* * *
It was so nice to have Mom back. Even though Ally barely had time for a hug before it was time for Lance to drive the truck to the parade with Mom sitting by his side.
The lineup trailed in front of Aubrey Middle School. The Noah’s ark float looked great, especially with all the adorable critters peeking through the windows. Barks, yips and meows echoed through the air.
“Wouldn’t it be great if you left here today with no animals?” Cody sat on a hay bale between the kennels, not visible from outside the float.
“Let’s hope.”
A huge banner down the side proclaimed Ally’s Adopt-a-Pet—A Noah’s Ark of Hope for Homeless Dogs and Cats, along with the phone number. Caitlyn was manning Ally’s booth in the field by the old peanut dryer. After the parade, she and Cody would transport the animals to the booth and hope for adoptive families.
He checked his watch. “It’s almost time to begin. Guess we should climb up to our perch.”
And it hit her. She and Cody would be in close quarters in the elevated platform his ranch hands had built over the gooseneck hitch at the front of the trailer. Putting her above the animals to wave at the crowd seemed like a good idea at the time. But the platform was four by four feet—built for one.
“Ladies first.” Cody bowed low.
She turned toward the ladder and he held it steady as she climbed. The platform was nice and sturdy as she stepped up onto it, with railing around the sides except for the entry opening. Attached to the railing, Cody had insisted on two safety harnesses. Side by side, she and Cody would wave at the crowd. As Cody stepped up beside her, the platform seemed to shrink to two by two.
“Buckle up for safety.” He wrapped the harness around her waist.
Her breath stopped as he clasped it into place. His hands moved away to his own harness and she started breathing again. Maybe the platform was more like one by one.
Since they were toward the back of the lineup, only a few other floats trailed them, and the horses and horse-drawn buggies brought up the rear. With the slow-moving procession, it would take forever to get to the end of the parade. Stuck on this tiny stage with Cody.
“I think we’re starting to move.” Cody peered toward the front of the parade.
Several floats ahead of them, she saw movement.
“Be sure and hold on tight when we start rolling.”
She gripped the railing, white-knuckled.
“Once you find your balance, then you can wave.”
“That’s right—you’re an authority. You used to ride your horse every year. But I don’t remember you riding a float.”
“I did once. I happened to be home for a visit and rode the church float a few years back. I didn’t hold on good enough, lost my balance and landed in Mrs. Thornbury’s lap.”
Ally giggled as the vision of him in the ninety-year-old spinster’s lap filled her imagination.
The float in front of them inched forward. Seconds later, theirs followed.
“So you must have been glad to see your mom this morning.”
“They’re ridiculously happy.”
“You seem more comfortable with things.”
“I’m glad Mom’s content and Lance is obviously crazy about her.” She shrugged. “How’s your grandpa?”
“On cloud nine.”
The procession sped up a bit and Ally turned to inspect the kennels below them, making sure none of the animals shifted. The dogs had quieted once they started moving. Probably with their noses sniffing ninety miles an hour at new smells. The cats kept yowling their discontent.
“I know, babies,” she called out. “But this bit of discomfort might just find y’all forever homes.”
An eternity later, they were finally at the junction to Main Street. As they made the turn, Ally lost her footing.
“Whoa.” Cody’s arms came around her waist, steadied her, then lingered for a moment.
“It’s amazing how wobbly I feel when we’re going five miles an hour.” She giggled, trying to cover the emotions moving through her.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
“Don’t try waving until you’re certain you’re steady.” His hands settled back onto the railing.
And Ally had to concentrate on something else.
Throngs of people lined Aubrey’s Main Street. Booths lined the field in front of the old peanut dryer—with people selling crafts, quilts, peanut-themed food and hand-carved items. Every first Saturday in October, the town held the Peanut Festival to celebrate Aubrey’s heritage of peanut farms.
Ally let go of the railing with one hand and waved at the crowd. Lots of people she knew and lots of kids saucer eyed over her dogs and cats.
Her arm bumped Cody’s and awareness coursed through her. Oh, would this parade never end?
* * *
“I can’t believe we adopted them all out already.” Cody held his hand up for a high five as Ally drove.
“I know.” Excitement sparkled in her voice. “We always get lots of out of towners for the festival. I’m just glad so many wanted pets.”
His hand tingled at her brief touch. “Do you ever miss them?”
“I do.” Her mouth tilted down a bit. “That’s the only part I hate. If I had the time and space, I’d probably keep them all. But it wouldn’t be fair to them. Pets need a focused person. Not some crazy lady trying to take care of twenty-five-plus. But knowing they’re going to good homes makes it easier.”
“You do good work.” He found her hand on the console, threaded his fingers through hers. A few more tingles wouldn’t hurt. “A lot of those pets are still alive because of you.”
“I just wish I could save them all.”
“I know.” He squeezed her hand as she pulled into his drive.
Movement near her barn caught his attention. The arson inspector?
A man bolted from the barn toward the woods.
“I think we just caught your nemesis.” Cody flung the door open.
“You can’t go after him.” She clutched his hand. “Call Mitch.”
