The Danger Within. Valerie Hansen

her vest. “Please, continue eating. I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal.” She looked up at Fiona. “I’ll have herb tea and a Chef’s salad with only eggs and cheese. I don’t eat meat. Ranch dressing, please.”

      Michael’s eyebrows rose at Layla’s choices as Fiona went to place the order. “Rabbit food?”

      “It’s good for rabbits, isn’t it?”

      “They tend to be pretty puny.”

      “Only because that’s the way the Lord intended them to be. I’d hate to see a bunny the size of a horse.” One eyebrow arched. “Come to think of it, horses are vegetarians, too.”

      “I can see you’re an expert,” Michael quipped. “Did they teach you that in veterinary college?”

      “Nope. I already knew. I’m not a city girl. I was raised not far from here.”

      “Really? Let me guess, around Manitou Springs?”

      “Yes, as a matter of fact. How did you know?”

      Michael saw her glance at her bangle bracelets, then start to finger the beads in one of the necklaces draped in silvery loops around her neck. She knew very well how he’d come to that conclusion and was obviously waiting for him to make some derogatory comment about life in a commune.

      Instead, he nodded toward the chair where he’d placed his hat. “The same way you know I’m a rancher. We both dress the part.”

      “I do have my conventional side.”

      “You must, to have graduated as a veterinarian. Where did you go to school?”

      “Up by Berkeley. The UC Davis campus.” Layla began to grin. “That way I didn’t have to buy a new wardrobe.”

      “Very practical.” Michael paused as her tea and salad were delivered. “What brings you back to Colorado?”

      Holding the cup in both hands to warm her fingers, she took a cautious sip. “Umm. I don’t know, exactly. I travel a lot. Here and there.”

      “That’s it?” Michael was incredulous. “You just drift?”

      “I like to see new sights. It suits my nature.”

      He swallowed his last spoonful of lunch and settled back in his chair. “Amazing. I can’t imagine ever wanting to do that. This place is home.”

      Layla smiled indulgently. “Any place can be home if your heart is right and you’re in tune with the Lord.”

      “Sounds like you’ve kept the earthy philosophy you grew up with and substituted God for Mother Nature.”

      “I didn’t need to substitute anything. It all belongs to God in the first place.”

      “Good point.”

      She nodded slowly. “I seem to remember a verse about Him owning the cattle on a thousand hills.”

      “I’ve heard it. I just wish He was watching the livestock at my place a little closer.”

      “Why?”

      Michael shook his head soberly. “Never mind. It’s nothing. I’ll get it all sorted out soon.”

      “Maybe I can help. I’d be glad to give you a professional opinion if you want.”

      In spite of her age and nonconformist image he was tempted to take her up on the offer. However, once he confided in her there’d be no going back. Although she seemed friendly and concerned, it was foolish to expect loyalty—or silence—from someone he hardly knew.

      “Thanks. I can handle it myself.”

      “Good for you,” she said with a quirky smile. Her gaze settled on the table next to his empty chili bowl. “Are you going to eat those crackers?”

      “No. Help yourself. I would have offered if they’d been whole wheat.”

      “I have been known to consume refined flour on occasion. I make up for it by eating right the rest of the time. You know. Nuts, berries, twigs, whatever.”

      “Glad to hear it.” He crumpled his napkin and placed it beside his empty bowl. “Well, it’s been nice meeting you. If you’ll excuse me…”

      “Thanks for sharing your table—and your crackers.”

      “You’re quite welcome. Have a nice life—wherever you decide to go.”

      “Thanks. I will.”

      Michael picked up his hat and squared it on his head. He was turning away when the phone in his pocket jingled. He flipped it open and answered. “Hello?”

      “We got a problem, boss.”

      Listening to Norberto explain what he meant by that, Michael scowled. “Have you done all you can?”

      “Si, boss.”

      “What about Hector? Where’s he?”

      “Gone. He didn’t say where.”

      “Terrific. Okay. I’m on my way.”

      “Trouble?” Layla asked as Michael ended the telephone conversation.

      “Yeah.” He studied her for a long moment. “What do you know about cows? Calving, to be more precise.”

      “I paid attention in class, if that’s what you’re asking. Why?”

      “We’ve got a special heifer in labor. Norberto, my best hand, says nobody can get close enough to check her. He thinks the calf is breech.”

      Suddenly all business, Layla put down her fork and stood to face him. “How long has she been in labor? Is she out on the range or inside? Has he checked for the calf’s tail? Is the heifer down yet? Have her hips gone out?”

      Michael held up his hand. “Whoa. We’ve got her in the barn but the rest I don’t know. Normally, we’d just let her go ahead and try until she got too tired and sore to fight us, then we’d step in and help. But this heifer is a 4-H project I bought at the fair last year. She belonged to one of the little girls from church. I promised I’d take extra good care of her.”

      “Then we’d better get a move on. How far is your ranch?” As she spoke, she was scooping up the cellophane-wrapped crackers and stuffing them into her pockets.

      “You don’t have to do this.”

      “Of course I do! It’s what I went to school for. Besides, I have a way with animals.”

      “It might help to have a woman there,” Michael reasoned. “I imagine the heifer remembers her first owner. Okay. You’re hired. But just for today. Just till we get the calf on the ground.”

      He threw enough money on the table to pay for both their lunches and followed Layla. She was already almost to the door and practically running. If her skill matched her enthusiasm, maybe he hadn’t made such an arbitrary decision after all. And, maybe Fiona was right. Maybe the offbeat vet had been brought to Colorado Springs at that particular time because the Lord knew she’d be needed. Stranger things had happened in Michael’s life, especially lately.

      He grabbed his jacket and shrugged into it as he shouldered out the door after Layla.