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

by Lisa Mondello

  “We can try pulling on this limb together, see if we can swivel it around enough to get the truck through,” he said.

  Both grabbed hold of the same limb and pulled. Jenny dug in her heels and pulled for all she was worth. The tree didn’t budge.

  “I need a saw,” he said a moment later, letting go. “Or a couple of draft horses. Do you have a chain or heavy rope? I could try moving it with my truck, only I don’t have anything in the truck that’ll work.”

  “No, I’ve never needed any of those things. Maybe I should invest in a chain saw and some rope. Not that I know how to cut up a tree.”

  “Get a saw and I’ll show you,” he said as they headed back to the cabin, the flashlight illuminating the way. Night had fallen. The wind had not diminished.

  “Guess I’ll take you up on your offer of dinner,” Tuck said as they stepped up on the porch.

  “I wasn’t planning much–soup and sandwiches.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  They ate dinner and Jenny brought out the last of the brownies from the freezer.

  “I’ll heat them in a pan. Not as easy as the microwave, but it works.”

  “Or we can put them near the fire, and they’ll thaw soon enough.”

  Tuck took the foil wrapped brownies and placed them close to the fire. “More comforts than camping,” he said glancing around the room.

  “Do you go camping a lot?” she asked.

  “Not anymore. I get outside enough with my work. We camped a lot as kids–even if only out near the property line. The ranch has a year-round creek running through one section. That’s where we’d ride with bedrolls and all.”

  “Just your brothers or your parents as well?”

  “When I was young, my folks came. Once we were teenagers, they let us go on our own. I don’t think my mom’s a great fan of camping.”

  “What’s your mom a great fan of?”

  He settled back in the chair and stared into the fire.

  “These days I’m not so sure. I haven’t been home in a long time. She loved putting up fruit and vegetables at harvest time. She was so proud of the rows of sweet corn, tomatoes, snap beans, and preserves in the cellar. You name it, she probably preserves it. We had peaches and apple sauce, too. I can still see all the rows of jars on the shelves in the cellar.”

  She heard a note of nostalgia in his voice which was unexpected from her tough cowboy.

  “Don’t you get vacation time?” she asked gently.

  He glanced at her. “Of course.”

  “You could go see her again.”

  He shook his head.

  What kept him from going home? she wondered.

  “Then you should invite her up here.”

  He gave that half smile she liked so much.

  “I live in a bunk house with five other cowboys. Hardly the place a man wants to bring his mother.”

  “There're places to stay in town. My friend Darcy has a lovely room she rents out and the hotel’s very nice.”

  He held her gaze for a moment. “It’s a thought,” he said slowly.

  She longed to asked why he didn’t go home, but that seemed highly personal and she felt awkward asking. Maybe if they became better friends, she’d venture a question.

  “I didn’t go camping as a kid, but I have lots of stories about Wild Cat Creek and the adventures my friends and I got into,” she said with a bright smile. “It was the best place to grow up. We’d raft down the creek, from above Palmer’s, past town, and on toward McKenzie’s ranch. We’d get out there and someone would always give us a lift back to town.”

  “What kind of raft?”

  “The best kind–the ones we made ourselves, of course.”

  Jenny spent the next half hour reminiscing about the adventures she had growing up. Recalling different escapades with different friends while some of the same friends featured in every one.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  Tuck’s gaze never left her face. He could listen to her all night. He wished he’d known her when she’d been a kid. It sounded like she loved exploring, trying new things. Fearless. Was that the reason she enlisted in the Army? For more adventures?

  He could picture her there, blazing into any situation needing her help, fearless. Until– Until something happened to cause her to leave the Army and have flashbacks that could paralyze.

  She tilted her head looking at him. “Well?”

  He blinked. He’d been caught up in his thoughts. Had he missed the last bit?

  “Well, what?”

  “What was the most daring thing you did as a kid? Have you been listening to me?”