“I can’t let him get away. You call Mitch.”
“What if he has a gun?”
“I’ll be careful.” He jerked away from her and vaulted out of the truck after the man.
“Careful doesn’t stop bullets.”
Cody’s knee throbbed as he ran. But he didn’t care. This menace would not get another chance to hurt Ally.
Chapter Fifteen
The man’s gait was slow. Cody could take him. Even with his bum knee.
By the time the intruder entered the woods at the back of Ally’s property, Cody was almost on him. If he had a weapon, he’d have threatened to use it by now. “Stop. Or I’ll take you down.”
The man stopped, put his hands up—weapon-free—and turned to face Cody. Gray hair, wrinkled face, kind blue eyes filled with fear.
“Mr. Peters?”
“I didn’t do anything. Why are you chasing me?”
Herbert Peters, the man who’d sold Cody his land, wouldn’t hurt a fly. “You were at Ally’s barn. Were you looking for me?”
“Ally who? I don’t know you or any Ally.”
“Cody?” Mitch called from a distance.
“Over here. I’m with Herbert Peters.”
Footfalls through the woods, and after a bit, he caught sight of Mitch.
“What’s going on, Mr. Peters?”
“I don’t know. Why are you chasing me? I want to go home.” He pressed a shaky hand to his mouth. “I think I left my four-wheeler around here somewhere. But I can’t remember where.”
“It’s okay, Mr. Peters. We’ll help you get home.” Mitch finally reached them. “You remember me, Mitch Warre
n?”
“Don’t know any Mitch or Warren.”
“We all go to the same church. Your wife, Ms. Georgia, was my Sunday-school teacher when I was a kid.”
“Mitch. Mitch. Mitch.” Herbert tapped his chin with his index finger. “Oh yes, now I remember. You’re a policeman.”
“Yes, sir, a Texas Ranger.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.” Herbert shook his head. “I just wanted her to leave. I never could sell my land because of her dogs. Every time I had somebody interested, they’d bail because of those yapping hounds.”
“But I bought your land, Mr. Peters.” Cody softened his tone, as if he were talking to a child. “Remember? Just a few weeks ago. The dogs don’t bother me.”
“I don’t know you or what you’re talking about, son. I just wanted to sell my land, that’s all. You understand, don’t you?” The old man’s gaze went from Cody to Mitch. “Don’t you?”
“Of course.” Mitch offered his arm to Mr. Peters. “How about I take you home? Your son’s probably worried about you.”
“I’d be much obliged.” Mr. Peters slipped his hand into the crook of Mitch’s elbow. “What’d you say your name was again?”
“Mitch Warren.”
“Ah, yes. There used to be some Warrens around these parts. You related to them?”
“Wayne and Audra are my parents.” Mitch walked the old man out of the woods as Cody followed.
Alzheimer’s? Dementia?
“Now, where did you say you’re taking me?”
“Home. To your son’s house.”
“Ah, yes. But what about my four-wheeler?”
“After I get you home, I’ll find it and bring it to you.”
“That’s nice.” Mr. Peters patted Mitch’s arm. “Such a nice young man. You say I have a son?”
The old man’s confusion cracked Cody’s heart open.
But at least now Ally would be safe.
* * *
“I can’t believe it was Mr. Peters.” Ally held the Noah’s ark frame steady as Cody pulled it apart with a pry bar. “But it makes so much sense. He used to be a locksmith.”
“Apparently, he still has lucid moments. He had a few tonight.”
“He seemed okay when I talked to him about buying the land.” She stared up at the loft window of Cody’s barn. The sunset painted lavender, pink and peach streaks across the sky. “Stubborn. But okay.”
“He seemed fine when I originally leased the land and then bought it.” One side of the frame came loose and Cody set it down on the floor beside the trailer. “His son, Gil, had to sign the paperwork, too—I guess as a precaution.”
“I wonder how long he’s had Alzheimer’s.”
“He was diagnosed last year, but I don’t think Gil realized how fast it had progressed.”
“It’s so sad. I wonder what will happen to him.”
“He might have to go to court.”
She took in a sharp breath. “But I’m not pressing charges.”
“You don’t have to, since he kind of committed crimes during his nonlucid moments.” Cody tore the cardboard off the frame and threw it in a heap by the wall. “But I’m certain a judge will rule him incompetent to stand trial and he’ll probably end up in a nursing home.”
“I guess he’ll be safer that way. It’s a wonder he didn’t catch himself on fire the other night.” She shook her head. “What if my shelter pushed him over the edge?”
“It’s not your fault, Ally. He’s sick.”
She nodded and they worked in silence a few minutes.
They’d already dismantled the platform where they’d stood for the parade and removed all the hay bales. With the frame in four pieces now, Cody got busy prying two-by-fours off the floor of his trailer. His muscles flexed as he worked and she had to look away.
At least they were almost finished.
Minutes later, he threw the wood aside and climbed down the ladder. Taking her hand, he helped her down until her feet touched the barn floor. But he didn’t step away.
