Chapter Eleven

Jenna pulled into the parking area behind her office and turned off Whisper’s truck. The breech cow delivery had been touch and go and very messy. She smelled of blood and guts and her belly balked. She’d always known she’d have calls like today’s, but she didn’t know she’d be making them in such a frazzled state of mind.

Yesterday on her drive home, she’d become more and more angry at Logan. The man was a stubborn ass, refusing to see the other side of an issue. He was completely blinded by his fatherhood.

She knew what it was like growing up without a mom. Not being able to talk to anyone, especially a parent, about female things like her periods, sex, or even just what color dress would look good with her complexion. She’d avoided her prom to skirt all those topics.

But it was more than that. There was nothing like a mother’s love. She remembered her mom giving her hugs, telling her stories before she went to bed, and brushing her hair. Those mother-daughter times were just as special as father-daughter times…at least until she was seven. Part of her wanted to argue on behalf of Charlotte, but the other half wanted to argue for herself and her right to have an opinion without being shut off and cast away.

Then she’d arrived home and crawled into bed. That’s when her heart broke. He didn’t say it, but it was obvious he was done with her, and she cried herself to sleep.

Now, she just wanted to curl up in a ball and forget the world existed, but that wasn’t her lot in life. She had a job to do, and it was an emotionally rewarding one if not always financially so. The Last Chance was her financial lifeline and she refused to give it up because Logan couldn’t see past his own nose.

As her anger resurfaced, her focus became sharper. “You ready to see, Connie?” She looked at Butterball, who wagged his tail every time she spoke. “Or do you want to bite Logan’s leg with your sharp teeth?”

Butterball wagged his tail again.

She grinned. Mr. Erickson must have known what he was doing when he gave her the dog. Just having Butterball around in her lonely, hectic life was a huge help to her psyche. “Okay, let’s go see how the rest of the menagerie is doing.”

Jumping out, she walked around to the passenger door and lifted Butterball down then grabbed her bag from the floor of the front seat. She walked to the back entrance and easily slipped into her office without anyone seeing her.

Pulling a dog bone from her desk draw, she held it out to Butterball. “That’s for being such a good listener.” He took the bone and waddled over to his bed, a present from Connie.

She flicked on her computer then used her bathroom to wash up with warm soapy water. The hose at the ranch had such hot water from the Arizona heat, that she’d barely been able to let it touch her skin.

When she returned to her desk, she sorted through her mail, setting aside the bills for the office and her student loans. “Oh, boy. I bet this is the insurance company’s value for my car.”

Butterball ignored her, having way too much fun with his bone to bother with her. Even his tail didn’t wag. Was that a sign?

Slicing open the envelope, she stared and her heart sank—$3,984.32. She’d never find a reliable used car for that amount, but it would be a halfway decent deposit on a new car. The problem was, she had her heart set on a small pickup truck about the size of Whisper’s.

Taking out a calculator, she crunched the numbers three-ways to Tuesday, but it was no use. She couldn’t afford a truck. Defeated, she crumbled up the paper she’d scribbled on.

Maybe she could ask Whisper if she’d like to sell hers? It wasn’t like the woman used her own vehicle that much, and now that Trace was living with her and had a truck, she just might consider selling. The more Jenna thought of the idea, the more she liked it. “See BB, there’s still hope.”

Butterball continued to ignore her, so she checked on her next appointment. Having a few minutes before it started, she strode into the back room where her most critical patients were recovering. Luckily, there were very few, just a hamster, a duck and Snowy, Mrs. Thompson’s elderly cat.

She checked each out and was pleased with their progress. The hamster could go home, but the duck needed another day and she’d watch Snowy for a few more days. Once satisfied they were all well, she stepped out into the waiting area. Connie handed her a file and she greeted Ms. Landry and the box of kittens she held.

Luckily, her appointments for the rest of the day kept her mind on her job. It wasn’t until her last appointment left and she sat down in her office that her own heartache hit her all over again.

She tried to ignore it, typing in her final notes, but it was no use. She loved Logan Williams and he’d pushed her away again. This time, there was no excuse except his stubbornness, and she refused to have her heart broken over that. She would just have to change his mind or they could agree to disagree because other than his refusal to see her side, he was a good man.

