Page 78 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

She turned and took off like a shot for the farm.

When he turned back, Valerie had already approached the mama from her blind spot. She was talking to the cow quietly and making a funny clucking sound with her mouth.

The mama pricked her ears back and began trotting off toward the farm with Valerie at her heels, making that same ch-ch-ch sound. The baby galloped to join them, sticking close to his mama’s side.

“What in the world,” Harrison muttered to himself, jogging after them.

Valerie moved along behind the big animal without the slightest indication of fear, like she did this kind of thing every day.

In a matter of minutes, they were approaching the fence.

Valerie waved her hand and Mallory opened the gate with a smile.

Mama and baby trotted back in like it was their idea all along, joining the other cows like nothing had happened.

“Thank you,” Harrison said to Valerie once he had secured the gate again. “Have you worked with livestock before?”

“I grew up on a farm,” Valerie said, shrugging.

“What was that noise you were making?” Harrison asked her.

“Just something I came up with when I was a kid,” she said with a funny smile. “It’s the closest sound I can make to oats spilling into a pail. They like oats.”

It had been a long, terrible evening, but his relief was so intense that Harrison found himself grinning at Valerie and wondering why he had ever thought she was a snob. This woman had wasted no time coming out here to help someone she barely knew. Mallory was lucky to have a friend like that.

“How many more are out?” Valerie asked in a businesslike way.

“Those were the last two,” he told her. “I got all others back in before you two got here. I’m just gonna call my cousin and let him know the roads are clear again.”

He pulled out his phone and placed a call to Sheriff Cal, who promised to get word out to everyone.

Turning back to his guests, Harrison had a sinking feeling as he realized how Mallory must have felt when he didn’t show up. He’d known all along that he was letting her down, but with the cows on the loose, he hadn’t really had any time to think about it until now.

“Listen, Mallory,” he said. “I’m so sorry about tonight.”

“I mean, you can’t make something like this up,” she said, her eyes dancing. “Unless you only released your cows as an excuse not to take me out?”

“I did not,” he confirmed with a grim half-smile.

“Anyway, it’s fine,” she said. “We can reschedule.”

“Or I can cook for you here,” he offered. “Unfortunately, I found they were loose when I went for the evening feeding, so I’ll need to take care of my girls first, and then a shower.”

“Why don’t I cook?” Mallory asked, giving him a smile that did him more good than any food ever could.

“Anyone ever tell you you’re one in a million?” he asked her.

She laughed, and it made him want to pull her close and nuzzle her mane of beautiful hair.

“Okay,” Valerie said. “I think that’s my cue to exit. Unless you need a ride home, Mal?”

Mallory looked to him.

“We’re all good,” Harrison said. “I have to run and pick up Katie from my aunt’s house later anyway, so I can run her home then.”

Valerie looked to her friend, who nodded in approval.

“See you later then,” Valerie said as she headed off toward her car.