“Thanks, Mike.” Chip carefully stowed the meds in the metal box. “Actually, I wouldn’t mind letting most of those jobs go. Let a high-school kid take ’em. Some of the older folks around here are just plain cheap.”
Mike smiled. Most of them were on fixed incomes. He’d never minded doing work for any of the old-timers. They hadn’t tried to take advantage. “As for which days you work, I’m flexible. Although I need you to do the morning feeding at least three days a week.”
“Hell, I live close. I can do it every morning if you want.”
“After a night of pool and beer?”
Frowning, Chip scratched the side of his head. “Okay, I might’ve jumped the gun...”
Mike laughed. “We’ll work it out.”
“Hey, you want to go to the Full Moon again?”
Mike knew he should say no. Savannah could have left already. But he had no way of knowing, so there was only one answer.
Chip blotted his sweaty forehead with his sleeve. “Maybe that cute blonde is still around and you’ll get lucky.”
“What blonde?”
Snorting a laugh, Chip said, “What blonde? The one you were eyeing every chance you got.”
“I thought she looked familiar, that’s all.”
“Right. Uh-huh.”
Mike shook his head. “If you’d been paying more attention to the game instead of me, maybe I wouldn’t have beaten the pants off you.”
That wiped the smirk off Chip’s face. “Okay, okay.”
“Twice.”
“Hey, I almost had you the second time.”
“And yet...” Mike’s attention was drawn to the silver sedan traveling south on the county road.
Chip turned just as the car passed. “Who’s that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Probably tourists. They’re always getting lost looking for old movie sets. Last month I found a carload of them stuck near the creek.”
The ill-kept gravel road was almost a quarter of a mile away, but Mike thought Savannah might have been behind the wheel. The sedan looked a lot like the one she’d been trying to avoid yesterday.
He headed for the cottonwood where he’d tethered Dude. “Nobody has any business down here,” Mike said, grabbing the reins. “I’m going to go check.”
“Want me to go?”
“I’ve got it. Probably just a tourist, like you said. You might as well head back.”
Mike rode straight toward the Rileys’ old cabin. Though she could be headed for the creek, he’d start with the cabin first.
Without a clear trail, the area thick with lodgepole pines and overgrown brush, it took him twenty minutes when it should’ve taken ten, and for all he knew, she was already gone, but once he’d made it to a small clearing, he thought he heard a faint bleat. Slowing Dude to a walk, Mike listened. It was a stray calf, all right. As he dismounted he heard another bleat.
After pushing his way through a thicket of gnarly sage and scaring a grouse, he saw the little fellow, exhausted and wobbling under a small cottonwood. The calf was clearly a late arrival and a runt, probably only a week old. Odd that he’d gotten separated from his mother. He didn’t belong to Mike, but it wasn’t uncommon for The Rocking J cattle that grazed on public land to stray in with his herd.
Damn, he wished he’d brought the ATV.
Mike doubted the mother was around, since she hadn’t responded to the bleating. But he remained perfectly still, trying to listen for her. After a few minutes, he phoned Chip, who hadn’t seen any men from The Rocking J. But he agreed to look for their number on Mike’s desk and give them a call.
Mike disconnected and inched closer. The calf barely made a sound. And when Mike scooped him up, he didn’t struggle.
“I bet you’re scared, aren’t you, buddy? Let’s see what we can do about that.” Dude wouldn’t be happy about giving the calf a ride, but too bad. It wasn’t going to be easy for Mike either.
All legs, weak and panting, the calf allowed himself to be laid on his belly over the saddle. Dude shifted nervously and his ears went back, but Mike soothed him until the gelding finally settled. Mounting was tricky, but he managed to plant himself in the saddle and then wrap the calf’s legs around his middle so he could hold on to the little guy.
A low bellow sounded from the direction of the creek, a popular spot for stragglers. He headed toward it. That bellow was from a bull, and not one of his, but the calf’s mother might be somewhere close to the bull.
Luckily, the creek wasn’t far, but he kept Dude at a slow pace, making sure the little one didn’t get jostled too much. The calf hadn’t moved much since his first two kicks, which wasn’t a good sign. Probably dehydrated. And Mike still hadn’t heard the high-pitched call of a momma who couldn’t find her calf.
As it turned out, the silver sedan was parked on the side of the trail that led to the creek, but Mike couldn’t spare it any attention. His focus was on the calf, and he’d given Dude his head knowing he’d follow the scent of the water.
Then something occurred to Mike. “Hey, no swimming today,” he said, leaning down to stroke the gelding’s neck. “You got that?” The horse ignored him and picked up speed. “I mean it, Dude.”
Mike heard a laugh and looked up, not at all surprised to see Savannah. This had been a favorite spot of hers.
She rose from the rock she’d been sitting on. “Does he ever answer you?”
“No, but sometimes I get the feeling he’d like to.” He reined the gelding to a halt.
Savannah saw his passenger and gasped. “That’s a... What is that?”
“A calf. Would you do me a favor?”
“Sure,” she said, dusting off the seat of her jeans as she warily approached. “Maybe I should’ve said ‘that depends.’”
