by Lori Foster
“Me?” The way Tash said it, with a half smile, assured her it wasn’t anything bad.
“When she gets older she wants to work for you so she can spend more time with the animals.”
Touched, Autumn grinned. “Sounds to me like a goat and pig are the real draw.” She finished off her ice cream and cleaned her hands on her napkin.
“She’s anxious to meet Tash the turkey.”
The name still made Autumn laugh. “Now that the vet has given him the all-clear, we should be getting him this weekend. He might be cantankerous for a while, but I’m sure Sadie would understand that. She’s a very smart little girl.”
“At least tell me he’s a majestic bird.”
She was amused at his chagrin and laughed some more. “A little scrawny, actually, but we’ll plump him up in no time.”
When her phone dinged with an incoming text, Tash’s smile slipped. “Chuck?”
She knew him well enough now to know he kept his tone carefully neutral. “You’re still on that?” Chuck hadn’t contacted her again, so she assumed he’d given up when she didn’t reply.
“He’s still around, right?” And then with optimism, “Or did he take off again?”
“Don’t know, don’t care. Chuck doesn’t concern me.”
Sadie, who’d just approached, asked, “Who’s Chuck?”
“Chuck is no one, sweetie.” Autumn held up her phone. “And it’s Ember.” Her sister should have been home, showered and back out on a date by now, which was her usual routine.
Instead she’d sent a text that said: If you’re around could you call?
“Something might be wrong.” She flashed a worried smile at Tash and pressed in Ember’s number. Some vague sense of urgency took root, making her antsy.
Ember answered before the first ring had finished. “I’m sorry. So freaking sorry because I know you’re with Tash and if I could handle it on my own I would—”
Slowly, Autumn stood. “Handle what?”
She heard Ember swallow. “There’s a cow... I got the call that he needed a home so I came to get him, but Autumn...”
Understanding crashed down on her. They’d been through this too many times already. “Tell me where.” Headed for the house to get her purse, Autumn listened to the address, nodded and promised, “I’m on my way.”
Tash and Sadie followed her.
She hated to cut the date short, but already her mind had moved on to other priorities. “Sorry, guys. I gotta run.”
Before she could head back out the door, Tash caught her arms. “What’s wrong?”
She briefly glanced at Sadie, but no child should have to hear of animal abuse. “A young cow that’s...hurt. Ember and I will handle it.” She bent to give Sadie a hug, ignoring her wet T-shirt and hair. “I’ll see you soon, okay? We need to pick paint colors for your room now that the pirate ship is underway. I meant to do that today, but I thought we’d have more time—”
To her surprise, Sadie squeezed her tight and whispered, “Take care of the cow, ’kay?”
“It’s what I do.” She tried a smile that didn’t quite make it.
Next, Tash cupped a hand around her face. “Is there any way I can help?”
She shook her head. Jerks existed, and far too often, they hurt helpless animals. “Thank you, but I’ve got it.”
“I know you do, but if anything comes up, just let me know.” With Sadie standing there watching, and her heart feeling heavy, Tash leaned in and put a kiss to her mouth. “We’ll see you tomorrow?”
“I don’t know.” Much would depend on rearranging her crazy schedule around this new member of the farm. Until she saw the animal, she couldn’t gauge the situation.
“At least find time to give me a call, okay? When it’s convenient for you.”
Okay, now that felt more like a relationship, and she liked it. He was so careful, not making any demands while still showing that he cared. She was fast losing her heart, and that scared her. “I will.” On impulse, she put another fast, soft peck on his mouth, then one to Sadie’s cheek, before hustling out to her truck.
Which still didn’t have air-conditioning.
It was an exceptional thing, at least for her, to have two people—one a hunk, the other a petite sweetheart—standing in the yard waving to her until she could no longer see them.
