Reuniting with the Cowboy

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  “One of my hands takes care of things for me and takes me where I need to go. And I catch a ride to church with Mitch and Caitlyn.”

  “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” She turned to face him. “Your doctor won’t release you to rodeo, either.”

  “He might eventually. But even if he does, I’m not going back.”

  “You sure?”

  For some reason, his answer seemed to be important to her.

  “I’m positive. The rodeo is behind me.” It felt good to make plans for the future. Plans with Ally. Monday morning, first thing, he’d call his doctor and schedule his surgery. If he was going to pursue Ally, he needed a guaranteed future.

  Sometimes going after what he wanted required a huge risk. Ally was worth the uncertainty.

  * * *

  “Friday?” Ally squeaked. “This Friday?”

  “Is it too soon?” Mom winced, set a food bowl in the Rottweiler’s cage. “Here you go, girl. You sore, honey?”

  Only a day after spaying, the dog looked so forlorn. Ally felt her pain, but give her another day and she’d be feeling better. Maybe Ally would, too. Thankfully the clinic was closed and Ally didn’t have any more patients or surgeries after the bomb Mom had just dropped.

  “In four days? I just wasn’t expecting a wedding quite so soon.” Ally went through her closing routine—checking on patients, supplies and her schedule for the next day. But she couldn’t focus.

  “Well, when you get to be our age, what’s the point in waiting?”

  “You’re fifty-two, Mom. You sound like you’re eighty. I just don’t understand what the hurry is.”

  “Lance and I love each other.” Mom lifted one shoulder. “We’re not silly kids. We want to start our lives together. You’re going to Medina Saturday, the Peanut Festival is the week after that, the church is booked the next weekend, and then Erin and her family are going on vacation. It’s this Friday or wait a month.”

  “At least a month would give us a little time to plan—to send out invitations.”

  “No invitations.” Mom held her palms toward Ally. “We both had big weddings the first time. This time we both want small—just our families and closest friends. None of the hoopla.”

  “Okay.” Ally swallowed. “This Friday it is. Tell me what you need me to do.”

  “Nothing. We’re not decorating or having a reception. Just a photographer—I’ve already booked Kendra—and our families.” Mom finished filling bowls and turned to Ally. “The only thing I hate about all of this is you living here alone. With all that’s been going on around here.”

  She hadn’t thought of that. After the wedding, Mom would move in with Lance. Ally would be alone.

  Mom frowned. “Maybe we should put off the wedding until our mystery is solved here.”

  Ally wanted to jump on the idea. But more than that, she wanted Mom happy. “No. It could be months before the perp is caught. I’ll be fine.”

  “Maybe Lance should move in with us until things are settled.”

  “No.” Ally’s eyes widened. She didn’t want to be alone, but she really didn’t want to live with Mom and her new husband. “I don’t even have to stay here. I can find a new place for my clinic and shelter if you want to sell the house. I need more acreage anyway.”

  “Nonsense. This is your home.” Mom perched on a tall stool. “After all the years I struggled and sold off bits of land to keep this place so you could have it one day, I wouldn’t dream of selling it out from under you. But it’s yours to do with as you please. If you’d like to sell it and find something with more acreage, you have my blessing.”

  “I’d like to stay here.” It was the only home she’d ever known and her only memories of her dad were here. “As far as the break-ins, Cody’s right next door.” Though with an excessive number of strays streaming in daily, if the bulk of them didn’t turn out to be lost pets, she’d soon be over-limit again.

  “Maybe with me out of your hair, you and Cody will get together.”

  “Mom! We’re friends. You know that’s all it is.”

  “I wonder.”

  “There’s nothing to wonder.”

  “I see the way he looks at you.” Mom wagged a finger at her. “The way you look at him.”

  “We don’t look at each other any special way.”

  “If you say so.” Mom hurried toward her desk. “I better get things in order. Lance is taking me out to dinner. Would you like to join us?”

  “I’m beat.” True. But even if she weren’t, she would not be a third wheel. “Y’all have fun.”

  Mom would live with Lance. And Ally would be alone. Except for her cute cowboy neighbor who rattled her heart.

  Ally checked each exam room, wiped down the tables with disinfectant. Where was Cody? She hadn’t heard a peep or caught a glimpse of him all day.

  Her cell rang and she fished it out. “Hello.”

  “Hey, Ally.” His voice turned her to butter.

  “I was just thinking about you.” Why had she admitted that?

  “Really?”

  “I haven’t seen you all day.”

  “Yeah, I was hoping to make it home this evening. But I’m in Dallas. One of my hands and I ran some errands. We couldn’t manage everything in one day, so we’re getting a hotel room and I won’t be home until tomorrow evening.”

  “Oh.” Disappointment loaded her tone.

  “I’m having my foreman stay at my house in case there’s any trouble.”

  “Your foreman must be tired of babysitting me.”

  “Not at all. I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

  The call ended and she missed him even more.

  With Mom gone, would Ally’s lonely heart be able to resist Cody?