Feeling a lot better now that she’d made her decision, she closed down her computer.

“Excuse me, Dr. Jenna, but Mrs. Thompson is here. She’d like to talk to you.” Connie looked puzzled, her eyebrows drawn down in confusion. “She saw the closed sign but knocked anyway. I was rather put out, but since her kitty is here, I had to let her in.”

“Of course you did. That was the right thing to do.” She studied her receptionist. “Did you call her to update her on Snowy’s progress?”

“I did. Every morning and evening. I even called her while you were in with your last patient to tell her how well Snowy was doing this evening.”

No wonder Connie was puzzled. “Bring her down here and you can go home. I’ll lock up.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Positive. I have a lot less to do tonight than you do.”

Connie grinned. “I do have another dinner and dance planned with my cowboy and I need to change for that.”

“Go ahead. I’m sure this won’t take long.”

Connie nodded before disappearing from the doorway and returning with Mrs. Thompson.

Jenna rose. “Hello, Mrs. Thompson. What can I help you with?”

The older woman grasped her large purse in both hands. “I miss Snowy so much. I was wondering if I could see her?”

Jenna’s heart melted. “Is Snowy your only pet?”

The woman nodded.

Jenna glanced at Butterball, who was curled up and snoring. She now had a new appreciation for the bond between pet and pet owner. “Then let’s go see her.”

Mrs. Thompson’s face relaxed, and she smiled gratefully.

Jenna led the way to the back room where only the duck and Snowy resided. She pointed to the cat cage where Snowy was sleeping.

Mrs. Thompson stepped close. “Snowy, your mommy’s here.”

The cat immediately opened its eyes and rose to a sitting position.

Mrs. Thompson had tears in her eyes. “Can I touch her?”

“Of course.”

The older woman put her fingers through the cage bars and Snowy immediately rubbed her face against her. Jenna quietly stepped out of the room, letting the two companions have their time.

She walked back into her office and stared at Butterball, who was curled up on his bed, his pale, tan fur all that was visible which explained where he got his name. On one hand, she wanted to hug him to her, but she also didn’t want to disturb his sleep.

Footsteps up the hall had her turning back toward her door. Mrs. Thompson was smiling, her whole demeanor completely changed. She placed her hand on Jenna’s arm.

“Dr. Jenna, you don’t know how much this meant to me.”

“I’m happy I could help.”

The woman’s hand tightened. “No, I mean what you did for Snowy. Every vet in the city I took her to said she had lived a good life at sixteen and it was time to let her go. Others said it was too risky to operate on such an old cat, but they could prescribe medicine to keep her out of pain.”

Jenna swallowed, glad she hadn’t known that beforehand. Many of her clients had cats that lived into their early twenties, so she hadn’t considered Snowy too old for surgery. Still, she was pretty sure the trauma of the operation would take a toll on the cat.

“Mrs. Thompson, you need to understand. I took out the tumor in her stomach, but that doesn’t mean another one won’t form. Also, it will take a lot for her to recover from this, and she will need to eat completely differently. I can’t guarantee you will have much more time with her.”

Mrs. Thompson removed her hand and delved into her purse. “I know all that. You have gone above and beyond a typical vet, and I want to show you my appreciation.”

“Oh no, that’s fine. You will get a bill when you take her home.” Jenna grabbed the woman’s hand as she lifted an envelope from her purse.

“It’s just a card, honey.”

Feeling a little foolish, she accepted it. “Thank you. It’s nice to be appreciated.”

Mrs. Thompson grinned. “I know it is. When can I bring Snowy home?”

Jenna kept her smile to herself because she knew Connie would have told the older woman. “Probably in a couple more days. I want to be sure Snowy can eat and drink normally before she leaves with you.”

“Can I come by and see her tomorrow?”

She wanted to tell her she couldn’t, but the look of hope in the woman’s eyes made her give in. “Of course you can. Just schedule a time with Connie, okay?”

Mrs. Thompson nodded. “I will. Thank you again.” The woman turned away and let herself out.

Jenna locked the door behind her and turned out the lights. When she entered her office, Butterball was awake and wagging his tail again. Dropping the card on her desk, she grabbed her purse, leaving her medical bag there. She had no ranch calls to make in the morning. The only ranch call she had to make right now was to confront a certain stubborn cowboy.

