Rescue Me (15 page)

He scrambled to catch the ball before it rolled off the stub end of his amputated leg. “Are you sure you're a counselor?”

“I have the diploma to prove it.” And God, she hoped her training and instincts would make up for her lack of experience. She was still so new at this, and the stakes were high.

“Your, uh, techniques are not what I expected.”

“Are they working?”

Declan didn't smile. He didn't answer. But he put the tennis ball in the clamp of his prosthetic hand and he threw.

*   *   *

AJ GRASPED THE
railing on the small bridge over the frozen stream. Holly walked alongside him, trailing her pink leash. Pink, for heaven's sake. He would bet money Mary Hannah had picked up the girliest matching accessories possible for Holly.

Of course he could have bought new ones, something badass. Like a sports team or something braided. Hell, was he really thinking about how to dress up his—the—dog?

He glanced down at the pink, tie-dyed leash slithering a line through the snow. He and Holly had come to an agreement. She would allow him to hook the lead to her collar as long as he never picked up the end.

Crazy, but she walked just fine as long as he never picked up the leash.

She was actually an easy dog to be around. She didn't demand anything and never barked. If she wanted to go out, she sat by the door until he clued in. She never had accidents in the house. In fact, he was pretty sure she was terrified of making mistakes. So much so he wished he could invite her to a “Let's Raise Hell” party, shred some pillows, tip over the trash, steal food off the counter.

Be wild. Be free.

She let loose only during runs around the yard. The rest of the time, like now, she simply watched him with those soulful eyes and walked carefully beside him over the bridge toward the Second Chance Ranch. Her feet left measured steps in the snow, that leash growing soggier by the minute. She knew the path to Mary Hannah's. It was the only place they went for now—other than daily car rides, per Mary Hannah's instructions.

Her laughter hitchhiked on the wind, teasing his ears, the lighthearted sound mingling with a little boy's giggles. Her red coat stood out like a beacon. Or maybe it was just that he couldn't seem to see anything other than her as she worked with that family.

They'd gathered in one of the smaller play yards with the new agility-course gear. Barkley was kicking ass, jumping through a hoop and over the bar like a champ.

AJ stopped at the perimeter fence, one of three layers to ensure even escape artists stayed secure. They had a second fence surrounding the entire property as well, layers of security to be certain the animals stayed safely contained. He'd been given the codes, but few others had them. He appreciated that level of safety for Mary Hannah. In light of the way they'd obtained Holly and some of the other dogs, there was no doubt a rescue could attract pissed-off—and abusive—former owners. Wyatt had even told him there had been break-ins a year and a half ago.

He punched in the code, the gate swinging wide for him and Holly to stride through. His focus still remained one hundred percent on Mary Hannah. He could have waited at his place, but he'd grown restless, oddly looking forward to the training session.

Mary Hannah was such a natural, with the training and the kid. The boy's father sat off to the side in his wheelchair pitching the ball for the scrappy dog to catch as the Cairn Terrier leaped through the hoop, then cleared the PVC bar. Barkley looked stinking cute, like Toto from
The Wizard of Oz.

AJ stopped at the split-rail fence, chicken wire tacked along to keep animals from wriggling through. He leaned on the top wood bar, one boot resting on the bottom rail. With a new perspective gained from working with Mary Hannah and Holly, he recognized the layers of good in this one moment. The veteran was growing accustomed to his prosthetic arm out in the world rather than in the boring sterility of a rehab center. Playing with the dog gave the wounded soldier and his son a shared activity without any awkwardness.

The barn door opened, the squeak snapping the tight wire of concentration. Barkley dropped the ball. The soldier cursed, and his wife covered her son's ears.

Lacey darted through the open door and into sight with her camera in hand, the shepherd mutt Trooper close on her heels. “Don't mind me. I'm just documenting for the presentation in February.”

Henry mugged for the camera with a toothy, little-boy smile. “We made a Facebook page to get fans for Barkley.”

Trooper trotted toward Holly, apparently his new best friend for today, but then he liked most dogs.

“Great work, Henry,” Lacey said, snapping more photos. “I bet Barkley will have his own cheering section thanks to that page.”

