Reuniting with the Cowboy (2 page)

“So where have you been since you left the rehab center?” She leaned her hip against the breakfast bar.

“I stayed with Grandpa in Medina until this morning.” He stood across the island from her, making quick work of the soup.

“Medina is almost a six-hour trip. You should be resting.” She scanned the open floor plan, just to keep from looking at those mesmerizing eyes. Large roomy kitchen with a peninsula and a big eat-in area. The former owner had installed new cabinets and tiled floors a few years back, but Cody didn't have a stick of furniture. No pictures or personal items, nothing on the paneled walls. Not to mention necessities like a refrigerator. “Do you at least have a bed?”

“Grandpa sent one with me from his spare room until I get my own.”

“So instead of resting in your borrowed bed—” she rolled her eyes “—you try and walk to my house on uneven ground after your doctor warned you to be careful? What were you thinking?”

“Taco soup.” He grinned, deepening the cleft in his chin. “And four-layer delight.”

Her heart did a flip. He seemed a bit more serious and mature than the Cody she'd always known. Until it came to food.

He wolfed down another spoonful of soup. “Mmm.”

Gravel crunched in the drive and vehicle doors opened, then closed.

“Expecting company?”

“No one knows I'm here.”

Ally peered between the miniblind slats. “A blue pickup.”

“Oh no, they've found me.” Cody hung his head.

“Who?” Ally frowned.

“My folks.” His tone was filled with dread.

Why? He'd always had a great relationship with his family. Unless something had happened between them. “They didn't bring you home?”

“One of Grandpa's ranch hands was headed to Fort Worth to buy a bull. I hitched a ride with him.”

“Why?”

“I don't want to be fussed over.”

Audra Warren, Cody's mom, entered first without knocking. “Cody, what were you thinking?” She splayed her hands. “Grandpa said you came home to surprise us.”

His dad, Wayne, followed. “We were worried when you didn't answer your cell.”

“I forgot to charge it.”

Despite Ally's attempt to blend into the corner, Audra noticed her. “Ally? How nice to see you.”

“You, too.” She waved her fingers.

“Why all the secrecy?” Audra's attention swung back to Cody. “We had to call the local Realtor to even find out where you were.” Her eyes were teary, a testimony to a mother's love and worry over her recently injured son.

“I just didn't want a bunch of fuss.” Cody hugged his mother, evidently feeling guilty now for upsetting her. “I'm pushing thirty—I don't need a lot of fanfare. And I figured y'all would insist I stay with you. I just wanted to come home. To a place of my own.”

“We love you, Cody.” Audra sniffled. “We merely want to help you get settled. But if you'd stay with us, we could at least gather the furniture we all have in storage and get this place livable for you.”

“You should have called.” Wayne's jaw tensed. “Your mother was worried sick.”

“Sorry, Mom. I didn't mean to upset you.”

“You don't even have a bed.” Audra's voice cracked. “You can't stay here.”

“That's the one thing I do have. I'm fine.”

“I guess I should just be glad you're well enough to be home.” Audra pushed away from him and gave Ally a quick hug. “Just like old times with you looking after Cody. Thanks for seeing to him.”

“No problem.”
Act natural.
She and Cody had been friends since grade school. That was all he was to her, a friend. “I brought a dessert to welcome my new neighbor, but once I saw it was Cody and he didn't even have a microwave, I brought soup over.”

“Isn't this some setup?” Wayne winked at Ally. “You and Cody right next door to each other. Y'all could get into all kinds of mischief.”

Like the mischief they'd gotten into twelve years ago. No way. Ally's lips would steer clear of Cody Warren this go-round.

In fact, all of her would. “Since y'all are here, I'm gonna go.”

Cody grabbed her hand. “I wish you'd stay. We've still got catching up to do.”

Electricity moved up her arm. Ally pulled away. “I've got chores to do and a surgery in the morning. It's good seeing y'all.” She aimed for the door and put it in high gear.

Distance. She'd have to keep lots of distance between her and Cody. Her heart couldn't take any more teasing.