“Ready BB?”

Her dog gave her that special smile of his and waddled out ahead of her. His actions gave her an idea. Maybe there was more than one way to melt a man’s heart and change his mind at the same time.

Logan tensed at the knock on the door as Charlotte played with her blocks on the family room rug. This was it. The moment of truth. The truth he didn’t want to accept. Lifting Charlotte, cowboy teddy in one hand, two blocks in her other, he set her down in her playpen and stood too quickly, his ribs reminding him he wasn’t a hundred percent yet.

Another knock sounded and he strode down the hall to the front door, sure the delivery person would hear his boots. When he opened the door, the man was just turning away.

“You have a delivery for me?” That I don’t want.

The man turned back and had him sign, then handed him a simple letter size envelope.

He closed the door and stared at it. What was he afraid of? He’d already accepted the worst case as the inevitable, but while he didn’t know for sure, there was that niggling bit of hope still out there.

Who was he kidding? He had the worst luck. Of all the one night stands he’d had after his father’s first stroke, it was only fitting that Kylie was the one to become pregnant.

Impatient with himself, he walked to the basket where they left the mail for each other, which was currently full of his grandmother’s mail, and pulled the letter opener from its holder. After slitting the envelope, he was returning the opener back to the holder when a scream came from the family room.

He dropped everything and ran back there. “Charlotte, what is it?” He scooped up his crying, screaming daughter and checked for bruises. “Sunshine, can you tell me where you hurt?”

His heartbeat raced faster than a Kentucky Derby winner as he tried to figure out what was wrong. “Shh, it’s okay. Tell daddy what’s wrong.”

His daughter started to sniff then turned her head to look over his arm. He moved in that direction, and she pointed. “Teddy.”

Looking across the room, he spotted her cowboy teddy bear in the cold fireplace. He almost collapsed with relief. “You want your teddy?”

Charlotte sniffed. “Teddy.”

“Daddy will get your teddy.” Slowly, he lowered her back into the playpen, not willing to risk her getting over the barricade of furniture they erected to keep her out of the fireplace. Walking over, he picked up the soot-covered stuffed animal.

“Teddy?” Charlotte stood watching him, her hand out, her chubby cheeks red from crying, her little forehead crinkled with concern.

“Daddy needs to give the teddy a bath.”

Charlotte shook her head. “Teddy!” She reached one hand up.

He strode across the hall into the kitchen to clean up the stuffed animal.

“Teddy! Da-da. Teddy!” Charlotte’s yelling was reassuring after the blood curdling scream she’d made before.

Still, he quickly washed and rinsed it well. Grabbing up a clean dish towel, he wrapped the teddy and brought it back to the family room.

“Teddy.” His daughter laughed uncertainly through her tears.

“Yes, I need to dry him after his bath, just like I dry you.”

“Dry?” She frowned then reached up one hand. “Mine. Me dry teddy.”

Having sopped up the worst of the wetness, he handed Charlotte the towel and the teddy. She immediately sat down and wrapped the teddy as best she could before sticking its ear in her mouth.

Logan sank down on the ottoman to catch his breath. Crap, she’d just taken three years off his life if not more.

“Hello? Anyone here? The cowboy named Dillon said to come in. There’s a storm coming up fast. It’s getting pretty dark and windy out there.”

He cringed at Kylie’s voice. Her heels on the floor as she closed the door and stopped told him she was expecting an answer. “We’re in here.” He tensed, waiting for the click, click to start again.

Dammit. He hadn’t opened the results yet. As he stood, she started down the hall.

“Oh, there you are. I’m so glad you’re home. I wasn’t sure if you’d be back yet, but I decided to take a chance since I had today off.”

It had to be nearly five. Why did she wait so long? Not that he was complaining. “As you can see, I’m here.”

“Good because I did some investigating, and I found out that if we file tomorrow, we can get married in Peoria by next week.”

He froze. “Married?”

She smiled shyly. “I told you that in my letter, remember. You didn’t say ‘no,’ so I went ahead and got the paperwork.”

He stepped back. “I can’t marry you, Kylie.”

She lowered her eyebrows. “Why not?” She looked over at Charlotte. “I thought we were going to be a family.”