“I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been about you. I’m glad the mystery is over and you’re safe.”
“It is a relief. I just wish it hadn’t turned out like this.”
His tender gaze captured hers and he dipped his head. Their lips met. Her insides curled.
If only Cody had never left Aubrey. Would they have ended up married back then? A lifetime spent with him.
But he had left. Even after their first kiss. He’d left her. And she couldn’t let him do it again.
She pulled away, bumped into the ladder behind her.
“Ally, I—”
“Don’t.” She kept her eyes on the third button of his shirt. “Let me go.”
“Ally.” His hands fell to his sides and he took a step back.
“If not for your injury, you’d still be on the road refusing to grow up.”
“Maybe.” He swallowed hard. “But because of my injury, I came back. And I’ve realized some things.”
“Well, bully for you but I won’t give up my independence to be your second choice or some sort of temporary detour until you go back on the circuit.” She bolted for the door and ran all the way home.
Even though he kept calling her name.
* * *
What had he been thinking last night? Cody exited the back door of his barn and strolled toward the feeding troughs, the morning sun warm on his shoulders.
Clearly he hadn’t been thinking or he wouldn’t have kissed Ally again. He’d gone over and over this. He couldn’t pursue her until he survived his surgery. Not a minute before.
Oh, how he’d wanted to follow her home last night. To tell her how he felt. But he couldn’t.
Besides, he needed to get to the bottom of her spiritual issues before they could have a relationship. But he’d been so relieved she wasn’t in danger. And she’d been so close when he helped her down the ladder. His brain had stalled just long enough for him to kiss her.
He had to concentrate. Feed the calves, take a quick shower, get ready for church, leave Ally alone. Surgery was tomorrow. If he woke up after that, he’d find out where Ally was with God, then tell her everything. Until then, he had to stay away.
“Give me strength, Lord. Strength to stay away from Ally. And give her the wits to draw close to You.” He looked up at the clear sky dotted with cotton-ball clouds.
But his head swam. His ears buzzed. Then his vision tunneled. Almost went black. He fell, strewing grain all around him. As his left side hit the ground, all he could think about was how much feed he was wasting. That and Ally.
Had the aneurysm burst? Was this the end? His vision cleared, but he was afraid to move. No pain. So far.
Oreo licked his hand.
“Hey, boy, I think I need help.” Where was his cell phone? On the coffee table where he’d left it. “Go get Ally, boy.”
The dog kept licking his hand. Guess that only worked with Lassie.
A door shut. Ally. Probably leaving for church in Denton.
“Help! Ally, help!”
Nothing. She’d likely never hear him.
“Help! I’m behind the barn!” I’ve fallen and I can’t get up. But it wasn’t funny like in that old much-mimicked commercial.
A truck door slammed, followed by an engine starting up. Gravel crunched beneath tires and the engine faded away. She wouldn’t be back for at least two and a half hours.
Maybe if he just lay here a minute, the aneurysm wouldn’t burst. Maybe then he could make it inside and call for help. But the sky got fuzzy again. His vision tunneled and went black.
* * *
As Ally killed her engine, a dog’s frantic barking caught her attention. Along with the attention of every do
g boarding in her shelter. She jumped out of her truck and bolted toward the barn. But it wasn’t coming from there. It sounded like it was behind Cody’s barn.
Surely Mr. Peters hadn’t evaded his son again. She unlocked the barn and scanned all the kennels. No missing boarders. She darted to her clinic and checked her patients. None missing there either. It must be Oreo.
But he was barking like something was wrong. Maybe he had a loose cow or a snake or a stray cat. She did not want to go over there. After yesterday’s kiss, she could never look at Cody again. His truck was in the drive. He ought to be able to hear Oreo and know something was wrong.
Blast, she had him in her contact list. She punched it in. The rings multiplied, then went to voice mail.
She really did not want to go over there. But she couldn’t risk Oreo getting snake bitten because she wouldn’t swallow her pride and go see about him. She took in a deep breath and trudged toward Cody’s barn. As she rounded the back, she could see Oreo barking at something at the other corner. Something wearing jeans and cowboy boots.
Her feet went into high gear. “Cody?”
It was him. Lying on his side.
She reached him and knelt. He was unconscious. She shook him. No response.
“Cody!” His skin was hot. How long had he been here in the dry Texas heat? Thankfully the barn shaded him from direct sunlight.
She jabbed in the numbers on her phone.
“911. What is your emergency?”
“This is Ally Curtis. My neighbor is unconscious.”
The operator confirmed her address. “Are you certain he’s breathing, ma’am?”
“Yes. I’m a vet.” She checked his pulse and respirations, then gave the operator his numbers.
“We’ll have an ambulance there as soon as possible. Where are you exactly?”
“We’re behind his barn. He lives right next door and we’re the only two houses out here.”
“Approximately how old is your neighbor, ma’am?”
“Twenty-nine.” Please, God, let him be okay.
“Does he have any visible wounds or any swelling?”
She scanned his face, arms, hands. “No. He looks fine. I just can’t wake him up.”
Reuniting with the Cowboy Page 17