Chuckling, Kelly lifted a finger and pointed out the window. “That won’t be necessary. The Tuckers Bluff emergency broadcast system has clearly been put into effect.”
With the intensity of a general leading his troops into battle, Aunt Eileen led the card playing posse across the street and straight to the clinic door. He barely managed to contain his own laughter as the four women paraded into the front room.
“You should’ve called us.” Aunt Eileen pushed onto her tippy toes and kissed Ian’s cheek before turning to Kelly. “Is he still in surgery?”
Kelly nodded. “Adam and Becky just took him into the OR barely a few minutes ago.”
“Is he really from the same litter as Dale and Hannah’s puppy?” One of the women asked.
“We don’t know,” Ian answered
Becky’s grandmother—Ian had forgotten her name—inched around his Aunt Eileen. “But he does belong to the town strays?”
“We don’t know that either,” Kelly answered a little more sternly then Ian expected.
Arms crossed, her mouth tilted up in a knowing smile, Sally May looked to his aunt. “Put me on record now ladies, my money is on that puppy being from the same litter.”
Eyes slightly narrowed, Aunt Eileen looked from Kelly to Ian and then back again. He was almost willing to swear to a judge and jury that she was searching for something. Dilated pupils, loose lips, drunken imbalance, something. Either she did or didn’t find what she was looking for, but either way, it must have made her happy, because a large grin spread across her face and she nodded. “I think it would be real nice if those puppies were related.”
“Is the puppy gonna make it?” a tall gray-haired woman asked.
Ian was going to have to visit town more often. On the tip of his tongue, he couldn’t remember the gray-haired lady’s name.
Shaking her head, Kelly blew out a heavy breath. “I couldn’t say.”
“Well then, ladies,” Aunt Eileen turned, “I’d say we have a seat and wait to see how this turns out.”
Kelly looked from Ian to the older women, let out the barest of sighs—one he was pretty sure only he had noticed—and smiled. “If you’d like to return to your game, I promise to call as soon as we know anything.”
The way the four women looked back and forth, shrugging, frowning, struggling with the decision, he would’ve thought it was a human loved one undergoing the knife and not a small animal they had never seen before.
Aunt Eileen was the first to nod at Kelly. “Makes sense, dear.”
To Ian, Kelly’s smile looked a little shaky, but she held it until the last of the ladies had crossed the threshold.
Every investigative instinct he had told him there was much more to the conversation that had just ensued than mere concern for a stray puppy. No matter how much he loved his aunt, or liked Kelly, or the other ladies for that matter, there was only one thing he was sure of. Whatever had just happened was none of his business.
CHAPTER NINE
Talk about dodging a bullet. Even after the newest addition to the Tuckers Bluff police force mentioned that the clinic’s new patient wasn’t the puppy who had adopted him and Hannah, the connection between the puppies, the stray dogs, and the town rumors hadn’t fully sunk in until Aunt Eileen’s comments.
The last thing Kelly needed right now was for one of the social club ladies to start talking about rumors and mysterious matchmaking dogs. Especially since it was obvious they believe the new generation of matchmakers might be cute puppies. Not that she had any objections to being matched with Ian Farraday. Not only was he easy on the eyes, the guy was really nice. Actually, for a guy he was unusually nice. Of course, he was a Farraday. So far all the Farradays she had ever met seemed to be a breed unto themselves. Handsome, polite, family minded, gentlemen—and brother were those hard to find nowadays—and all with just a touch of knight in shining armor.
A few nights ago Ian Farraday had certainly been her knight in shining armor. Not that her cousin DJ and his friend Dale might not have been able to do the same, but Ian’s Texas Ranger badge had definitely been the dealmaker in keeping her out of jail. Even so, saving her hide and being her perfect match were two different things. Besides, even if he were her perfect match, he didn’t live anywhere near Tuckers Bluff. A TV camera worthy, good-looking guy like Ian didn’t fall for curvy, big boned girls like her. Especially not if half the town descended on him like an old West posse rambling on about matchmaking puppies and destiny. Farraday or not, there was one thing about men Kelly was absolutely sure of. The last thing they want to do is what somebody else insists they had to do.
“Are you sure something isn’t wrong?” One brow cocked higher than the other, Ian studied her curiously.
“You got me.” She tried smiling. “I guess I am a little worried about the puppy.” And before this guy read through her lie, she turned toward the hallway and asked over her shoulder, “I think I’ll get something to drink from the fridge. Would you like a glass of water or cola, maybe hot coffee or tea? I can do either but we’re out of creamer.”
“Water would be nice, thank you.”
For just a moment she thought he was going to follow her. Now she could add paranoid to her list of recently exposed flaws. He would probably laugh off the town theories as nothing more than superstition. Being linked with her by town rumor probably wasn’t even a sliver of an idea in the deepest recesses of his mind. The truth was she was having a harder time shaking off the stabbing words her ex had snapped at her than she should. Grabbing a diet cola and bottle of water from the fridge, she lifted her chin, straightened her back, and decided to put on her big girl panties and forget about town rumors and figure out what to do with this puppy if it came through—no—when it came through surgery.
