Rescued

by Linda Rettstatt

  “I can handle them, thanks. I’ll just get what I need for tonight. I’m exhausted.”

  Jack turned to leave, but stopped in the doorway. “By the way, Evan. What do you plan to do here in Cade’s Point?”

  Evan looked at the older man, then glanced away, feeling almost embarrassed to reply, “I’m going to open a restaurant.”

  Chapter Three

  Alex’s shift ended at seven when they stopped serving dinner. Uncle Jack kept the bar open until eleven p.m. and offered sports TV and snack food—pork rinds, peanuts, and popcorn. She picked up her purse and headed toward the front door. She had to force her eyes straight ahead, resisting the urge to glance once more at the Yankee at the front table.

  His sandy brown hair was a little too long, but coupled with his angular face and intense dark brown eyes, it gave him a dangerous look. She’d never been attracted to dangerous types. Bad boys were more to Kellie’s liking. Just as well, since she didn’t need his attitude. She had one of her own.

  Alex yawned as she jabbed the key into the ignition. She wanted nothing more than to go home and soak in a hot bubble bath, have a glass of wine and curl up with a book. Instead, she would spend the next few hours trying to figure out how to balance the books for the shelter and still convince the bank to give her a loan to buy the neighboring empty lot. Then there were the puppies to be bottle-fed. Her neighbor had cared for them while she worked the dinner shift at the diner, but she’d have to take over for the night.

  Two hours later, after a very brief shower, a glass of wine and figure-fudging as she tried to cover all the bills and make sure a little was left over, Alex dropped onto the floor with the five puppies. There was no misery or weariness that could endure puppy therapy and Alex was soon giggling as the tiny fur babies whined and shoved their cold noses against her face. She cuddled each of the little bundles, choosing a name for each one.

  Morning arrived much too soon. Alex dragged herself out of bed and tended first to the puppies. Thank heaven Ludean had called to say she’d be in for work today. Alex had a to-do list as long as her arm.

  She pulled out the sketches she had made of her vision for a new shelter, dog park and parking area, incorporating the vacant lot next door to Harley’s Haven. The dogs would have ample space to run and enough indoor kennels to accommodate even more animals in comfort. The kitty room would be amazing, with an elevated cat walk for those who needed to be up high and a series of tunnels for the cave dwellers. She had even designed a special birthing room to provide a quiet, comfortable place for both dogs and cats to give birth. Then she thought of the money it would take to build a shelter like this and she sighed.

  After stuffing the sketches back into her briefcase, she made breakfast and got dressed. The puppies squealed and crawled over one another in the carrier on the way to the shelter. Once they were situated in the puppy room under the watchful care of one of the volunteers, Alex headed to the bank to negotiate a loan.

  Her foot tapped nervously as she waited for Bill Jennings to review her proposal. When he looked up from the desk, her heart deflated.

  “I’m sorry, Alex, but there’s no collateral.”

  “There’s the existing shelter.”

  “Which is an established non-profit. You can’t use it as collateral to get a loan privately because you don’t, technically, own it.”

  “But the loan is for the shelter, to build a newer facility.”

  “On the adjoining lot that you also don’t own.” He tossed the papers onto the desk and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “I suppose you want a loan to buy that property, too?”

  Alex chewed on her bottom lip. “Well….”

  Bill shook his head. “I can’t do it. The bank won’t let me.”

  “You’re the bank president. I thought you had authority.” She and Bill had graduated from high school together. He’d been the star quarterback and had tried repeatedly to get her to go out with him. But she wasn’t interested in dating anyone whose ego was bigger than their truck. Maybe she could still appeal to that side of him, though. “I mean, you’re the one to make the final decisions here, aren’t you?”

  He grinned. “It won’t work, Alex. I’m a happily married man now.” He lifted his left hand and wiggled his ring finger. “Look, I’d love to help you out. I’ll even give you a personal donation for the shelter. But unless you have a co-signer for the loan with some collateral, my hands are tied. I am impressed with the fund raising you’ve done so far, though. You keep that up, you could have the money you need in another year, maybe two.”

