Her Alaskan Cowboy

by Belle Calhoune

  “You like all this undivided attention, don’t you?” Honor asked as she gently patted one of the calves. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but the calf seemed to be smiling at her. There were five calves in all who had been born in the last few weeks. Two had been born early, but all five of them were in good condition.

  “Can you blame him?” The rich tone of Joshua’s voice startled her. She swung her gaze up to meet his. He was standing a few feet away with his arms folded across his chest. He was leaning against a wooden beam. She had no idea how long he’d been standing there.

  “I don’t mean to interrupt. I was sitting up at the main house and feeling curious about the calves. Violet is napping, so I figured I’d pop my head in. Winnie is keeping an eye on her.”

  “It’s fine. They’re your calves, after all,” she said. “I’m pleased to report they’re all in fine condition.”

  Joshua nodded. “That’s in large part due to you, Honor.”

  Honor grinned. Bud had called her over to the ranch when each of the calves had been born. The memory was a sweet one. “Bud had me wrapped around his little finger. This ranch was his whole world. He cared about every aspect of it.”

  For a moment they locked gazes. Her words hung in the air, serving as a reminder of the huge divide between them regarding the Diamond R.

  Her cell phone began buzzing insistently, shattering the silence. She took her phone out and glanced at the caller ID. It was a call from the wildlife center. “Sorry. I have to take this call.”

  “No problem,” he murmured. “Take your time.”

  The voice of Priscilla Walters, one of her employees, rang in her ear as soon as she said hello.

  “Honor! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

  “Hey, Priscilla. I’m at the Diamond R checking on Bud’s calves. I let Clay know before I headed over here so there would be coverage at the center.” There was an urgency to Priscilla’s voice that was unsettling.

  “Clay is out checking the fences,” Priscilla quickly explained. “He forgot to mention you’d headed over to the ranch.”

  There had recently been an issue when one of the animals had managed to slip through a gap in the fence. She had spent the better part of a day out in the van trying to locate the heifer. They were now regularly making the rounds to ensure no more animals got loose.

  “What’s going on?” Honor asked. “Is something wrong?”

  “We just got a call from Gunther. He spotted a small arctic fox over by Nottingham Woods not too far from the entrance. Gunther said it’s been there since yesterday and it may be hurt or abandoned since it hasn’t moved. He’s not sure how old it is.”

  Honor made a clucking sound. “Gunther probably thought the mama fox was nearby at first, but if it’s still by itself something may have happened to the mother. She may not be alive or she’s rejected the baby fox for some reason.”

  “Can you ride out there?” Priscilla asked. “There’s a few preschool kids who are coming for a tour today so I’d like to stay put. And I can’t reach Clay. There’s probably no service where he is.”

  “Sure thing,” Honor said, not wanting to leave the children in the lurch.

  Although she hated to miss the visit by the small group of children, locating the arctic fox and making sure it was safe and sound was important. A young fox who was on its own and possibly injured was a pressing matter.

  “I’ll head right over there and check it out,” Honor said.

  When she hung up, Joshua shot her a questioning look.

  “There’s an arctic fox out in the wild. It might be hurt or abandoned. We’re not sure how old it is. I need to head out to Nottingham Woods to check on it,” she explained.

  Joshua’s eyes widened. “How are you going to do that without a vehicle?”

  Honor sighed. She had completely forgotten that she’d ridden Lola over to the Diamond R. It would take her forever to ride all the way to the Nottingham Woods on her horse. And if the arctic fox needed medical attention, Honor wouldn’t be able to transport it to the wildlife center.

  “I’d be happy to drive you over there,” Joshua offered. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to Nottingham Woods.”

  Honor shook her head. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

  “You’re not asking me. I’m offering,” he said in a firm voice. “I can also have one of the ranch hands bring Lola back to the wildlife center for you.”

  “Thank you, Joshua,” Honor said. “I accept. Do you mind if we leave right now?” she asked, anxious to find the fox.

