Harlequin Heartwarming June 2021 Box Set

by Patricia Johns

  “Only those so far.”

  “If they’ll let us have it at the farm for free, that saves a fortune over renting a venue somewhere,” Maggie said.

  “How would it work?” Jessie asked. “You buy a ticket for the tasting and get a cheese plate to nibble on during the auction? Do we want to try to get wine, too? Although that would mean getting a special license, and I’m not sure how that works.”

  “We could do an elegant wine and cheese garden party,” Rowan replied. “Although if I can get several venders interested in participating, I thought it might be fun to have it as more of a family event, like a street fair. You get, say, five tickets with your entry fee, and you can cash them in at different food booths. We would, of course, sell extra tickets to raise more money. I’ll bet Lauren could set up a sort of petting zoo with goats, and we might have some arts and crafts activities for the kids.”

  “A bouncy house?” Charlotte suggested.

  “I’ll look into it,” Rowan promised.

  “One of our occasional volunteers is an amateur magician,” Maggie said. “He might be available for some entertainment.”

  “Great idea!” Rowan said.

  “I’m sold,” Maggie said. “How about the rest of you?”

  Before anyone could answer, Karma arrived and set up a heavy tray. “Pancakes for Miss Becca and Miss Charlotte.” It took two trips to get all their meals to the table.

  There was a short pause while everyone passed syrup and jelly around the table and took their first few bites. Jessie set down her fork. “Now, where were we?”

  “I can go outside while the board debates,” Rowan offered.

  Jessie shook her head. “Your breakfast would get cold. Besides, we all love your ideas. You’re so good at this.”

  “Rowan is only here temporarily,” Zack pointed out. “She volunteered to get things started, but if we do this, the rest of us will need to carry the ball.”

  “We’ve got to do something if we’re going to raise the funds we need. Even with you donating veterinary services, we still have to pay for meds, and for your assistant. The animals have to eat,” Jessie said.

  “And this is the best idea for fundraising I’ve heard yet,” Maggie said. “I move that we adopt Rowan’s plan.”

  “Second.” Greg grinned at Zack.

  “I concur,” Zack said. “Thanks, Rowan. We appreciate all the effort you’ve put in on this.”

  “I’ll keep working and keep good handover notes,” Rowan told them. “I plan to be here for at least another week or so.”

  “Wonderful,” Jessie said. “All in favor of the tasting and auction fundraiser with Rowan as acting, um, person in charge, say aye.”

  The vote was unanimous, with the most enthusiastic votes coming from the two nonvoting members at the table. “Thanks, Rowan. Let us know how we can help,” Zack said.

  “I will. Do you want to set a date?”

  “A Saturday would be good.” Jessie picked up her phone and the others followed suit. “How about July?”

  “The first weekend is too close to Independence Day,” Maggie said.

  “We’ll be camping the third and fourth weekends,” Greg reminded his wife.

  “The second weekend, then. That’s barely a month. Does that give us enough time?”

  “I think so.” Rowan mentally tallied up the tasks to be done. “I’ll try to get most donations pledged and the tasting booths lined up before I go. You’ll need to arrange for booths, pick up the prizes and verify with everyone the week before. Oh, and get an auctioneer, of course. Maggie, you’d be good.”

  “My friend Tom would be better.”

  “Tom Hackman, the reporter?” Zack asked.

  “Great idea. He’ll probably give us some advance publicity, too. So, we’re all set.” Jessie grinned. “This stuff goes a lot faster with you around, Rowan. Can’t you just stay here instead of going back to Japan?”

  “I wish.” Rowan smiled, but something in her expression made Zack wonder if she was entirely joking.

  “Anyway, we have a plan. That’s good news.”

  “More good news. The moose is ready for release,” Zack told everyone. “If any of you want to come and watch, Fish and Game said they’d be by around three on Tuesday.”

  “I’d love to come if that’s all right,” Rowan said. “Gran has therapy in the mornings, but I should be free in the afternoon.”