* * *

Cody scanned his cozy house, grateful to have a loving family. Even though they sometimes smothered him.

Only twenty-four hours since his parents had caught up with him and his new house was already furnished. There would have been even more fuss if he'd told his family he was leaving Grandpa's. And if he'd accepted a ride
home
from his parents, he'd have likely ended up at their house. Yet because of them, he actually had a table to sit at to savor his last serving of four-layer delight.

In a day's time, his dad and his brother, Mitch, had brought over Mitch's old dining room set, appliances and dual recliner couch, along with Cody's old bedroom suite from when he lived at home. He'd moved out twelve years ago and Mitch had given up his bachelor pad two years ago, but they had kept everything. His family officially ranked as hoarders.

The rich coffee aroma still permeated his house, as they'd offered him countless cups throughout the day.

If only he could have the real stuff instead of the fake. The empty maker mocked him from the counter. He'd die for a cup. Literally. He filled the carafe with water, poured it in the back, scooped decaf grounds into the filter and turned it on. It would have to do.

The doctor's list of aneurysm triggers included intense nose blowing, vigorous exercise and strain. Since he had no allergies, he should be okay unless he got a cold.

It was a genuine wonder the aneurysm hadn't ruptured during his physical therapy, which came to a screeching halt after his doctor found the bubble during a follow up scan after his last concussion. Hopefully, his leisurely walks on his new treadmill would help with his limp.

Anger and surprise would be easy to avoid since he was laid-back and not easily startled. But real coffee? He came from a family that joked about having caffeine in their veins instead of blood. Having his dark roast again just might be worth the surgery that could kill him or reduce him to vegetable status.

He scraped all the excess chocolate and crumbs out of the glass dish and polished off the last bite of the lip-smacking dessert. The tang of cream cheese lingered on his tongue.

Despite all the activity and furnishings, Ally had stayed away. Her mom had brought him a casserole, but he hadn't seen hide nor hair of Ally since yesterday.

Maybe moving next door to her hadn't been the best plan. It was the only land he'd found to lease, but it wasn't a good way to relieve the tension between them and get their friendship back on track.

He stood and waited until the stiffness eased in his knee before shuffling to the sink, then made short work of washing the pan and poured a cup of decaf.

Since they'd grown up in the same church, hung out in youth group and been in the same class, he, Ally and his now-sister-in-law, Caitlyn, had been best friends all the way back to kindergarten.

But Ally had avoided him at Mitch and Caitlyn's wedding. And after his bull wreck, when Ally had visited the rehab center with her dog program and had realized her patient was him, she hadn't been able to get out of there fast enough.

She was obviously uncomfortable because of that kiss that had spun his world into a blur faster than any bull ever had.

But hadn't affected her.

Maybe they needed to talk about the kiss. Agree to forget it. He dried the glass dish and tucked it under his arm. If he walked slow and careful and took the stupid stick, he could handle the uneven yard. He gulped the useless coffee, grabbed the cane and stepped out his back door.

Must have been after hours for her clinic. Only one other truck and a car were parked next to Ally's—probably one of her youth group volunteers. He continued past the house to the block structure with a neon open sign in the window.

A cowbell clanged when he opened the door.

“I'll be right with you,” Ally called from the back. “Is it an emergency?”

“It's just me.”

Silence.

A deep woof came from behind the counter. Cody eased closer. A male German shepherd lay sprawled on the floor, his ears perked up.

“Hey, buddy, don't worry—the vet's nice.” He lowered his voice. “And she's a looker, too.”

He set the dish on the counter, settled in a chair in the waiting area, picked up a livestock magazine and thumbed through it.

“You know I'm on your side, Ms. Curtis.” A man's voice came from the back. “I love animals as much as you do. But you're not in compliance with the cats. You're supposed to provide eighteen square feet per cat.”

“The mama cat and two kittens just came in yesterday.” Her words came fast, desperate. “Their owners moved and abandoned them. I just couldn't turn them away. I planned to buy some more acreage so I could expand, but someone else beat me to the property.”

