Page 77 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

“What are we talking about?” Valerie asked, looking suspiciously between the two of them.

“Mal is being stood up,” Ana said unapologetically. “And I don’t like it one bit.”

“By Harrison Law?” Valerie asked.

“Yes,” Mal said. “Obviously.”

“Nope,” Valerie said dismissively, heading over to sit down. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about there.”

“What are you talking about?” Mal asked. “How could you possibly know that?”

“All of Meetinghouse Lane is jammed up,” Valerie said, sliding into the seat opposite Ana’s. “Reggie Webb just told me. You can’t get a car up or down it. Harrison’s cows are loose.”

18

HARRISON

Harrison moved as quickly as he could without hurrying. It was freezing out, but his hair dripped with sweat and his heart was racing.

Ahead of him, a mama cow and her baby trotted down the side of Meetinghouse toward Knowlton Road.

The cows were a danger to themselves and to drivers as well. He’d called in the situation to the local police and prayed that officers were on the way to block traffic as needed to keep everyone safe.

Meetinghouse Lane had plenty of houses among the farms, meaning there were cars, but thankfully not as many as there were closer to town.

But the way they were headed was right to Knowlton, which eventually led out to Route One. He was desperate to get the mama and baby turned back toward the farm before they got that far.

The big cow stopped to munch on a bit of grass poking out from the snow in front of one of the houses, and the baby waited for her.

Harrison tried to move a little faster. Cows were easy to spook, and surprisingly fast runners when they wanted to be. They were also stubborn as all get-out, and he’d been here such a short time, that they hadn’t really learned to trust him yet. His idea was to get around behind the mama in her blind spot and then coax her to head back toward the farm.

Once he got her close though, he’d have to get out in front of her again to open up the gate, and then slip back behind her to get her in without her bolting.

He’d managed to round up all the others that had escaped with her, but this mama cow was really enjoying her freedom. And after re-capturing a dozen animals, Harrison’s energy and patience were flagging.

He tried not to think about what he was missing right now. This was a dangerous situation and it was his responsibility. He could try to mend fences with Mallory once he got things under control.

He had just about caught up with the pair when a car turned onto the street up ahead.

Harrison jumped into the middle of the road, waving his arms for all he was worth to get them to slow down. Visions of the spooked cow running into the road in front of them had his heart in his mouth.

But the car wasn’t just slowing, it was actually pulling over.

Mama kept munching away as Harrison looked to the car, hoping it was another farmer who might lend a hand. But the car was too nice for that. Which meant it was probably a regular neighbor, annoyed with him for having loose animals and pulling over to give him an earful about it, which was the last thing he needed right now.

He knew this was his fault. He’d checked and double-checked every inch of fence and every gate, but either these cows were smarter than he expected, or he’d missed something.

The driver put their flashers on and got out of the car.

Harrison stared for a moment, amazed. It looked an awful lot like Mallory’s fashionable friend. She had a sleek bob and was dressed to the nines, just like Valerie always was.

Before he could turn his attention back to the task at hand, the passenger door opened and Mallory herself got out of the car. She looked incredible in a pretty skirt with her long, flame-colored hair flowing down around her shoulders. He opened his mouth to say something, but he was too mesmerized to speak.

“We’re here to help,” Valerie said in her no-nonsense way, snapping him out of it. “Mal, go down to the farm and get ready to open the gate when they come.”

“On it,” Mallory said, giving Harrison a friendly smile.

“I appreciate it,” he told her, giving her a look that he hoped would tell her that he was talking about a whole lot more than help with the cows.