  “We’d love to have you,” Maggie told her. “You can see what WildER is all about.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “ONE. TWO...” When the Fish and Game officer called, “Three,” Zack pulled open the gate and jumped back to the side of the stock trailer in case the moose inside was in a fighting mood, but she didn’t immediately emerge. Instead, she poked her head out and surveyed the situation. Apparently satisfied, she jumped down from the trailer, ignoring the ramp they’d set up. A new radio collar hung on her neck. The cow trotted several yards away, turned and paused.

  Zack eased over to the edge of the clearing where Maggie and Rowan watched. Maggie had a video camera rolling.

  The calf stood splay-legged at the top of the ramp, eyeing it suspiciously. Mama moose returned, nuzzled her baby and trotted away, looking back to urge the calf to follow. He fidgeted but wasn’t quite ready to make the leap. Mama snorted and took a few more steps into the woods. That did it. The calf galloped down the ramp and across the clearing, and they wasted no time putting distance between them and the trailer. Maggie lowered the camera as the moose disappeared into the woods.

  “Perjalanan aman,” Rowan whispered.

  “What did you say?” Maggie asked.

  “Oh, I just wished them safe travels.”

  “In Japanese?”

  “Indonesian, actually. Sorry. That sounds pretentious.”

  Zack smiled at her worries. “You’re never pretentious. How many languages do you speak?”

  “Oh—” she ticked off on her fingers “—maybe sevenish?”

  Maggie found that amusing. “You don’t know how many languages you speak?”

  “Well, I was a toddler when we lived in Denmark and a preschooler in Greece, so my Danish and Greek are rusty, and while I understand Spanish fairly well, my accent is atrocious.” Rowan chuckled. “My Spanish teacher was from Ireland, so maybe that’s why. Anyway, I’m no linguist. Most of the people I converse with speak English better than I speak their language, but I like to try.”

  That was Rowan. Even as a teenager, she’d always tried to make everyone around her feel comfortable. Including him. When Zack had mentioned he was considering becoming a vet, she’d wanted all the details. Their talks had helped him formulate the plan that eventually got him where he was today. He wondered if she had any idea what a difference her friendship that summer had made in his life.

  “Anyway,” Rowan continued, “I wanted to thank you for letting me watch. You must get such a sense of satisfaction knowing you helped those two return to the wild.”

  “You’re helping, too,” Maggie replied. “This event you’re setting up may be the difference between staying open and folding. Zack doesn’t talk about it, but he’s been keeping us afloat with his own money.” Maggie flashed him a look. “That can’t go on forever.”

  “Nothing major,” Zack protested, not wanting to put more pressure on Rowan. “Just a feed bill now and then.”

  “When we had those bear cubs for a month last summer, the feed bills amounted to a pretty hefty sum. Plus, you’re throwing in your vet services for free.”

  “Well, then, we’ll just have to make sure this event is a success,” Rowan said. “I’ve found a flight-seeing service and a white-water rafting company that have promised packages for the auction.”

  “You’re incredible!” Maggie pulled Rowan into a hug.

  Zack thought so, too, but before
he could say so, one of the Fish and Game officers came over. “Looks like a successful release. Thanks for patching her up.”

  “Always glad to do it.” Zack shook his hand.

  “We’ll be off, then.”

  “Okay. Thanks.” After waving goodbye, Zack checked his watch. “We’d better head back, too. Jessie’s meeting me at the clinic in forty-five minutes to drop off Becca.”

  They drove in silence for a few minutes until Rowan asked, “Do you think they’ll be okay?”

  “The moose and calf?” Zack clarified.

  “Yes. I realize there are probably thousands of moose in Alaska—”

  “Around two hundred thousand,” Maggie volunteered.

  “That’s a lot. But now that I’ve watched this one interact with her calf, they’re special to me. The mother was badly hurt. Do you think they’ll make it?”

  “The cow is moving well and doesn’t show any signs of infection or complications,” Zack said. “They’re both well nourished. I’d say they have a better-than-average chance.”

  “Since she’s collared now, Fish and Game will be tracking her movements. They’ll know if anything happens,” Maggie said.

  “Will they share the information with you?” Rowan asked.

  “If I ask nicely.” Maggie grinned. “I know a guy.”