Trepidation grew as she drove to the abandoned farm where Ember waited. At 8:00 p.m., the summer sun still hung high in the sky, turning her truck into an oven. Windows open, her worry as hot as her hands on the wheel, she drove down the gravel drive and spotted Ember pacing outside a ramshackle shed. To her surprise, Mike stepped out of the building just as she parked.
Grateful that her sister hadn’t been alone, but still sick with worry, Autumn trotted toward them.
Mike stopped her. His expression told her things that his careful words didn’t. “Poor thing is scared, so go in slow, okay?”
Chewing her lip and looking haggard, Ember said, “Bastards moved away and left the cow there. Alone.”
Her throat felt thick. She didn’t know when the residents had left, and didn’t care. Her thoughts centered on the here and now. “How bad?”
“Hungry,” Mike said. “She has a few sores. Dehydrated, I’m sure. Ember called Ivey. She knows you’re on the way and is waiting.”
Ivey, their veterinarian and a good friend, often donated her time for animals in need. “God bless that woman,” Autumn whispered as she ducked under the sloping entry and inched her way to the back of the building. Hot, smelly and dilapidated. Unfit for a rat, much less a beautiful creature like this one.
Right behind her, Ember whispered, “A neighboring farm called. They knew she was here, but gave it a few days in case the owners came back.”
Disgust reeked in her sister’s tone, mirroring Autumn’s when she asked, “You reported them?”
“And the monsters who left this poor baby behind.” Ember wiped her eyes. “The sheriff was here and gone. He’ll be in touch.”
“Good.”
With a shuddering breath, Ember said, “I’ll get things ready outside.”
Ember was far more emotional about...well, life, than Autumn was. Whereas Autumn would try to stay strong, Ember allowed herself to cry. She still got the job done, so Autumn didn’t worry too much...except that Ember’s tears prompted her own.
It had always been that way. Far too often, they fed off each other’s emotions. For now, Autumn needed to pull it together so the poor cow wouldn’t be more stressed.
Edging as close as she dared, she started talking to the cow. She couldn’t imagine the terror the animal had felt, stuck in an indoor enclosure with no way to find food or water.
Mike had already taken care of that, having slid in feed and fresh water. The cow was listless in her eating, and only drank a little.
Worried, Autumn talked to her for a long time. Soft, gentle, nonsense words. Praise and admiration. Promises for an improved future.
Tears tracked down her face the entire time, but she didn’t care, and neither did the cow.
Outside, she could hear Mike and Ember prepping the truck bed. It took longer than an hour before Autumn, with Mike’s help, led the cow out and got her into the truck bed. Thankfully, the animal didn’t have any major injuries.
By the time they were ready to go, the sky had darkened to gray and a few stars peeked out.
Mike stood in front of the driver’s door. “So, a suggestion.”
Always open to advice, especially from someone as caring as Mike, Autumn nodded.
“Even superwomen wear down. You both look beat, so even though I’m only an employee—”
Ember groaned.
Autumn had no idea what that was about, but Mike didn’t give her an opportunity to ask.
“—why don’t you let me get this gi
rl to Ivey? You two should go home and get some rest, because I know you both have full schedules tomorrow.”
“So do you,” Autumn pointed out.
“I’m just at the farm, though, not dealing with customers. The animals don’t judge me when I have bags under my eyes.” His smile looked as tired as hers felt. “I know the routine, I promise. I swear I’ll be as gentle as you’d be.”
“Mike,” she chastised, “I already know that.”
“So what do you say?”
Autumn rubbed the back of her sweaty neck and winced in apology. “My air-conditioning is still on the fritz.”
“I’ll fix it for you tomorrow.”
Not what she’d been saying. “I would never—”
“You haven’t had time. As of right now, you’ll have even less time next week. The forecast isn’t showing a break in the temps and humidity, so I’ll take care of it. Okay?”
Shoulders slumping and spine going weak, she nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”
“Good. Now how about you two go home and grab some rest?”
