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Seeing the guarded but hopeful look on Lily’s face made her think the person she had in mind was someone from the shelter. Treading cautiously, she replied, “I’m open to hearing about who you have in mind as long as you’ve considered my isolation. I don’t want to be put in the position of defending myself against an employee, regardless of his past difficulties or present circumstances.” That sounded self-centered and cold, even to her, but she stifled the urge to reveal her scars and explain herself.
She breathed easier when Lily nodded and said, “Absolutely, and there aren’t many I would recommend from the shelter right now. Mental illness plagues most of the homeless. Paul couldn’t cope with the tragic loss of his family ten years ago and ended up losing his job then his home. He’s been trying to find his way back and a purpose in life ever since. I’ve seen the longing on his face when others bring their pets in, and he’s a good handyman, from the work he’s done around the shelter.”
They paused the conversation when their food came, and Nicole dug in to her sandwich, thinking about Lily’s recommendation. She struggled with the death of one person and couldn’t imagine the pain of losing a family. Empathizing with someone’s hardships, though, didn’t mean she should take a chance on hiring someone with obvious mental issues. She’d taken a risk staying so long with Tony, praying for more time after he began showing swift, uncharacteristic mood changes and deteriorating cognitive awareness.
Nicole noted the expectation on both their faces. “I’ll talk to him, but I have to be honest.” She paused, weighing how much to tell them. Her scars were covered by her high-collared pullover, but eventually she would have to wear something that couldn’t hide them. Instead of revealing the whole story today, though, she would say enough to explain her hesitancy. “Someone I knew very well, trusted with my life, became ill and turned on me. Not his fault, none of it, but the scars are there and still hard to deal with. I don’t want to put myself in that position again.”
“I’m so sorry,” Allie replied first, her blue gaze compassionate.
“Me too. I worked on getting Paul to open up to me for three months, and, when he did, I saw the man he used to be when he had a wife, baby daughter, and two-year-old son to come home to every day. He worked in bank security, but that was a decade ago.”
Lily’s tone held a wealth of compassion, and Nicole wasn’t so jaded she couldn’t sympathize with the man’s loss. “When the cottage is ready, I’ll call, and we’ll go from there.”
“If you’re planning on just dogs, it shouldn’t be hard to get a referral from the shelter in Casper if Lily’s guy doesn’t work out,” Allie suggested as they resumed eating.
“I’ve talked to them, and I’m going to kennel their overflow, along with a few strays I come across. I don’t want people dumping unwanted pets on my doorstep all the time, so I’m not advertising or naming the shelter. I’d like to own a horse someday, but otherwise I only want dogs. Adding cats would be too much,” she answered, nibbling on a fry.
Lily smiled at her. “I pegged you as more of a city girl.”
“Trust me, I am.”
Allie raised a slim brow. “But you know how to care for a horse?”
She shrugged and reached for her tea. “Not a clue.”
“Ever ridden?” Lily asked.
“Nope, but I’ll learn. I’ve got time.” Lots of time and obligations only to the animals she would take in. That was what Nicole needed right now.
“Slade...”
Holding up her hand to stop Allie’s suggestion, she shook her head. “No Slade anything. That that man rubs me the wrong way. Don’t get me wrong; the whole sexy-cowboy package can get any woman’s blood pumping. Opposites attract, and, from what I can tell, our personalities are too similar to get along.”
Lily chuckled. “Heard you had an attitude.”
“Serves my brother-in-law right to deal with someone just like him. But, hey, lust is always fun for a while. Those guys can get creative, including on horseback,” Allie said.
Her traitorous body responded with damp heat at the image Allie’s comment conjured. She tried erasing it, but it wouldn’t disappear until the waitress arrived with their tickets. Pushing her plate away, she thanked her and stood. “I have a lot of shopping to do. Thanks for the invitation. Lily, I’ll get back to you in a few weeks.”
They walked up to the register with her, Allie leaning close to whisper, “Something to think about.”
She didn’t elaborate, leaving Nicole to wonder whether she meant asking Slade to help her ride or going for the lust, or both.
“You’ve brought me a new customer.” Ina smiled at them and held her hand out to Nicole. “Ina Henderson. Thanks for coming in. How was everything?”
“Nicole Wells, and excellent, thank you. I would top it off by taking that Boston cream pie with me, but I have a long list of shopping next door before I head home.”
Ina rang them up, saying, “I’ll set it aside, box it up, and you can grab it when you’re done. On the house. You bought Studman’s place.”
“Word spreads fast around here.” Another thing to adjust to, she thought, preferring the anonymity of city life.
“Ina hears all and knows all,” Allie quipped, giving the woman a fond smile. “I ought to know. She’s my mom’s best friend.”
“That’s right. For instance, I can tell you, Nicole, your neighbors are good people. You need anything, don’t hesitate to ask them.”
“I keep hearing that,” she murmured. “Thanks for the pie. I’ll be back shortly.”
Nicole said goodbye to Allie and Lily before strolling down to the mercantile, searching her memory banks for a time when the proprietor at any eatery she’d visited in Chicago offered a freebie as a friendly gesture. She drew a blank and put Ina’s as a perk in the positive column for when she found herself questioning this drastic move or a place to go when her self-imposed isolation got to her. To be honest, she’d enjoyed lunch with the neighbor girls more than she’d thought, and went ahead and added them to that list.
