table, she added, “Remember Tony Valdez? He’s a vet now.”
“Really? I thought those rumors were crazy.”
Tony grinned. “Nope. I have proof back at the animal hospital if you want to see it.”
“Maybe later, if I decide to use you for my sheep.” Julie seated herself between him and Annette. “How long is Dr. Paul going to be away?”
“Don’t know for sure. Probably a month or so.” Tony got up and added an empty mug to the ones already on the table. “Coffee, Ms. Shaw?”
“Yes, thanks, and you may as well call me Julie. I’m sure you remember me as a little kid.”
“You did trail after Adam and Austin a lot,” Tony replied.
“True. Cord usually managed to ignore me, but my other brothers were happiest when they were teasing or ditching me. Being the youngest is the pits.”
“Which reminds me,” Annette said, “do you have any idea how that l
ittle gray puppy ended up looking enough like Cowboy Dan to be his twin?”
“A lot would depend on where Stormy came from,” Julie said. “What did Rusty tell you about her?”
“Very little. He said he found her wandering the streets during the storm, but she seemed awfully obedient when he led her through the shop.”
“Could he have been setting you up?”
“For what? If he wanted me to adopt a dog, all he had to do was ask me.”
“Would you have taken her in if it hadn’t been an emergency?” Julie asked wisely.
Blinking rapidly, Annette studied her old friend, then shifted her attention to Tony with a scowl. “Did you have anything to do with all this?”
He leaned back, hands raised, palms facing out. “No way. I am totally innocent, ladies. I didn’t even know you had opened a beauty shop when I arrived. Remember?”
“That’s true. You did look genuinely surprised. I certainly was.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Were you? Julie knew. I’d assumed the local grapevine would have informed you, too.”
“That you were in town, yes. That you were a practicing veterinarian, no.” She gave him a lopsided smile. “Even if somebody had told me that, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Julie said. “Now that I think back, he did help out at the animal hospital when we were younger. I remember because I was so involved in 4-H and FFA.”
“That’s right.” He took a sip from his coffee mug. “Annette tells me you’ve turned your Future Farmers of America project into a going wool business. Good for you.”
“Thanks. I have been blessed. Dad even lets me pasture my flock on Shaw land, which is a big concession from a cattleman like him. I keep expecting the other shoe to drop, but so far I’ve managed to keep him happy, particularly by staying out of the argument about whether or not to repair the Beaver Creek bridge and encourage tourist traffic.”
Montana Reunion Page 3