A Cowgirl at Heart

by Christine Lynxwiler

  All morning he brainstormed as he painted, trying to think of ways he could build Elyse’s confidence. He could bring in some dog owners who needed help and have her meet them. In theory that sounded like a good idea, but he wasn’t sure it wouldn’t just make things worse.

  When he started putting things away for lunch, he still hadn’t come up with a good answer. On the radio, the noon news announcer wrapped up the local news and segued into some good-natured commentary. Andrew reached over to turn the power off, but just before he slapped the button, the announcer’s words caught his attention. “There’s a town meeting tonight in the Hamlet Community Center concerning the fate of the dog shelter there. Apparently some members of the Hamlet City Council think the town is going to the dogs and too much money is being spent on maintaining the shelter. They’ve sent out an open invitation for anyone interested in speaking, for or against. After the meeting, the council will be taking a final vote on whether to allocate the funds needed to keep the shelter open.” The announcer chuckled. “Too bad the dogs can’t talk. Wonder what they’d say?”

  Andrew grinned. Elyse knew what they would say. Hamlet was less than a half hour away, and he knew just the person to speak on the dogs’ behalf.

  ***

  “So you’re still not ready to give me a clue?” Elyse looked down at her brown slacks and turquoise top. She’d added some small dangly matching earrings at the last minute. It was hard to plan for an evening when Andrew refused to tell her where they were going.

  “I gave you a clue.”

  “That it was something that would help me be able to say yes to Matthew’s offer? That wasn’t terribly comforting.” She looked out the window. “Hamlet City Limits? Why are we at Hamlet?”

  He kept his gaze on the road. In less than a minute, he slowed and turned into a parking lot dotted with cars.

  “Hamlet Community Center? What are we doing here?”

  “They’re having a town meeting.”

  She grinned. “Like Gilmore Girls?”

  He frowned. “Like what?”

  She waved her hand. “Never mind. It’s a TV show. I’ve always thought it would be so cool to go to one of those Stars Hollow town meetings where they stand up and yell out whatever is on their minds.”

  The frown disappeared. “Then this is your lucky night.” He grinned.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The subject of the town meeting is the fate of the local dog shelter.”

  Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “I heard about that. They’re thinking about closing it so they can put in a swimming pool with the money.”

  He nodded. “Something like that.”

  Just as she had the day she’d found Pal, she felt like hitting something—hard. “Surely the town won’t allow it.”

  “Actually I made some calls this afternoon. Three of the council members are for it, three against it. One is undecided.” He raised an eyebrow. “The town meeting tonight will probably decide the issue.”

  “And we’re going to watch it?” He’d obviously put a lot of thought into something that would motivate her to hang out her dog training shingle. That was flattering, even though she didn’t know how this would help. She glanced around the parking lot. Should she mention that she didn’t like crowds? “There are a lot of people here.” A blue truck pulled in beside them. “And more coming.”

  “We’d better go get a seat.” Andrew unbuckled and climbed out. In less than ten seconds, he was opening her door.

  She let him help her down, and when he didn’t let go of her hand, she smiled. It was nice to have a hand to hold in a crowd. At least it was nice, until Andrew found two empty seats at the front and tugged her along after him. “I’m more of a backseat person,” she murmured.

  “Not tonight,” he said over his shoulder. “Let’s hurry while everyone is still milling around.” He pulled her into a seat in the middle of the front row.

  “Well, they have an advantage, since they actually know people here,” Elyse said dryly. She glanced over her shoulder. “They’re probably wondering why a couple of out-of-towners got front row seats at their town meeting.”

  “Shh,” Andrew teased, “they might throw us out.”

  A balding man approached the microphone. He welcomed everyone and gave a brief summary of the two sides of the dog shelter issue. Elyse shook her head slightly as the man extolled the virtues of having a town swimming pool then a little harder when he played down the need to provide a safe place for the town’s rejected dogs.

  Andrew grinned at her. He looked as if he was ready to enjoy the show.

  “I bet you wish you had some popcorn, don’t you?” Elyse whispered.

  He nodded.

  Thirty minutes later, Elyse was squirming in her seat. So far the only person who had spoken in support of keeping the shelter open was the director. His heart seemed like it was in the right place, but she heard the woman beside her whisper, “He just wants to keep his job.” Others nodded in agreement.

  The emcee had the microphone back. “Lucille Harris, who volunteers at the shelter, is at home with pneumonia tonight. Since she couldn’t be here, she asked me to say a word on her behalf. So I want you all to know that Lucille thinks the shelter should be kept open.” He looked down at his note. “She says it’s a worthy venture and serves a deep need.” He glanced at the note again. “There’s more here, but that about sums it up.”