  He nodded. “But I don’t think I ever went into the pasture where a rampant bull was. You’re lucky you’re still alive.”

  She laughed. “I know. That was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. But when Tal double dog dared me, what else could I do?”

  He knew the sheriff slightly. What would it be like to grow up around all your friends, to see what they’d become as adults? To share a common background and a future that seemed secure.

  At one time he’d thought he’d live in his hometown all his life. He knew his brother Tice would likely get the ranch–or at least be majority shareholder if his dad went that way. But he never expected to leave. And not return for more than a decade.

  “Tuck?”

  He blinked and focused on Jenny.

  “What?”

  “I’d offer a penny for your thoughts but I’m thinking you’re miles away and a penny isn’t enough.”

  “Just thinking how things don’t always work out the way we think they will when we’re kids. You’re lucky to still have your friends you grew up with. Shared memories will be with you for as long as you all live.”

  “Well, that’s philosophical. You have friends who you share memories with.”

  “Even if I returned home, there’s a gap.”

  Not that he was going back.

  “Me, too. Six years in the Army. Not one of my friends came with me.”

  He didn’t want to pursue this topic. “I’m going to try the phone again. Let my boss know where I am,” he said.

  A minute later he hung up. “Still dead.”

  “If he worries because you don’t come back, what’ll he do?”

  “I don’t think he’ll realize I’m not there until morning. Then I guess he’ll call my cell to see where I am.”

  “Maybe he’ll start a search for you and send the sheriff out here to see if you’re here.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. Just a thought.”

  “Unlikely. Come daylight, I’ll head for town. Someone’s bound to come along to give me a lift.

  “Walt’s driveway is only a couple of miles beyond mine. We could hike over there and get his help.”

  “Beats the possibility of a sixteen-mile hike to town.”

  “Okay, then, we have a plan. Do you want anything else to eat or drink?”

  “Another cup of hot chocolate?”

  While Jenny made them both another cup of hot chocolate, Tuck replenished the fire. He'd thought about home more in their conversations than he had in quite a while.

  He couldn't help wondering how everyone was, what changes there might be on the ranch. He frowned. He'd made his life the way he wanted it. There was no going back.

  The conversation over the warm beverage turned to more current events. Jenny asked question about his work and he told her more about the Bar 7, the men he worked with, and some of the funny situations dealing with cattle could bring.

  It was late when Jenny glanced at the clock.

  “I didn’t realize it was so late. I’ll let Val out for one last run and then I’m going to bed.”

  Tuck nodded and then went to try the phone again while she let the dog out. He worried about her stuck out here so far from any neighbors. He knew she was independent, but she should have some way to contact people in a emergency.
>
  “Still dead,” he said a moment later.

  “Do you need anything?” she asked.

  He shook his head.

  “Then I’m off to bed. The sooner we go to sleep, the sooner it’ll be tomorrow. I made up the guest bed with fresh linens, so it’s all yours,” she said, letting Val in. The wind was still strong, the trees swaying and bending before it.

  He banked the fire after she'd closed her bedroom door. He could get used to spending evenings with Jenny Schofield.

  ♥ ♥ ♥

  They both rose early the next morning. Jenny tried the phone again, but no luck. Tuck was ready to head out, but Jenny insisted they eat breakfast first.

  “No telling when we’ll get a chance to eat again, and it’s a couple of miles to Walt’s place. I need sustenance to walk that far in this cold weather!”

  A quick breakfast, dishes left soaking in the sink, and they headed out. Val ran ahead, then doubled back as if to say, what’s keeping you two?

  The wind was still strong, and branches were scattered everywhere. They walked through the thick trees to get around the fallen cedar, then stuck to the drive until they reached the road. As they walked, they picked up fallen branches and tossed them to the side to make it easier to use the drive when they returned.