  Joshua laughed. “No problem. I just need to let Winnie know I’m going to be out for a while so she can watch Violet. I’ll be right back,” he said, beating a fast path out of the barn and heading toward the main house.

  After grabbing her belongings, Honor walked toward Bud’s truck. She only had to wait a few moments before Joshua came back outside and met her by the vehicle. He opened the door for her and she stepped up into the truck. Joshua got behind the wheel and headed off toward Nottingham Woods. It was roughly a fifteen-minute drive from the ranch. As Joshua drove, they passed moose crossing signs and a desolate patch of road with nothing more than snow-covered trees decorating the landscape. The view of the mountains became even more magnificent the closer they drove toward the woods.

  As they approached Nottingham Woods, Honor made a mental note to come back up here soon to do some hiking. As a kid, Jasper had taken her and her brothers spelunking in one of the nearby caves. As a teenager, Honor had brought Joshua to the caves. In a wildly romantic gesture, Joshua had carved their initials in the stone wall. J.R. loves H.P. forever. To this day, no man had ever made Honor feel the way Joshua had in that moment. Adored. Treasured. Well loved.

  Once they arrived, a large cedar sign welcomed them to Nottingham Woods. Joshua turned the truck into the entrance and put it in Park. Honor opened her door and stepped down. She immediately began scouring the area. She knew from experience that arctic foxes could easily blend into the scenery due to their white coats. Honor began walking toward the trail and searching the area for any trace of the animal. Joshua walked a few feet behind her. It was nice to have another set of eyes and ears.

  Frustration and worry set in after a half hour. Trying to look on the bright side, Honor reckoned the fox could have been reunited with its mother or found its way back to the den.

  All of a sudden, a slight sound caused her to stop in her tracks. “Did you hear that?” she asked Joshua. He nodded instead of speaking. Clearly, he was trying not to spook any animals.

  She turned her head to a patch of trees twenty feet away from the trail. As she moved closer, the sounds became more distinct. Honor picked up her pace. She gasped as she came face-to-face with a pure white arctic fox. It was curled up and emitting whimpering sounds. Although it wasn’t a baby, it appeared to be under a year old.

  Honor saw its weakened condition and the signs that the fox hadn’t been eating. It was clear to her that the fox had been injured, which explained why it appeared malnourished. It hadn’t been able to forage for food. It meant Honor needed to transport it back to the center. Getting the arctic fox proper nourishment and shelter was crucial for its long-term survival.

  She reached out and touched the fox. It was shaking like a leaf. “I’m not going to hurt you, sweet pea.” Honor tried to make her voice reassuring and tender. With the utmost gentleness, she lifted it up on its legs. Joshua knelt beside her, allowing her to take the lead but staying close for support. Almost immediately, the fox collapsed. Honor could see there was something going on with its legs.

  “She can’t walk on her own,” she said to Joshua. “I’m going to take her to the center for rehabilitation.”

  “Why don’t you head to the truck and open up the back for me? I’ll carry her,” Joshua said.

  She watched as Jos
hua reached out and scooped the small fox up into his arms. Honor took off at a fast clip and began walking toward the vehicle. She flung open the back door of the truck, not wanting to waste a moment in getting the animal inside.

  After the harsh words they had exchanged, Joshua would have been the last person she would ever want to help her out. At this moment, she wouldn’t want to be with anyone else but him.

  Chapter Nine

  Honor stood by the truck and watched as Joshua gingerly held the arctic fox in his arms. She couldn’t help but admire Joshua as he strode toward her, his steps full of power and purpose. A sigh slipped past her lips. He was dressed in a nice-fitting pair of blue jeans and a hunter green parka. A cowboy hat sat perched on his head. There was no debating he was much better-looking than all of the single men in this town put together. A true Alaskan hottie! Her cheeks felt heated at the admission.