“No, we’re not. Charlotte and I are already part of a family. I’ve talked to my lawyer, and I don’t think you should be part of Charlotte’s life.”

She wrinkled up her nose as if she’d smelled something bad. “You can’t do that. I’m her mother.”

Damn. Maybe talking about this with her wasn’t the best thing. He should let his lawyer do the talking like he suggested. “Maybe we can work something out.”

Her face brightened. “You’re right, like me becoming your wife.” Before he could speak, she continued. “Oh, I don’t mean right now. I can see I got a little carried away. But maybe after we get to know each other better.” She winked. “A lot better than just one night.”

“I’m—”

The front door slammed open and banged against the door stop.

“What the…” He ran into the hall and stilled as the monsoon in the distance blocked out all the desert beyond the ranch. “Crap.”

He turned back to Kylie. “Stay here with Charlotte. I have to secure the house.”

At her nod, he ran to the front to make sure Dillon and Trace were bringing the horses in. Once sure of that, he passed by the family room. Kylie sat on the ottoman talking to Charlotte, who was too involved with her teddy to care.

With no other choice, he headed to the back screened-in porch and started closing windows. Latching the screen door, he finally moved inside and locked the back door.

The front door opened again and Trace and Dillon stomped in, already spotted with the first raindrops. Trace grinned. “Everything is locked up tight. Now we just have to hope that Cyclone doesn’t decide to throw a party in the barn.”

Dillon closed the door. “Why is that woman leaving. Doesn’t she know it’s safer inside than in a car?”

“What woman?” Logan walked toward the family room wondering if it could be Kylie.

“The one in the red convertible. She didn’t even lift the cover. She’s going to be soaked in no time.”

Logan stepped into the family room and froze, his mind trying to comprehend what he was seeing. “Charlotte!” The playpen was empty. “Where’s Charlotte?”

“Brother, if you keep shouting like that, and she’s hiding, she’ll never come out.”

He turned on Trace. “My daughter doesn’t know how to hide.”

“Shit, did that woman take her?” Dillon’s question made him sick to his stomach.

He stalked down the hall and grabbed the results envelope. Nothing was in it. “She’s got my daughter!” Without another thought, he grabbed the keys to his truck and ran outside, the pelting wind and rain soaking him completely by time he jumped in to the cab.

Within seconds he was racing down the dirt road. If she made the highway before he caught up to her, he’d lose Charlotte forever.

He now knew the answer to his grandmother’s question— what possible reason would a stranger have for finding where you live to be a mother to your daughter? And it was closer to a crime movie plot than he was willing to go.

Jenna pulled off the highway onto the shoulder along with everyone else. The monsoon had rolled in at record speed and there was no way she’d find the turnoff in the downpour. She couldn’t even see the sides of the road.

As she sat there waiting for it to let up, she thought over all the different ways she could convince Logan to let Charlotte know her mother. Her plan B was to ask him if it was acceptable that they disagree on the subject since their own childhoods were so different. She wasn’t going to talk to him as if he’d just dumped her because technically, he didn’t.

She took a moment every couple minutes to lean down and give Butterball a reassuring pat. The poor baby was huddle in a ball on the floor on the passenger side. If he had stayed on the old bench seat, she could have cuddled him, but at the first roll of thunder, he’d leapt down and curled up.

The cars in front of her turned on their lights and one by one started to move back onto the highway. Glancing in her rearview mirror, she could see the storm moving westward, hiding the two mountains not a half mile behind her. The great thing about the monsoons is they went through pretty quickly. The bad thing was they dumped so much water that flooding happened in seconds.

Oh, fudge. There was a wash on the dirt road to the ranch. It was probably filling even as she sat there. She should probably forget it and go home, but as the rain slowed to an occasional drop, the sunset was released and the bright yellow hues were overlaid with oranges and reds. She had always thought Arizona had the prettiest sunsets.

“It’s okay, sweetie. The storm is gone.”

Butterball continued to huddle on the floor.

There wasn’t much she could do but bring him home where he felt safe. The problem with that idea is the monsoon was headed over her house. She might as well see if the road to Last Chance was passable. She was in a truck instead of a car, so she did have a little higher clearance.

