The man shook his hand. “We will, Doctor. Thank you for coming out here like this.” Mr. Minto tied Rosebud to a manger. Then the man shuffled the calf over to start drinking. The old farmer knew the sooner the calf received the colostrum in the mother’s milk the healthier he’d be.
Zach turned to Kitty and found her gathering up the instruments. Yes. She would make the perfect assistant.
Mrs. Minto stood by the door. “Would you two like to come in for coffee and cookies?”
He was a bloody mess and Kitty was covered with afterbirth and blood from dealing with the calf.
“We’ll pass this time, but when I come to check on Rosebud tomorrow, I’d love to have some of your cookies.”
The woman smiled. “See you both tomorrow.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kitty shaking her head. He wasn’t sure what about, but he was going to ask as soon as they were back in the truck. “Come on. Looks like you have everything packed up.” He picked up his bag and headed out of the barn. “See you tomorrow,” he called over his shoulder to Mr. Minto.
He put the bundle Kitty carried into the back of the truck and slid in behind the steering wheel.
Winnie whined and licked Kitty when she entered the passenger side.
“I wasn’t gone that long.” She giggled and held the dog’s head away from her.
“She probably smells the blood and thinks it’s yours.” Zach started up the truck and headed down the drive a lot slower than he’d arrived. “You did a good job. A perfect assistant.” He glanced over. At least she wasn’t frowning.
“It was fun. I’ve helped a little with medical problems with the horses but never anything like this.” A smile curved her lips.
“My offer still stands. Give Mrs. Dunn your two weeks’ notice and come work for me.”
“I-I can’t. I’m leaving.”
He pulled the truck over on the shoulder of the road and put it in park. Facing her, he asked, “What do you mean you’re leaving? When?” This woman had been in his thoughts since meeting her and now she was just leaving. He wasn’t going to allow it without a fight.
She avoided eye contact. “Tonight.”
“Does Mrs. Dunn know?”
The cringe proved she hadn’t told her employer.
He stared at her. “You’ve been here for what? Thirteen years? Why are you bolting all of a sudden?” As soon as the words came out and her face whitened, he knew why.
Zach wasn’t going to let her go. If this Paul found her here, he’d find her wherever she fled. “I won’t let Paul hurt you. We’ll go to the police tomorrow and tell them he’s harassing you.”
“No! I don’t want to get them involved.” Her fear of the police appeared stronger than her fear of Paul.
“All we have to do is fill out the paperwork and have the women at the thrift store give their stories of what he did.” He grasped the hand closest to him. “Kitty, you aren’t alone anymore. You have Mrs. Dunn, myself, and this community to help you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to bother anyone.”
He’d take a different tact, and asked softly, “Do you want to leave?”
“No. This is my home now, but I don’t want to live worrying about Paul and…”
Her unfinished sentence grabbed him. “And what?”
Her hand pulled, but he held tight, keeping contact. She needed to know he would do anything to help her. “Don’t. I’m not going to let you run away. Stand up to Paul here, where you have friends to help. It makes more sense than starting all over where you won’t have any friends.”
The night was growing darker as they sat on the side of the road. He wished he could see her expressions clearer.
“Promise you’ll give me a chance to take care of Paul.”
“I don’t want you getting into trouble over me.” She clutched his hand with both of hers.
He raised her hands to his lips and kissed the back of one. “He’s the one in the wrong. I’ll discuss this matter with my brother-in-law. He’s an attorney.” Reluctantly, he released her hands and put the truck in drive. “We need to get home and clean up.”
Kitty was quiet on the drive back to his place. He wanted to know more about her past. Something about it had her reluctant to go to the police and to press charges against the man harassing her. He hoped he’d talked her into staying. The best way to make sure she didn’t leave during the night would be to keep her with him.
He pulled the truck up beside the barn. “I’ll put the instruments I used in a solution to soak, and we can get cleaned up at the house.”
CHAPTER NINE
Kitty stared down at her ruined blouse, sticking to her like a second skin.
“You can’t go anywhere looking like that.”
Zach’s voice at her ear startled her. How long had she sat in the truck staring at her shirt? She was tired. First Paul yelling at her, dinner with Zach, helping with a surgery. This had been an emotional day filled with more drama than she cared for.
“Come on. You can clean up in the shower, and I’ll wash your clothes.” Zach grasped her hand, helping her out of the truck.
Winnie ran up to them from beside the barn. She’d been so tired, she hadn’t even noticed Winnie had left the truck when Zach did.
“You don’t have to wash my clothes. There’s a plastic tote in the back of my pickup. It has my clothes in it.”
He stopped, faced her, and raised her chin. “You’re not leaving tonight.”
She heard the conviction in his tone. Did she dare trust that he would fight just as hard to keep her here if he knew her secret? She’d never had a friend until Marcella, but even her employer, who she considered a friend, knew very little about her.
“I won’t leave tonight. I’m too tired.”
“Good.” He walked over to her truck and peeked in the back. “This is all you have for belongings?” His arm snaked over the side and plucked the tote out of the back.