  The road was clear, though snow berms still lined the sides. Turning in the direction of Walt’s ranch, they walked in silence for a while. Val stayed on the side of the road, sniffing here and there, his tail high as he explored to his heart’s content.

  “He’s well trained,” Tuck said, observing the dog.

  “He better be. He cost enough. Service dogs aren’t cheap.”

  The heard a car coming and Tuck reached out to pull Jenny closer to him and the side of the road. A big truck roared by, heading in the same direction they were.

  “Too bad it wasn’t someone who works for Walt,” she said, feeling flustered as she stepped out of his arms. “They could have given us a lift.”

  “Except for the wind, it’s not that bad out. What else would you be doing this morning?”

  “No plans for the day.”

  Another truck came by this one heading for town. The driver sounded his horn in friendly greeting.

  They both waved.

  “Maybe we should have flagged him down and gotten a ride to town,” Tuck said, turning to watch the truck fade in the distance.

  Jenny stepped right up to him. “Walt’s place isn’t that far. Though I expect you’d rather ride a horse than take a morning walk.”

  “Oh, is that right?” he asked, looking down at her.

  She grinned. Teasing him was fun. Then, to her astonishment, he leaned over and kissed her.

  A moment later Val pushed between them, leaning against Jenny.

  It was hard to see who was more surprised.

  They stared at each other for several seconds. Jenny broke eye contact looking at her dog.

  “I’m fine, Val. Good dog.”

  She turned and began walking toward Walt’s. She hadn't expected a kiss. She licked her lips. Her heart was pounding. No wonder Val thought she was about to space out. She was sure the external signs were similar.

  “Should I say I'm sorry? Though I'm not,” he said as they walked side by side.

  “No, not unless you are sorry.” Please don't be sorry. She glanced at him and saw his expression. He didn't look sorry.

  “Nope, not sorry a bit. Wouldn't mind doing it again.”

  She took a deep breath. She wouldn't mind doing it again either.

  Jenny cleared her throat. “The drive to the ranch is coming up,” she said.

  Val raced past them and started up the cleared drive, fences lining both sides.

  “How far to the house?” Tuck asked. There were no buildings visible from the road.

  “I don’t know. We have to get to that rise ahead, then you can see the house in the distance. I’ve never walked it, only driven. It doesn’t take long in a car.”

  “Jenny–”

  She glanced at him. “What?”

  “Are we okay?”

  “Why wouldn’t we be?”

  “Are you mad about the kiss?”

  “Not at all,” she replied, looking straight ahead.

  He never was good at understanding women. Look at his relationship with Trish. Or what he thought was a relationship with Trish. He frowned.

  She wanted to say more, but walking up the drive to Walt's ranch wasn't the place.

  “We're still good,” she said at last.

  The wind felt stronger as they trudged along the drive. There were few trees on this side of the road to break up the force.

  When they reached the top of the incline men could be seen in the distance, some on horseback. It was a working ranch after all.

  They were spotted before they reached the house and one man broke away from the others and rode out to meet them.

  It was Walt.

  “Jenny. What are you doing here? Where’s your jeep?”

  “Hi Walt. My driveway’s blocked by a fallen tree. Power’s out and so’s the phone. Do you know Tuck Mason?”

  Walt nodded, touching his hat in acknowledgment.

  “He came by yesterday afternoon and his truck’s on the other side of the downed tree, too.”

  Walt looked at Tuck. “What’ll it take to move the tree?”

  “Couple of strong horses or maybe a chain and a truck. We couldn’t move it ourselves and I didn’t have a chain with me.”

  Walt let out a piercing whistle and one of the cowboys rode over to him.

  “Need something, boss?” he asked.

  “Get one of the other men and the two of you head for Jenny’s place. We have to move a tree from her driveway.”

  The cowboy nodded and rode back to the others.

  “I’ll get a chainsaw and we’ll take my truck back,” Walt said.

  Walt’s truck reached her driveway just as the cowboys rode up with ropes on their saddles. Walt had put a large chainsaw in the back of his truck.

