Reuniting with the Cowboy (10 page)

“Is that Nat's dog?” Cody took a break from cleaning old hay out of one of the larger pens and rested his chin on the pitchfork handle.

“I'm almost certain.”

“That's weird.” He wiped sweat from his brow with his sleeve. “You've had two pets wander from the other side of Aubrey within a week's time. And Nat said only a person could unlatch Rusty's pen. Someone had to have let him out.”

“Maybe they just forgot to put the extra latch in place and he let himself out.” She filled a bowl with dog food and another with water, guided Rusty into one of the large boarder kennels and fastened the latch. “You stay in there.”

“Or maybe whoever is trying to shut you down is stealing people's pets and bringing them here.”

“Why would they do that?”

“Maybe to get you back over limit. Or to make it look like you're the one stealing the pets.”

“That's crazy.” She perched on a hay bale.

“It is. But I'm beginning to wonder if we're dealing with someone rational.”

She face-palmed. “Oh, that makes me feel a lot better.”

“I don't want you to feel better. I want you safe. And if you being cautious helps with that, it works for me.” Cody returned to his cleaning.

“Did Mitch get anywhere with the prints he found?”

“No. Whoever we're dealing with has no criminal record.”

“That's good, isn't it?”

“I guess.” Finished with the pen, Cody moved to the next one. “I just wish we could get to the bottom of this. Maybe I'll ask Mitch to check for prints at Kendra's barn and on Nat's gate.”

“You really think it's all connected?”

“Have you ever had any pets from the other end of Aubrey show up here?”

“No.” Her shoulders slumped. “I just can't imagine anyone going to so much trouble to mess with me.”

The barn door opened and Mom stepped inside. “Oh, Cody. I didn't know you were still here.”

“Miss Diane.” Cody tipped his cowboy hat.

Mom's smile trembled. She clasped and unclasped her hands.

“Is something wrong, Mom?”

“It can wait until you finish.”

“You're making me nervous. Just tell me.”

“It's nothing really. It's just—Lance and I want you to get to know him better.”

“I've worked with the man for two years.” Ally tried to keep her tone casual. “I think I know him pretty well.”

“We want you to get to know him outside of work—on a personal level.” Mom glanced at Cody, then back to Ally. “We were hoping you could join us at his house for lunch after church Sunday. His daughter and her family will be there, too.”

Ally's throat closed up. Her desperate gaze went to Cody.

“I know it's a lot, Ally. I know this is hard on you. But it's really important to me. And to Lance. Just think about it. Okay?”

“Sure.” The single word was all she could manage.

“Oh, Ally, thank you.” Mom gave her a nervous smile and left.

Cody patted his shoulder.

As if drawn by a magnet, Ally rushed into his arms, pressed her face into his muscled chest. “I can't do this.”

“Yes. You can.” He gave her a squeeze, then rubbed her back in soothing circles. “You're the toughest woman I've ever known.”

“I think it's even more serious than I realized. They want me to meet his daughter. Like we're gonna end up being sisters or something.”

“It could happen. Might as well prepare yourself for it.”

“Will you come with me? To lunch Sunday? Give me strength not to act like a selfish brat?”

“It would be my pleasure.”

“Thanks.” She should take a step back now. Disentangle herself from Cody. Put distance between them. But she couldn't move.

Drat. Not only did she need Cody—she loved him. Had for years. How had she let this happen? What would she do if he left again?

Chapter Ten

C
ody rested his elbows on the top rail of the metal arena fence as hoofbeats and snorts echoed around him. The mid-September sun warmed his back as the early evening cooled off.

The bull lurched to the right, flinging his student in the air. Cody pressed the button on his stopwatch as David landed in a heap in the dust. The young man got up quickly and dashed to the fence as two pickup men headed off the bull and drove him to the gate.

“That's better.” Cody checked his time. “Almost three seconds.”

David hung his head. “Less than half of what I need.”

“We'll get there. It takes time and practice to work up to eight seconds.” All Cody had to do was get the twenty-year-old past his fear. If David could relax in the saddle, he'd achieve his dream. “Just be patient.”

Gravel crunched in the drive behind him. Cody turned. A white truck neared the exit. It had to be Ally. No one else in Aubrey drove a truck with the distinctive mobile-clinic box in the bed.

“My hour's up.” David climbed the fence.

“Don't worry—we'll get it. See you Monday.”

“Thanks.” The teen headed for his truck.

Cody pulled out his phone and jabbed in Ally's number.

“Hello?”

“Am I watching you pull out of famous singer Garrett Steele's driveway?”

“Where are you? I mean—I have no idea where Garrett Steele lives. And if I did, I wouldn't tell anyone.”

“Uh-huh. Well I'll let you in on a little secret. I teach bull riding at his private ranch. Why don't you come over to the big barn to your left and watch me work?”

“I need to get back to the clinic.”

He glanced at his watch. “It's six o'clock. Don't tell me you have more patients scheduled.”

“No. But I need to work on the float.”

“We're not working on it tonight. You said you needed to get ready for your big pet photography day tomorrow.”

“You're right. So I better get to it.”