“I don’t need much.” Her hand tingled and heat raced up her arm as he continued to the house, their hands still clasped together. She’d never had a man’s touch bring out this sensation. It wasn’t the first time she’d experienced the sensation with him. The night they’d sang at Sidewinder, she’d felt a jolt handing him a microphone. She’d thought it was an electrical shock from the mic, but now she wondered if the jolt hadn’t been between the two of them.
At the house, he placed her tote on the porch and opened the front door. He led her to a door at the end of a short hall. “This is the guest bath and bedroom. I’ll bring your tote in here.”
“I can drive home looking like this. No one will see me.” Walking inside and seeing his masculine living room and the sparse bedroom, she realized how vulnerable she’d made herself. Even though she trusted Zach, her survival instincts were telling her to flee.
“Hey. I won’t hurt you. You are welcome to use the shower and even sleep here.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late. Better you stay here than be out on the roads alone with that lunatic out there.”
A chill slid down her back at the mention of Paul. The evening had been so wonderful, she didn’t need another encounter with him to ruin it.
“Only because I’m tired. It’s been a rough day.”
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’ll bring the tote back and you won’t see me the rest of the night unless you come out to the living room before you go to bed.”
She watched his back as he disappeared out of the bathroom. Spinning around, she studied the light blue room. It had a deep clawfoot tub. How long had it been since she’d had a bath? Years. Just being in an actual bathroom, made her feel like a queen. She and Winnie barely fit in the closet sized bathroom in her apartment.
Winnie!
She pivoted to the door as Zach walked through with her tote. “Where’s Winnie?” Forgetting her dog wasn’t something she ever did.
“She’s crashed on the rug in the mud room.
Does she usually sleep with you?” Zach placed the tote on the counter by the sink.
“Yes. I’ll call her into the bedroom when I’m done with my bath.” She grabbed the lid on the tote and pulled out the shoe box that held her toiletries.
“Sounds good. I’ll take a shower when you finish in case you need anything.”
She sniffed and stared at his crusty clothing. “You don’t have to wait. I won’t need a thing.”
“You’re sure?” His gaze scanned her face.
“This room is almost as large as my apartment. I’m in heaven. Thank you, for allowing me to clean up and spend the night. I promise I won’t be trouble to you again.” She didn’t want to cause the man staring at her with such caring to ever be troubled by her. He’d been kind to her from their first meeting.
“You will never be trouble to me. Happy showering.” He disappeared, closing the door behind him.
Kitty clicked the lock and turned to the bathtub. Several twists of the handles and hot water streamed into the tub. She grasped the bottom of her blouse and drew the garment up over her head. The dried cloth ripped from her skin as if she peeled her own skin off. Soaking in the tub would be a wonderful treat.
*~*
Clean and content, Kitty walked out of the bathroom carrying her tote into the bedroom next door. She placed the tote on a chair and noted the empty walls. It looked like bedrooms she’d shared with other kids while living in foster homes. The only place she’d had a room of her own was with her first foster home. The ones who had planned to adopt her. How different would her life have been had Mom not become ill?
She stepped to the door and called, “Winnie. Bed.”
A clatter of nails on bare floor came from the back of the house moments before her dog came running across the living room and through the door. She glanced around and didn’t see Zach. He had to be as exhausted as she was.
She closed the door and padded across the room to the big bed. She had a single bed in the apartment that she and Winnie shared. This bed had to be queen size. A grin twitched her lips. It had been years since she could sprawl out on a mattress. First the wonderful bath and now this.
Her good sense slapped her. This was a onetime thing. As soon as the sun comes up in the morning, I’m out of here.
She plopped down on the bed and immediately registered the softness of the mattress. What do I do tomorrow? Head out of town and this state or go back to work and believe Zach can keep Paul away from me?
*~*
Zach heard a dog’s toenails clacking across the living room. He glanced at the clock. Five-thirty. His mind sprang awake. He had to make sure Kitty wasn’t sneaking away.
Flinging his bedroom door opened, he caused her to jump. “Where are you sneaking off to?”
Her gaze scanned his naked chest and the pajama pants riding low on his hips. Her eyes widened and her breathing caught.
Good. He did disturb her like she disturbed him.
He strode over to where she stood, holding her tote. It saddened him to think all of her belongings fit in that small container.
“Are you going to the stables?” He stopped with his belly touching the tote.
She tipped her head back slightly to peer into his face. “If I stay, how do you propose to keep Paul away from me?”
“First, we’ll go to my brother-in-law and see what recourse we have. Second, you could come to work for me.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to go to the police.”
“You may not have to. That’s why we’ll go see Barry first.”
“If I agreed to work for you, where would I live? Marcella gives me the apartment as part of my pay. I don’t think I could afford a house or place in town.”
He studied her arms. They didn’t show any sign of tiring as she held the tote. He grasped the container anyway and placed it on the coffee table.