  * * *

  Aubrey had never looked so good to Cody as Joe drove him through the small town. The leaves hadn’t started turning quite yet. Trucks lined Main Street. Suppertime at Moms on Main. His stomach growled, but he wanted to get home.

  How had he stayed away for twelve years? After thirty-six hours in Dallas, he was homesick. Mostly for Ally.

  But the test his doctor ran yesterday had revealed bad news: the bubble in his head was growing. Finalizing his decision. The week after the Peanut Festival, Cody would go under the knife. His surgeon had explained everything during their consultation that afternoon.

  “Lord, get me through this,” Cody whispered. “Am I doing the right thing? Just because there’s a possible fix for this, am I supposed to try?”

  The same peacefulness he’d felt when he first decided to have the surgery flowed through him. For whatever reason, this was the path God wanted for him.

  “You say something, boss?” Joe turned onto Cody’s road.

  “Just praying.”

  “Didn’t mean to interrupt.” Joe was still clueless about his health. They’d stayed in a hotel next to the hospital. While Joe had bought ranch supplies, Cody had walked to the hospital.

  His doctor and the internet assured him the surgeon was highly recommended and had performed the procedure successfully countless times. If there had been any mishaps, nobody was telling him.

  Even though he might not survive, though he might have a stroke and his reasoning processes or motor skills could be affected, he had to try. For Ally’s sake. And with the aneurysm growing, he didn’t have much choice anyway. It was all up to God now. Cody could rest in that.

  Joe pulled in his drive.

  “Thanks for letting me tag along.”

  “Anytime.”

  Looked like Ally’s clinic was already closed for the day—it was well after five. As he got out of his truck, the door to her clinic opened, and she ran toward him. Right into his arms. It was a dream come true.

  With
a knowing grin, Joe headed for the barn, made himself scarce.

  “We gotta stop meeting like this.” The corners of his mouth twitched.

  “Mom and Lance are getting married Friday.” She sniffled.

  “As in this Friday? In three days, Friday?”

  She shuddered against him. “It’s the only time everybody will be in town unoccupied, and the church isn’t available again for a month.”

  “I’ll get you through it. And the next day, you can get me through Grandpa’s.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving? I was kind of worried about you.”

  His heart did the two-step. Ally was worried about him. “It came up kind of sudden.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  “It will be.” His arms tightened around her. “Everything okay here?”

  “Just more strays. And two more escaped pets returned to their grateful owners. I hope there aren’t any emergencies this weekend. I’ll be in Medina with you, and Lance will be on his honeymoon.” She groaned. “With my mother.”

  Cody chuckled. “At least they’re getting hitched and doing it the right way. And as far as the clinic goes, you’ve alerted the vet in Denton.”

  “But what if my nemesis decides to pull something this weekend?”

  “I arranged for one of my hands to house-sit for you.”

  She relaxed against him. “Thank you.”

  “Anything else I can do?”

  “You’re doing it.” She burrowed in closer.

  Making his heart clip-clop like a Clydesdale. This surgery had to work. So he could be here for Ally. So he could have the chance to win her heart.

  * * *

  Ally was exhausted. She’d helped her volunteers tend all the animals then had gone to Wednesday-night Bible study.

  Though she barely had the energy to put one foot in front of the other after all that, she headed for Cody’s barn with a cup of coffee for each of them. She’d have never thought of him as the decaf type.

  The usual yaps and barks followed her across the yard. As she neared Cody’s barn, something familiar echoed from inside. The nail gun. They’d completed building the frame and contact-papering the cardboard. Only one more night of working together. Tonight they’d assemble the ark, put shelving in place to support a kennel in each window and strategically pile hay bales in the center.

  She slid the door open to see Cody holding two sides of the frame together at a right angle.

  “Let me help.” She set their cups on a hay bale, climbed the ladder next to the trailer and stepped up beside him. As he drove the nail in, she braced her weight against the frame.

  “You look tired.”

  “Thanks. We vaccinated a large ranch today.”

  “I noticed you were gone all day.” He set another nail. “You didn’t do anything stupid like get in a pen with a mama cow, did you?”

  “Nope. We didn’t have any difficult cases. Everyone went right into the chute and took it like a bull.”

  “I’m glad.” He set the final nail.

  “Coffee break.”

  “You speak my language. Decaf?”

  “Fake, just for you.” She picked up the two cups, handed him his.

  They sipped in grateful silence, then set the mugs down and got back to work.

  As Cody picked up another piece of the frame and moved it into place, muscles strained against his shirt.

  She had to look away as she positioned her foot, hip and hands to hold the frame steady while he sank the nails.

  “I did something today.”

  Like what? Made plans to leave? “What’s that?”

  “I bought the ranch.”

  Her breath stilled. “You bought it?”

  “I did. And I donated five acres to Ally’s Adopt-a-Pet.”

  His handsome image blurred as hot tears welled in her eyes.

  “Now, don’t go crying. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it? Five acres. I can donate more if you need it. What’s five acres or even twenty when I own two hundred fifty?”

  “Five is plenty.” She blinked several times to clear her vision and braced the frame for him.

