Cowboy Six Pack

by Kari Lynn Dell

  “No! Not there. If we go for a burger it has to be at the drive-through.” She picked up the wheelbarrow. “If we go.”

  He grinned at her back and spun on his heel. Oh, he’d be back. If for no other reason than he hated eating alone. But right now, he wanted to know more about the illusive woman with the smoky singing voice.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Kitty scolded herself for the fiftieth time as she stood in her apartment trying to decide whether to braid her wet hair or just pull it into a ponytail. She didn’t know what came over her. She never took showers so early in the day. And here she was, worrying Zach wouldn’t show and she’d look like a fool. “To who?” she said, staring at her reflection in the small square mirror screwed to the wall in the camper-sized bathroom. Only she and the veterinarian knew he’d asked her out. If he didn’t show, no one would know she’d wasted work time to shower.

  “Who are you fooling? No one. He’s only asking you out because he hasn’t met anyone else.”

  Winnie nudged her leg.

  “Yeah, I’m done.” She put a rubber band on the end of the braid she’d made while talking to herself. A glance at the clock said he’d be here in ten minutes. “If he comes.”

  She started to reach for a ball cap and thought better of it. Her purse was small, not much larger than most women’s wallets. She tucked that in her back pocket and headed down the stairs.

  Winnie pushed by her, bounding down to the bottom and out of the open front doors of the large barn. “Don’t get dirty!” she called after the animal. They’d just shared the shower, Kitty scrubbing the green from her dog’s coat.

  A blue truck stopped in front of the doors. Her heart raced as she watched the doctor step out of the vehicle and walk into the barn. He wore a fresh shirt. This one was knit with long sleeves hugging his muscular arms and the width of his chest stretching the fabric.

  She’d seen few men in her life with a body that made her mouth go dry. This man was one of them. Something about his long legs and muscled torso made her knees weak.

  “How’s the patient?”

  The low timbre of his voice rolled over her like a warm shower. Her gaze flew up to his face as he stopped several feet in front of her. He had an expectant expression on his face.

  “How’s the horse?” he asked.

  “Oh!” She shook her head, whipping her cheeks with her braid and getting her senses back in order. “Apache seems to be better now that he has straw bedding.” She started down the alleyway to the far end of the barn where the horse was stalled.

  The doctor fell into step beside her. “Hungry?” he asked.

  “Yes, I am.” She didn’t look at him. Didn’t want to get caught up in how good he looked. At Apache’s stall, she stopped and unlatched the gate.

  Dr. MacDonald entered and studied the animal. “He does appear to be breathing better.” He backed out of the stall and locked the gate. “You ready to go?”

  She nodded and walked back down the alley, keeping her gaze on the ground in front of her feet. She’d had few dates. If men knew her past, they acted as if she had a disease, and the few who’d moved to town and asked her out, thought buying her dinner gave them access to her body. After two of those experiences she’d kept to herself and didn’t give a man a chance to ask her out. Something about this man told her he wouldn’t expect anything from her. He had to have patience to have spent so many years in school to become a veterinarian.

  “Let me get the door.” He hurried ahead of her to open the passenger door on his truck.

  “Thanks.” She’d never had anyone open a door for her.

  Winnie ran up to the truck.

  “You need to stay,” Kitty told the dog.

  Winnie lowered her chest to the ground with her backend in the air. It was her begging pose.

  “You can’t go,” she said softly.

  “If she wants to go that bad she can ride in the back. I have a tie back there.”

  She stared at the man, scratching Winnie behind her ear. “You don’t mind? She can get in trouble when I don’t take her.”

  “Not a problem.” He walked to the back of the truck. “Come on, Winnie.”

  Her shameless hussy of a dog, hopped into the back of the truck and licked Zach’s cheek as he hooked a tethered leash to her collar.

  Kitty slid into the cab and closed the door.

  Zach joined her and put the truck in drive.

  They passed the main house as Marcella strode down the walk toward the road. She waved her arms to stop them.

  Great! She’d hoped to get out and back without her landlord and boss knowing she’d had dinner with the new veterinarian. The woman had been insistent lately that she should hang out with people her age.

  He slowed the truck and stopped at the end of the walkway. Kitty had no choice but to roll her window down. The evening air was comfortable. For the second week of June it had been unseasonably warm.

  “Oh, Dr. MacDonald. I didn’t recognize you in this blue truck.” Marcella leaned on the open window. She patted Kitty’s arm and smiled.

  “This is my personal truck,” the doctor replied.

  “Personal…” Marcella said the word in a way that could only be construed as she liked the idea. “Going out to dinner?”

  Zach glanced over at Kitty. She hadn’t said a word since her boss stopped them. She looked upset. He wasn’t sure why. In the short time he’d known her, he’d concluded she was an emotional roller coaster. “Yes. Headed to the drive-through.”

  “Enjoy yourselves.” She stared at Kitty and then backed away from the vehicle.

  “We will,” he answered and pulled away from the woman. He glanced over at his passenger. She’d receded into herself. He’d witnessed this last night.

  “Sorry you agreed to go to dinner with me?” he asked.