Mike passed her the reins. “Hold on to these while I get down,” he said, lifting the calf in his arms.
“Wouldn’t it be simpler to let me hold him?”
“It would if he weren’t sixty pounds.”
“That’s not so much. I’m pretty strong.”
“Sixty pounds is a lot of weight, especially—”
She rolled her eyes and reached up for the calf.
Mike held firm and continued, “Especially if he starts kicking again.”
“The poor thing looks too exhausted.”
“He’s also scared.”
She tossed back the reins. “I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t think I could handle him,” she said, and moved closer, her attention focused completely on the scrawny, leggy bundle he reluctantly placed in her arms.
“Watch out.”
“I see,” she said, laughing, her face lit with pure joy as his skinny legs went everywhere. “Oh, he’s so sweet.”
Dude snorted.
“You are, too,” she said with a fleeting glance at him.
Even after Mike dismounted, she held the calf close and stared into his tired brown eyes. He quit squirming and let his head rest against her chest.
Savannah sighed.
“I’ll take him now.” Mike secured Dude’s reins and could tell the big baby wasn’t thrilled about it.
“Just point me in the right direction,” Savannah said, clearly not about to give up her ward.
“Let’s get him closer to the creek, then you can put him down. I want him to call out for his mom. If she’s anywhere in the area, she’ll let him know.”
“Come on, baby, let’s get you some water.”
Mike shook his head. “He’ll only drink from a teat or a bottle at this age. I mean, we can try, but I doubt he’ll know what to do.”
“Oh,” she said, walking carefully, seemingly without difficulty.
Several moments later, Mike put his hand on her shoulder. “This is far enough for now.”
“Why?”
“Okay. I’ll watch this guy.” She crouched and carefully put the calf on his feet. His little bleat wouldn’t travel far.
“I’ll be right back.” Mike headed out at a jog and heard another bellow, which sounded as if it was coming from farther up the creek.
He followed the water’s edge for a bit then stopped and listened. No upset momma. As for the bull, Mike guessed he was up past the second bend. It seemed safe enough to bring the calf so he could try that bleat again.
When he got back to where Savannah was petting the calf, she stood up with a look of excitement in her eyes.
“Did you hear something?” he asked.
“No, but I had an idea. I’ve got a first-aid kit in the back of the rental car. Sometimes they include gloves. Maybe we could fill one with water and cut off the tip.”
Mike doubted it, but, hell, at this point it wouldn’t hurt to try. “Good idea,” he said. “Why don’t you go get it while I check if anyone’s seen his momma.”
“Sure thing.” Her cheeks were pink, her eyes shining. This woman in no way reminded him of that shy, gawky teenager who’d always walked with her head down, her shoulders slumped. She wasn’t just pretty, she looked happy and alive.
Chip called to tell him The Rocking J had sent out a couple men to find the momma, and Mike asked him to bring his ATV to the creek. Dude would be happy he didn’t have to give the calf a lift again.
Savannah was back two minutes later. “Here,” she said, holding the sealed bag of powder-free medical-grade gloves. “How should we do this?”
“First, let’s get him closer to the water. Maybe the scent will stimulate his saliva.”
Before he could bend down, she’d already crouched and had the calf securely in her arms. Mike noticed her wedge sandals. “I don’t want you to lose your footing.”
She stood, not wavering a bit. “I’ll be careful.”
“Okay, but I’m staying right beside you.”
She nodded, not even blinking when he cupped her elbow.
It was still a good fifteen feet to the water, most of it over rocky ground. He moved his hand to her back without actually touching her but ready to catch her around the waist if she stumbled.
“Oh, boy.” Savannah laughed, even as she struggled to hold on to the now squirming calf. “This little critter must really be thirsty.”
“You’re making me nervous,” Mike said, and relieved her of her charge.
“I would never let him get hurt.”
“I was worried about you. Look, I’ve got a knife in my back pocket. Why don’t you get it, open the bag then fill the glove with water. I’ll get him settled here.”
The second he felt her fingers slip inside his pocket, he tensed. Which caused her to pull back. Damn, he hadn’t thought this through.
“Should be in there.” Thankfully, his voice sounded normal. “It’s just a small Leatherman tool.”
“Um, okay.”
Bracing himself as he felt her hand slide tentatively toward his ass, he mentally started counting backward from a hundred...
The calf raised his head and bleated louder than before. Savannah quickly pulled out the pocketknife.
Mike let out a breath and glanced at her.
A light blush had spread across her cheeks. Turning away, she hurried the last few feet to the creek and filled the glove with water then tied it off.
“Let’s use the pointed tweezers,” he said, then noticed she’d already found them. “You need a hand?”
“No, I can do it.”
He was glad, because the calf wanted to get close to the creek and Mike didn’t think that was a good idea. So he held him against his chest, as the poor little guy bawled, until Savannah had pricked the tip of the long finger. Then Mike set him on the ground.
Getting on her knees right next to him, she held the glove over the calf’s mouth, letting the water drip. “Come on, baby, drink up. I know you’ll love it once you taste it.”