  He placed the arctic fox in the back of the truck on top of one of her blankets, then firmly closed the door. Honor quickly situated herself in the passenger seat. Joshua sat in the driver’s seat and cast a glance behind him at the fox. He reached to turn on the radio, his arm brushing against hers in the process, causing an electric pulse to run through her. Being so close to Joshua was doing a number on her. There was an awareness that always flared between them whenever they were in close proximity. At the same time, Honor felt comfortable in his strong, steady presence. Their shared history bonded them for life.

  He revved the engine and began to drive away from Nottingham Woods.

  “Thanks for bringing me out here, Joshua. You’ve been a big help,” Honor said, gratitude welling up inside her.

  “Hanging out with you twice in one day is pretty suspicious. I’m beginning to think you’re following me,” he said in a teasing voice.

  Honor rolled her eyes. She snapped her fingers. “You figured me out. And here I was trying to be subtle.”

  “Isn’t that how we started dating? You used to trail after me all the time until I noticed you.”

  “You wish, Ransom,” she said, shaking her head.

  His low chuckle sounded like it radiated from deep inside him. They both knew the true story. Joshua had been the one to chase Honor. He had worn down her initial defenses with his tenderness and boyish charm. She had been defenseless to resist him.

  “So what’s your theory on the fox? Was she abandoned?” Joshua asked.

  Honor nodded. “No, I don’t think so. She’s not a baby. I would say she’s about nine months old or so. Arctic foxes are on their own from a fairly young age and are forced to fend for themselves. Judging by her weakened state, she’s malnourished. She really needs some TLC.”

  “Sounds like she’s in good hands,” Joshua said.

  “The wildlife center is the perfect place for her. I’m feeling very blessed that we were able to find her in the woods.”

  Joshua winked at her. “Haven’t you heard? There are no accidents in life. Everything happens for a reason.”

  No accidents in life? Honor agreed with the sentiment. Everything had a divine purpose. She had been scratching her head trying to figure out why God had placed Joshua back in Love. Surely it wasn’t so he could sell Bud’s ranch to the Alloy Corporation? There had to be some other reason, she reckoned. Her faith told her so.

  “Well, I’m glad there’s a happy ending for Bashful.” The helpless look on the arctic fox’s face tugged at Honor’s heart.

  “Bashful?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “Like one of the seven dwarfs?”

  Honor nodded. “It’s the perfect name for her.” She chuckled at the skeptical expression on Joshua’s face. “I’m serious. She has that shy look on her face and those big ears.”

  “Now that you mention it, she does look a little on the bashful side,” Joshua noted.

  “See! I told you!” Honor said, her tone laced with triumph.

  He turned toward her. “So what will happen to her?”

  “First, we’ll get her up to speed nutrition-wise. Then we’ll rehabilitate her. She can’t stand on her legs. She’s been injured in some way. I’ll call the vet out so he can come on over and check on her. Then we’ll go from there.” She found herself smiling. Although she hated the sad circumstances that led animals to the wildlife center, Honor enjoyed being the one who helped bring them to a place of healing. It was truly her calling in life.

  “You really love what you do, don’t you?” he asked.

  “I really do. I’m so blessed. From the moment I start work in the morning until I clock out, I’m filled with such joy. Being an advocate for these animals is a huge responsibility, but it’s one I completely embrace.”

  Joshua quirked his mouth. She could tell he was thinking about something. He was listening to every word she was saying with such rapt attention.

  “What about you?” she asked, curious about his business. Bud had told her a little bit about Joshua’s company. His grandfather had been extremely proud of his grandson’s success, although he had always seemed wary to share information with her. Perhaps Bud had believed it would reopen old wounds. He certainly had never breathed a word to her about Violet.

  “I like working in home construction and flipping houses, but I can’t say I’m passionate about it. To be honest, I never really thought about it before.” He frowned. “You’re one of the rare ones, Honor. Most people work jobs. You have a vocation. You’re living the dream.”

