Page 48 of Rancher to the Rescue

“They won’t get this girl.” She held Miss Peabody against her cheek. There’d been enough loss to last a lifetime.

And she was scared that more would happen before this investigation was over.

16

“You can take the first shower. I’ve got these three under control.” Adam figured he could handle himself despite being sorely outnumbered.

“That’s brave,” Prudence shot back with a smile. At least a little bit of the ice between them was melting. “But I’ll take you up on it.”

She started to hand over the puffball but the little dog wasn’t having it. She wiggled and stared at Adam with frightened eyes.

“I’ll take her with me,” Prudence said. “I can keep the shower curtain partially open and make a bed for her in the corner with a spare towel.”

As she tried to leave the room, the lab followed. She tried to shoo him away but gave up after a few minutes.

“How about I set Angel up in the bedroom so the dogs will be more comfortable? I can stay until you’re finished,” Adam finally offered.

“Sounds like a plan.” She waited on the bottom step while he lugged the baby and diaper bag upstairs. He returned for her overnight travel bag.

Standing at the top of the stairs, he signaled the troops. The minute Prudence stood up, Hutch followed. He never trusted a person who didn’t get along with animals. Dogs could be some of the best judges of character.

Clearly, Prudence got the stamp of approval.

She sidestepped around him at the top of the stairs at the same moment he moved out of her way. Electricity pinged between them anytime they were near. Had his mother picked up on it earlier? She’d gone out of her way to make Prudence feel at home, which he appreciated more than words could express.

“I shouldn’t be too long,” Prudence said as she moved to her suitcase. She set Miss Peabody down and opened the case. The little dog took the opportunity to hop right in with the clothes.

Prudence stopped what she was doing and sat back on her heels.

“My scent must be all over the bag,” she said.

Lucky dog, he thought. But said, “It probably gives her a lot of comfort to be surrounded by something so familiar.”

“Well, I think we just found her new bed.” Prudence pulled out a few garments and then slid the suitcase into the bathroom.

Hutch, on the other hand, hopped up on the sofa and curled up in a ball at one end. Not before digging around enough to knock a throw pillow off first.

Adam had a soft spot for animals in general. These two hit him in the place he normally kept tucked away, making him feel things he couldn’t afford to feel. Things like attachment.

He managed to get Angel out of the carrier and into her crib without waking her, a feat that deserved a hushed celebration.

It was probably the day wearing on him and the news Libby was gone, but he wanted nothing more than to climb inside those sheets and sleep. Since more than a couple hour’s nap would be impossible, he waited his turn with more impatience than intended.

When he heard the shower kick on, he moved over to Hutch. The lab’s tail started swishing back and forth when Adam stopped and then squatted down. “You found a good home, ole’ boy.”

A well of emotion stirred in his chest, catching him off guard. He didn’t normally do sentiment, and yet his heart went out to the dog. How could it not?

Adam pushed up and walked over to the window, staring out at the clouds that were moving at a steady clip. There weren’t enough of them to promise rain, which was unfortunate. The parched earth’s throat cracked from dryness and summer hadn’t started yet. If the second day of June saw cracks in the soil, he could only imagine how bad things would get come August when the relentless heat kicked in.

He checked on Angel. The name fit her. His ducks were in a row for the morning and he had no idea what to expect with Libby’s parents. Getting through tonight with Prudence was a whole other ballgame. He missed the closeness he felt before the wall went up. The kisses they’d shared kept replaying in his mind and were, without a doubt, the most intense he’d ever experienced. They more than hinted at mind-blowing sex…

Not something he needed to focus on when she was in the next room, naked, and in the shower. No reason to torture himself when she’d been clear. She was done with him.

The alarm, a.k.a. Angel, went off at four a.m.

Prudence tossed her covers off and rolled out of bed, reaching for her glasses. Thankfully, the crib was right there, and the binky quieted the little girl. She would be satisfied long enough to make a bottle of formula and change a diaper.

She glanced over at Adam’s side of the bed and noticed the covers hadn’t been touched. She’d gone out so hard after her shower she didn’t realize he hadn’t slept next to her.