  Tears of disappointment threatened, but she refused to let them fall. “We don’t have a year or two. Do you know how many animals out there are starving and neglected, and we have no room for all of them.”

  He stood, a signal that she ignored.

  “Did you have a dog growing up?”

  “Yeah, of course.”

  “What was his name?”

  “Bear. He was a big, wooly looking mutt.” He cleared his throat.

  She thought she saw a hint of a glisten in his eye. “How would you feel if Bear was left to wander alone in the fields out by the river? He’d be filled with fleas and ticks, sick from starvation. If he didn’t die at the hands of a hunter or from a snake bite.”

  “He’s already dead. And he had a very good life.” He rounded the desk. “Look, I admire your passion and I know that what you do for animals is above and beyond what most would do. But that doesn’t change a thing. I can’t issue you the loan. Talk to your Uncle Jack. Maybe he’ll co-sign for you.”

  Alex nodded. But she knew she’d never ask her uncle to take such a chance. Not when paying back a loan would depend upon donations and Alex’s own salary. She understood what Bill was saying and she knew getting the loan was a long shot. But she had to try. “Thanks, Bill. I do understand.”

  “Wait.” He moved behind the desk and opened a drawer, pulling out a checkbook. He tore off the check he’d signed and handed it to her. “Here’s a donation. I do believe in your work.”

  Alex stared at the check for five hundred dollars. “This is very generous. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Good luck, Alex.”

  Her next stop at the real estate office seemed pointless, but she forged ahead.

  “Hey, Alex.”

  “Morning, Kel.” She set a cup of coffee in front of her sister. Kellie was co-owner of Cade’s Point Realty.

  “Thanks.” Her sister removed the lid from the paper cup and sipped the hot brew. “How’d things go at the bank?”

  Alex shook her head. “They didn’t. I don’t have any collateral and I’d need a co-signer.”

  “Ask Uncle Jack.”

  “I can’t do that. It’s too risky. The only way to make payments on a loan is through donations and what I can scrape together. I won’t let him risk the grill like that. Maybe I can get another part-time job.”

  “Are you nuts? You’re killing yourself now. You’ve already accomplished what you set out to do. You have a no-kill shelter that saves hundreds of animals every year.”

  “And what about the ones we can’t save because we have no more room? You saw my sketches and even you said it was a great idea.”

  “It is a great idea. But it’s an idea that needs money to make it real. And your sketches are amazing, by the way. I don’t know why you’ve never pursued art or design.”

  Alex snorted. “Right. Like that would pay the bills. I’ll have to go back to the drawing board—no pun intended—and see if I can find any other funding.” She tossed her empty cup into the waste basket beside Kellie’s desk. “I still want to see if we can purchase that empty lot. Maybe Mr. Hawthorne will cut us a break?”

  Kellie shook her head. “I doubt it, but if you make an offer, I’ll take it to him. I had a call this morning from someone who’s looking at the old Catfish Hut and he said he’s interested in the lot, too. So, I can’t make any promises.”

  “You have to stall
him. I need time to come up with a Plan B. If Hawthorne donated the lot to the shelter, he could write it off his taxes.”

  “Donation is not in Mr. Hawthorne’s vocabulary.” Kellie glanced at her watch. “I have about an hour before I have to meet a guy over there. I’ll call Hawthorne and see what I can do before I leave. You going to be at the shelter?”

  “Where else?” Alex stood and looped her purse over her shoulder. “Thanks, Kel. I’ll see you later.”

  Alex reached the shelter to find Dr. Howard Dennis there, checking on the puppies. He was kind enough to visit the shelter when new pups were first brought in to assess them. He flashed a broad smile when Alex walked into the room. “Hi. You’ve been busy, I see.”

  “Not as busy as their mother.” She flushed at the implication behind her words. “I mean, she did the work. I just dragged these little ones out from under a couple of trailers.”

  “I heard. Next time you have a late-night call like that, let me know. I’ll tag along. It’s not safe for a woman alone in some of those places.”

