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“Chloe! This is not a rabbit!” I stated as I dropped to the ground, instantly attacked with puppy kisses.
“I just couldn’t leave him, Harley! I told the man selling them that I’d have my daddy come back today and pay for him. He laughed and told me this was the last puppy left who wasn’t going to a home. That if I promised to make sure he would be okay, I could have him.”
“So, you didn’t steal him?”
Chloe gasped. “I wouldn’t steal! Ever!”
Relief washed over me. “I didn’t think so, but you understand I had to ask.”
She nodded. “I understand. But I don’t know what to do. Daddy won’t let me keep him, and I already asked Grammy if she was in the market for a puppy, and she laughed and said no. He’s a good puppy and barks at the door when he has to go potty.”
I let out a sigh. “Chloe, you’ve been taking care of this dog since you brought him home?”
Her chest puffed out. “I sure have. I’m going to make a great veterinarian.”
“Really? Is that what you want to do when you grow up?”
“Yep. And be a goat farmer, and take over the ranch. Of course, I’ll have to have a dog to watch over the goats. That’s where Roy comes in. He’ll have a job and will earn his keep, as I hear my dad say.”
Holding up the puppy, I gave him a once over. He looked to be about eight weeks old. Flipping him over, he went limp. He’d be a good docile pup. “That’s a good baby.” I looked again and chuckled.
“Um, Chloe, honey. We can’t name him Roy.”
“Why not?” she asked, her eyes filled with sadness.
“He’s not a he. He’s a she.”
Chloe jumped up in excitement. “It’s a girl?”
Laughing, I nodded. “Yep. It’s a girl.”
“Oh, that’s even better! We need a name for her!” The little puppy started barking again. “She needs to go potty, then we need to hide her!” Chloe said. “At least until you can come up with a plan.”
“Me?”
What was it with these Parker women?
The pup started up again.
“Okay, um, let me think.”
I stood and picked up the puppy.
“We can take her to the barn. There used to be a small room where Tripp would hide presents. We can put her in there for the time being.”
“Will she be okay?” Chloe asked, tears filling her eyes.
“Yes. She’ll be perfectly safe, and there isn’t anything in there that can hurt her.”
Chloe thought about it for a few seconds, but once the puppy started howling, she made up her mind. “Okay! Let’s do it!”
“Is that her little blanket?”
Chloe nodded. “The man said her momma’s scent was on it.”
“Perfect. Let’s wrap her up in it and try to sneak her out to go potty, then take her to the barn. Folks are already starting to arrive for the spring fling.”
After we got the puppy wrapped, I opened the door to Steed’s office. Looking both ways, I started toward the door I knew was at the side of the house. John had used it as his business entrance.
“Chloe, we need to go out the back door down this hallway.”
“But that’s granddaddy’s door. I’m not allowed to go in or out of it. In case he has folks coming in to see him or the boys.”
I smiled at her referring to her father and the other guys who worked on the ranch as boys. I could hear Melanie telling Chloe to go tell the boys lunch was ready, or that there was a delivery truck waiting for them. Memories of being on this ranch came back to me in a rush and I couldn’t ignore the pain I felt in my chest.
God, how I missed this place and these people.
“I promise this time it’s okay. No one will be using that door so we can sneak out. I’m sure they’re all down at the…”
Once I turned the corner I ran into something solid and knew I had spoken too soon.
“Harley? Darling, what are you doing?”
Taking a step back, I looked up into the deepest of blue eyes. They almost left me breathless.
John Parker. The man was the older image of all of his five sons. Handsome. Built. And a smile that made your knees week.
“Oh shit,” I mumbled.
“Hell, shit, fuck,” Chloe whispered next to me.
“Chloe Lynn!” John said.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
My eyes darted to Tripp.
Great. Just great.
“Oh hey. I was, um, just showing Chloe your new puppy.”
Tripp’s eyes about popped out of his head. Of course, the little rascal who had started all of this was standing next to me giggling.
“Ah. Come again?” Tripp asked.
“You got a dog, Tripp? That’s amazing,” John said as he turned and smiled big. “I’ve been telling him for years he needed a dog.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “Well, he’s got a cute one!”