  Kitty jumped as if she’d forgotten he was in the truck with her. “No. I-I don’t get out much and having Marcella so excited…”

  “It puts pressure on you to have a good time.” He’d felt that way many times while dating his boss’s daughter. He’d tried so hard to make sure she was having a good time, he wasn’t. And eventually realized they had nothing in common.

  “Yes. I mean not that I don’t think I’ll have a good time with you.” She moaned. “That’s not what I meant either. I should just shut up.”

  He laughed. It was refreshing to talk with someone who didn’t weigh every word they said. “I know what you meant. Does this place have good burgers? I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet.”

  “If you like a burger that dribbles down your chin, then yes, they have good burgers.”

  “There’s nothing better than a four-napkin burger.”

  She laughed at his comment and seemed to be more at ease. He’d wait until they had enjoyed their food before he asked the questions bouncing around in his head.

  As he pulled up to the restaurant, he realized it was exactly what the name said, a drive through. And the line was nearly out onto the road.

  “If we order here where will we go to eat them?” He jockeyed his truck in behind the last vehicle and stared at the large menu board on the side of the building.

  “Most take them home. We can go sit at the lake, if you don’t mind waiting twenty minutes before you eat.”

  “The lake sounds like my kind of atmosphere.” He enjoyed the outdoors and had already discovered there were several hiking trails not far from his place.

  The thirty minutes it took to move up the line, order, and then wait for their food, he asked questions about the town and surrounding area. Kitty answered all his questions intelligently, and he wondered at his brother-in-law’s comment about the woman being slow. She was articulate and quick witted. He’d known Barry to be wrong about things before. His brother-in-law had to have Kitty mixed up with someone else.

  He’d left his window down after ordering.

  “Here you go,” said a young female voice.

  He and Kitty bo
th jumped as they’d been deep in a conversation about the health routine at Marcella’s stables. Kitty turned her face to her window as if not wanting the girl to see her.

  “Thanks,” he said, taking the bagged food.

  The girl smiled at him and then frowned as her gaze crossed the cab and landed on Kitty.

  He tucked a dollar on the young woman’s tray and started the truck. She took the hint and backed away.

  “Check the order to make sure everything is there,” he said to Kitty before putting his truck in reverse.

  She grasped the bag, peering into it. “Everything is here.” She closed the bag then said, “What about drinks?”

  “We can grab something at that gas station on the way toward the lake.” He put the vehicle in reverse, backing out of the spot he’d parked in waiting for the food, and rolled out onto the street. He wanted to know why Kitty had turned her head and why everyone frowned at her when they saw her. Everything he’d seen of the woman he couldn’t figure out why people treated her as if she’d escaped prison. His mind lurched to a halt. Was that it? Had she been in prison for something horrific?

  He glanced over at her. There was always a hint of worry on her face. The phone call he’d received that morning came back to him. She’s trouble.

  “You need to slow down if you’re going to get something to drink at the station,” she said, catching him staring at her.

  He put his foot on the brake and slowed down, turning into the station parking area. She hurried out of the vehicle ahead of him. It was the first time she’d shown any inclination to be excited about something other than when they sang.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Kitty hopped out of the truck. Zach had been staring at her strangely. She wanted to see a friendly face. Old man Fullman was a kindred spirit. She’d learned on one of her trips here for gas for her pickup that he could barely read, and he owned a business. She hadn’t told him she couldn’t read, but he treated her like she was a regular person. Not like the oddball everyone else did.

  The screen door snapped behind her at her entrance.

  “Kitty cat, good to see you.” Mr. Fullman said, looking up from a faded and tattered fishing magazine. “Need that jalopy of yours filled up?”

  “No, getting something to drink.” She headed for the cooler.

  The door banged and footsteps headed her way.

  “Dr. MacDonald. You need fuel?” Mr. Fullman inquired.

  “No. We’re getting drinks and heading to the lake.”

  She stopped her hand reaching for the fruit drink as his arm reached over her to a large bottle of water.

  “Good! The two of you should enjoy the weather. It’s going to be a balmy summer. I can tell you that.”

  Kitty grabbed her drink and hurried to the counter. She had planned on paying for her own drink and not letting the Opal Springs gossip put the two of them together. Too late now.

  Zach plopped his drink down next to hers and pulled out his wallet.

  “I can get these. You paid for the burgers.”

  Mr. Fullman’s bushy, white eyebrows rose.

  “I won’t argue with you. I’m still trying to get a practice going.” Zach backed up, crossing his arms.

  She didn’t understand his actions, but pulled her wallet out of her back pocket and pulled out four ones. She allowed herself forty dollars a month for eating at the Sidewinder once a week and any other extras like this drink.

  Mr. Fullman handed her the change, and she picked up the bottles.

  She pushed on the door ahead of Zach and the old man called out, “Enjoy yourselves!”

  Zach chuckled as they climbed into his truck. “That old guy is a card. He told me about the fishing in these parts the other day when I was fueling up. I guess I look like a fisherman.”

  “I would have guessed that as well.” She placed the drinks on the seat by the sack of food and studied him. “Do you fish?”

  “I prefer to hike, more exercise for the body.”

