The radio had been good company last night. But a book would be even better.
“I do.” Her mom handed her a shopping list. “And would you mind taking this outfit to Laurel?” She handed Cassidy the little cowgirl duds. “I can’t believe I have another grandchild. Seems like I have a lot of shopping to catch up on.”
* * *
CASSIDY TOOK SKY along with her for the drive into Coffee Creek. She went to the Cinnamon Stick first, and she and Laurel shared a laugh at the ranch-themed gifts from Olive.
“I’m not sure about the boots—I don’t think Stephanie will be wearing shoes for a long time. But everything else is wonderful. Olive sure does like to spoil her granddaughter. We’ve had a gift from her almost every week since Steph was born.”
“Hopefully they didn’t come with too many strings attached.”
Laurel raised her eyebrows, but didn’t say anything further. After the way Olive had tried to commandeer the wedding plans for Laurel’s marriage to Corb, Cassidy thought it was big of her not to add her own complaints to the list.
“By the way, Corb asked me to tell Mom about Winnie’s son. So I did it.”
“Really?” Laurel’s eyes grew huge. “How did she take it?”
“I didn’t give her much of a chance to react. I just warned her that if we didn’t treat Winnie very carefully we might end up not being part of Brock’s son’s life. I left her to mull that over for a while.”
“Gosh. I have to call Winnie and let her know that Olive’s been told. She’ll be glad she didn’t have to be the one.”
“Does she have any plans to bring the baby back to Coffee Creek?”
“Eventually,” Laurel said. “But I don’t think she’s ready yet. On top of all the other problems she’s had, it seems her son is really colicky.”
Laurel handed her a cup of coffee. “So how was your night? Corb tells me that Farley dropped by for a while? He also said that Farley is dating Amber Ellis.”
“Really? He passed that along already?”
Laurel smiled smugly. “Text message about five minutes after you told him.”
Cassidy laughed. “Well, at least the lines of communication are working in your marriage.”
“That’s all you have to say? What about Amber? Are you upset?”
“Why would I be?”
Laurel just raised her eyebrows.
Cassidy took her coffee in a to-go cup, plus a bag containing several cinnamon buns that Laurel pressed on her. She certainly wasn’t going to admit, not even to Laurel, that she didn’t like the idea of Farley dating Amber one little bit.
Cassidy headed to the library next. Every time she entered the historic old building she wished she’d been alive when the children of the area had all gone to school here. A one-room schoolhouse combining six grades’ worth of pupils must have been a lot of fun.
The librarian, Tabitha Snow, was on her computer when Cassidy arrived. She broke out in a welcoming smile and left her desk to give Cassidy a hug. “You’re back! How did it go?”
“Very well. Though I must admit I’m glad to put all that intense studying behind me. I’d like to read something fun for a change.”
It was nice to see Tabitha again. She’d encouraged Cassidy’s love of books and learning from an early age. But it was a little disconcerting as well to see new gray hairs and tiny lines around the attractive librarian’s mouth. A reminder that things had changed in the years she’d been away from Coffee Creek.
“Oh, I know just the story. This one kept me up all hours last week.” She pulled a book from a wheeled cart next to her desk. “And the ending is perfectly wonderful—you never see it coming but it feels so true when it happens.”
Cassidy gave the back cover a quick read and agreed it sounded interesting. “Thanks, I’ll take it.” She dug her library card out of her pocket and handed it over, interested to see that even their small local library had gone electronic, with bar codes, scanners and everything.
“So how are things with you?”
“Oh, the same.” Tabitha looked surprised that she would even ask. “I adopted a new cat this fall. That makes six now.” She sighed. “I suppose I’m becoming something of a cliché. The old lady who lives alone with her cats and her books. Next thing you know I’ll take up crocheting.”
“Why not? Since Winnie went to live with her folks, she’s taken up knitting. And what’s wrong with cats and books, anyway? Both sound like wonderful things to surround yourself with.”
“Ah, you always were the sweetest child. Not a child anymore, of course, but I’m glad you kept the sweet part.” Tabitha handed her the book. “There you go. You have three weeks, but if you like the story as much as I did, I predict you’ll be back within a few days.”
As it happened, Cassidy left the library at the same time as the postmaster from the building next door was crossing the street for his usual lunch at the Cinnamon Stick.
“Hey, Burt.”
“Cassidy.” He nodded.
Three years ago Burt and Tabitha had been married. When they separated they set up rules so they could continue to live in the same small town without causing each other too much grief.
One of their agreements was that Tabitha would frequent the Cinnamon Stick in the morning, and Burt at noon. That way they wouldn’t have to worry about running into one another.
Cassidy had assumed the arrangement was temporary, but it seemed they were still sticking to their schedule. “Any mail for Coffee Creek Ranch today, Burt?” she called out across the street.
“Nope. Your mother picked it up yesterday afternoon on her way to Lewistown.” He nodded again, then disappeared inside the café.
Cassidy shrugged, then continued to her truck, which she’d parked outside of the café. She was surprised to see Maddie Turner standing at the open passenger-side window, petting Sky. She was so short, Cassidy didn’t see her until she was only a few feet away. Sky had sure noticed Maddie’s presence, though. She was wiggling, panting and smiling, the way she always did when greeting a friend.