Autumn looked at Ember, and that helped her decide. Her sis had worked in the grueling sun all day, doing a much more physical job than Autumn had. That, along with the emotional toll of finding an abandoned animal, left her utterly wilted.
“I’ve said it before, but you truly are a godsend. I don’t know how we’d manage the farm without you.”
“I’m sure you’d figure it out.” He glanced at Ember. “Both of you.” After the slightest hesitation, he took one big step toward Ember. When she looked up in surprise, he put a hot one right on her mouth.
Autumn took it in with interest, especially the bemused expression on Ember’s face, and the fact that she allowed the kiss, even leaned into it for a bit.
After he stepped back, Mike chucked her lightly on the chin and said, “Good work today.” One more peck and he left, striding around to the truck. He started the engine and slowly pulled away, mindful of the nervous cow in back.
“Wow.” Autumn fanned her face, feeling a little scorched after that display. Then she fanned Ember’s face until Ember came out of her daze and swatted at her. “Just trying to help.” She kept her tired smile hidden as they headed for Ember’s car.
Once behind the wheel, Ember kicked on the air and drew a heavy breath. “God, I need a cold shower.” She realized what she’d said and turned a disgruntled scowl on Autumn. “Not because of that kiss.”
“Uh-huh.”
They drove in silence for a while, each lost in their own thoughts. As the reality of it all began to bubble up, she glanced at Ember.
“Don’t,” her sister warned, her voice already breaking.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t...anything.” Ember’s swallow was audible. “Don’t talk about it, don’t ask if I’m okay and don’t you dare cry, Autumn. I mean it!” Her voice cracked. “If you cry, I’ll completely lose it, so just...don’t.”
Eyes already glassy, Autumn nodded fast and swallowed down her churning emotions. Exhaustion pulled at her, amplified by the anger and sadness of seeing an animal so neglected. “Okay.” She sounded like a broken frog.
“Damn it, Autumn.” Ember swiped angrily at her own cheeks, then choked out in a high-pitched wail, “Sometimes people suck.”
Because her sister needed her to be strong, Autumn struggled to keep her wail at bay. It took a second, but she sounded mostly contained when she whispered, “Sometimes people are amazing, too. There are very special people in this world. We have to remember that.”
Grateful for the change of subject, Ember nodded and asked, “Tash?”
Just the thought of him made her squishy inside. “Yes.” Tash had been through so much, but he kept forging forward, making a better life for himself and his daughter. “He is, but I meant Mike. For you.”
Ember rejected that. “Another taboo topic. I can’t...” Tears welled again, so she sucked in a shuddering breath. Then another and another. “I need that damn shower.”
Very lightly, trying not to shatter her sister’s fragile control, Autumn touched her arm. “Me, too. It’s okay.”
Ember gave a wobbly nod of agreement.
As they traveled, worry gnawed at Autumn’s peace of mind. “You’re okay to drive?” Heavy shadows filled the old country roads, and with the humidity of the hot day settling, mist made the headlights blurry.
“I am.” Ember visibly focused on the road. “I promise.”
Her sister was many things, but careless wasn’t one of them. Autumn dug out her phone. “Do you mind if I call Tash? I promised him I would.” The call would give them both a moment to regroup.
“Since I dragged you away, please do. And give him my apologies.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” They both made animal rescue a priority whenever possible.
Tash answered on the second ring. “Hey,” he said softly. “How’d it go?”
She nodded, knew he couldn’t see her, and choked out, “Fine.”
“Autumn.” Even through the cell, his sympathy hugged around her, warm and comforting. “I’m sorry, babe. You okay? The cow’s okay? If there’s anything I can do, I swear, I’ll—”
“Thank you.” So, so amazing. As briefly as she could, Autumn explained the situation, then promised, “I’m okay, just tired. I’m sure the cow is scared, but she’ll be all right, too.”
“You’ll make sure of it,” he said evenly, full of confidence in her ability.
Wow, if only she could be that confident about herself. “Is Sadie in bed?”
