Shelter Me (37 page)

Sierra swayed and would have fallen if Mike’s hand hadn’t palmed her shoulder for support. “But they could?”

How freaking messed up that they couldn’t even have a moment to breathe in the good news that the people responsible for destroying the gates had been found. The Hammonds were going to use even that against them.

“I’m sorry,” Officer Parker said. “Valerie Hammond has some powerful friends in town thanks to wealthy parents and her volunteer work. You need to be at that meeting and you need to be prepared for the worst. Just in case.”

Mike squeezed her shoulder. “And when is this emergency meeting taking place?”

“Tomorrow evening.”

Tomorrow? She looked from Mike to the policeman and saw no reprieve. They’d lost a whole week to prepare their case. And not only that, they were being ambushed by a legion of influential people in the community who might just stamp out her mother’s dream after all.

*   *   *

CONVINCING THE MCDANIEL
men to go for a walk with him hadn’t been easy, but Mike had been given Nathan and Gramps duty while Sierra talked to her mother. And he wasn’t going to let her down when she needed his help most. Sierra had called in sick to work and was helping her mother go over all the files and records for the Second Chance Ranch, making sure everything was in order and had been properly filed. Fortunately, he knew they kept meticulous records. Their home life might seem chaotic, but they’d taken no chances with the legalities of the ranch for the sake of the animals. Seeing them together, reviewing every possible detail, it occurred to Mike these two women could freaking rule the world.

But in less than twenty-four hours that world could be upended for them again. He wished he could give Sierra something more than babysitter patrol, but he wasn’t any closer to finding the answers to their showdown in the kitchen.

She’d said she still loved him. He should be pumping his fist in victory. Except for the part about her not wanting any part of his life. There’d been no room for compromise on that point. She meant it. Which left them . . . where, exactly?

The lack of answers and futility of sitting around the farmhouse had been driving him out of his mind, which was why he’d organized his current trek with the McDaniel men.

Nathan trudged after him. “How much farther do I have to walk?”

“Not much farther.” Mike hitched the golf bag over his shoulder. “General, are you still with us?”

“I’m doing fine, son. It’s the boy here who’s holding us back with all that attitude.” Gramps’s shuffling footsteps rustled along the beaten path. “Don’t know why we have to march out here and get all sweaty. Why would anyone want to play golf in the heat? If you ask me, we need to find a good topless bar.”

Shaking his head slowly, Mike stopped at the edge of a pasture that ran alongside the Hammonds’ property. “Sir, I believe golf is a more age appropriate option for Nathan. I figured if the Hammonds are going to spy on us, we might as well give them something to look at while we’re burning off energy.” Slinging the bag from his shoulder, he gestured to Nathan. “Hey, buddy, come here.”

“I’m not your buddy.” But he walked over anyway.

“Fair enough.” Mike pulled out a club, dusty as hell, but then it had likely been a long time since the General had used them. Hopefully he had some of that muscle memory left for the game. “You’ve got cause to be pissed off at the world.”

Nathan took the golf club from Mike. “Did they send you out here to talk me into counseling?”

“Nah, I’ll leave that up to your mom and your sister. But they’re going to insist and you’re going to say yes. You don’t have a choice there.” Mike slipped out another club and passed it to the General along with a three-pack of golf balls. “I was thinking more along the lines of an outlet for our frustrations today. Because sitting at home isn’t solving jack, and like it or not, we’ve all three got shit weighing us down.”

Nathan swung the club loosely back and forth. “What if I don’t want to play golf?”

“Then we’ll figure out something else to help you.” Mike dropped a ball in front of the teenager, catching his eyes and holding, making sure he had the boy’s full attention. “Because, Nathan, quitting is never an option.”

“That’s true, son,” Gramps chimed in while he checked the height of the grass and lifted a finger to test the wind. “We don’t quit.”

Nathan stared at the ground, tap, tap, tapping the golf ball with the club lightly. “I’m gonna have to go to therapy.”

That simple sentence coming from Nathan required courage. And for a flash, Mike saw a hint of the Colonel in him, even though the boy looked so much like Lacey.