  Howard had pursued her in a round-about way ever since he’d moved to Cade’s Point and taken over Doctor Newsom’s practice when the old man retired. Howard was attractive enough, in a plain, geeky sort of way. But he wasn’t her type. Truthfully, it had been so long since Alex had a date, she wasn’t sure if she even had a type. Maybe she was destined to be the crazy cat and dog lady.

  She reached for one of the puppies at the same time as Howard and their hands brushed. She felt nothing.

  When he stood, Howard cleared his throat. “So, would you like to have dinner this Friday?”

  “This Friday? Um…I’ll have to check the schedule. I don’t know if I have a volunteer to check on the pups.”

  At that moment, Susan waltzed by and said, “You’re free. I’m on Friday.” She passed behind Howard and gave Alex a grin and a wink.

  Alex felt heat crawl up her neck and into her cheeks. “I guess I’m free for dinner, after all.” She’d strangle Susan later.

  His smile broadened. “Great. Pick you up at six? I’ll make a reservation at one of the casino steakhouses. Is that good for you?”

  “Fine. I’ll see you then.”

  “Oh, and someone should bring the puppies by the clinic in a few days for shots. They seem healthy enough, though.”

  “Will do. Thanks, Howard.”

  After the door closed, Alex went in search of Susan. “You set me up.”

  “Someone has to. You’re doing a lousy job of it on your own. Besides, I’m free on Friday.”

  “Then maybe you should go out with Howard.”

  Susan laughed. “I think my husband would take exception to that. Have you ever noticed how Howard gets a little shy around you? That man has it bad for you, bless his heart.”

  “He does not. He just doesn’t know that many people in town yet.”

  “Alex, honey, wake up. Half the women in town are drooling over that guy. And a few of those are happily married. He’s handsome, kind, sort of sexy, and eligible. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a doctor.”

  “A veterinarian,” Alex corrected.

  “Kind to animals,” Susan countered.

  “I don’t have time for a relationship.”

  “Well, you have time on Friday. Make the most of it.” Susan proceeded on to the cat room, closing the door behind her.

  “Great.” She thought about dinner with Howard, an evening out, a chance to get dressed up. How bad could it be? Howard was everything Susan had said. Would it kill her to go out for a while and have a nice time? It was dinner, not a marriage proposal.

  Walter padded across the lobby and nudged her hand with his wet nose. “Hey, Walter. No escape plan for today?”

  The big dog leaned against her and she scratched his ears. He trotted to the door and whined. “Oh, no. If you want out, I’ll take you for a walk. I’m not chasing you around town today.”

  As she emerged from the shelter, pulled along by Walter who was busy sniffing every inch of ground, she glanced across the empty lot and saw Kellie’s car in front of the next building. Since her sister hadn’t called back about the vacant lot, she assumed Mr. Hawthorne had turned down her offer. But she could pop over there and check.

  Alex tugged on Walter’s leash and directed him across the open lot. Kellie emerged from the building, followed by a man. A very tall, good-looking man. A man who seemed somewhat familiar? Oh, hell, no.

  Kellie and her client came toward Alex and the curious dog tugging on her arm. “Alex, this is Evan Whiting. My sister, Alex. Would you believe Evan is Miss Amy’s grand-nephew? He’s moving into Primrose and he’s going to open up a new restaurant. Right here.”

  Alex stared at him, then she and Evan spoke at the same time, “You!”

  Kellie looked from Alex to Evan. “You two have already met?”

  “I thought you were a waitress,” Evan said.

  “And I thought you were a jerk.” Walter strained on his leash and Alex relaxed her grip. True to form, Walter lunged forward and stuck his nose directly into Evan’s crotch, leaving a dark, wet stain.

  Evan jumped back and swore. “You need to control your dog.”

  “No, I don’t.” She handed him the leash. “He’s your dog. He belonged to Amy and we’ve been caring for him since she got sick and passed. You inherited the house, you inherit Walter.”

  She turned on her heel and marched back across the lot.

  “You’re a nut case,” he shouted after her.

