Shannon Vannatter - Reuniting With The Cowboy

Ally offered her hand. “You pass. Buttercup is yours if you want her.”

“I do. Let’s go get her.” Tara stood and rubbed her hands together again.

“Let me walk him back.” Cody took Oreo’s leash, his hand grazing Ally’s. Electricity shot all the way to her toes.

While it took food to excite Cody, and Buttercup got Tara animated, it seemed Cody was Ally’s source of excitement. His nearness propelled her right over the edge of her sanity.

Which was why she’d held off on agreeing to volunteer for the carnival. Spending a day and a half with him certainly wouldn’t help her keep her right mind. But time at the church with her other two dozen or so four-legged friends who still needed forever homes would be good advertisement.

More than anything, she wanted to help the abandoned pets in her care. But could she survive working side by side with Cody?

* * *

It had taken Tara forever to finalize her purchases—a crate, a leash, a chew toy, along with tick-and-flea preventative—before she’d taken Buttercup and been on her way.

Cody loved his sister, but he was dying to spend time with Ally alone.

“So, you’re holding Oreo for me, right?”

“I told you I would.” Ally pointed to the boarding side of the kennels. “See, I moved him over to the boarder side last night. He belongs to someone.”

“Do I need to pay you for boarding him?”

“No. He’s fine until you can take him home.”

“I wish I could right now.” Cody sat on a hay bale and scratched the dog’s head. “Let me at least provide his food.”

“I’m just glad he has a home. Whenever you’re well enough, he’s yours.”

“You hear that, buddy?” The pup’s ears perked up at the enthusiasm in Cody’s voice. He already loved the dog.

“And now that you’re in the longhorn business, Oreo is great with cattle.”

“So you know his history?”

“His former owner brought him here because Oreo insisted on herding her horses.”

“His former owner? Not his person?”

“She obviously was never Oreo’s person.” Ally harrumphed. “I guess I should be glad she brought him here instead of dumping him. Thanks for finding Buttercup a home.”

“I thought you weren’t going to let Tara have her for a minute there.”

“I was just being cautious.” Ally raked hay out of a kennel and replaced it with a fresh batch. “I know Tara would never dump a dog, but a lot of the reason there are so many strays is because people aren’t prepared to have a pet. Some breeds have more issues than others, so I make sure my potential adoptive families understand what they’re getting into.”

“I’m glad she passed. She’d already fallen in love with Buttercup.”

“Actually, Tara got the brief version since she’s owned a Chihuahua before. If she hadn’t, I’d have gone into the chewing-on-the-couch issues.” The barking around them reached a crescendo as the last of the volunteers exited. “If the potential adoptive family has thought through all aspects of having a pet, there’s more of a chance that both the pet and their person will be happy.”

“So why didn’t you grill me about Oreo before you agreed to let me be his person?”

“Because I know you. I remember how much you loved Duke. How patient you were with him. Even as a kid. And I know you’ll love Oreo and take care of him.”

Memories of his first dog warmed Cody’s insides. That Ally remembered did funny things in his chest.

“You’ll take care of him no matter where you end up.”

No matter where he ended up? Apparently he hadn’t convinced her he was settling in Aubrey yet. Even though his longhorns arrived yesterday and she was vaccinating them tomorrow. Maybe he should’ve had a little faith and bought the ranch instead of leasing it.

The phone rang and she hurried past the kennels to the desk. “Ally’s Vet Clinic and Adopt-a-Pet. May I help you?”

Cody scratched Oreo’s ears and cooed at him. How did animals reduce full-grown men to baby talk? Probably the same way babies did. Michaela, his niece courtesy of Mitch and Caitlyn, had him making silly faces and doing whatever it took just to get a grin out of her these days.

And made him think about having his own kids someday. If he lived long enough for it.

Ally let out a little whoop, whirled around and came running toward him.

“What?” He stood.

“You’re so awesome!” She hugged him.

His arms slid around her waist, sending his pulse into orbit. “I’ve been trying to convince everyone of that for years.”

“That was a friend of Tara’s. She said you told her all about my shelter. She’s coming tomorrow to get three cats and a dog, maybe even two dogs, for her kids.”

“That’s wonderful.” But not nearly as wonderful as holding her.

She pressed her cheek against his chest, probably hearing his erratic heartbeat. Way too soon, she pushed away from him and their gazes locked. Her face neared his as she rose on tiptoe.

Was she going to kiss him? He closed his eyes in anticipation but her lips brushed his cheek. And then she was gone.

By the time he found enough courage to open his eyes, she was grabbing a leash off the wall.

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