Cupid to the Rescue: A Tail-Wagging Valentine's Day Anthology

by Lisa Mondello

  “Not at all. It’s why I chose this place.”

  Hearing the bark at the door, Tuck rose and went to open it to let Val in.

  “Wait,” Jenny called. But it was too late. The snow-covered dog shot inside and then shook all the snow off.

  Tuck stepped back, but not in time to avoid a major shower of snow.

  Jenny laughed. “Sorry, I tried to stop you. I usually wipe off the snow on the porch. It melts in here.”

  Already puddles were forming where the snow landed.

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize,” he apologized.

  “Not that big a deal.”

  Tuck insisted on wiping up the floor while Jenny continued preparing breakfast.

  She had just scooped the eggs onto plates when the phone rang. Quickly she hurried over to answer it.

  “Looking for Tuck Mason,” the voice on the other end said.

  “It’s for you,” she said, holding out the phone. Returning to the kitchen, she finished loading the plates and took them to the table. Putting his where he sat before, she sat opposite and began to eat, not knowing how long his phone call would take.

  The one-sided conversation didn’t reveal much. Mostly cryptic one or two word responses.

  Finally he hung up and came to the table.

  “Problem?” she asked.

  “No, just one of the men asking for some direction. They can come get me if the truck can’t be pulled free today. I’ll call Troy after I eat.”

  “I’ll check in with the sheriff’s office to see if we can get an update on the roads,” she said.

  He nodded, attacking the food like he hadn’t eaten in a week.

  She was glad she’d made him a double portion. Now she wondered if that’d be enough.

  Jenny finished eating before Tucker and put her dish in the sink, awaiting his, then went to make the call. One of her friends was at the dispatch desk.

  “Hi Helen, just checking in. Do you know the status of the roads?”

  “Hi Jenny. The highway’s being kept as free from snow as they can manage. I wish it would stop. County roads are being cleared in order of usage. Yours should have had one pass at least.”

  “It’s more than three feet here I’m guessing. I wish it’d stop, too.”

  “Sounds right. I’ll let the sheriff know you’re okay.”

  “I’m fine. Any word on the power outage?”

  “Half the area’s out. No word on expected restoration.”

  Jenny told Helen to stay safe before hanging up and relaying the information to Tuck.

  “It sounds like the road might be cleared enough for Troy to make it out. I can check it for you,” she ended.

  He nodded as he finished the rest of his breakfast.

  “Hi Maisie,” she said when her friend answered.

  “I hear you have an unexpected visitor.”

  “His truck landed in a ditch at the end of the driveway. Any chance Troy can come this way?”

  “I think he’s on his way. He started at first light with some of the calls that came ahead of Tuck’s yesterday. He didn’t get home last night until after ten.”

  “Okay. Once we’re done with breakfast we’ll hike up to the road. Maybe it’s sitting there already out of the ditch.”

  “Check it out and let me know. Someone clearing your drive?”

  “Walt will, he usually sends one of his hands over when he can. I’m not expected anywhere, so no rush for me to get out. He’ll wait for the snow to stop falling.”

  “Lucky you. Stay warm.”

  Jenny hung up. “Troy might have already been here. Did you lock the door?”

  “No and keys are still in the ignition.”

  He rose and carried his plate to the sink. “I’ll hike up and check it out.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “No need,” he said.

  “Exercise. Plus, Val will love the walk.”

  Ten minutes later the two of them and the dog slogged through the deep snow, sinking up above their knees with each step. The falling snow wasn’t as heavy as before but still limited visibility. Tree limbs were bent low with the accumulated snow.

  When they reached the road, there was a berm of packed snow blocking the driveway courtesy of the road plow; beyond it they saw the white truck on the side of the road. Troy had been and gone.

  “Do you supposed he checked it to make sure it runs?” she asked as they crossed the plowed road to the truck. Val ran along the edge beside the berm of packed snow.

  “We’ll find out,” Tuck said, getting into the cab and starting the engine.