  Joshua’s words made Honor’s chest swell with pride. Following her passion hadn’t always been easy, but she had forged through and completed her education. With her family and the Lord by her side, Honor had persevered. Boone had always advised her to keep her eyes on the prize. And she hadn’t lost sight of the big dream—creating a wildlife center in Love.

  As Joshua turned into the entrance to the wildlife center, Honor took a moment to survey the property. It wasn’t as big as the Diamond R Ranch by any means, but it was spectacular in her opinion. She didn’t want to dwell on the fact that Bud had mentioned merging the properties. It was all water under the bridge. There wasn’t a single thing she could do to change it. Filing the injunction had only been about preventing the Ransom brothers from selling to a developer. If the wildlife center never gained another acre, Honor would still be content.

  “Seems like you’ve got company,” Joshua said as he pulled up to the house.

  A car sat parked outside the main building. Its motor was still running.

  Honor would recognize the distinctive vehicle anywhere.

  “It’s Lee,” Honor said. Her heart sank. The timing of the attorney’s visit couldn’t have been worse. Joshua knew full well that Lee had helped her pursue the injunction against him and Theo.

  The mood in the truck immediately became tense. She and Joshua had been getting along so well, with little or no discord. She’d thought they had turned a corner. The appearance of Lee served as a reminder that sides had been taken in the matter of Joshua’s inheritance. It was as if there was a huge neon blinking sign up ahead reminding Joshua of the injunction.

  Honor couldn’t help but notice the change in Joshua’s demeanor. His jaw was tightly clenched. He was gripping the steering wheel so hard she could see his veins threatening to burst through the skin.

  Perhaps there was still some way of salvaging their goodwill toward one another.

  “Would you like to stay for a bit and see how Bashful gets acclimated?” Honor asked.

  “No, thanks,” he said tersely. He nodded in Lee’s direction. “It looks like Lee wants your time and attention.”

  “Joshua, I don’t want—”

  His expression softened. “You don’t need to say anything. We’re just on opposite sides of things. That’s just the way it is.” He shrugged. “Maybe it’s always been this way.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Think about it. Whe
n we first fell in love, your family tried to put up roadblocks at every turn. Then I created a bunch of them myself. Theo always had a problem with you. There was always one thing or another separating us. We never had a shot, did we?”

  “That’s not true!” she said. “I can’t believe you’ve become so cynical.”

  “Do you blame me?” he asked in an anger-filled voice.

  “Yes, I do,” she said. “I guess you’ve forgotten what we shared, Joshua. Because it was real. It mattered. And you can try to reduce it to something trivial if you want, but it wasn’t. It was pretty epic.”

  Their gazes locked. Honor reached out and swept her palm across Joshua’s cheek. “I’m sorry if my filing the injunction hurt you. Or if you feel I’ve tied your hands. I truly am. But it’s separate and apart from what we once meant to each other. Our love was real. And after everything I went through, I’m not going to let you say otherwise.” Honor wrenched open the door and hopped out of the truck. She might have slammed the door behind her if Bashful wasn’t resting peacefully. She moved toward the back of the truck and tugged the blanket toward her, bringing Bashful along with it. Next thing she knew, Joshua was beside her, lifting up the arctic fox.

  “Where do you want her?” Joshua asked, looking around him.

  “I can take her,” Honor said, reaching out her arms for the animal. Joshua tenderly placed Bashful in her arms, then nodded at her, murmuring a quick goodbye. Lee raised his hand in greeting as soon as he spotted her. He knit his brows together as his gaze veered toward Joshua. Honor saw the questions lurking in her friend’s eyes, but she had no intention of addressing them. At the moment, she was all talked out.

  As Joshua roared away from the wildlife center, Honor found herself wondering how things had ever gotten so complicated between them. It seemed that they were destined to be at odds over every little thing in this world.