  She nodded. That was why he looked so good in whatever he wore.

  Ten minutes longer and he started to pull into the small parking area on the north end of the lake.

  “No, not here,” she urged, seeing several other vehicles and people at the picnic tables. “There’s a spot farther down that’s a better view of the lake.”

  He glanced at her, then continued on.

  “There, see that road? Drive down there.”

  Again, he glanced at her but took the narrow dirt path through the brush and pines.

  The road ended at a flat opening that overlooked the lake. It was her favorite spot to enjoy the lake without others watching her.

  Zach parked and she scooted out, carrying the bag of food. She sat down on the log she always used as her bench and waited for the doctor to join her.

  He walked over, sat on the log beside her, and set her bottle of juice next to her foot. “Nice place. No picnic table though.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I could turn the truck around and we could sit on the tailgate.”

  She thought about it and looked at the bag of food and drinks. “That might make it easier.”

  He returned to the vehicle and turned it around. As he lowered the tailgate, she picked up the drinks and bag, and walked over.

  Winnie whined and sniffed at the bag.

  “I forgot she was back here.” Kitty set the food down and hopped onto the truck bed.

  “She can’t reach us.” Zach sat and opened the bag. “I hope the fries aren’t cold. There’s nothing worse than cold fries.”

  She agreed and pulled out her burger and fries.

  “Why do you avoid everyone?” he asked out of the blue.

  Kitty jerked her head around and stared into his inquisitive eyes. “I like my privacy.”

  “Why? I would think it’s lonely not letting people in.” He bit into his burger and chewed watching her.

  “I have Winnie and Marcella.” She took a bite to have a reason not to speak.

  He shook his head and swallowed. “That’s not company. Why do you go once a week to the Sidewinder and sing? Are you hoping someone will talk to you and you can make a friend?” He took another bite as if giving her space to talk.

  She shook her head. “I like to sing. If they didn’t have karaoke on Thursdays, I wouldn’t go. It’s something I can do well.” She bit her hamburger and stared at the lake. She’d hoped he’d just eat his burger and talk about himself. Giving information about herself wasn’t something she liked to do.

  “Have you lived in Opal Springs your whole life?” He opened his water bottle, then picked up her juice bottle and opened it for her.

  She narrowed her eyes. “I can open my own drink.”

  “Sorry, habit. What can I say, I’m a shameless gentleman.”

  What did he mean by that? She studied his face. Was he making fun of her?

  “Did you grow up here?” he asked softly.

  “I’ve lived here since I was fourteen.” She picked up her drink and sipped. “Where did you grow up?” Better to ask him questions.

  “My family lived in the suburbs of Portland. I spent my summers with my grandparents on their ranch. Helping them with their cattle and horses, I discovered I enjoyed the work and decided to become a vet.”

  “Where did you work before here?” She had to keep the conversation on him. If he was busy talking about his life, he couldn’t butt into hers.

  “I was at a small animal clinic in Portland.” He held his food away and stared at it as if it had grown moldy.

  Realizing he hadn’t been doing what he wanted caught her attention. “You said you like working with large animals, why did you work for a clinic for small animals.”

  “I was dating the head vet’s daughter. She talked me into working at her father’s clinic.”

  Her gaze shot to his face. Did he miss the woman? The expression on his face appeared pained.

  “When I discovered I didn’t love the woman and I loathed working at
that clinic, I called my sister and she insisted Opal Springs needed me.” He raised his face and grinned. “I’m already feeling better about myself, and I’ve only had a handful of clients so far.”

  She smiled. “You knew what to do for Apache.”

  “He was easy.” Zach studied her. “How did you get the job with Mrs. Dunn?”

  Kitty dropped her gaze to the ground by her feet. While she was proud of her job, she knew it was little more than a stable hand. Someone her age should have a better job. “I was looking for a place to live and work. I was told she was looking for someone to help clean the stables and I applied.”

  “How long ago was that?” He raised his water and took a drink.

  “Thirteen years.”

  His eyes narrowed. “You’re younger than me. You would have had to have been—”

  “Fourteen. I ran away from a foster home.” She stared at him, daring him to make a comment.

  “Did Mrs. Dunn allow you to continue going to school?”

  “I didn’t want to.” She shoved a large bunch of cold fries into her mouth and worked at chewing and swallowing the greasy glob.

  Zach studied her as she chewed. She didn’t like to talk about herself. But if she’d been working for the Dunn Stables for that long, she couldn’t have been in trouble with the law. Why did people treat her like they did?

  “So, you don’t have your diploma? How about a GED?”

  She shook her head and her eyes widened in fright.

  “I could help you study for your GED, then you could go to college and become more than a stable hand.”

  Kitty shot to her feet, her face dark and puffed in anger. “Who says I want to be more than a stable hand? What gives you, someone who has known me for less than a day, the right to tell me what I want?”

  He held up his hands. “Hey, calm down. I was just offering to help.”

  “I don’t need your help. Or anyone’s help, thank you.” She shoved her empty juice bottle into the burger sack and leaned over the tailgate toward her dog.

  He stood. “What are you doing?”