Seeing such strength coming from a teen who’d taken some damn hard hits in life humbled him. How come the kid could man up and face facts with so much clear-eyed smarts while Mike was still chasing his tail going around and around with Sierra?

The moment was like a clap to his thick head, making Mike realize he’d been copping out. He’d told himself he was helping Sierra by staying away and denying the relationship so she wouldn’t be subjected to her mother’s life. Instead, he should have been putting her first, because damn it, she was first in his life and in his heart.

He was through running away from the promise of being happy with her. He understood exactly what needed to happen to show Sierra how much he loved her. And loving her meant he would be a part of this family, with an aging grandfather, a quirky mom and this confused teenager. Mike had been a rebel his whole life, with friends, but not family. He’d never had anyone to call family, not in the ways that mattered. But he was crazy about this one, and they’d taught him a thing or two about how families supported each other when times were tough. He’d watched the McDaniels enough to realize families just dug in and worked together.

He knew what to do to win Sierra and shut down this bogus council meeting.

“Nathan, I have an idea for how to save your mom’s rescue”—and show Sierra how committed he was to building a life with her—“but I’m going to need your help.”

Twenty

T
HE NEXT EVENING,
Sierra rode in the SUV with her mom to the council meeting. Sunset cast a hazy, mellow glow over the sleepy little town, but she couldn’t find the peace that should come at the end of the day. She felt like her grandfather, sundowning, disoriented and angry over the loss of control.

She could only imagine how her mother felt, with this showdown coming so close on the heels of the crisis with her brother. He had his first appointment with the psychiatrist tomorrow, a surprisingly easy victory to win.

Surprising her again tonight, Nathan had opted to ride with Mike ahead of time, something about grabbing a burger on the way, which sounded strange, but Mike had really taken her brother under his wing. And as long as her brother was safely watched, she didn’t see the need to argue.

Not that she’d even had five seconds free to talk to Mike since they’d fought. Even if they did find a quiet minute alone, she wasn’t sure what to say to make things right again. To stop the ache in her heart that ran so much deeper than the last time they’d broken up.

Was this it? Were they truly over? Would he leave once the meeting wrapped up and he wouldn’t have to feel obligated to help them anymore? As much as she dreaded the council meeting, she dreaded the aftermath more. Once this was done, she would find out where she stood with Mike.

Since Officer Parker had shared the news with them yesterday morning, Sierra and her mother had been in crisis management mode. They’d gone over every aspect of the rescue’s paperwork, making sure they hadn’t missed any legal loophole. Then, they’d put together a presentation with handouts and a PowerPoint.

They’d opted to leave Gramps at home with a sitter. Ghita’s sister was an LPN at a local assisted living facility. Her mom had resisted at first, but at the last second acquiesced on that point after months of digging in her heels that she could handle everything. Hopefully, this would start a new era of care that would ease the strain on everyone, including Gramps. It was time to make that transition into the next level needed to keep her grandfather safe. The nurse had been full of information about activities and assistance that could offer Gramps a richer life beyond an endless stream of watching John Wayne movies.

A lot had changed in the past three weeks. For all of them. “Mom, it’s going to be okay.”

Her mother’s knuckles went white on the steering wheel. “Sierra, I swear if you spew some morose, weighty Emily Dickinson quote, I’m going to make you walk the rest of the way.”

“No Dickinson today.” She searched her mind for something more appropriate, more uplifting for both of them. “I’m thinking a piece of wisdom from Helen Keller is appropriate. ‘What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.’”

Her mother’s grip eased. “That’s beautiful, Sierra, truly.”

“You’ve sent a lot of love out there into the world with the animals you’ve saved and rehomed. I hope you never lose sight of that.”

Lacey reached over to squeeze her hand. “Thank you. I don’t know if I say that enough, but I don’t know what I would have done without you these past few months.”

“We’re family. No thanks needed.” She squeezed back. “Love you.”

As they drew closer to the county building where the meeting would be held, Sierra noticed more and more cars parked on the side of the road, increasing until there wasn’t a single space left all the way to the parking lot, also full.

Sierra grabbed the armrest, looking left and right at the rows of vehicles. Nerves kicked into high gear. “Did you know about this turnout?”