AJ pushed away from the fence, hand extended. “I'll take the photos.” Having something to do, a purpose for being there, would keep him from looking like some dope who couldn't help but watch Mary Hannah. “You enjoy your last day with Sierra. Let Trooper race out his energy with Holly, before he has to be cooped up in the car tomorrow.”

Lacey eyed him with playful suspicion. “You wouldn't be trying to sabotage the competition by getting an inside peek at their routine, would you?”

“I don't think Holly and I are in the running to win the grand prize.” He grinned, nodding at the boxer rolling on her back in the snow, her pink tie-dyed leash flopping uselessly like a kite tail. “We'll be lucky if she can bring a tennis ball back by then, much less walk reliably on a leash.”

Lacey stroked a hand along Holly's side, gently, until Holly relaxed and let her ears be scratched. “You're doing an amazing job with her. Your instincts are good. It's a great idea to let her trail the leash, get used to the feel of it, learn that it's not there to restrain but an accessory that brings more freedom.”

He took the camera from Lacey's other hand. “Visit with your daughter. I've got this.”

“Thanks.” She sighed with obvious relief. “You can just leave the camera with Mary Hannah.”

AJ lifted the camera and snapped a photo of Mary Hannah in motion, jogging beside Henry and Barkley as they coaxed the pup through the hoop. The obstacle was low to the ground now but would be raised slowly over time. He checked the picture. Her beautiful face filled the preview screen, her smile enchanting but at odds with a sadness in her eyes he couldn't quite place. But he wanted to coax it away.

Taking things slow was getting tougher as they worked together training for the fund-raising event. He raised the camera again and snapped a quick group of photos, including the father.

The soldier's wife stepped out of the field of the photos and walked to AJ. “Will I be able to get copies of those?”

“I don't see why not, Mrs. Roberts, but you should ask Mary Hannah or Lacey.” The detective in him took in details, and the auburn-haired young mother had a brittle air, like a thin sheet of ice that would shatter if life dealt her one more blow. He'd seen the Roberts family from a distance but hadn't met them in person.

“Please, call me Callie.” She leaned back against the fence, tugging at the zipper on her parka nervously, up and down, up again.

Holly inched around to his other side. Not surprising since she was still skittish around new people. Trooper nudged Holly, barking for her to play.

Callie angled to look past him to Holly. “You're paired with her for the competition?”

“For the next few weeks.”

“You're working with Mary Hannah, too?”

“Are you asking if she's my counselor?” His gaze gravitated back to the play area and the woman who filled his dreams at night. He sure as hell hoped she didn't look at him as a patient.

“I'm sorry. That was inappropriate of me.” Callie pressed her gloved hand against her temple. “I'm still getting used to this new world my family lives in. A world full of doctors and physical therapists and counselors for every one of us. We can't even get a regular pet, for God's sake.”

“I'm very sorry for everything that has happened to your family.”

“I thought a therapy dog would be more like a pillow.”

He glanced at Holly, plastered against his leg Velcro-dog style. His emotional-support dog? And what did that make Mary Hannah? “I tried to tell my boss at the police station that I just need to go fishing, but they gave me an antisocial dog instead.”

“Fishing? In the winter?”

He shrugged, trying to shake off a sense of unease, that the conversation was making him face something he'd been avoiding. That Mary Hannah might see him as a patient. “I never would have thought the ‘emotional-support dog' thing was for me. But I'm enjoying this. Holly and I need each other. I get to check a box on my eval at work. She needs someone to decompress with, to learn to trust people and pick up training.”

“She's one of those dogs from the big meth-house raid, isn't she?”

“She is.”

“Don't you worry she's dangerous? That she could hurt another animal—or person? She had to have been exposed to a lot of horrible things in that cabin.”

“Mary Hannah says she's timid and undersocialized, but not aggressive. We're making progress. She just takes a while to warm up to new people.” He leaned down to pry one of the tennis balls frozen to the ground. He tossed the ball. Holly galloped off to chase it, then raced around in circles without picking it up before she ambled back to his side.

Trooper shot past her, grabbed the ball and dropped it in front of Holly. Then the two of them tore off to run crop circles in the snow.