  “What?” Elyse blurted out then blushed. She looked at Andrew. “That poor woman has pneumonia, and he couldn’t even deliver her whole message?”

  Andrew just shrugged.

  She was more than a little irritated by how unconcerned he looked. She turned back to face the front.

  “Is there anyone else here who wants to speak for keeping the shelter open?”

  “What’ll happen to the dogs if we don’t have it?” one older man called from midway back.

  The emcee shrugged. “I guess they’ll have to do like the rest of us and fend for themselves.”

  Elyse jumped to her feet. “Fend for themselves?”

  The man stuck the microphone out to her, and she took it, her mind still reeling with his last comment. “Dogs don’t fend for themselves. They need humans for that.” She kept her gaze locked on the emcee’s face. “And I’ll tell you some other things dogs don’t do. They don’t lie to you. They don’t judge you or talk about you behind your back. And they don’t ever ... ever desert you in your hour of need. If they had a choice of playing in a giant dog bone maze or bringing you your newspaper, they’d choose to do what makes you happy.”

  The emcee put his hand lightly on her shoulder and turned her around.

  A sea of faces stared at her. Her breath caught, and she looked down.

  Andrew gave her a thumbs-up.

  She focused on him. “They aren’t able to provide food or water for themselves, but they can give you a lifetime of happiness and love.” She finally looked up at the two older women directly behind Andrew. “Are you lonely?” One of them nodded. “Go down to the shelter and pick out a dog to love. If you can’t commit to adopting a dog, do like Lucille does and volunteer at the shelter. I promise that you’ll benefit from the gift of your time even more than the dogs will.”

  She glanced at a young woman next to them with a toddler on her lap. “Many of you came tonight in support of a swimming pool. But it doesn’t have to come at the expense of helpless animals. Form a committee. Find another way to finance the pool. Common sense says it doesn’t have to be one or the other.”

  The young woman nodded, and so did several other people. Elyse’s stomach was churning, but the dogs needed her to say a little more. “How a town treats their helpless and needy residents—whether two-footed or four-footed—says a lot about its citizens. I’ve never been to Hamlet before tonight, but I’ve always heard it was a little town with a big heart. Is that true?” She turned and shoved the microphone back to the emcee.

&n
bsp; Thunderous applause broke out.

  Andrew stood and hugged her.

  “I think I’m going to faint,” she said against his ear.

  “No, you’re not. You did it.”

  “I’ve got to get out of here.”

  Andrew put his arm around her and guided her down the aisle to the back door. “Actually, I was thinking you might have a future in politics.”

  “Shut up before I throw up on you.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Outside, she tilted her head back and let the wind cool her hot face. “I thought I’d die.”

  Andrew’s hand was steady on her waist. “But you didn’t. And that’s the exciting thing.” He looked down at her, his eyes twinkling. “That was epic. ‘Little town with a big heart’? Did you just make that up on the spur of the moment?”

  She looked sideways at him, her head still leaned back. “Like I would do that? I heard Mama say it one time when Hamlet was having some kind of walk-a-thon. She said they’re always doing some good work.” She wrapped her jacket tight around her and sank onto a park bench, grateful to give her noodly legs a rest. “I can’t believe I did that.” She hit at the air toward him. “You tricked me.”

  “Nothing you have to do as a trainer will be that bad.”

  “You’ve got that right,” she blurted out. His words sank in, and she glanced over at him. “I’m going to tell Matthew yes?”

  He nodded. “Definitely. Now let’s slip back in and see how the council votes.”

  CHAPTER 28

  “You single-handedly saved a dog shelter?” Elyse’s oldest brother, Aaron, looked at her for confirmation.

  Elyse laughed. “Andrew’s probably stretching it a little. I don’t remember the applause being that loud.”

  Andrew shook his head. “I’m not exaggerating at all. She brought the house down.”

  Aaron’s wife, Bree, leaned forward on the couch and smiled at her. “That’s fantastic.”

  “We always knew she had it in her.” Luke sat on the couch arm next to Elyse and ruffled her hair.

  “We open our doors in February then, right, sis?” Matthew stood by the fireplace, studying the family pictures. He’d been excited when she’d told him the news, and yesterday they’d finalized the deal on a half-finished building on Main Street.

  “If we get the office done by then.”

  “Was that a slam at your carpenter?” Luke asked, his eyebrow raised.

  “Or your painter?” Andrew’s blue eyes twinkled, and he winked at her.

  Elyse grinned at him. She’d been thrilled when he’d offered to do the job. So he wasn’t leaving immediately when the barn was done. That was good to know. “Nah, not a slam,” she said. “Just a reminder that we’re in a hurry.”

  “Speaking of hurrying, who’s ready to eat?” Kaleigh asked from the doorway. “Mama said it’s time to start putting the food on the table.”