He'd tied up the land she needed. Cody closed his eyes.

“I'm sorry, but I'll have to write you up.”

A pause.

“I understand.” She sounded so broken.

And now she was in trouble.

Cody had to find a way to fix it.

Chapter Two

“M
aybe you should consider revoking your no-kill policy.” Mr. Humphries wouldn't even look at her as he flipped to the appropriate form on his clipboard.

“I can't do that.” Ally's heart squeezed. Kill a perfectly healthy animal just because no one wanted it?

“You know I'm against it, too. Maybe you could take some of the cats to another shelter.”

A lump lodged in her throat. “So they can put them down?”

“I'm sorry, Ms. Curtis.” The inspector strolled toward the front of her clinic.

Come on—think of some way to change his mind.
Ally hurried after him.

“Excuse me.” Cody met them in the lobby, removed his cowboy hat. “I came to pick out those cats we talked about.”

Mr. Humphries's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Ally's insides lit up. “How many would you like?” She held up three fingers behind Mr. Humphries's back.

“Four.”

“Four?” Mr. Humphries echoed.

Four? Her heart warmed.

“Just moved in next door. Cody Warren.” He offered his hand and the older man shook it. “My barn is infested with mice. I'm thinking four cats should take care of the problem.”

He sounded so convincing she wanted to hug him.

Mr. Humphries examined Cody a moment longer, then turned to Ally. “You run a clean operation here.” He slid his pen into his pocket, tucked the clipboard under his arm. “I don't want to have to shut you down. See that you stay in compliance. I doubt that your neighbor can rescue you next time.”

“Thank you, Mr. Humphries.”

“And I trust—” he gave her a stern look “—that if I come back in an hour, you'll be down three cats.”

“Four and they'll be in my barn.” Cody clasped his hat to his chest. “You're welcome to come visit them.”

With a slight nod, the inspector exited the clinic.

Ally waited, held her breath. A car door shut and an engine started. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She jumped up and down.

“Just call me Ally's hero.” He shot her a wink that made her heart take a dive.

Her fists clenched. Now he wanted to be her hero?

“You should have told me you were over the limit. I'd have taken the cats before your inspector came.”

“It's really weird.” She nibbled the inside of her cheek. “I've already been inspected for this year. Someone had to complain for Mr. Humphries to show up again.”

“Who would do that? We don't have any other neighbors.”

“I don't know, unless it was a client.” She twirled the end of her braid round and round her finger the way her dad used to do. “I've had a few new ones lately. Maybe someone didn't like what they saw.” Not everyone liked her strays or her shelter. Some people could be so heartless.

“If that's the case, they should find another vet instead of hassling you.” He gestured to the shepherd. “What's he in for? Armed doggery?”

She suppressed a grin. “Hoss is just staying with me while his family is on vacation. I didn't have time to put him in a run yet.” The dog's tail wagged as she snapped a leash on his collar. “Why did you really stop by?”

“I brought your dish back. All washed and everything.”

“You didn't have to do that.” She raised an eyebrow. “You walked across my rutted yard for that?”

“I took it slow with my trusty stick.” He patted his cane, cleared his throat. “I also wanted to discuss...uh...to ask you for contacts on some hands. Since you do cattle vaccinations, I figured you'd know the right people.”

Nervous? Cody Warren nervous? About asking her for ranch hand contacts? She strode over to the bulletin board.

“A large ranch in the area just downsized. Lots of layoffs.” She removed a business card and pulled two stubs bearing names and numbers, then passed them to him. “The card is the ranch owner for references. The numbers are hands.” She rubbed the ache in the back of her neck.

“All your tension still lands in your neck and shoulders, huh?” Cody stuffed the contacts in his shirt pocket and limped around behind her. His warm hands grasped her shoulders, kneading her sore muscles.

She stiffened, almost pulled away. But when she began to relax, all thought of getting away left her. She had to focus on something other than the shivers he was stirring up. “I won't hold you to four cats. If you'll just take three, I'll be under limit.”