AJ raised the camera again, snapping more photos, unable to ignore the fact that he was using the task as an excuse to watch Mary Hannah. And with each picture, each additional tug of attraction, he realized how much he needed to take a step back. Especially if Mary Hannah was thinking of herself as his counselor rather than a dog trainer helping with a fund-raising mission.

Until he had the answer to that, he definitely needed distance.

After tucking Trooper into the play yard, AJ started back to his cabin, Holly at his side with her leash trailing in the snow. With every step, he knew his decision to take things slow was fading faster than a snowflake on the hood of a car.

I have the answers now. I wish the people could hear me the way I hear them.

—HOLLY

T
HE SESSION WITH
the Roberts family had left Mary Hannah feeling drained and energized at the same time. Declan had made major strides, but even with professional boundaries in place, she was still human. His pain affected her.

She had to get herself together before working with AJ and Holly. The last thing she needed was to burst into tears and cry out her pain on his warm, broad chest because that little boy resurrected dreams of having a family.

Damn it, her job and her volunteer work with the rescue filled her days and her life. It was important she not lose sight of that, now more than ever. Was it too much to dream of more?

Eyes fixed on AJ's cabin, she braced herself for another training session with a man who tempted her more and more every day. She did most of her training with Holly outside. The boxer seemed to prefer the outdoors after so long inside, and the socialization with other animals and people was good for her. They just had to be careful not to let her paws get too cold since she still wouldn't tolerate snow booties.

“Hey,” Sierra called from her mother's porch, her blond ponytail trailing from her hat. “Wait up. Mind if I walk with you? I just want to get Mom's camera back from AJ so I can help her download the photos.”

Mary Hannah stopped, hugging her scarf up to her cold face. “I can bring it when I finish up.”

Sierra grabbed the porch rail and picked her way down the steps carefully, wearing men's boots on her swollen feet. “I need to walk off all that lunch I ate.” She patted her seven-month-pregnant belly covered in a wool overcoat. “Besides, we haven't had much time to visit and I'm leaving tomorrow.”

Mary Hannah winced with guilt. “That's my fault. I've let myself get caught up in work and preparing for the competition. I'm so sorry.”

“You have no reason to apologize. I don't expect you to stop working every time I'm in town. It's been nice having you live on the property. Think how tough it would have been to visit if you lived clear across town.”

“I've missed you, too, my friend.” She gave her a quick hug along her shoulders. “I'm sure you know how much time the rescue can take up. This fund-raiser has kept us all busy.”

“How is your dog bite? Does it still hurt?”

Mary Hannah preferred not to think about it at all. “Not bad, really. The bruise from the force of the jaw is actually lasting longer than the puncture wounds. Crazy, huh?”

“You should take some time off,” Sierra insisted, trees rustling overhead and showering snow around them. “No one would blame you, with the holidays and the bite.”

“I'm fine. Maybe after the competition.” The follow-up vaccines made her ill, but she was finished. And the dog had completed his ten-day quarantine and wasn't infected. So she was clear. Safe. And now vaccinated as well. “How can I complain about a little bite when I have patients like Declan Roberts? Besides, I've got dogs to train. Just think what a win could mean for the shelter.”

“You wouldn't happen to be rooting for a certain cop and his gorgeous boxer partner?” Sierra leaned closer, hooking arms. “So? Spill some details about all that time you and AJ are spending together.”

“There is no ‘us' . . .” There couldn't be, in spite of the attraction that only increased, and talking about him in that way only made it worse. “But I am running late for my training session with AJ and Holly.
Just training.
I really can bring the camera back for you.”

“I'm taking a walk away from the watchful eyes of my constantly worried husband.” She held up a hand. “Don't argue. I promise to stop asking about AJ.”

Good. Mary Hannah changed the subject. “Where's your mom?”

“Asleep on the sofa. I think she's coming down with a bug.” Sierra frowned with concern. “She's really been dragging since the big Christmas dinner. I'm worried she's taken on too much with expanding the rescue. That's why I want to help her with the photos. It's something I can do with my feet up.”

Mary Hannah understood too well the pitfalls of putting too much pressure on yourself. She took her glasses off and dried the snowflakes off with her scarf. “I can try talking to her about delegating and letting the volunteers do more.”

