Reuniting With The Cowboy. Shannon Taylor Vannatter

settled on a hay bale. Would his leg ever stop aching?

      A breeze wafted through the barn, stirring strands that had strayed from her braid around her face. Absolutely beautiful. Why hadn’t some man snapped her up? Was it because of all the homeless pets she kept? Cody loved animals as much as she did, but not everyone felt the same way.

      If she’d found some critter-loving man and were living happily ever after, would it make whatever was left of his life easier or harder? “How come you never married?”

      “Excuse me?” She propped her hands on her hips.

      “Just curious.” He shrugged. “Back when we were in high school, you dreamed right along with Caitlyn about getting married.”

      “I did, didn’t I?” Her voice went soft and she settled on a hay bale facing him, elbows propped on her knees. “My parents married right out of high school and Mom never worked outside the home. She didn’t have a clue about how to get a job, balance the checkbook or pay the bills.”

      She picked up the gray kitten and cuddled it. “Dad had done everything for her. For a while after he died, I thought I’d have to give up college and stay home to take care of her. It made me realize I never want to need anyone that much.”

      “Everybody needs somebody.”

      “Look who’s talking.” She caught his gaze. “Mr. I’m-Never-Getting-Married-so-I-Can-Travel-and-Do-What-I-Want.”

      “I guess it got old.” But it really hadn’t. Not until he’d seen her again. Only one thing was certain. Being close to her drove it home. If he didn’t have a bubble in his head, he’d go after way more than friendship with Ally.

      He had to stop thinking about things he couldn’t pursue. “I could build you a few extra pens above the ones you already have to solve your cat problem.”

      “I’d always planned to do that, just haven’t had time.” She bit her lip. “That would be great, but if you really want to help me, there is something else you can do.”

      “Just ask.”

      “Would you sell me a few acres? I had my eye on five, but one would get me out of a bind.”

      He’d have loved to. But the problem with that was that he was only leasing. Yet he needed his family to believe he was willingly retiring to become a rancher. Otherwise, they’d get curious and if they learned about his health situation, they’d hover and he’d have no peace while he decided what to do.

      He couldn’t burden her with his secret.

      “Well?”

      “Ally?” A man’s voice called out, cutting off any response he might have given her.

      “Over in the neighbor’s barn,” she yelled.

      Footfalls crunched across the gravel and a shadow fell over the doorway.

      A gray-haired man wearing scrubs stepped inside. “Everything go okay with the mastiff?”

      “She’ll be fine.” She nodded. “The car just grazed her. Lacerations and contusions, but no internal injuries or broken bones. Most of her damage came from the highway.”

      “Ouch.” The man winced. “Poor girl. I finished the vaccinations. Derek filled out all the records and he’s putting the ranch file in the office. Just thought I’d check in before I go.”

      Ally gestured to the man. “This is Dr. Lance Bridges, the other vet here at my clinic. Cody is our new neighbor. He took Bruno and the three strays I got in yesterday, just in the knick of time. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.”

      “Nice meeting you.” Cody clasped hands with Lance.

      “Likewise.”

      “You go on home. I’m sure Erin has your supper ready.”

      “See you tomorrow.” As Dr. Bridges turned away, a younger man approached. Blond, midtwenties.

      “Some first day, huh, Derek?”

      “I loved every minute of it.” The younger man smiled, scratched the kitten Ally held under its chin. His hand dangerously close to hers.

      Huh? Was he flirting with Ally?

      Was this guy an assistant? Or working on being her boyfriend?

      Ally pushed stray strands of hair away from her face. “You tell that sweet wife of yours I’ll try not to keep you this late on a daily basis.”

      Whew. Thankfully the guy was married.

      But what should it matter? Ally’s love life was none of Cody’s concern. It couldn’t be.

      “Don’t worry. Brandy understands my work.” The guy turned to the door.

      “Where are my manners?” Ally stood, brushed the hay off the seat of her jeans. “This is Cody Warren. We were friends all through school, and now he lives next door. Derek Tatum is my new veterinary technician.”

      “It’s nice to meet you. I’ll see you tomorrow, Ally.”

      “Make that Tuesday. Have a nice, long Labor Day weekend. With so many ranches in Aubrey, we have more cattle vacs scheduled as usual. But maybe there won’t be any emergencies.”

      “But you’re working tomorrow and Monday. If it’s all the same to you, I’d just as soon do the same.”

      “If you’re sure.”

      “I am.” With a wave, Derek left them alone.

      Ally set the kitten down and it curled around her ankle. “So what about the land?”

      He’d hoped she’d forget about the issue. “I can’t sell you any of it.”

      “Why not?” Her shoulders slumped. “Just an acre? A half an acre?”

      His only option was to be as honest as he could. “I’m only leasing it.” What were the odds of her talking to his parents about his land anyway?

      “But yesterday you said you bought it.”

      “No, you said I bought it. I decided to test the ranching thing out before doing anything permanent.” Great. He’d just reinforced her notion that he had commitment issues.

      “Oh.” The corners of her mouth tipped down and she stood. “I’m really tired and I can’t wait to get cleaned up. Do you want me to walk you across the yard?”

      It was tempting to lean on her. But not advisable.

      “I’ll be fine. I’ll go nice and slow.” He opened the door for her.

      She exited and he followed. By the time he’d made five steps, she’d already reached her back door. Not sparing him another glance, she slipped inside and closed it.

      So much for talking about the kiss. It seemed as if without saying a word, they both agreed to forget it. At least things weren’t quite as strained between them. Though maybe that would’ve been preferable.

      Ally was his friend. And that was all she could be. So why did he have to keep reminding himself of that?

      * * *

      Ally stepped into the mudroom, where excited yips greeted her. “Hey, Foxy. Hey, Wolf.” The two puffballs danced for her attention. “Did y’all miss me today?”

      Peering through the blinds, she watched Cody slowly hobble to his house. He’d saved her from a written reprimand. But he wouldn’t sell her any land, because he was only leasing. Which meant he probably wasn’t staying.

      He frustrated the daylights out of her. So she wouldn’t coddle him. He was an adult. If he was goofy enough to insist on living alone and walking on his bad leg without any help, that was his problem. She didn’t have the time or energy to babysit him while he played rancher next door.