“I want four. I was thinking I'd take the ones who've been here longest. But it would be a shame to separate the mama and her kittens, so I'll take those three plus one of the veterans.”

Such a sweetheart. Not many men thought that way. If he ever grew up and settled down, he'd make someone a great husband. “That would be Bruno. His past shouldn't be a problem.”

“You know his story?” His thumbs soothed away her aches.

What was she talking about? Oh yes, Bruno. “He killed his former neighbor's pet rabbit and chickens. We don't have any of either near here and he won't be wandering far from home anymore since I neutered him.”

“Hear that, Hoss.” The German shepherd's ears pricked. “You better stay on her good side.”

“I need to get him in his run.” She stiffened again, pulled away and dug four collapsed cardboard carriers from under the counter. “And we better go get the cats before Mr. Humphries decides to come back.”

And before she melted into a pool of butter at Cody's feet.

* * *

Mama cat supervised her orange tom and gray female as they clambered and pounced on hay bales, while Bruno checked out the loft.

“You don't think they'll run away?” Cody still couldn't muster up the courage to discuss their past, so he kept coming up with inane subject matter.

“You fed them.” She scratched the mama calico along her cheek. “So they should stay close here.”

Cody settled on a hay bale. Would his leg ever stop aching?

A breeze wafted through the barn, stirring strands that had strayed from her braid around her face. Absolutely beautiful. Why hadn't some man snapped her up? Was it because of all the homeless pets she kept? Cody loved animals as much as she did, but not everyone felt the same way.

If she'd found some critter-loving man and were living happily ever after, would it make whatever was left of his life easier or harder? “How come you never married?”

“Excuse me?” She propped her hands on her hips.

“Just curious.” He shrugged. “Back when we were in high school, you dreamed right along with Caitlyn about getting married.”

“I did, didn't I?” Her voice went soft and she settled on a hay bale facing him, elbows propped on her knees. “My parents married right out of high school and Mom never worked outside the home. She didn't have a clue about how to get a job, balance the checkbook or pay the bills.”

She picked up the gray kitten and cuddled it. “Dad had done everything for her. For a while after he died, I thought I'd have to give up college and stay home to take care of her. It made me realize I never want to need anyone that much.”

“Everybody needs somebody.”

“Look who's talking.” She caught his gaze. “Mr. I'm-Never-Getting-Married-so-I-Can-Travel-and-Do-What-I-Want.”

“I guess it got old.” But it really hadn't. Not until he'd seen her again. Only one thing was certain. Being close to her drove it home. If he didn't have a bubble in his head, he'd go after way more than friendship with Ally.

He had to stop thinking about things he couldn't pursue. “I could build you a few extra pens above the ones you already have to solve your cat problem.”

“I'd always planned to do that, just haven't had time.” She bit her lip. “That would be great, but if you really want to help me, there is something else you can do.”

“Just ask.”

“Would you sell me a few acres? I had my eye on five, but one would get me out of a bind.”

He'd have loved to. But the problem with that was that he was only leasing. Yet he needed his family to believe he was willingly retiring to become a rancher. Otherwise, they'd get curious and if they learned about his health situation, they'd hover and he'd have no peace while he decided what to do.

He couldn't burden her with his secret.

“Well?”

“Ally?” A man's voice called out, cutting off any response he might have given her.

“Over in the neighbor's barn,” she yelled.

Footfalls crunched across the gravel and a shadow fell over the doorway.

A gray-haired man wearing scrubs stepped inside. “Everything go okay with the mastiff?”

“She'll be fine.” She nodded. “The car just grazed her. Lacerations and contusions, but no internal injuries or broken bones. Most of her damage came from the highway.”

“Ouch.” The man winced. “Poor girl. I finished the vaccinations. Derek filled out all the records and he's putting the ranch file in the office. Just thought I'd check in before I go.”

Ally gestured to the man. “This is Dr. Lance Bridges, the other vet here at my clinic. Cody is our new neighbor. He took Bruno and the three strays I got in yesterday, just in the knick of time. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.”

“Nice meeting you.” Cody clasped hands with Lance.

