Reuniting With The Cowboy. Shannon Taylor Vannatter

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

      “Maybe 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