“I knew people were interested, but I had no idea Second Chance was on the radar of so many people. I just pray they’re not all friends of Valerie Hammond.”

The Hammonds were reputed to be related to half the county.

Could the rescue be lost simply because a large enough group of people held a personal grudge? Sierra couldn’t imagine her mother without the Second Chance Ranch. It had become such a part of her. Biting her lip, she looked around, concentrating on one problem at a time. “Where are we going to park?”

Her mother started a three-point turn. “I guess we’ll have to find a side street and walk. I really hope we’re not late.”

Two blocks away, they located a tiny space and somehow her mother wedged in the bulky family SUV. Sierra reached over the seat for her computer bag while her mother hefted out a fat box full of handouts. “Mom, we’re not going to have enough for everyone.”

“There’s nothing we can do about that now.” She grabbed her purse and hit the ground running. “We have the PowerPoint and we have our voices.”

She just wished she’d worn better running shoes for this rather than opting for businesslike attire. Computer bag bumping her hip, she jogged around the corner, her mother’s feet drumming behind her. Louder. In sync with her hammering pulse and the barking dogs—

Barking dogs?

Sierra stumbled, looking at her mother. “Mom? Do you hear that?” Was she imagining the sound of dogs now even in the short time she was away from them? “What’s going on?”

Lacey looked just as confused, jostling the box for a firmer grip. “I have no idea.”

The closer they came to the town hall, the louder the noise grew. Not just barking, but the low murmur of voices. The sky grew darker, streetlights flickering to life one by one until a glowing dome showcased the crowd outside the building on the street. And as she looked closer, she began to recognize faces.

The young couple that adopted Bob Marley stood with their twin girls and both dogs. Lucky, the marijuana-eating Pomeranian, stood beside the senior citizen couple that had adopted him. One by one, Sierra recognized the faces of people who’d looked to Lacey and the Second Chance Ranch for their next companion pet. Each of those animals waited as well, glowing with health and love.

A cluster of people wearing the same T-shirt drew her eye and tugged her heart. Mary Hannah, other volunteers and foster families from the picnics held stacks of flyers. Ghita and her husband were there with their dogs on leashes beside them. Sierra couldn’t help but notice the ditzy receptionist Maisie was nowhere in sight, but then she’d never been much of a fan of any animal other than the pedigree sort.

Mary Hannah, Debbie and Charlotte smiled and waved, each with a leash around her wrist attached to a current Second Chance animal wearing an
Adopt Me
scarf. Sierra didn’t question for an instant who was the organizational brain trust behind the color coordination. She smiled her thanks to her friend, but still wondered how so many of their allies could have heard about the emergency meeting. Mary Hannah wouldn’t have had access to all the adopters’ names or contact information. Lacey looked as stunned as she felt, mutely accepting hugs from people who’d turned out to help their cause.

Tears burned Sierra’s eyes at the outpouring of support. Words of encouragement rippled from the crowd.

“We’ve got your back.”

“You can do it.”

“We’re here for you all.”

Dahlia and her staff started a round of applause, and the throng parted, revealing Doc Vega, Nathan . . . and Mike.

Sierra blinked to clear away the tears. Her heart tripped over itself. Her feet, too, as she stumbled to a stop. Mike met her eyes and held, his arms slowly raising as he held up a sign that read:

EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE

A murmur of excitement rumbled through the gathering as others lifted their homemade signs as well with photos and slogans, all championing the McDaniel family.

Suddenly she realized exactly how all these people knew to be here tonight. Mike. Mike had made this happen for her and for her family. Beyond that, he’d involved Nathan as well, giving her brother a purpose, something positive to hang on to at the darkest time in his young life.

And Mike had done all of that for her in spite of how she’d wrecked things between them, shutting him down rather than talking things through. She knew better than that. Her mother and, yes, her dad, too, had taught her differently. But she’d acted out of fear, letting her doubts and insecurities push him away. How incredibly unfair to both of them, but to Mike especially. She wasn’t just robbing him of their love, but of her whole family, a family he’d become a part of whether they ever swore vows to each other or not.