“I'll help you prepare if you'll come help me out. My student might perform better with an audience.” Not exactly true, since David had already said his goodbyes. But Cody wanted to see her. Again.

Silence ticked past in seconds. “Okay. But I can't stay long.”

The line went dead. Cody's heartbeat filled the silence.

David was almost to his truck. The chute boss swapped stories with the two pickup men still on horseback.

“Hey, guys, can you stick around for one more?”

They looked at each other. Then all three nodded.

“Hey, David, want to go one more round?”

“My time's up.”

“I won't tell if you won't.”

“Sure.” A wide grin spread across the young man's face and he jogged back to the arena. He neared the chute as Ally parked in the small lot. “Oh, I see. You need me to help you impress the lady.”

“Something like that. Give me your best.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ally strolled toward him. “Will this give me nightmares?”

“It's about as safe as taking a calf from its mama,” he cracked, as the chute boss corralled a fresh bull. Metal clanked against metal as the beast tried to buck in the small space.

Ally reached the fence, stepped onto the first rung beside him and hooked her elbows over the top.

“That's David Morris,” Cody whispered. “He took lessons at another school for a year. He should be lasting eight seconds by now. The best he's done so far is almost three in his last ride.”

“Why can't he last?”

“He hasn't had me as a teacher for very long.” He shot her a cocky grin.

She scoffed.

“Seriously—he's scared.”

The bull rammed his horns into the chute. Ally jumped. “I would be, too.”

“I have to find a way to get him past the fear.”

“Maybe he's right to be afraid. Maybe bull riding isn't what he's supposed to do with his life.”

“It's his dream. I have to help him reach his goal. Otherwise he'll have regrets.”

“But maybe he has a girlfriend who loves him and he isn't supposed to leave her.”

Cody's insides stilled. Was she talking about them?

The chute opened and the bull careened out. Ally's hand clamped on Cody's arm, her nails biting into his biceps.

But David matched the bull's movement, in sync with each buck, each twist. More fluid and rhythmic than he'd ever been.

Cody eyed his stopwatch. Almost five seconds. “I think he's gonna do it.”

The bull did a spin that normally would have lost David, but the young man kept his balance. The buzzer went off.

“He did it.” Cody let out a whoop. “You did it.”

David bailed off the bull and landed on his feet.

The pickup men herded the bull to the gate as David pumped his fists in the air. “Eight seconds? Really?”

“Eight whole seconds. You did it.” Cody grabbed Ally around the waist, pulled her off her perch and spun her around with her back nestled against him. “He did it.”

Arms and legs flailing, she laughed as he spun her again, then set her down and held her as she wobbled.

“Thanks for the ride. Now I'm dizzy.” She leaned back against him.

“I think I figured out how to make David forget his fear.”

“How?”

“Get a pretty girl to watch.”

“I better get back.” She pulled away, practically ran to her truck.

Had she wanted him to stay all those years ago? Maybe her hypothetical girlfriend for David was just that—hypothetical. Or maybe... But if Ally had wanted him to stay, if she'd had feelings for him, there wasn't a thing he could do about it now.

Not unless he did something about the bubble in his head. And lived to tell about it.

* * *

If Cody didn't know better, he'd think Ally was avoiding him. Her volunteers had come, walked and fed the dogs, and left. He'd known she wouldn't take him up on his offer to help her get ready for tomorrow's photography day.

If she wouldn't come to him, he'd go to her. He headed toward the clinic, but his nerve ebbed away as he neared.
Calm down.
Don't let her know how desperate he was to see her. He stepped inside. Orange-scented cleaner heavy in the air.

“May I help you?” Her voice came from the back.

“It's Cody. I meant it when I said I'd lend a hand.”

“I figured you'd come over when you got ready.” Ally came through the door and stopped behind the counter.

“Hey.” His breathing went all funny at the sight of her.

“Derek's wife, Brandy, is helping out tomorrow and several of my volunteers will be here, too.”

“What can I do?”

“Maybe just greet people.” She wrote something on her schedule. “I was going to have the cat pictures taken in the barn and the dog pictures in the clinic. But the barn is such a better background.”

“Can't you have both in the barn?”

“Kendra's bringing her assistant.” She swept her thick braid over her shoulder and twirled it around her finger. “With two photographers, things will move more quickly if we set up two clients at a time, one with cats and one with dogs. But I can't have dog pictures taken next to cats. That would be mayhem.”

“I see what you're saying.” He tapped his chin with his finger. “You could use my barn for the cat pictures.”

“I thought of that. But your loft is open. I don't want any of my clients' cats getting spooked from all the barking and escaping out of your loft.” She opened a drawer and slid a file into place. “And I can't do the dog pictures in your barn, because that would terrorize your cats.”

“I'll board up my loft so we won't have any escapees and the cats can come to my barn.”

“That would work. But it's a lot of trouble.”

“I don't mind.”

“Thank you.” She set her hand on his arm, warming him all the way to his booted toes. “Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with the dozen or so families bringing cats and dogs.”

“My barn will work for that, too. My cats stay in the loft most of the time. And if the dogs are used to cats, they probably wouldn't bother them anyway.”