  Zack laughed. “Maggie always knows a guy. I swear, she’s got more admirers than most Hollywood leading ladies.”

  “Hardly.” Maggie laughed. “When you’ve lived as long as I have, you make connections. And speaking of connections, I have a line on two or three food service businesses who might be amenable to setting up booths at the tasting fair. I’ll have them call you.”

  “Super. Thanks, Maggie.”

  When they arrived at the clinic, Jessie’s Subaru waited in the parking lot with the windows rolled down. Zack went to thank her. “Hope you weren’t waiting long.”

  “No, we just got here.”

  Becca got out of the car and her face lit up. “There’s Rowan!” Becca dashed over. Rowan looked almost as glad to see Becca as Becca was to see her.

  “I wanna say hi.” Charlotte jumped out of the car and ran to join them.

  Jessie got out, too, and waved. “Rowan has sure made an impression around here.”

  “Hmm-hmm,” Zack agreed.

  “Not just with the kids. Greg and I are in awe of how much she’s already accomplished on the fundraiser.”

  “Yeah.” He watched as Rowan got something out of her car and handed a small package to Maggie. Maggie hugged her before waving goodbye to everyone and driving away. Rowan gave each of the girls a package, too.

  “Maggie says Rowan’s an old friend of yours.” Jessie smirked. “She’s very pretty.”

  “Hmm.” Zack could see where this was going. “Also engaged.”

  “Are you sure? I didn’t see a ring.”

  “She mentioned a fiancé.”

  “Too bad. You could use a wife.”

  “There’s a leap.” Zack shook his head. “Anyway, I’m not the marrying kind. Judging from my father’s track record—”

  “I wouldn’t,” Jessie cut him off. “Judge from his track record, that is. I didn’t know your dad well, but from what I’ve seen, you’re nothing like him.” She smirked. “You’d make someone a decent husband. With a little training, maybe even a good one.”

  Zack laughed. “Nevertheless, I’m not planning on marriage anytime in the near future.” Or in the distant future for that matter. “Thanks again for picking up the girls. I’ll drive tomorrow.”

  “Sounds good. Charlotte! Time to go.”

  “Okay.” Charlotte ran back to the car. “Look, Mommy. Rowan gave us some special cheese from her farm.” She handed over the plastic-wrapped wedge and climbed into the back seat. “Bye, Becca. Bye, everybody else,” she called as her window rolled up. She waved while Jessie drove away, leaving Becca still talking with Rowan. Zack crossed to them. “We’d better head out, too, Becks, and get dinner started.”

  “Can Rowan come to dinner? Please? We live right next door,” she explained to Rowan, pointing to their house.

  “Um, sure.” Zack did a mental inventory. He’d finally gone grocery shopping, but had he put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher or left them on the counter?

  “It’s macaroni and cheese,” Becca said.

  “From a box,” Zack clarified. “But we can probably find something better—”

  Rowan smiled. “Sure, I’d love to if—”

  Zack’s phone rang. He was on call this evening. He held up a finger. “One sec. This is Zack Vogel.” A milk cow with a torn udder—not what he wanted to hear right now, but that was the job. “Okay, I’ll call them and get there as soon as I can.” He hung up and turned to Rowan and Becca. “Sorry. I have an emergency. Becks, I’ll need to drop you at Jessie’s. Do you need anything from the house before we go?”

  “But I want mac and cheese.”

  “I know. But a cow is injured. I don’t think it will take more than an hour or so. I’ll make the macaroni and cheese for you when I get back.”

  “I could stay with Becca,” Rowan offered. “Or take her to the farm with me.”

  “Jessie and I have an arrangement.” Jessie had volunteered to take Becca whenever he was called out, and he’d insisted he would pay her when he did, although he had a suspicion that what he’d paid had gone straight into donations for the wildlife center.

  “I really don’t mind,” Rowan said.

  “I want to stay with Rowan.” Becca grabbed Rowan’s hand. “We can cook supper together.”

  “Even if you stay, you don’t have to cook,” Zack told Rowan.

  “I like cooking. And I like Becca.” Rowan winked at the girl and Becca grinned.

  “Well, if you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure. We’ll have fun.”