  Once at the tree, the four men made short work of cutting away the branches and hauling them to the side. As soon as Walt had a limb severed, one of the men would haul it to the side of the drive. Tuck worked as hard as Walt and his own men.

  Jenny stood to one side and watched. Val sat beside her. The loud buzz of the chain saw disturbed the tranquility of the forest, but she was happy to note it didn't cause any feelings of panic.

  She watched the men work, mostly Tucker. Even in the heavy winter jacket, she could tell he was strong and built. When she thought about the kiss, she'd get warm. Best antidote to the cold, she thought. She couldn't help but smile. Who would have suspected he'd kiss her? It wasn't particularly romantic. No candlelight or music. Walking along the side of a country road in broad daylight wasn't the best scenario for romance.

  But she didn't care. She wondered if he'd kiss her again.

  The men cut the log into six-foot sections. Tuck and Walt stepped aside while the cowboys tied ropes to the sections, mounted their horses pulled the logs out of the way.

  In less than thirty minutes the driveway was clear.

  Jenny thanked everyone and then Walt and his men headed out while Tuck and Jenny walked down the driveway to her house.

  She wouldn’t refer to his kiss. Though she’d thought about it a dozen times since he’d kissed her. She fantasied a couple of times while watching them work, of Tuck returning to her cabin and taking a coffee break before he left. Maybe even leaning closer for another kiss.

  “You take care, Jenny,” he said when they reached his truck, opened the door and climbed in.

  His comment dashed that daydream.

  “Thanks again,” she said. Was it for the help with the tree, or for sparking something in her she'd thought she might have lost? She hadn't dated in forever. But she would sure be willing to see more of Tucker Mason.

  Valentine’s Rescue: Chapter 6

  Two days later Jenny timed he
r trip to town to coincide with the lunch hour. She had to get used to normal activities. But she wasn’t quite ready to go full bore. She stopped at the café and ordered a take-out lunch, then sat in her jeep with Val while she ate. She seriously considered buying a chain saw and some lengths of chain. She’d get Walt or one of his cowboys to show her how to hook the chain to her jeep and if another tree fell, she could handle clearing it herself.

  After her errands, she stopped by Darcy’s to visit her friend, bringing cupcakes from the town’s bakery.

  “Always fun to see you,” Jenny said to her friend. Darcy's kids swarmed around her and she doled out the cupcakes once they all sat at the table.

  “Such a treat,” Darcy said while she and Jenny sat in the family room, sipping hot coffee with their cupcakes. “What brings you to town today?”

  Jenny regaled her with recent events, but stopped short of telling her about the kiss.

  It had been a spur of the moment thing. Probably didn't mean a whole lot, but she hugged it to her like a special secret.

  Not that she wanted to become involved with anyone right now. She needed to get this PTSD under control. It would be so unfair to saddle someone with a person who couldn't always make it through the day without having a meltdown.

  “Tell me more about Tucker,” Darcy invited.

  Jenny looked at her friend with a smile. “What do you want to know?”

  “Do you like him?”

  “Sure. He’s nice,” she said cautiously.

  Darcy laughed out loud. “Nice? From what little you’ve said, nice isn’t the word I’d use to describe him.”

  “And what would be the word?” Jenny asked.

  “Rugged, exciting, interesting, intriguing.”

  Jenny blinked and stared at her friend.

  “Where did you get all that?”

  “Am I wrong?”

  Thinking about it, Jenny shook her head. “But I never used those words.”

  “No, but you sound different when you talk about him. He’s not from around here, and that alone makes him intriguing. Look at all of us, we went to school together, we’ve known most people in town all our lives. Here comes a Texan. Why Wild Cat Creek? Why settle down here? Why keep to himself? I’ve never heard of him and I’ve heard stories about a lot of the cowboys working the local ranches. A man of mystery.”