  She heard a strangled sound and glanced over her shoulder to see Walter with his front paws on Evan’s chest and enthusiastically licking Evan’s face.

  Five minutes later, the door opened and Kellie was dragged inside by the panting dog. Once the door closed, Kellie dropped the leash and whirled at her. “What is wrong with you?”

  “I’m running short on sleep. I have low tolerance for men with big egos. My allergies are acting up a bit. And I’ve been engineered into a date I don’t want to go on this Friday. What’s wrong with you?”

  “This isn’t funny, Alex. That man out there is an important client. I need to sell that building and the lot next door. And Mr. Hawthorne is not willing to negotiate down to your price or make a donation of the land.”

  Walter collapsed on the cool tile floor between them.

  “I thought you had someone lined up for his adoption,” Kellie said.

  “It didn’t work out. They were an older couple looking for a big dog to bark in case of intruders. Walter raced around this lobby like a fool, then peed on the man’s leg. I swear that dog knows what he’s doing. He has no intention of being adopted.”

  “Well Evan can’t take care of him right now. He needs to get settled in here.”

  “Fine. He can pay a boarding fee.”

  Exasperated, Kellie slumped down in a chair. “How do you even know the man well enough to dislike him? He just got into town yesterday.”

  “He came by the grill last night. He insulted me, the food, and the Southern way of life. In one sentence.”

  “When did you become a Daughter of the Confederacy?”

  “I’m just saying, if he doesn’t appreciate Southern culture, he should go back where he came from.”

  Kellie shook her head. “He’s not going anywhere, and he’ll soon be your neighbor. So get over yourself. I swear you let Jeff turn you against every man, and they’re not all like him.”

  “It has nothing to do with Jeff.”

  Ignoring her, Kellie continued, “As for the vacant lot, Evan is trying to come up with the extra cash. That means you still have a little time. But Mr. Hawthorne will no doubt accept his offer if he gets the money together. I’m only doing my job.”

  “I kno-ow.” She caught herself, that whine in her voice, the one she hated. “I’m sorry. He’s opening a restaurant?”

  “Yes. It sounds wonderful. French and Italian cuisine. He’s a chef. He used to run a restaurant in New York.”

  Alex leane
d on the arm of the chair. “I don’t get it. Why would a chef who owns a New York restaurant pack up and move to Cade’s Point? Surely Amy’s old place didn’t draw him here.”

  Kellie furrowed her eyebrows. “I didn’t think to ask that. It is curious. But, hey, we could use a new restaurant in town. I mean, the food’s fine at Out Back, but let’s be real. You have to go up to the casino or all the way to Memphis for a dinner date. Oh, and I also learned that Evan is fluent in three languages.”

  “Four, if you count BS.”

  “Alex! You don’t even know the man.”

  “First impressions are important. Besides, I know his type.”

  “His type?”

  “Yes. He comes down here from up north with all kinds of ideas about us poor, dumb rednecks just sitting here waiting to be rescued from our ignorance. He’ll open his fancy restaurant with menu items no one can pronounce, much less want to eat. It’ll fail and he’ll blame the people of Cade’s Point for being unsophisticated because the failure couldn’t possibly be the fault of his own short-sightedness.”

  “Wow. I mean…wow. I can see why you spend a lot of evenings at home alone.”

  “Really? Well, for your information, I happen to have a date on Friday.”

  Kellie’s eyes narrowed. “With whom?”

  “Doctor Howard Dennis.”

  “Impressive. I’ll see if there’s a follow-up date before I get too excited for you.” Kellie headed for the door. “I’ve got to run. You workin’ tonight?”

  “For the dinner shift, from four to seven. You coming for dinner?”

  Kellie grinned. “I have a date. We’re going up to Beale Street in Memphis. It’s bike night.”

  “Have fun.”

  “Oh, I will.”

  And she would. Kellie always had fun. She had that kind of personality. The glass was always more than half full. The sun was always shining—somewhere. And life was meant to be lived in the moment. That last thought worried Alex. But she had to admit, her sister was happy. Sickeningly happy most of the time.