  Jenny stepped back, looking for Val. The dog was several yards behind the truck, sniffing something like dogs do.

  The truck moved forward a few feet.

  Jenny smiled and went to the driver’s window which Tuck rolled down.

  “It works,” he said, stating the obvious.

  “So it does. Good, you’ll be home in no time. Unless you wind up in another ditch.”

  “There is that. I’ll make it. Thank you, Jenny, for everything.”

  “Anytime. I’m glad Val rescued you.”

  “Do you need anything from town?” he asked.

  She was tempted to invent something she couldn’t live without just to have him come back. But that would only hold him up.

  “I have all I need, thanks.”

  He nodded, then glanced at the dog. Val had come up beside Jenny and sat, looking at Tucker.

  “Thank you, Val, you did good,” Tuck said.

  The dog barked once.

  “Bye,” Jenny said, turning to head back to her driveway. She was already missing him and two days ago she didn’t even know he existed.

  When she heard the truck pull away, she looked after it until she couldn’t see it anymore.

  “Well, he’s gone,” she told Val.

  The dog looked up at her and they scrambled over the berm, trotting toward home.

  The snowfall was light, the air cold and still.

  Taking a deep breath of the crisp air, Jenny smiled. It had been a nice diversion. She wondered if she’d run into him in town from time to time now that she knew who he was.

  She’d definitely look for him on her next visit to Wild Cat Creek. Not that it was likely to happen any time soon. She had to wait for the driveway to be plowed. And the snow hadn’t even stopped falling.

  The cabin seemed more empty than usual when she and Val entered a short time later. Jenny glanced around thoughtfully. It had been a break in routine to have someone stay with her. Her mom and her husband had been guests last fall, but that wasn’t exactly the same.

  She wished she’d learned more about Tucker Mason. He sure didn’t talk much.

  “Oh well, let’s finish that baby’s sweater and when the snow stops, we’ll take it to Darcy. The baby isn’t due for a few weeks. Wouldn’t it be great if it were born on Valentine’s Day?” She talked to Val as she stoked the fire and then sat on the sofa pulling the yarn basket closer and taking up the knitting needles.

  For a long time, silence reigned. Val lay in front of the fire. Jenny added row after row to the sweater. She’d left it for last. Booties, a cap and a blanket had already been completed. She wanted to give her friend a complete baby set. It would come in handy for a winter baby.

  After an hour, Jenny looked at Val.

  “I wonder if Tuck got back to the ranch safely. It wouldn’t seem too odd if I called to make sure he made it, would it?”

  Val lifted his head, his tail wagging, thumping on the floor.

  “I thought you’d agree. You rescued him, so he’s special to you, right?”

  The dog’s tail wagged faster.

  She laughed. “Okay, I’ll do it!”

  Putting the knitting aside Jenny went to the phone. She looked up the Bar 7 Ranch and dialed.

  “MacKay,” a gruff voice answered.

  “Hi, this is Jenny Schofield. I, ah, was calling to make sure Tuck Mason got back safely.”
>
  “He did.”

  “Oh. Okay, then.”

  “Wait and I’ll transfer the call to the bunk house. If he’s there he can pick up.”

  Her heart beat a little faster. Chances were good he’d be out on the range somewhere–

  “Bar 7,” Tuck’s voice answered.

  “Hi. It’s Jenny. I just wanted to make sure you got home safely. It’s still snowing.”

  “Made it with only a couple of skids, but none into a ditch,” he said.

  “That’s good.”

  Now what? That had been the reason for the call. He’d made it safely. What else could she say?

  “The truck ran with no problems?”

  “No problems. I think the thick snow cushioned it when slid off the road. I didn’t see any damage when I checked it out.”

  She waited a moment.

  He could pick a topic of conversation if he wanted to continue the call.

  “Well, I’m glad. I thought you might be out on the range already.”

  “Heading that way. I only got in a few minutes ago. The roads are still treacherous.”

  “I won’t hold you up, then.”