Cassidy stopped, not sure what to do.
When she was growing up, she had witnessed both her mother and her father cross the street rather than exchange a greeting with Maddie. She herself had never spoken to the woman who was her aunt.
But to ignore her now seemed just plain silly.
“Hi. My dog sure seems to like you.”
“I hope you don’t mind. I couldn’t resist stopping to say hello. And it seems like she remembers me.” Maddie’s voice sounded hoarse. She pulled out a tissue and coughed.
“Corb mentioned something about Sky coming from a litter of yours.”
“That’s right. Her mother was a direct descendant of the border collie your mother and I had when we were growing up.”
Cassidy frowned. “So how exactly did I come to own her?”
Though her dog had been delivered to their door in a basket on her fourteenth birthday, she’d always assumed her father was behind the gift.
Maddie smiled shyly. “I had a feeling you would like one another. Was I right?”
Cassidy didn’t know what to say. She was surprised that Maddie Turner even knew her birth date, let alone that she would have given her such a special gift. She wondered if her mother had guessed that the dog had been from her sister. Given the breed, she probably had. So maybe that was why she had been so annoyed.
“I don’t know what to say. Thank you. Sky was my best friend when I was growing up.” She thought for a moment. “And she still is.”
“That’s the way I feel about my dogs, as well. I have two border collies on Silver Creek—”
Maddie stopped abruptly, her gaze shifting to the door of the café, where Vince Butterfield, the ex-bronc rider turned baker, was just stepping out at the end of his shift.
“Hello, Maddie,” Vince said, his voice deep and rusty. “It’s good to see you. Next time you’re in for coffee you should come back to the kitchen and say hello.”
Cassidy was surprised. Vince hardly ever did anything more than nod at the people he met. She glanced back at her aunt and was surprised to see that pain had clouded over Maddie’s lovely eyes.
“I don’t think so, Vince.” Without another word to either of them she turned and walked away.
* * *
WHEN CASSIDY RETURNED home, her mother’s SUV was in its usual parking space in front of the garage. Cassidy pulled in beside it and went inside through the back patio doors.
Her mother was just hanging up the phone and seemed startled to see her. “Oh, hi, sweetheart. How was the trip to Coffee Creek?”
“Great. Laurel said thanks for the gift. And she sent you back this.” She handed her mother the bag with the cinnamon buns. “Who was that on the phone?”
“Oh—it was nothing important.” Olive glanced at the cinnamon buns, then set the bag on the counter. “I’ve already had my lunch. I’m off for another meeting this afternoon. The Heritage Site Committee again.”
Which explained why her mother had changed from the jeans she’d been wearing earlier, to the Western-styled skirt she had on now. Plus, she’d touched up her makeup.
“You look pretty, Mom.”
“Thank you, dear.” Olive picked up her satchel, then hesitated. “Would you consider joining the committee? We have a treasurer but she doesn’t seem to know much about investing money and we’ve got a fair amount of funds just sitting in a savings account. You would be a real asset.”
Her mother looked so hopeful, Cassidy felt like a heel turning her down. “I’d be glad to give your treasurer some investing advice. But I can’t join full-time since I’m moving to Billings. It would be too far to travel for regular meetings.”
It seemed like every muscle in her mother’s face tightened. “So that’s still on then?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? I haven’t got the job yet. But I’m hopeful. And even if I don’t get that position, I’m sure I’ll find something else.”
Her mother said nothing to that, just sighed and changed the subject. She gave Cassidy a list of chores to do for the afternoon, including checking on the quarantined horses, which Cassidy had been intending to do anyway.
Once Olive had driven off, Cassidy went to the phone and scrolled through the recently called list. She had a funny feeling about that look she’d surprised on her mother’s face. Sure enough, Josh’s number topped the list of recent callers. Scrolling back further, she noticed he’d phoned her yesterday, too.
She pulled out her cell phone and hit his speed dial number.
“Finally!” He sounded breathless above the background noise of city bustle. “Why haven’t you answered any of my texts or phone calls?”
She didn’t tell him that her mother hadn’t passed along his messages, since she hadn’t responded to his calls on her cell phone, either. “It’s been crazy here. We’ve got strangles and all our riding horses have been quarantined.”
“Strangles? What’s that?”
“It’s a very contagious bacterial disease that—well, it can be really serious. And I’ve been put in charge of making sure it doesn’t spread and nursing the infected horses.”
“Wow. Sounds like you could use some help...”
Cassidy ignored the hint. Josh had been keen to visit her family ranch for some time now, but she had her doubts on how well he would fit in. He’d never even been on a horse and knew nothing about the cattle business. She was afraid Corb and Jackson would have a field day with him. And her mother... Well, the fact that she hadn’t told Cassidy about any of Josh’s calls pretty much demonstrated the sort of welcome she would give Josh if he came.
“I’m doing okay. What’s new with you?”
“I got the second interview! I’ve been dying to tell you. We set a date for next week. How about you? Have you heard anything?”