Luckily, the Carefree Highway wasn’t a very busy road out this far and she quickly pulled back onto it and headed east. She was glad she’d stopped when she did because the turn off was only a mile away.

She was more confident than ever that she and Logan could talk out this sticking point. It was important that they do or any future relationship wouldn’t work. Unlike him, she wasn’t about to give up at the first impasse.

“What the heck?” She stared at the sight ahead of her on the dirt road. It looked like a car was stuck in the wash she’d been worried about. As she came closer, she frowned. “Kylie?” The rushing water pushed the tiny car to the side of the road against a small hill that bordered the wash, but the woman was smack in the middle of it and the water was rising.

Kylie spotted her and waved, yelling something.

Jenna carefully drove the truck as close as she dared and rolled down the driver’s side window. The sound of the turbulent water made it difficult to be heard, so she shouted. “Let me call for help!”

“No, you have to help me. I have the baby!”

The baby? What ba—Holy freak! Charlotte! “Hang on, I’m going to try and get closer!”

“Hurry!”

This had to be the stupidest thing she’s ever tried to do. This is what first responders were paid to do. They were well trained. She wasn’t. She started to inch forward, but the water was high and she was afraid her engine would stall and neither of them would get out.

Reversing, she heard Kylie’s panicked scream.

It pulled at her heart, but she ignored it and turned around, backing down the slope closer to Kylie and Charlotte. She couldn’t see Charlotte and she prayed the woman had her in a car seat or something. When she was as close as she dared, she kept the engine running and put it into park.

Now came the hard part. She climbed out her window and jumped into the bed of the truck, which was partially submerged.

“I can’t reach you!” Kylie screamed over the rushing water.

Jenna pulled the rope she’d used on the breeched calf that morning and prayed it was long enough. Inching toward her tailgate, she slipped and banged against it. “Where’s Charlotte?”

Kylie bent over and picked up the crying toddler, her clothes dripping.

For the first time in her life, Jenna knew pure rage. She gripped the rope hard to keep from losing complete control. She had to stay cool or none of them would get out alive. She held up the rope for Kylie to see. “Wrap this around your waist and climb out on to the front of your car!”

Kylie looked ready to balk, but as she made to put Charlotte down in the water filled car, Jenna lost it. “Stop! I have a better idea!”

At the moment, she didn’t give a burrow’s ass if the woman made it. Feeling under the cold water in the truck bed, she tied one end of the rope to the hook made for tying down cargo. The truck was old, but it hadn’t failed her yet. She tied the other end of the rope around her waist.

In the distance, she saw movement and sincerely hoped she’d have help with all this, but she couldn’t risk waiting. “I’m coming over. Be ready to grab my hand!”

Already wet up to her shins, she climbed over the tailgate and stood on the bumper. Taking a deep breath, she jumped. As she landed, she felt the car hood buckle and she reached out her hand.

Kylie grabbed it, and she made it onto the seat of the car to stand next to the woman, but the water was deep and she was short. “Give me the baby.”

Kylie handed Charlotte over and Jenna once again squelched her rage at the baby’s blue lips. Hugging the girl close to share her body warmth, she looked at Kylie. “I’m going to stand here and anchor the line while you walk across to my truck.”

Kylie, who was now shaking with cold herself, simply nodded.

Jenna braced herself as best she could while holding the shivering Charlotte. When Kylie slipped on the hood of her car and almost went under, Jenna tensed. She couldn’t save Charlotte without her.

Kylie finally found her footing and jumped to the truck. “I made it! Oh, look! They’re coming!”

Jenna was growing too cold to react. “Good, now stand at the edge of the truck and I’ll hand you the baby!”

Kylie did as she was told, but her gaze kept shifting to whoever approached.

Now came the hard part. With one hand, Jenna loosened the rope from around her waist and tied it to the rearview mirror, the only part of the car above water now. She just hoped the truck kept running. The bubbles from the tailpipe said it was.

Carefully, she held onto the rope and inched onto the hood of the car. The problem was, she couldn’t see where it ended anymore with all the rushing muddy water. When she got as far as she dared, she yelled. “Lean over!”

Kylie did and Jenna held the baby out, but she wasn’t quite close enough.

“I can’t reach her!”