“Thanks, I would appreciate that.” Sierra stayed silent for a couple of steps, something clearly on her mind. “What do you think of Wyatt?”

“I'm not sure what you mean?” Mary Hannah punched in the security code to open the gate between the rescue and AJ's cabin.

“Do you think Wyatt's a good match for my mom?”

She pushed the gate closed again. “I thought Lacey wanted to take things slowly.”

“Me, too. But I'm picking up vibes that Wyatt wants more. Sooner.” Sierra stopped at the frozen stream and grasped the bridge railing.

“What does your mother say about that?” Mary Hannah scanned the wooden bridge, seeing no ice but plenty of salt.

“She changes the subject anytime I mention them dating.” Sierra huffed in frustration—or exhaustion—or both?

Mary Hannah thought back to her impressions of Wyatt, not much to go on. For the first time she realized how very superficial the man kept things. He was always smiles and politeness, but never deeper. “Whatever we think or don't think is moot. I trust your mother's judgment.”

“You're right, of course.” At the other side of the bridge, Sierra stopped and leaned back against a tree. “I just don't want her to stay in a relationship because she's lonely.”

“Seriously?” Mary Hannah laughed. “Your mother lives in a well-populated zoo that's constantly overrun with volunteers.”

“It's not the same as having a spouse, someone to love in your life . . . Ah, damn. I didn't mean that the way it sounded.” She clasped her friend's hand. “I'm sorry.”

“No need to apologize,” Mary Hannah reassured her, and meant it even though right now the words truly did hit a vulnerable, lonely spot inside her. “I understand what you meant.”

“You just don't speak of your ex-husband often.”

“I don't want to bore people with reliving my marital breakdown.” What a time to realize she was every bit as secretive as Wyatt, keeping things superficial to protect herself from becoming vulnerable to rejection.

“Supporting a friend is never boring. If you ever need to talk, I'm a phone call away.”

“Thank you.” And how she wished she could take her up on that. Maybe after the baby was born and she didn't have to worry about stressing out her pregnant friend.

Sierra shook her head, blond ponytail swishing. “You always thank me and never take me up on the offer.”

Mary Hannah bit her lip, considering spilling all, including the reason that pregnant belly upset her and how very tempted she was to risk letting herself get close to a man again . . . The cabin door opened, the squeak breaking the moment. Then Holly barked as she bounded out, which meant AJ wasn't far behind.

Later that night, after training Holly, after supper, she would make a point of having a real conversation with Sierra, preferably over a bowl of caramel popcorn.

Holly galloped over to the two of them, her powerful paws jettisoning snow behind her.

“Holly,” AJ called with calm command, striding down the porch stairs with the camera in his hand. “Sit.”

The boxer screeched to a halt and dropped onto her butt promptly, her nubby docked tail wagging.

A sense of joy welled inside Mary Hannah. She was so proud of both Holly and AJ. She blinked back tears. AJ may have groused initially, but he'd gone all in on the training.

Holly leaned forward while still keeping her bottom planted. She sniffed Sierra's belly. Sierra laughed and stroked the boxer's cropped ears.

Holly still kept her eyes averted when close to people, but she wasn't trembling and she leaned into the touch now. Huge progress in such a short time thanks to AJ.

He passed the camera to Sierra. “I assume you're here for this.”

“Yes, thanks,” she said. “Mom wants to upload the photos tonight. The ones she took of Holly yesterday have been getting so much positive attention for the event. I just know she will find a home at the event. Right, girl?” She gave Holly's ears a final scratch before backing away. “See you later. Thanks for helping with the pictures this afternoon.”

Mary Hannah watched Sierra walk the entire way home, before turning to AJ. Just the two of them. Alone. Her willpower dwindling by the day.

*   *   *

WYATT UNLOADED THE
last of the dishes so the kitchen would be clean for supper. He'd already sent Nathan out to pick up pizza to have a farewell dinner for Sierra and Mike. Not that Lacey would be able to eat any. She'd come down with some sort of flu, and he'd done his best to make things easier for her.