  “In that case, thank you.” Zack took his house key from his ring and handed it over. “Becca, be good for Rowan. Oh, and I fed the cat at lunchtime, so no matter what she might tell you, she’s not starving. Fluff is notorious,” Zack told Rowan. “She will swear on a stack of catnip she’s never been fed in her entire life.”

  “Got it. Don’t feed the cat.”

  He paused to consider if there was anything else she might need to know, but he couldn’t think of anything. “Okay, then. I guess I’d better get to that cow. If it’s going to be longer than an hour or so, I’ll call.”

  “Sounds good. Becca can show me where everything is.” Rowan waved over her shoulder at Zack. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.” Zack waited until he’d seen them unlock the door before he called the farm to let them know he was on his way. It was nice not having to worry about upsetting Jessie and Greg’s evening plans. Maybe Jessie had a point about him needing a wife.

  Yeah, right.

  * * *

  ROWAN FOLLOWED BECCA inside the two-story house with the same gray-green siding as the vet clinic. The front door opened into a tiled foyer with stairs and an archway. Beyond that was a long room with a leather couch in front of a fireplace at one end, a kitchen with a few dishes waiting beside the sink at the other and a round oak table in between. Becca set the wedge of cheese Rowan had given her on the table beside a stack of mail. Behind the table was a sliding glass door with a dog looking in, wagging his tail.

  “That’s Ripley,” Becca announced, running over to open the door. The dog greeted her enthusiastically before running over to investigate Rowan.

  Rowan offered a hand to sniff before rubbing the Australian shepherd’s ears. “What a nice dog.”

  “He’s real smart, too. Watch. Ripley, sit.” The dog plopped his hindquarters on the floor. “Down.” His front half dropped, as well. “Roll over.” Ripley completed two complete rolls before jumping to his feet, tail wagging.

>   “What a good boy!” Rowan crooned, and Ripley’s tail moved faster.

  “I have to use the bathroom,” Becca said. “Then we can make dinner, okay?”

  “Sure. I’ll just be in the kitchen.” While she waited, Rowan moved the mail, wiped the dining table and loaded the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. A quick inventory revealed a quarter loaf of French bread going stale, some leftover ham, carrots, onions, preshredded Parmesan and bagged salad, among other things. Definite possibilities.

  “This is Fluff.” Becca returned carrying a gray-and-white longhaired cat in her arms, with the dog trailing behind her. “She was asleep in the laundry hamper.”

  The cat jumped from her arms and ran to a porcelain bowl on the kitchen floor, mewing loudly. Rowan laughed. “Good thing Zack warned me about you. You’re very convincing.” She reached down to stroke the cat’s back. Fluff walked under her hand.

  “Here’s the macaroni and cheese.” Becca opened the pantry door and pointed out the blue box tucked between a box of spaghetti and one of elbow macaroni.

  “What would you say if, instead of the boxed mac and cheese, we make a real oven-baked macaroni and cheese casserole with the cheese I brought you from the goat farm?” Rowan asked her. “We could put ham in it, as well.”

  “Okay!”

  “Great. First, we need to wash our hands.”

  “I just did.”

  “But then we played with the animals. We need clean hands to cook.” Once they’d both washed, Rowan opened the freezer compartment. “I wonder if you have any frozen vegetables.”

  “Zack always makes me eat a vegetable.” Becca frowned. “I’m tired of carrots.”

  “Well, maybe we can do something different with the carrots.” Rowan rummaged through the freezer. “Here’s a bag of broccoli. That would be good in our casserole.”

  “I never had vegetables in mac and cheese.”

  “You’ll love it. Trust me. Do you know if you have a cheese grater?”

  Becca didn’t, but Rowan dug around in the cabinets until she’d located all the utensils they would need. “Let’s get started. First, we’ll put on some water to boil for the pasta, and while that’s getting hot, we’ll grate some breadcrumbs, carrots and cheddar.” Rowan set up a kitchen chair beside the counter, like Gran used to do when Rowan was Becca’s age. She put her hands over Becca’s and showed her how to make breadcrumbs by running the stale loaf up and down the holes of the box grater. “Don’t let your knuckles get too close.”