A few seconds later, the calf was slurping loudly on the substitute teat. He wasn’t drinking much, mostly just wetting his throat. “You’re doing great,” he said, more to the calf than her, but she nodded.
“He likes it.”
“I can see that. You’re now officially his foster mother.”
She was staring at him, but when he met her gaze, she looked back at what she was doing. “You’re a nice man, Mike Burnett. But you were a nice boy, so I shouldn’t be at all surprised.”
Mike didn’t embarrass easily. But he felt a little warm under his shirt collar. What was a guy supposed to say to something like that?
Savannah solved the problem. “What’s his name?”
“I’m not sure he has one,” he said, holding back a laugh.
“What? Why not?”
“He’s not even mine.”
Her blue eyes widened. “He’s lost?”
“I think he might belong to The Rocking J, though I can’t tell for sure since he hasn’t been branded yet. I’m waiting for a call.”
“I hate that they get branded,” she murmured, so quietly he almost didn’t hear her.
No way would he get into that discussion, so he said nothing.
Tilting her head to the side, she lightly stroked the calf’s back as she watched him drink. “Where will you take him?”
“Back to my place, unless someone shows up to claim him. Hopefully we’ll find his mother soon.”
“And if you don’t?” She continued to let the water drip, keeping the finger just in the calf’s mouth so he wouldn’t choke.
“He’s going to be fine, Savannah. I promise.” He’d almost touched her. Even after catching himself, the impulse was so strong it shook him all the way to the toes of his boots.
It was just that she looked...soft. The smoothness of her pale skin, the honey-blond hair that was pulled into a messy ponytail, even her lips looked soft as they lifted in a gentle smile.
Her gaze still lowered, she angled her head to see the calf’s face. “Do you know how lucky you are that Mike was the one who found you? Huh, buddy? I’m going to call you Buddy for now. What do you think?”
What Mike thought was they were sitting too close together for his peace of mind. “Not that you asked my opinion, but I think it sounds just right.”
After that, neither of them moved or spoke. He could hear the creek splashing against the rocks, the chirping of a few birds that hadn’t flown south yet. And Buddy, of course. The rustling in the brush didn’t seem to alarm Savannah. Probably just another grouse.
The ground was littered with red-and-gold fall leaves. A stiff breeze brought down a few more from the sparse branches. It was nice here. Peaceful.
Buddy had turned out to be a great distraction for her. She looked relaxed not tense like she’d seemed the other night.
For that matter, the calf had distracted Mike from all the questions in his head.
Until the sound of an ATV broke the calm.
He got to his feet. “Come on, Buddy. Let’s see if anyone’s claimed you or if we’re going to take a quick ride.”
“If you think it would be easier on him, I can take him.” Savannah stood up. “We can put him in my car, and I’ll follow you to your place.”
Trying to keep a straight face, Mike rubbed his jaw. “I don’t know about that...”
“It has to be safer and more comfortable.” She put a hand on her hip. “So what’s the problem?”
“The word’s out that I’ve got the little fellow. You kidnap him and I’m left to face the music.”
She narrowed her eyes and then laughingly gave him a light shove.
Pure reflex made his hand shoot out and catch her wri
st.
Their gazes met and held for the space of a couple of heartbeats. Then he let her go.
He cleared his throat as the engine noise escalated. “I feel bad enough we interrupted your peace and quiet.”
“You didn’t interrupt anything. In fact, I was wondering, and maybe you can tell me, when the sun sets this time of year. I can’t remember.”
He squinted up at the sky. “Not for another couple hours.”
“Oh, excellent. I miss watching them. I’m usually busy working. And anyway, there’s no better spot than right here,” she said, tossing a glance over her shoulder. “It’s not even too overgrown.”
“Won’t your fiancé be wondering where you are?”
“My—” She hesitated and let out a long sigh. “He’s not really my fiancé. I wish I could explain more but—”
The ATV turning off the road drowned her out.
“That’s Chip,” he said, unsure how he felt about leaving this conversation unfinished. He crouched and picked up the calf.
“May I hold him just one more time?”
“He might start kicking,” he said, reluctantly, giving her Buddy.
“I can carry him to the ATV.”
“Come on, Savannah. Rocky ground, remember?”
She turned a smile on him and glanced at the protective arm he didn’t recall raising to catch her if she stumbled. “Yeah, but you’ve got me, right?”
Mike’s chest tightened, and he nodded. “I’ve got you.”
Chapter Six
Savannah dragged the small round table from the corner of her room closer to the bed, where she’d spread out a bunch of photos. Over the past four days, she’d taken more than a hundred pics of the town and the surrounding areas. So had Nina and Ron, and they’d each printed a dozen or so that best illustrated what they’d seen and experienced as first-time visitors—without bias—the good, the bad and the ugly.
Those last two subcategories would likely stir up some lively protests and maybe even spark a few tempers. However, people normally settled down when the subject shifted to dollars and cents and how much the merchants could be raking in just by making a few changes.
Her Cowboy Reunion Page 5