A bottle in each hand, she took a peek through the small window on the surgery room door. Only able to see the doc still working on his patient, she turned on her heel, sucked up every ounce of good sense she possessed, and returned to the waiting room. Painted with concern, Ian almost stole her breath, every fortifying inch of it. Maybe if she didn’t react so absurdly every time she looked at him, she wouldn’t care so much what crazy ideas the afternoon social club might or might not spread. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Still standing, Ian offered a tired smile.
Good thing too. In the crazy mood she was in Kelly wasn’t sure she could handle a full-watt Farraday smile. “I peeked into the operating room, but all I could see is that Adam is still working on him.”
Ian nodded, unscrewed the bottle cap, and took a quick chug. “I suppose it’s a good sign that he’s holding his own during surgery.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m telling myself.” Kelly mindlessly fidgeted with the cap on her cola. “Puppies have a way of getting into all sorts of things they shouldn’t. Usually the dogs will just pass strange things. We’ve had pet owners waiting to retrieve treasured jewelry, valuable coins, or the only key to a locked door. Other times Adam has to go in and surgically remove something.”
“Like this little guy and his chicken bones.”
“Exactly like that. Only last week Adam had to go in and remove rocks from an overly inquisitive Labrador’s stomach. Now the challenge for the owners is how to keep him from digging them up and swallowing more.”
“That the Lab came through and is doing well is encouraging.” Ian’s smile held more sincerity.
Kelly nodded, but she wasn’t going to mention the Labrador had not been bleeding internally. His was more of a digestive issue, no real risk of bleeding out or a fatal bout of peritonitis from the puncture wound.
Turning slightly, Ian waved at the empty seats behind him. “We might as well sit while we wait.”
“I should try to get some work done.”
Offering a curt dip of his chin, Ian kept his gaze on her. “Of course.”
For a few silent moments they each seemed to be waiting for the other to move first. Ian took a half step backward and Kel
ly had to restrain herself from following him with a half step forward, but she didn’t make a move toward her desk either. All she seemed to be able to focus on was Ian standing straight and strong in front of her.
His gaze wandered from her to the door at the end of the hall. “I wonder how much longer it will be?”
Dragging her thoughts away from the Farraday cousin, Kelly stared off in the same direction. “Not long, I hope.” She knew the longer it took the more damage the splintered bones will have caused.
As he shifted his attention back in her direction, their gazes collided and held long enough for her to see her own concern reflected in his eyes. Who was she kidding? If she glued herself to the seat behind her desk, she still wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything except what was going on behind the closed doors and the man as worried about it as she was. “Maybe I’ll have a seat after all.”
****
Fifteen or so cows of varying sizes, depending on if they came from fall or spring calving, huddled under the lone shade tree, an occasional moo breaking the otherwise peaceful day.
“We’re going to have to do something. Can’t keep hiding them here forever.”
His partner in crime had a point. One he’d been gnawing on for weeks now. He’d known after helping themselves to that last calf from the Farraday spread that he needed to come up with a new plan. A more practical one that helped them reach their goal.
“If this little herd of ours keeps growing, it won’t be long before someone starts asking all the wrong, or right, questions.”
He hated it when people stated the obvious, or more precisely, when they stated the obvious and assumed he had no idea on his own. “Yes. I get it. And I’m going to come up with something. I just need a little more time.”
“Well,” the frustrated man stomped a cigarette into the ground, “better not waste much more of it.”
“And you need to quit sucking on those death sticks.” Time, or lack there of, was something he did not want to be reminded of. His hands, or thoughts, were already full of too many problems.
“I’ll mind my business and you figure out what to do with all these cows.” Having taken two steps toward the trough, his associate turned to face him. “Sooner would be better than later.”
Like he didn’t already know that.
****
The slight brush of Kelly’s arm against Ian’s as she took a seat beside him caught him by surprise. Not so much the touch, but his reaction. Her warmth pierced his skin, soothing his concerns and worries like his mom’s ginger honey tea soothed a cranky cold. The feeling left him startled, unsettled and smothering a contented smile. And he had no idea why. She wouldn’t be the first or last woman to accidentally bump against him and yet the simple fact that he was hyper-focused on a single touch and its power to affect his mood made him nervous enough to contemplate how it would look if he moved a few chairs over while waiting. Ridiculous had been the first word to come to mind. He wasn’t a hormonal teen with uncontrollable impulses, he was a fully grown, well trained law enforcement officer who could certainly sit next to an attractive woman and wait for news on the stray without doing something stupid—like run his finger along the curve of her jaw and see if another touch gave him the same jolt.
“He really seems awfully sweet for a stray,” Kelly mumbled, her gaze focusing on the empty hallway.
Her voice snapped Ian out of his own thoughts. It took a few seconds to process what she’d said before he could answer. “Suppose he hasn’t had time to be disappointed by the outside world and turn fearful. Besides, dogs are pack animals, stray canines adapt to people better than a feral cat might.”
“True.” She frowned and turned to face him. “But if he’s a stray, I wonder why he looks so well fed?”
“His mama.” Ian wondered why she hadn’t been anywhere nearby.
