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As she walked out the back door, the cold made her quicken her steps. She locked the door behind her and headed along the path to the side door of her home.
Walking up the steps, she crossed the porch, unlocked the door, and entered the big, roomy kitchen. She knew the house was too big for one person, but her great-grandmother had run it as a Bed and Breakfast years ago. She left it to Lucinda when she died, and Lucinda added the building for the grooming and boarding.
Tigger, her Bernese Mountain dog, ran to her, skidded to a halt, and sat before her. The laundry room had a pet door, and Tigger could go in and out as he pleased since the backyard was fenced. Lucinda rubbed his ears and laughed when he tried to lick her face.
“I don’t need your kisses, Tigger, any more than I needed Bo’s.” She removed her coat and hung it on a peg.
Taking a deep breath, she sat on the bench beside the back door, untied her sneakers, kicked them off, and placed them in a cubbyhole.
With a sigh, she got to her feet, locked the door, and walked to the fridge to see what she could fix quickly and relax for the evening.
“Let me get you some water and food, and then I’ll feed myself.”
She opened the door to the pantry, scooped dog food into his bowl, reentered the kitchen, set it on the floor, and got the dog fresh water.
After setting it on the floor, she opened the freezer door and stared at the food there. Nothing appealed to her.
Shoving the door shut, she opened the cupboard, found a can of chicken and rice soup, and made it. She sat at the bar in the kitchen eating and wondered if she would ever find someone who would love her, knowing she could never have children. She needed to tell anyone she dated right away, so it would be their decision if they didn’t want to see her.
Lucinda had accepted it years ago because she had no choice. She’d love to find a man who would take her as she was. But, as soon as she let a man know, he didn’t stick around long. It could have been other reasons, but it seemed to happen after she shared she couldn’t have children.
They had a right to know. She had to tell them so they could make that decision. It wasn’t up to her. Shaking her head, she finished eating, then headed upstairs to take a relaxing bath.
****
“I’ll see you in a week,” Rhett told his boss, Calder Moore.
“Have a good time,” Calder said with a smile.
“What are you doing with your dogs while you’re gone?” Mitzie, Calder’s wife, asked him.
“I’m taking them to Cin.”
“Who’s Cin?” Mitzie frowned.
“She owns a boarding and grooming place,” Rhett told her.
“Rhett is the only person I know who calls her Cin. Everyone else calls her Cinda. Her full name is Lucinda,” Calder said.
“I see. Well, have a good time on your vacation, Rhett. I’m heading to town to have lunch with Jessa.” Mitzie stood on her toes, kissed Calder, and left the barn.
“You have got it bad, man,” Rhett teased Calder as he watched him stare after Mitzie.
“Shit, I know.” Calder chuckled. “I can’t deny it.”
Rhett slapped him on the shoulder. “She’s crazy about you too.”
Calder looked at him and grinned. “I know. Have a happy Thanksgiving. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“I plan to have a good time. I’m leaving to take the dogs to Cin, and then I’ll be on my way.”
“All right.” Calder gave him a nod and then walked out of the barn.
Rhett headed out of the barn to his truck. Then drove home to his little cabin on the property. Not too long ago, Dominic Blackstone had been the ranch manager and lived there. When Dom left to return to the ranch he’d worked at before, Calder promoted Rhett to manager. He shook his head. He never wanted the job, but his boss wouldn’t take no for an answer, and Rhett had to admit he loved it. The money was better too.
He chuckled as he pulled up to the cabin and saw his two German shepherds running from around the back and across the porch. They had a pet door, and he never worried about them running off. He had trained them when they were pups to learn where they could and couldn’t go.
Since it wasn’t snowing, he let the pet door open. He pressed the button to lower the passenger side window, and Waylon jumped in, then Willie. They bumped into him, trying to get to him.