  “Thanks for the call.”

  “Goodbye,” she said and after hearing his goodbye slowly hung up.

  “He’s fine,” she said to Val. The dog had come to sit beside her while she spoke on the phone.

  “In a day or two I bet he forgets all about us,” she said.

  She knew it would be quite a while before she forgot the cowboy–if she ever did.

  “Let’s go outside and play in the snow,” she told the dog.

  No sense pining over something she couldn’t have. Or someone.

  By the time Jenny prepared lunch, the snow finally stopped falling. She spent a good portion of the afternoon clearing a path to her jeep and then cleaning off the snow. Before she finished, she heard a truck on the drive. Before long she saw Walt’s big dually with the blade on front, pushing snow to the side of the driveway. Time and again he backed up and pushed a fresh pile off to the side.

  She waved and went inside to prepare hot coffee. He knew when he got to the house, she’d have something to warm him up. Pulling some brownies from the freezer, she heated them in a pan on the gas burner and had them ready when she heard his steps on the porch.

  Opening the door, she smiled at her landlord.

  “Thank you, Walt. I’d be here until summer if you didn’t clear the driveway,” she said with a quick hug for him.

  “Hey, gotta make sure you’re mobile if you get a call.”

  “Come in and have some hot coffee. I have brownies,” she said.

  He stomped off the snow on the porch and stepped in. Taking off his jacket, he joined her at the table. A steaming cup of hot coffee awaited beside the plate of warm brownies.

  “You okay?” he asked, sitting down and taking a sip of the hot beverage. Then he helped himself to a brownie.

  “Doing fine. Everything okay at your place?”

  “Lot of snow. The men are out making sure the cattle are okay. Wish we’d have a warm spell, but January isn’t known for warm weather. At least more snow isn’t in the immediate forecast.”

  “That’s good. Have you heard when power will be back on? I’m still running the generator.”

  “Haven’t heard. When it is then we’ll know.”

  She smiled and nodded. That was the way of things out this way.

  “Heard you rescued one of Bill MacKay’s cowboys.”

  “His truck slid into the ditch across the road. Val actually rescued him–he heard the truck, I guess. Anyway, he’s the one who led me to Tuck. Do you know him?”

  “To say hey to, that’s all. He’s foreman at the Bar 7. MacKay thinks highly about him. I see him from time to time at the cattlemen’s association meetings.”

  She nodded. “I don’t think I’ve seen him around town.”

  “Keeps pretty much to the ranch. A loner, I’m guessing.”

  “Sounds right. He certainly wasn’t very chatty when he was here.”

  “The brownies are great, thanks.”

  “Take the rest with you.” She rose and quickly came back with a plastic container. “Do you want a go-mug of coffee? I have a couple.”

  “Naw, this hit the spot. I need to get back.”

  “Thanks again for clearing the driveway. I don’t need to go anywhere right now, but nice to know I can go if I need to.”

  “Take care, Jenny. Call if you need anything.”

  “Will do. Stay safe.”

  She watched from the window as the older man backed around his truck, lifted the blade and headed back toward the road.

  She’d stocked up on groceries already. But she wondered if she could think of something else to take her to town—something that would bring Tuck there at the same time.

  For a moment she fantasied about running into him, stopping to have coffee together, and learning more about the man who had caught her interest.

  Valentine’s Rescue: Chapter 4

  Two days later Jenny headed for town. She’d wrapped the baby present in colorful paper and had it on the backseat. Val sat up in the front gazing out the windshield as he always did.

  After a short visit with Darcy, who loved the baby set, Jenny headed for the post office. She didn’t get a lot of mail, but what came for her went to her post office box.

  When she entered the lobby, she glanced the left. Beyond the glass door to the counter area she saw Tuck Mason standing in line.

  She watched for a moment, until someone else entered the post office behind her.

  “Sorry,” she muttered, moving out of the way and turning to her box. Pulling out the fliers and junk mail, she quickly dumped what she didn’t need in the nearby bin. There was a letter from one of her Army buddies and a couple of bills. She turned to leave just as Tuck came out of the counter area carrying a large box.