Kelly hefted her shoulder in a lazy shrug. “He seems old enough to be weaned.”
That was what he thought also.
“Still,” Kelly hesitated, “if he doesn’t belong to anybody, once he comes out of the anesthesia and is deemed strong enough to go home, he’s going to need a place to go.”
Again, he and Kelly’s minds had gone in the same direction. At least about the puppy. The ranch might be able to use another cow dog. Not that he had any idea if the dog would be any good with cattle. Though there was a sharpness in the pup’s eyes that told Ian somewhere in his background was a good smart breed. Not that it mattered, the gleam in Kelly’s eyes told him that she already had a plan in mind and it had nothing to do with learning to be a cattle dog at the ranch. “You’re thinking of taking him home, aren’t you?”
A sweet smile bloomed on her face. “We have a house, lots of land. Of course, I’d have to talk to my mom.”
“You think there’s a chance she’ll say no?” He had to pull his mind away from running his fingers across that sweet smile.
“Honestly, things have been so crazy since Pops has been staying with us that I haven’t a clue if Mom thinks having a dog around will be a fun distraction or just one more thing to keep track of.”
The door swung open to the OR and Adam strolled through sporting a telltale huge grin. “It’s all good. We’ll keep him overnight just to be sure. But if he stays away from chicken bones he should be fine.”
Kelly flung her arms around Adam’s neck and squealed, “Thank you.”
“Watch it.” Becky came down the hall waving a finger. “I know his wife.”
Spinning about, Kelly pulled Becky into an equally enthusiastic hug. “That’s okay. I’m an equal opportunity hug—”
The loud quips of a barking dog cut her words off. Closest to the window, Ian took a single step back and turned to glance in the direction of the barks.
Over his shoulder, Adam’s gaze landed on the culprit and his mouth tipped upward in a knowing smile. “Well, I’ll be.”
A gray wolf mix sat on the curb, tail wagging. One paw held up slightly made an upward motion before setting back down on the ground and she let out another short bark. If Ian had to make odds, he’d say the animal was happy and saying thank you. “My guess is we found mama, but how the heck did she find us?”
CHAPTER TEN
Oh lord, now what? Standing on the curb alongside the Farradays staring up and down the street in search of the once again missing mama dog, Kelly braced herself as her mom came marching up to the front door of the clinic. Her mother never stopped by during a work day, this couldn’t be good. Forcing a pleasant smile, Kelly pushed aside visions of her grandfather starting bonfires in the living room or chasing chickens down the street. “What brings you by in the middle of the afternoon?”
Her mom lifted her arms, holding a shopping bag in each hand. “Picking up a few things for my trip.”
“Trip?” Her mother never went anywhere. If she had a trip planned, Kelly would know about it. Should know about it.
“Yes, dear.” Her mother turned to Adam, Becky, and Ian. “Any word from Finn and his new bride?”
“No ma’am,” Adam answered, holding back a wry smile.
“Good.” Her mom sprouted a broad grin. “Would have been a little worried if you had.”
One corner of Adam’s mouth tipped higher in a knowing smile. “Yes ma’am.”
Like a matching bookend, standing across from her mother, Ian’s lazy smile matched his cousin’s.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Adam turned back towards the office, “I need to return to my patient.”
“Since I’m in town,” Ian took a step in retreat, “I’m going to stop in and see DJ,”
Becky’s head bobbed in agreement. Taking one last glance up and down the block, she shrugged and turned toward the clinic.
“We might as well go inside too.” Placing her hand on the small of her mom’s back, Kelly nudged her toward the clinic door. As soon as they crossed the threshold, she turned to face her mom. “What’s all this about a trip?”
“Well.” Her mom’s
face scrunched in thought before relaxing into a smile. “I don’t know if Houston counts as a trip exactly, but Marilyn called me this morning. There was a last-minute cancellation for a class she was signed up to take in Chicago and needs to complete by the end of this month, so her company registered her to take the class in Houston instead. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen Marilyn. She’s got a free extra bed in her hotel room. How could I not take advantage of that?”
Her mother had stayed surprisingly close to her college friends through the years, especially with Marilyn, but they hadn’t had any face to face time in years. “That’s always a nice perk. When are you going?”
“That’s just it. She’s already there. I’ll be flying in first thing in the morning.”
“As in tomorrow morning?” A taste of panic crept up Kelly’s throat at the thought of no one being around to keep an eye on her grandpa. Except her.
“That’s right. Marilyn will be done with her portion mid day and because she needs to attend one Monday session, she gets two whole days in Houston paid for by the company with nothing to do.”
“And you’re going to take care of keeping Marilyn busy.” Part of her wanted to scream No don’t leave me, but the part of her that loved her mother very much couldn’t object. “Do you have a ride to the airport?”
“Yes, your grandpa’s going to take me.”
Panic now had a crushing grip around Kelly’s windpipe. “Gramps shouldn’t be driving around town, never mind all the way to Midland airport.”
“Your grandfather may be a little adventurous, a little forgetful, and maybe even a little quirky, but driving from here to Midland isn’t exactly like driving from New York to LA. We’ll be fine.”
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