Renee Andrews - Finally A Bride

“You must have placed them behind the computer when you were writing your check,” Aaliyah said. “I found them after you left.” She placed the bottle in a brown paper bag this time, probably so Mrs. Martin would have a better chance of keeping up with it.

Mae leaned over the counter toward Haley. “Tell me, how’s that little puppy doing? I could tell Gavin was concerned about him.”

“He’s doing better,” Haley said, frustrated that Gavin’s lack of confidence had been so easily visible.

“Good. That little boy has been through so much already.” She looked knowingly toward Haley. “I’m sure that’s why Gavin was intent on making sure the little pup would be okay.”

“He isn’t always so full of sunshine?” Haley didn’t disguise her sarcasm.

Mae put a hand to her chest, laughing deeply. “Oh, my, you’ve got his number already, don’t you? Actually he’s always like that around adults. But when you see him around those kids at Willow’s Haven, especially Eli, you get a glimpse of the heart hiding beneath the surface. Both Brodie and Savvy will tell you that he’s one of the best cabin counselors they have.” She tilted her head and lifted one corner of her mouth in a smile. “Gavin’s a good guy. He’s just a pro at hiding it.”

Haley wondered why that was. And why, if he was so good with kids, he didn’t have an equal affinity toward adults.

Then she shook those questions away. She didn’t need to be wondering anything about the devastatingly handsome and undeniably annoying man. Plus, they were already fifteen minutes past closing and she had no desire to prolong this discussion.

Mae started toward the door, then stopped and pointed beneath one of the lobby chairs. “Oh, dear. That’s Eli’s backpack. I’m sure he’ll need it for school tomorrow. I hope he isn’t upset at leaving it. He’s already had such a bad day, being worried about the puppy and all.” She turned and frowned. “I’d take it to him, but I need to get back and feed Snowflake.”

“And I need to get home to see Cierrah,” Aaliyah said, referring to her adorable four-year-old daughter.

Mae’s smile widened. “Looks like you’ll probably need to take this out to the children’s home, hmm? You wouldn’t want Eli to be sad about leaving it, and you’ll definitely want to make sure he has it for school tomorrow.”

Haley stared at the red-and-blue backpack then stole a glance at the two women, smiling and nodding at each other as though thrilled with this predicament. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say one of you left it there so I’d have to go see that bear of a man.”

“You are good with animals.” Aaliyah barely stifled her giggle.

Mae winked at her, charm bracelet clanging as she pointed a pink-tipped finger her way. “Oh, that was good.”

Haley did her best to ignore any additional remarks, because both ladies were obviously on a roll.

With a heavy sigh, she headed for the door.

* * *

“Eli is really taken with that dog, isn’t he?” Mark asked while he and Gavin rode in the front seats of the Willow’s Haven bus with some of the other cabin counselors. Most of the kids behind them chattered about this evening’s soccer practice. But Eli, who sat a couple of rows back and had a voice a little louder than the average seven-year-old, couldn’t stop talking about Buddy.

Gavin glanced over his shoulder at the boy. “Yeah, he is.”

“So, does the vet think the dog will be okay with treatment? Because I’m not sure how Eli will take it if he isn’t.”

Gavin wasn’t surprised the other man’s thoughts mirrored his own. “She said she would do her best.”

“She? You didn’t take him to Doc Sheridan?”

“From what I gather, he retired, and this was the new vet’s first day on the job.”

“Aw, man, that doesn’t sound good for Eli’s puppy.” Mark propped his arm on the back of the seat and ran his hand across his mouth in a that’s-too-bad move.

Gavin felt the same way. “Yeah. Well, according to Mrs. Martin, she’s been there for a while working as his assistant, so I’m praying she’ll be able to help.”

“Wait a minute. Doc Sheridan’s assistant? Haley? Haley Calhoun?” Mark asked, his tone livening with every syllable. “She’s the vet taking care of the puppy?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I didn’t realize you were talking about Haley. She’s awesome. I’m surprised you haven’t seen her around town already. She’ll be coming to Willow’s Haven on a regular basis soon, since she’s the one running the new Adopt-an-Animal program, where she’ll bring animals to Willow’s Haven.” He smiled broadly. “We’ll also be taking the kids out to the Cutter Ranch to spend time with the horses, hiking and all of that, and I’m sure she’ll be part of that, as well. It was Haley’s idea, actually, and she’s donating her time. Pretty cool.”

Gavin wasn’t certain how “cool” it’d be. He hadn’t liked that niggling attraction he’d felt when he’d seen the pretty lady, and he certainly didn’t want to experience it on a regular basis. Especially when he had no desire for any relationship again. He’d had the perfect relationship, with Selah, and he didn’t want—or need—another.

Maybe he wouldn’t have to see the good doctor when she worked with the kids.

Yeah, right. His cabin would undoubtedly be involved with the Adopt-an-Animal program, so he’d be interacting, in some manner, with Haley Calhoun. Even after they finished seeing each other because of Eli’s puppy.

Gavin swallowed past the grumble in his throat.

Thankfully, Mark didn’t seem to notice. “She’ll do her best with the puppy,” he said, nodding, “I feel certain of that.”

And that’s what she’d told Gavin. That she’d do her best. He just hadn’t trusted her best to be good enough. Selah’s doctors had also said they would do their best. But Mark sure seemed to trust Dr. Haley Calhoun. “How do you know her?”

Mark shifted in his seat, scanned the group of boys behind them and answered, “When I first moved to Claremont, I had an English-American bulldog mix named Roman. When I took Roman to the vet, I’d typically see Haley. She did a great job. Roman was old already, lived a couple of years past his life expectancy, and Haley was so gentle with him. That dog loved her.” He shrugged. “I don’t see her that often anymore. Used to see her at the church, but she hasn’t been there in a while.”

Gavin recalled Mae’s comment that Haley’d given up on God when she’d given up on men and he wondered what had happened in the feisty vet’s world. He knew personally what it was like to give up on God. He’d given up on Him, gotten angry at Him, on this very day two years ago. But then, he’d felt so alone and eventually recognized that the One he blamed...was the only One who could heal his pain.

While Gavin contemplated what had happened to the lovely vet, Eli’s voice overpowered the others on the crowded bus. “And then Miss Haley told me that I could come and see him every day after school,” he told Ryan, the boy sitting beside him.

“I wish I could find a puppy in the woods,” Ryan said.

Mark grinned. “Some things never change. Every little boy wants a dog.”

Brodie Evans, sitting on the opposite bench seat, nodded. “Savvy and I were actually discussing that this afternoon. Dylan, Rose and Daisy have been asking for a dog and we think the new Adopt-an-Animal program might be good for all the children.”

“I can see how that could benefit the kids,” Gavin agreed, even if he wasn’t thrilled about the vet who would lead the program. She made him uncomfortable, set him off balance. However, he remembered how protective Eli had been of the puppy this afternoon. And how much he hadn’t wanted to leave him behind.