  “Hi,” Jenny said brightly. Val barked in greeting.

  “Jenny, Val,” he said.

  “Let me get the door,” she said, pulling it open so he could go through with the package.

  “Thanks.” He walked out and turned right, heading for the familiar white truck. Jenny’s jeep was to the left.

  “Want a cup of coffee?” she asked impulsively. She felt butterflies in her stomach at her boldness, but she'd been hoping to see him again. Who knew when they might run into each other? This was like kismet. She hoped he'd say yes.

  He turned slightly. “I’m headed back to the ranch. This is a part for one of our pumps.”

  She smiled and nodded. Disappointed, she turned toward her jeep. He was a busy man. And it was highly unlikely he'd been daydreaming about spending more time with her.

  “I guess I could take time for a quick cup,” Tuck called behind her. She spun around, a bright smile on her face. She knew she was probably giving away her feelings, but she was delighted.

  “At the café?” he asked.

  Putting the box in the back of his truck, he turned and walked toward her.

  “Sure.”

  She hadn't eaten inside a restaurant since she returned home. She was too uncertain of her reaction in case something triggered an episode. But—she had to try sometime. How would she know if she never ventured forth? She just hoped she'd be okay while with Tuck.

  “Val can go in, right?” he asked.

  She nodded. “He can go anywhere I go.”

  Tuck didn’t say anything as they walked the short distance to the café. The day was slightly overcast, but she felt as if it had brightened considerably. She was almost giddy with excitement. More maybe than was warranted for a cup of coffee, but she'd been thinking about him since he left.

  They sat at one of the booths on the side of the cafe. Val immediately went in under the table, turned and lay down, his face on his paws right next to Jenny’s feet. Tuck sat opposite Jenny.

  “What’ll you have?” Jan had been a waitress in the café since Jenny had been in hig
h school. She wore dark jeans and a sweater over a white blouse, an apron with large pockets to hold the order pad wrapped around her waist.

  “I’ll have a hot chocolate,” Jenny said.

  “Coffee,” Tuck added.

  “Be right back,” Jan said, giving Jenny a wink before turning to head for the counter.

  For a moment there was silence in the booth, then both started talking at once.

  “Sorry,” Jenny said when they both stopped. “You first.”

  “I was asking how you were. Obviously, your driveway’s clear. The cold’s keeping the snow from melting.”

  “Walt cleared it the same day you left.”

  “Good. Did the power come back on?”

  “Yesterday. How are things on the Bar 7?” she asked. Maybe she could get him to talk a bit more if he talked about his work. Didn’t guys like that?

  “Fine.”

  Well, maybe not all guys.

  Jan returned with their beverages. She looked from one to the other and then gave Jenny a wink before she walked back to the counter.

  “Has the snow caused any problems?” Jenny asked. She'd grown up around ranchers and knew weather played a big part in the ups and downs dealing with cattle.

  A group of boisterous teenaged boys spilled into the café. Laughing and shoving each other, they took two tables and pushed them together. The scraping noise as they stuttered across the wooden floor sounded like thunder.

  A loud crash of breaking glass came from the kitchen area and Jenny jumped.

  Val put his face in her lap, pressing against her legs.

  Stress rose. Her heart rate increased. Blood pounded in her ears. She could scarcely breathe. She needed to get to safety.

  “I have to go,” she said suddenly. “Sorry. I can’t stay.”

  She scooted out of the booth, Val right at her leg. She grabbed for the leash and the two walked quickly out the door.

  “Stupid!” she said as she almost ran on the sidewalk, finally slowing and taking deep breaths, rubbing Val’s neck, doing her best to stay in the moment. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

  In the fall when she’d first returned, she’d met friends at the café. But the weather had been nice, and they’d sat on the outside patio. Obviously a better plan than going inside. Being confined in a place that made her feel trapped was more than she could deal with.