  Elyse jumped up.

  “I hope you brought your pumpkin pies,” Chance said to Elyse as they headed to the kitchen.

  “I wouldn’t forget you.” Most of the family enjoyed Elyse’s pumpkin pies, but they were her little brother’s very favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal.

  Bree came up beside her and put her arm around her waist. “Girls’ night at your house tonight after supper, right?”

  Elyse winked at her. “I can’t wait.” Besides Crystal’s shower, she knew they were all dying to know about Andrew. She wasn’t sure what to say right now, but strangely, she didn’t mind talking about him.

  When the delicious meal was finished, her dad looked at Andrew. “It’s our family tradition to go around the table and tell what we’re thankful for. Guests are exempt unless they want to join in.”

  Andrew nodded, but he looked a little nervous.

  Without really thinking it through, Elyse slipped her hand under the tablecloth and squeezed his hand. When she tried to pull away, he held on. She gave him a quizzical look. But he kept his gaze straight ahead, his thumb caressing the back of her hand.

  Her infernal blush betrayed her, the heat creeping up her neck then into her face. Not that holding his hand didn’t feel good. It definitely did. She wouldn’t mind holding his hand for a long time. But in front of the whole family? Under the tablecloth?

  He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand one more time then squeezed and let go. She felt as if she were parachuting toward the ground and someone suddenly cut the chute strings. In that second, before her daddy started telling what he was thankful for, she knew the truth. She was falling hard without a parachute. In love with Andrew Stone.

  ***

  When it came his turn, Andrew considered passing. After Jonathan had expressed, with obvious sincerity, how thankful he was for his family, the guys had given mostly short answers, including pumpkin pie from Chance. But Andrew couldn’t say what he really wanted to say—that he was thankful that he’d followed his wife’s murderer to Shady Grove, because here he’d met Elyse McCord.

  Instead, he took a deep breath. “I’m thankful that God has blessed me with the opportunity to see firsthand that there really are families who love each other no matter what. I’m honored to be included in this gathering today.” He winked at Elyse then smiled at Chance. “And I’m pretty thankful for pumpkin pie, too.”

  Elyse was next. He was almost positive she glanced at him before she spoke. His heart thudded against his ribs. Would she mention him?

  She smiled. “I’m thankful for new opportunities.” She definitely glanced at him. “And for learning to embrace them.”

  His heartbeat picked up.

  Chance and Luke exchanged knowing grins.

  When the kitchen was cleaned up and everyone had rested, Chance sauntered into the living room and tossed a football across the room. Luke snatched it just before it smashed a lamp.

  “Boys”—Jonathan, apparently snoozing in his recliner, opened one eye—“take it outside before your mama shoots us all.”

  Luke and Chance obediently headed for the yard. Matthew and Jeremy followed, and Aaron motioned to Andrew to go, too.

  Andrew stood and stretched. A little touch football sounded good after their big meal. “Mr. McCord? You going to play?”

  Jonathan opened his eyes and shook his head. “Call me Jonathan, please. And no, I guess not.”

  Aaron patted the back of his dad’s chair. “C’mon, Dad, quit actin’ like an old fogy. You know you want to get beat by the younger generation.”

  “Old fogy? You’re going down, kid.” Jonathan lowered his recliner and stood. “I’m going to get your mama to be on my team. She and I together could whip you all with one hand tied behind our backs.” He disappeared into the kitchen.

  In less than a minute, Kaleigh came barreling into the room, hands on her hips.

  “Y’all aren’t even thinking about playing football without us, are you?”

  “We hated to mention it in case you weren’t totally finished in the kitchen.” Aaron grinned. “We didn’t want to take a chance you’d put us to work.”

  Bree and Elyse appeared behind Kaleigh. “Just for that,” Bree said, “the guys get to do supper dishes.”

  “How about the losers do supper dishes?” Aaron asked.

  Kaleigh nodded. “Sounds perfect. Who’s going to chose teams?”

  “Y’all really do take your football seriously,” Andrew remarked to Elyse as they lined up opposite each other.

  “You better believe it, buddy.” He barely saw her cheeky grin before she streaked across the line. Running behind her, he watched in admiration as she neatly caught a toss from her dad. He reached out to tag her on the back, but their feet got tangled. They fell to the ground in a heap.

  Kaleigh’s voice drifted to him. “All right, you two, this is called touch football, not tackle.”

  For a timeless moment, Andrew’s gaze locked with the brown eyes just inches from his face. “Hey,” he said quietly. “You okay?”

  Elyse grinned. “
Never better.”

  “You could at least give us the ball before you get friendly with the opposing team,” Chance said loudly. “I guess that’s what she meant about embracing opportunities.”

  “More like taking an opportunity to embrace, I’d say,” Luke chimed in.