Tomorrow, her daughter and son-in-law would leave and he would have her to himself again. Well, relatively speaking. Her son still lived at home, but Nathan was so caught up in his new girlfriend, he was rarely here. And what little time they saw him, the girlfriend was in tow slicking on cherry Chap Stick.

Finally, Wyatt could press Lacey on the proposal.

He closed the dishwasher and dried his hands. He tossed the hand towel in the laundry on his way to the family room. That obnoxious cuckoo clock of Lacey's squawked five in the afternoon. She didn't even stir on the sofa. Her curves called to his hands, each dip and swell enticing even covered with an afghan.

It had been so long since they were together. Her company and preparing for the February event had taken up her time. He only stayed the night at her house when her son was on a camping trip or some overnight school field trip. And when they had sex at his place, she left well before dawn.

Since Sierra's visit, he and Lacey hadn't slept together at all.

He didn't push the point. She was already skittish, and he didn't want to spook her. He dropped into the recliner and picked up the iPad to surf the news. Turning on the television might wake her.

His fist gripped the iPad too tightly, and he forced his hands to loosen. He powered up the tablet and Googled area news sites, looking for coverage on the meth-house bust, seeing what the press knew and checking to ensure there weren't any leaks.

He was concerned about the way the case on the meth-house raid was coming together, with too many loose ends. He was half certain one of the volunteers here at the ranch had bought drugs from that place based on how the individual looked at the meth-house dogs with guilty eyes and had avoided him since the bust. Which shouldn't surprise him since this was a small area.

This was his town, his little corner of the world. His old man and his uncle liked to tout being big-city Atlanta cops. But there was a special talent to keeping the peace in a small town where everyone knew one another and all were connected in some way. Every bust sent ripples throughout the community.

He refused to let any of that touch Lacey or her family. A family he hoped would be his, if he could just persuade her they belonged together. He'd waited too long to give up on his second chance at marriage.

The back door opened and Lacey startled, tossing aside the afghan and blinking fast, her eyes wide with disorientation. She looked at the clock, then over at him in the chair. She didn't smile, either. Not at first. So when the grin spread across her face, it came too late.

Awkward as hell. But he just had to wait one more day to have her all to himself and romance his way back into her life.

The door closed, and Sierra stepped out of her boots before walking into the family room. She braced a hand on the sofa before lowering herself to the couch with an exhausted sigh. “Here's your camera, Mom. I hope the photos generate more support for little Barkley and the Roberts family.”

“Thanks, sweetie.” She took the camera from her daughter. “I think we can make a difference for that family. They've sacrificed and lost so much.”

Wyatt loved Lacey's giving spirit. But he couldn't help wondering if she identified with that military family because of her own loss. Would he ever be able to step out of the shadow of her hero husband? There were reminders of Allen McDaniel everywhere in this house. Not to mention around the town that was so close to an army post.

Patience, he reminded himself.

He pretended to surf for more articles while Lacey and her daughter talked. Maybe he could pick up ideas for new ways to win over Lacey's daughter. Nathan was easier. Just give him money for dates with his new girlfriend and the teen seemed happy.

Sierra propped her feet up on the coffee table and stroked the cat beside her. “I'm sorry I can't come back for the My Furry Valentine event. It sounds like it's going to be amazing.”

Lacey leaned her head on her daughter's shoulder. “Your doctor doesn't want you traveling anymore. That's understandable. I'm glad we got to spend Christmas together. Just be sure the baby holds on until after Valentine's Day. Okay?”

“I wouldn't mind a week early, but mid-February? No way. Not a chance do I want to go that early.” She rubbed her stomach. “And right now the baby needs pizza. What is taking my brother so long?”

Standing, Lacey combed her fingers through her sleep-tangled hair. “When he's with Kaitlyn, there's no telling how long an errand will take.” She sighed. “I'll call and give them a nudge. How about I get you an apple? No? Banana? No to that, too? I have trail mix with M&M's so you can be healthy and decadent.”

“Perfect.” Sierra smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”

Lacey tucked her feet back into fuzzy slippers and scooped up a cat to carry on her way to the kitchen. She always reached for her animals when she was stressed. Wyatt wished she would let him help, but it was tough to get a read off her, and he needed to tread warily.