“You're brilliant.” She rubbed her temple. “I think my brain is too tired to think anymore.”

“Get some rest. I'll prepare my barn and play greeter tomorrow, and you'll be amazed how smoothly everything goes.”

“You may regret that offer. We've had such a great response I probably should have made two days out of it.”

“No worries. I'll be here.”

“Thank you.” She looked at him as if he were a hero.

And he felt like one. Ally's hero. A glow filled his chest. What more could he aspire to?

* * *

With Lance and Derek manning the clinic, Ally was free to oversee pet adoptions.

Once Kendra had set up all her equipment in Cody's escape-proof barn, Ally watched as she took pictures of the first families on their schedule.

It was nice to see her friends and clients without their pets being injured or sick. A fun, relaxing day and she'd already adopted out three cats and six dogs.

Today would slam her with lots of happy families. Something in Ally longed for that.

“Call me if you need anything,” she said to Kendra. “I better get back to my barn in case there are any potential adoptive families waiting.”

“We're good here.” Kendra's flash went off as Ally exited.

Outside in the field behind her house, Garrett Steele and Brant McConnell, superstars of the Christian country music scene, performed a concert.

The event was looking to be a roaring success, and to top things off, the two musicians had pledged to match the proceeds of the concert. She'd have plenty of money for another barn—if she could just buy some of the land Cody was leasing.

The bright sun blinded her as she entered her barn. Cody was cracking jokes as Kendra's assistant got some shots of a family of six with their dog.

Her vision cleared enough for her to make out Caitlyn and Mitch milling about the cages.

“Hey, Caitlyn, I saw y'all on the schedule.” But as far as Ally knew, they no longer had any pets.

“We've decided to get a dog.”

“Oh, how fun. And thank you so much. I can direct you toward kid-friendly breeds and what to expect, though most of the dogs we have are a mixture. Did you have anything specific in mind?”

“Nothing too big, since Michaela is still small.” Mitch held their seven-month-old in his arms.

“House or outside dog?”

“Outside. We have a nice barn and fenced-in area.”

“I have a beagle mix and a bulldog mix.” She toyed with the end of her braid. “They're great with kids and great with other dogs and other animals.”

“I had a beagle when I was a kid. I loved that dog.” Mitch's expression went distant, his voice filled with reverence.

“Male or female?” Caitlyn shifted her diaper bag.

“Both. The beagle is female. The bulldog is male. Spayed and neutered and up-to-date on shots.”

“Can we see them?”

“Of course. Cody, if you'll get Splotch, I'll get Brutus.”

“Brutus?” Caitlyn's eyes widened.

“Don't worry. It has nothing to do with his personality. I call him that because he's so stocky and tough looking, but if you adopt him, you can call him anything you want.”

Ally and Cody worked quickly, unlatching the dogs' kennels and leashing them.

“I like the name Brutus.” Mitch grinned. “What do you think, Micki?” He set their daughter down with her feet on his, took her hands and walked her toward the dogs.

The little girl squealed. Both dogs wagged their entire bodies.

“Easy.” Caitlyn dashed after them.

“Both dogs are very easygoing and patient.” Ally laughed. “They love attention.”

Mitch guided Michaela's hand, petting the dogs, who sucked up the adoration.

“What do you think?” He caught his wife's eye. “Maybe both—they seem to get along.”

“I usually kennel them together for companionship and they've become great friends. The bulldog isn't known for energy, but the beagle gets him going sometimes.”

“It'd be a shame to split them up.” Caitlyn gave her a hug. “Thanks, Ally. They're perfect.”

“I'm so glad.” She got the paperwork for both dogs. Minutes later, the family and their new pets were in the middle of a photo session, looking as if they'd been together for years.

As they left, Cody settled on a hay bale. “Why didn't they get the third degree?”

“Because I've known them forever. I know their land is the perfect place for dogs to romp and they both had pets as kids. I already know they'll take excellent care of Splotch and Brutus.”

“These animals are very lucky to have you. It's obvious how much you care about finding the perfect home for them.”

“They're childlike, incapable of caring for themselves.” Her mouth twitched as her eyes welled. “They deserve a good life.”

The barn door opened. Her mom stepped inside, her eyes wide. “Um, Ally, you need to come to the clinic.”

“What's wrong?” She hurried out with Mom on her heels.

“Lance and Derek haven't arrived yet and all the pens are open in the clinic.” Mom's words tumbled out. “I got the patients still recovering from yesterday's surgeries back in the kennels just fine. But the Lewis' cat is on top of the refrigerator and the Gonzaleses' dog won't let her come down. And he's kind of big and scary, so I wasn't sure how to handle him.”

As Ally bolted toward the clinic, the barn door clapped. “Ally, need some help?” Cody.

“Yes.”

Chewed up magazines and an overturned chair greeted her in the clinic lobby. At least the clinic didn't open until ten on Saturdays. Though her four-legged clientele often got messy, she tried to keep the building clean and her first appointment was prone to show up early. A rumbling growl echoed from the break room followed by several gruff barks.