“Actually...she wanted to wait up until we heard from you.”
Bless her heart. Autumn had sensed that Sadie’s worry for the animal would keep her on edge, and she was anxious to reassure her. “Could I say hi?”
“She’d like that. Hang on.”
Sounds of shuffling reached her, and then Sadie’s tentative little voice said, “Hi.”
“Hey, sweetie.” There went that squeezing of her heart. She wished she was close enough to cuddle Sadie, to share a few soothing hugs. “Did your dad tell you? We got the cow and she’s okay.”
“Are you okay, too?”
Awwww... New tears threatened, thickening her voice and making her fight hard for composure. “Yeah.” That sounded a little broken, so Autumn tried again. “I’m fine. This is what I do, right?”
“Right.” With a slight hesitation, Sadie asked, “Can I see her soon?”
“You betcha.” With a glance at her sister, Autumn added, “The cow is going to need a name.”
A smile softened Ember’s ravaged profile, and she lifted her thumb in agreement to the plan.
Sadie caught her breath. “I can name her?”
Thrilled to hear excitement replace worry, Autumn smiled, too. “Sure. Why don’t you start thinking of a few choices we can go over next time I see you?”
“Okay.” Two heartbeats passed. “When will I see you?”
“Oh, honey. I don’t know yet. Soon, though, okay?”
“You promise?”
Being liked by Sadie was pretty special. “Cross my heart. Now you get some sleep, okay? That’s what I’m going to do as soon as I get home.”
“’Kay.” She sounded more like her old self when she said, “Thanks, Autumn.”
“Thank you, Sadie—for caring about animals.” And for caring about me. “We’re in this together, but we both need rest to be strong.”
She heard what sounded like a kiss through the phone. “Good night.”
“’Night, honey.”
Seconds later, Tash came back on the line. “You’re heading home for bed now?”
Obviously, he’d been listening. “Yes. Ember and I both.”
“Good. We’ll touch base tomorrow, okay? Same offer stands. If there’s anything I can do, d
on’t hesitate.”
She couldn’t see herself imposing on him, but she nodded, anyway. “Okay.”
“Sadie and I insist that you two take the day off tomorrow, but give me a call when you can.”
Having Tash care, too, was double the pleasure. “Will do.”
After she disconnected the call, she and Ember fell silent for the rest of the drive, each respecting the other’s need to stay strong. At home, they found Pavlov lounging on the porch, waiting much like a watchful grandpa might. He stood and greeted them both with a wagging tail.
“You’re the best male I know, Pavlov,” Ember said to him, kissing him atop his furry red head.
“You want to see Mike wagging his butt?”
Ember half smiled. “Maybe with his tongue hanging out?”
They both snickered, and then with a brief touch of hands, they parted to head inside.
Pavlov chose to follow her.
Autumn didn’t know what she wanted more—a shower, a good book, or to pass out for a solid ten hours.
Watchful, Pavlov stuck close. He was a good listener, so she went to her knees and gave him her tearful explanation of the cow while he snuggled close, snuffling her neck and licking away her tears.
“She’ll be okay, buddy. You’ll help with that, won’t you?” Pavlov always greeted new animals with loads of affection that put them at ease. “You’re such a great guy.” Choking a little on her tears, she said to Pavlov what she couldn’t yet say to Tash and Sadie. “I love you so much.”
Pavlov returned that sentiment with a wildly wagging tail.
She wouldn’t mind Tash getting just as enthusiastic.
When she headed into the bathroom for her shower, Pavlov followed, sticking close even a half hour later, when she got into bed with her book.
“Now I can brag that I didn’t sleep alone.” She scratched under Pavlov’s chin, which put a look of ecstasy on his face and made her smile. “Definitely, I wouldn’t mind seeing that expression on Tash.” She kissed the top of his head and settled back into the bed. After circling twice, Pavlov settled near the footboard, but with his chin touching her shins.