“Not yet.” She wouldn’t put it past her mother not to tell her if she had, but she hadn’t seen any calls from the firm on the recently called list. Besides, she’d given her cell phone number and email as her primary contact information. The home number was just for backup.
“Not to worry,” Josh assured her. “I’m sure you’ll hear something soon. Oh—and you should check for your marks. Mine were posted last night.”
He reeled off a list of marks that were all impressive.
“Good for you. Look, Josh, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later when I have time to talk, okay?”
She hurried to her computer and went online. In minutes she was relieved to see that her final marks were even better than Josh’s.
So why had he gotten the call while she was still waiting?
Deciding it was too soon to worry, she changed and was heading out to the barn, when she was intercepted by Jay Owen, one of their hired workers.
“We’ve got another sick horse,” the short, wiry wrangler told her. “Chickweed. I just put him into the stall next to Finnegan.”
Chapter Seven
The one person Cassidy didn’t expect to see in the barn examining the newest sick horse was Farley. She watched him, unseen for a while. Despite his height and his broad shoulders, Farley was light on his feet and sure with his movements. If you could call a vet graceful, then Farley was graceful.
A slight movement from Sky, as always in her shadow, betrayed her presence.
Farley glanced up from the vial he was putting in his case. “Looks like we have another one.”
“Oh, no. But you sure got here fast. I didn’t even have time to call you.”
“I was already on the property doing some preg testing in the cattle barn.”
Since a grove of pine trees separated the cattle barn from the house, that explained why she hadn’t seen his truck.
“That was lucky for us. So how is Chickweed doing?” The sturdy quarter horse was her brother Corb’s favorite. They’d had him about ten years.
“Hey there, Chickweed.” She patted the horse as she walked around him, doing a quick visual exam. Chickweed was a smart, sure-footed horse with terrific cow sense.
But she could tell right away, by his posture and the position of his neck and his head, that he wasn’t feeling well. “Is he running a fever?”
“Afraid so. And he’s definitely suffering some pain—see how swollen he is under his jaw?” Farley placed her hand over the enlarged lymph nodes, and she nodded.
Not only did she feel the evidence of strangles in the horse, but she also felt the rough calluses of Farley’s hand. And the strength. And the warmth.
She remembered what his hands had felt like on her waist and on her shoulder, when they’d danced together four years ago. She’d never forgotten and never would.
Did he ever think about the good part of that night?
Or just her inexcusable behavior afterward?
She glanced at his face, and saw that he was looking at her, his dark gaze as always intense, but inscrutable.
“Should I prepare some hot compresses?” she asked.
He blinked. “Yes.”
The moment between them—if indeed, it had been a moment—was over. Farley went to his vet truck to get some more antibiotics, while she warmed up compresses for all three of her patients.
Lucy was restless as Cassidy washed her dried-up abscesses and when Cassidy offered her the warm oat mush, she gobbled it up.
“She’s definitely feeling better,” Cassidy noticed.
Finnegan, unfortunately, seemed to be worse. He ate only a few mouthfuls of the mush and hardly reacted when she called out his name and tried to give him a little loving.
“This is odd,” Cassidy said. “His neck isn’t as swollen as Lucy’s was or as Chickweed’s is right now, yet of all of them, he seems the sickest.”
“You have to remember he’s older,” Farley reminded her. “And it’s possible...”
“What?”
Farley removed the latex gloves he’d been wearing and tossed them into the trash. “There can be various complications from stran
gles. We’ll have to keep a close eye on Finnegan.”
“What sort of complications? What should I watch for?”
But Farley was frustratingly vague. “Just let me know if anything changes, okay?” He was at the doorway now. “I should get back to those cows. You okay in here?”
She was. But she liked it better when he was here with her.
Which was odd considering how much he disliked her.
“I’m fine,” she insisted.
He hesitated before leaving. “Heard anything about that job in Billings?”
“Not yet. But I got the results from my finals and they were good.”
“Congratulations.”
“Still no word from the accounting firm, though. Some of my fellow students have already been called. Maybe I won’t be getting a second interview.”
Farley’s gaze dropped to her boots, then returned to her eyes. He gave her a small smile—a shadow of the ones she could remember from earlier days—and nodded. “I’ll bet you will.”
* * *
FARLEY PULLED ON a pair of OB coveralls and disinfected his boots before rejoining Corb in the cattle barn. It was breeding season and Corb needed to know which of his cows were pregnant and which were not. It was messy, physical work that required Farley’s full concentration.
Corb’s job was lining up the cows for examination, then sorting them into pens when they were done.
“No wonder we pay you the big bucks,” Corb said, as Farley unblocked an unusually large amount of fecal matter from one of the cows.
Farley shrugged. He was used to this. And the hard work was good distraction from a woman who could mess up his mind without even trying. Seeing how much she cared about her horses was making it hard for him to keep up the distance he’d planned with her. He’d assumed that part of her had calcified—around about the time she discovered how much fun she could have playing one guy off another.
But now he knew it hadn’t.
She was as soft-hearted as ever.
Which meant that it was just him she had a problem with.
Her Cowboy Dilemma Page 8