“You could stay here—”
“No. It’s different with Marcella, she’s a woman. I can’t live in this house with you. People will think…” Her cheeks darkened a delightful red.
Zach stepped closer. “I won’t rush you, but it wouldn’t bother me to have people think we’re a couple.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “In fact, I’d be pleased to say you’re my woman.”
The wonder in her eyes and the slight parting of her lips was his undoing. He leaned down, touching the rosy mouth he’d been thinking about way too much for his own good. The kiss was gentle, a hello of sorts. When she didn’t resist, or pull away, he melded his mouth to hers and deepened the kiss.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, drawing her up tighter to him. When her tongue touched his, his arms banded around her toned body, pressing her to him as intimately as he’d dreamed the night before.
Barking registered in his mind.
Kitty pulled out of his arms, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth.
Winnie stood with her paws on the window, looking outside.
“What’s up girl?” He strode across the room and looked out. A beat-up truck sat behind Kitty’s.
“Stay put,” he said, heading to the front door.
“Who’s out there?” Kitty asked, grabbing is arm.
“That lunatic. I’ll go talk to him.” He grasped the door knob.
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head fervently. “Not dressed like that! He knows I’m here because my pickup is. Don’t make things worse by walking out there half naked.”
The fear in her voice and eyes stopped him.
“I’ll change, but you stay in here.” When she didn’t answer him, he put a hand behind her head, tipping her face up to his. “Promise me you’ll stay in the house until I’m dressed and talk to him.”
The way she peered at him, he could see things were churning in her head. He dipped his head and kissed her softly on the lips.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you. We have a lot to learn about one another.” He kissed her again. “Sit.”
She dropped onto the chair beside her, and he hurried into his bedroom to put on clothes. When he passed Kitty on his way to the door, she was deep in thought. He’d give his practice to know what went on inside that pretty head, but right now he had to get rid of her stalker.
He strode down the walkway to the vehicles. “This is private property. Why are you trespassing?”
The stout man stood the same height as Zach. He turned an angry face toward him. “I’m looking for Kitty. She didn’t go back to the stables last night.” A lecherous grin made his face even uglier. “She puttin’ out for you? She was an icy girl, but I knew if I waited long enough she’d come around.”
Zach grabbed the man by the front of his shirt. “Get in your truck and get out of here. If I find out you’ve been stalking Kitty and try anything to hurt her, I’ll have the police up your ass so fast you won’t be able to walk.” He rarely lost his temper. The insinuations this man made about Kitty hit his rage button.
The man shook off Zach’s hold and strolled to his vehicle. “You can’t watch her all the time.” He laughed and slid in behind the steering wheel. Backing up and leaving, he threw gravel as he spun the tires.
Zach stared down the road. The man was right. He couldn’t watch her all the time. Not with her living and working at the stables. He punched in Dunn Stables on his phone. He’d brought it with him in case he needed to call the police to get rid of the man.
“Marcella,” answered the stable owner.
CHAPTER TEN
Kitty stood at the window. Paul had left. Zach was talking on the phone. He must be calling his brother-in-law to see about getting in to see him. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Six. It was early in the morning to call anyone.
Her heart thrummed in her chest. Was he calling the police? She didn’t want to deal with them. She’d sat in two police stations in her life. Both times one or both of her foster parents had been hauled in for illegal behaviors. Both times things had been chaotic and a social worker had arrived aft
er several hours to take her to yet another foster home.
Zach strode toward the house. His forehead was wrinkled in thought.
She opened the door. “What did he say?”
He shook his head. “You don’t want to know.”
The blood drained from her head, making her lightheaded. She swayed and felt strong arms catch her.
“Sit down. Put your head between your legs.”
Her butt landed on a chair, her knees were spread, and a hand forced her head down between her knees. Within seconds, her ears whooshed with the sound of fluid rushing to her head. The world became clearer and she raised up. She stared into Zach’s concerned eyes.
“Will he be back?” She didn’t know which she feared worse. Paul returning and calling her names and making accusations, or Zach getting in trouble for dealing with the man.
“Probably. I called Barry. He’ll see us first thing this morning to discuss your options.”
She nodded once. “I don’t know if I can go to the police if he says that’s what I should do.”
He grasped her hand. “I’ll be with you. Remember, you aren’t alone.”
This man had managed to wedge himself into her mind and heart, making her think he would help her no matter what he learned about her. “I’ve been alone for so long, it’s hard to believe someone might care about me.”
He leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers.
There it was again! The spark and tingle that she was beginning to associate with his every touch. As she leaned closer to deepen the kiss, he drew back.
“I called Mrs. Dunn.”
Her trust wall went back up and straightened her spine. “Why?” This was why she remained alone and aloof. She didn’t like other people making decisions for or about her.
“Don’t get upset. I didn’t like what that lunatic said about me not being able to watch you all of the time.” He played with the fingers of her hand he still held. “I told her how well you did as my assistant last night and asked if she’d mind if I gave you a job.”
Cowboy Six Pack Page 35