“Likewise.”

“You go on home. I'm sure Erin has your supper ready.”

“See you tomorrow.” As Dr. Bridges turned away, a younger man approached. Blond, midtwenties.

“Some first day, huh, Derek?”

“I loved every minute of it.” The younger man smiled, scratched the kitten Ally held under its chin. His hand dangerously close to hers.

Huh? Was he flirting with Ally?

Was this guy an assistant? Or working on being her boyfriend?

Ally pushed stray strands of hair away from her face. “You tell that sweet wife of yours I'll try not to keep you this late on a daily basis.”

Whew. Thankfully the guy was married.

But what should it matter? Ally's love life was none of Cody's concern. It couldn't be.

“Don't worry. Brandy understands my work.” The guy turned to the door.

“Where are my manners?” Ally stood, brushed the hay off the seat of her jeans. “This is Cody Warren. We were friends all through school, and now he lives next door. Derek Tatum is my new veterinary technician.”

“It's nice to meet you. I'll see you tomorrow, Ally.”

“Make that Tuesday. Have a nice, long Labor Day weekend. With so many ranches in Aubrey, we have more cattle vacs scheduled as usual. But maybe there won't be any emergencies.”

“But you're working tomorrow and Monday. If it's all the same to you, I'd just as soon do the same.”

“If you're sure.”

“I am.” With a wave, Derek left them alone.

Ally set the kitten down and it curled around her ankle. “So what about the land?”

He'd hoped she'd forget about the issue. “I can't sell you any of it.”

“Why not?” Her shoulders slumped. “Just an acre? A half an acre?”

His only option was to be as honest as he could. “I'm only leasing it.” What were the odds of her talking to his parents about his land anyway?

“But yesterday you said you bought it.”

“No, you said I bought it. I decided to test the ranching thing out before doing anything permanent.” Great. He'd just reinforced her notion that he had commitment issues.

“Oh.” The corners of her mouth tipped down and she stood. “I'm really tired and I can't wait to get cleaned up. Do you want me to walk you across the yard?”

It was tempting to lean on her. But not advisable.

“I'll be fine. I'll go nice and slow.” He opened the door for her.

She exited and he followed. By the time he'd made five steps, she'd already reached her back door. Not sparing him another glance, she slipped inside and closed it.

So much for talking about the kiss. It seemed as if without saying a word, they both agreed to forget it. At least things weren't quite as strained between them. Though maybe that would've been preferable.

Ally was his friend. And that was all she could be. So why did he have to keep reminding himself of that?

* * *

Ally stepped into the mudroom, where excited yips greeted her. “Hey, Foxy. Hey, Wolf.” The two puffballs danced for her attention. “Did y'all miss me today?”

Peering through the blinds, she watched Cody slowly hobble to his house. He'd saved her from a written reprimand. But he wouldn't sell her any land, because he was only leasing. Which meant he probably wasn't staying.

He frustrated the daylights out of her. So she wouldn't coddle him. He was an adult. If he was goofy enough to insist on living alone and walking on his bad leg without any help, that was his problem. She didn't have the time or energy to babysit him while he played rancher next door. On the land he'd leased right out from under her.

She pulled off her manure-caked boots and picked a Pom up in each arm, snuggling them close. They stilled, except for their noses.

“Busted. Mama traitored—petting countless other dogs and cats again.” The sniffing stopped and kisses took over. With both cheeks sufficiently licked, she set them down.

“Mom?”

“In the living room. Did the emergency surgery go okay?”

“Yep, she'll be fine. Derek was a great help to Lance with the vaccinations.” She strolled into the living room. Home. She loved this house. The worn plank flooring and walls, beams across the ceilings, and ancient windows. Comfortable, unpretentious and cozy.

“Did Dr. Bridges leave already?” Mom was in her jammies, curled up on the couch with a book.

“A few minutes ago.” Ally couldn't wait to soak in the bathtub for an hour. Except for Mom's weekly book club meetings, they both were usually in for the evening by six o'clock. Such exciting lives they led. Probably should get out more.