  He set the last nail, tested the strength of the two curved sides they’d joined together, then stepped back to survey their handiwork.

  “Thank you.” She flung herself into his arms.

  “If I’d have known I was gonna get this kind of thank-you, I’d have bought the land a long time ago.” He nuzzled her ear.

  Sending a delicious shiver through her. Step back. Better yet, run away. But her boots stayed rooted in place, her body nestled against him. She tipped her head back, looked up at him.

  His eyes pledged much more than friendship.

  Chapter Twelve

  Ally rose up on tiptoe.

  His head dipped. Lips met hers. Fireworks went off in her head, heart and veins. Cody filled her senses. The feel of his muscles. The spicy scent of his aftershave mixed with fresh hay. The taste of his fake-coffee-flavored lips. Her hands wound around his neck, fingers curled in his hair.

  But then he was pulling away.

  She whirled away from him, turned her back to him, tried to get her breathing back on track.

  “Ally, we can’t—”

  “That’s twice you’ve kissed me. Exactly two times too many.” Never mind that she’d cuddled up to him like a winter coat on a Labrador Retriever. “Don’t let it happen again.”

  “I was just accepting your thanks.” He chuckled.

  Her skin went hot. She could only imagine how many shades of red she must be.

  “We better get back to work.” She closed her eyes, worked at calm and turned to face him. Without looking at him. How could they nonchalantly get on with their day when her whole world had tipped on its axis? Again.

  As he held the frame in place and fastened it to the trailer, she braced it for him. He sank nails as if nothing had happened, while she kept her gaze focused on the hay-strewn trailer bed.

  “I really appreciate your donation. But you didn’t have to do that. I can buy the land from you.”

  “Nope. It’s already done.”

  He was staying. He’d bought the ranch. So if he was staying, why had he pulled away from her? “Ally, we can’t” what? Can’t kiss? Can’t cross the friendship line? Why?

  Because he didn’t have any feelings for her? Had she misread the message she thought she’d seen in his eyes?

  While she was over the moon for him and had laid it all out for him with that kiss. He must know how she felt. And he must feel sorry for her since he didn’t feel the same.

  Even her toes burned with humiliation.

  * * *

  The dogs were used to his presence. Only the new residents barked their curiosity as Cody finished the pen, tested the latch. Three more pens and he’d feel as if Ally’s shelter would be okay if he died.

  He’d seen a lawyer after buying the ranch. Arranged for Ally to be his beneficiary. The ranch, his bank accounts, everything. If he didn’t make it through the surgery, she’d be able to hire someone to build more pens, another barn, whatever she needed.

  But would she have someone to love her the way he did?

  Twelve year old memories were hard enough to wrestle with. Revisiting her kiss had kept him up most of the night. He rolled out the fencing and measured for the next pen.

  That she had kissed him back must mean she had more than friend feelings for him. But he couldn’t do a thing about it. Not until after his surgery. If he survived and still had control of his faculties, then he’d act on it. But not a minute before. His head was fine with that. But his heart was another matter.

  Several other volunteers were walking dogs. But no Ally in sight. Maybe
she was still at the clinic and he wouldn’t run into her. Maybe she was trying to avoid him, too. At this point, space was his best solution. Lots of space between them. And that was doable. They’d finished the float last night.

  All he had to do was get through her mom’s wedding tomorrow, the road trip to Medina and Grandpa’s wedding on Saturday, and the Peanut Festival parade next weekend. Just keep his distance for a little over a week.

  The barn door clapped shut and Ally’s scent filled the air. “You’re building more pens?”

  “Now that the float’s done, I’ve got time.”

  “I’m so excited about the land.” She settled on a hay bale beside him. Her knee almost touching his shoulder. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”

  “No need to thank me. I’m just glad to help.” His heart skipped a beat. Space. He really needed space.

  “I think I’ll build another barn with more pens and runs. I have the funds, thanks to the pet photography day and concert.”

  Chatty. Relaxed. Not afraid to get too close. Not afraid to touch him. Friendly. Like the old Ally.

  As if neither of their kisses had ever happened.

  Was she on to him? Did she know he was crazy in love with her? Was she trying to remind him of how their friendship was supposed to be? To let him down easy?

  “A couple of my ranch hands are starting a construction business. I’ll get you their card.” The more he could do to help her, the better he’d feel going into surgery.

  “Sounds great.”

  “Ready for the weddings this weekend? And the road trip on Saturday?”

  “I’m more at peace with Mom and Lance. They’re really great together. Very compatible and happy.” She squeezed his shoulder. “You ready for your grandfather’s wedding?”

  “I’m getting used to the idea. He’s been alone about as long as your mom has. No one should be lonely for that long.” His throat closed up.

  “Project Weddings on track.” She stood. Moved away from him. “I better go walk some dogs so my volunteers won’t think I’m a slacker. By the way, Mom’s wedding will be semiformal. Wear a suit. What about your grandpa’s? What should I wear?”

  That awesome burgundy dress she’d worn to Landry’s almost wedding. Wouldn’t mind seeing her in that again. “Casual. Jeans will do.”