Grasping the child to her once again, she inched out until she felt the hood drop off under her searching foot. Keeping the rope under her arm, she reached out with the baby again.

“Got her!”

Her relief was short lived as her feet slipped out from under her and she went down, the rope her only life line as the water covered her head.

Logan took in the scene ahead in an instant. The truck skidded to a halt just before he opened the door and ran to the wash.

Kylie held his daughter and every instinct in him told him to go to her, but he’d seen Jenna go down. He watched for what seemed minutes, until her head came up and she gasped in air.

Without hesitation, he walked into the swirling mess. Holding the side of Kylie’s car until he finally lost bottom. The water was freezing cold against the hot evening and he couldn’t imagine Jenna lasting long. He swam to the front of the car and caught her just as she started to go under again. “I’ve got you.”

She glanced at him, but didn’t say anything.

Fuck. His ribs burned with pain, crippling him, so he grabbed the rope. It broke loose from Kylie’s car with his weight and swept them against the hill. The water and debris stung as it pressed Jenna into his ribs.

He looked at Kylie to make sure she still had his daughter. She held her close. She damn well better not get used to that.

With Jenna against him, his hand on the rope and his feet still not gaining any purchase, he looked at the hill. Maybe if he could turn toward it.

A rope hit him on the head and he looked over his shoulder. Trace sat bareback on Cyclone, a lasso in his hand. “Thought you could use some real muscle.”

He ignored the comment. “Throw it again.”

This time, he let go of the other rope and grabbed Trace’s. As Trace started to back up Cyclone, Logan yelled. “No! That way!” He nodded toward Kylie.

Trace raised his brows but didn’t say anything. Instead, he inched Cyclone into the water. Once the strong horse swam across the deepest part, Logan felt the tug and held on tight. When his feet could touch the ground, his legs didn’t want to move and buckled under him.

As soon as he was pulled onto the road, he let Jenna go and yelled at Trace. “Get her into the cab and crank the heat.”

Trace took Jenna away and Logan looked up at Kylie on the bed of the truck. “My daughter!”

She leaned over at his command and delivered Charlotte to him.

Charlotte eyes were open, but her lips were blue. “Da-da.”

He grasped her to him, tears filling his eyes and falling onto her head. She squirmed against his tight hold, and he let her lift her face.

“Horzie!”

“Yes, that’s a big—what the hell?”

Cyclone’s big nose sniffed at Charlotte. At the sound of her giggle, his whole world righted itself.

“Move over, big guy. You did great!” Trace shouldered the horse out of the way and crouched down. “We need to get her in the cab. Let me take her to Jenna then we’ll get you inside, too.”

Reluctantly, he let his brother take his daughter to the woman he loved and almost lost. If it hadn’t been for her, he would have lost his daughter as well. He swallowed the huge lump in his throat with difficulty.

The sound of sirens surprised him, and he looked around to find his cousin smiling from across the wash. Dillon raised his phone in salute. There was definitely something to be said for family.

“Okay, your turn. Ready?” Trace bent over him. With a lot of help, he maneuvered his legs under him and rose. Ironically, his ribs didn’t hurt anymore, probably because they were numbed with cold. Trace opened the truck door and hot air hit him hard.

It was too tempting to ignore and he climbed in, sliding across the seat next to Jenna, who held his daughter in her arms. He pulled her against him as he carefully moved his feet next to Butterball.

Trace jumped in next to him and pulled the truck forward. “It’s way too hot in here for me. I’ll keep an eye on our kidnapper.”

“She’s going to be okay.” Jenna pulled his attention as soon as the door closed on Trace.

He gazed at her, letting everything he felt for her show in his eyes. “Thanks to you. Thanks to you I now have two reasons to live.”

“Really?” Hope shone in her blue-green eyes, making him want to lose himself in them.

“Yes, really. I love you, Jenna. Come here.” He used his good arm to pull her closer and her lips met his before she could respond.

“Kissie. Da-da, me kissie.”

Jenna laughed, breaking away. “Yes, daddy. Charlotte deserves a kissie, too. She loves you as much as I do.”

He caught her soft gaze and his heart swelled. Lowering his head, he gave his daughter a big smack on the cheek. As she giggled, he looked back at Jenna.

He was the luckiest man in the world.