by Liz Isaacson
She finished cleaning up the kitchen and went outside. The heat seemed to radiate off the cement steps, but it was cooler on the grass and even better under the tent that had taken shape under Hudson’s command.
“Have you seen Adele?” she asked.
He glanced toward the cabins several yards away. “Nope. But it smells amazing when you get close to her door.” He looked at Carson. “What did you call it?”
“It’s chili,” he said. “My mother used to make it several times a year.” Carson didn’t look toward the cabin. Didn’t pause in his movement of setting out chairs.
“She is doing hamburgers and hot dogs,” Scarlett said. “Chili makes sense for the dogs.”
At that moment, Adele’s front door opened, and she poked her head out. She scanned the back yard, and when she caught Scarlett’s eye, she motioned for her to come over.
“I’ve been summoned,” Scarlett said. She walked away from the men, very aware that the open door had caught and hooked Carson’s attention.
Adele ducked back inside as Scarlett closed the last few feet and went up the steps. “Hurry,” she hissed from inside the house.
“Why?” Scarlett said, taking the steps two at a time and entering the house. She was barely all the way inside before Adele slammed the door closed. It definitely smelled like chili in here. And onions. And—“Did you make guacamole?”
She practically ran into the kitchen. “You did. Adele.” She gazed lovingly at the condiment and the smiled at her friend. “Guacamole is my love language.”
Adele rolled her eyes in a good-natured way. “I know, sweetie.” She reached over and tucked Scarlett’s hair behind her ear. “How are things going with Hudson?”
“You gestured me wildly over here to ask about my boyfriend?”
“No, I wanted you to taste the chili and make sure it’s not too hot.” She opened a drawer and took out a spoon. “Wait, wait, wait.” She adjusted the lighting on the bowl and pressed the button on the video camera. “All right, you’ll get to be in one of the videos.”
“Oh, so I’m a hand model now.” Scarlett rather liked that, and she started to move the spoon toward the bowl again.
“Wait, wait,” Adele said.
Scarlett glared at her, wondering if this was why Adele had made guacamole—so she could annoy Scarlett to death and not have any repercussions. “What?” she asked.
“You have to do it slowly. Slower than you think you need to. And then you’re going to do the same thing with a fork and the hot dog.” She pointed to the ready and waiting chili dog, which looked beautiful under the bright lights.
“Okay, slowly,” Scarlett confirmed. She moved her spoon through the chili the slowest she ever had and tasted the chili. The flavor of cayenne and ground beef hit her first, then tomato and a little hint of something she couldn’t name.
“Too hot?”
“It’s the best chili in the world,” Scarlett said. “And it’s not too hot at all.”
“Okay, hot dog.” She moved it closer and nudged a bowl of cheese too. “It’s a chili cheese dog. Okay, go.”
Scarlett sprinkled cheese on the hot dog—slowly—and then cut off a bite with a fork. She didn’t have to eat that, but she did, because if there was anything better than a chili cheese dog, she didn’t want to know about it.
“Mm, Adele, you’re a goddess.”
“Okay, help me get all this stuff outside. And don’t let anyone in.” She picked up a crockpot full of chili, and she nodded toward the bag of cheese and a bag of hot dog buns. “We’ll have to make a couple of trips to get the caramelized onions and other toppings for the burgers.”
Scarlett did what her friend asked, making three trips to get all the condiments out to the serving table. Apparently they were going to have gourmet bacon burgers with melted Muenster cheese and caramelized onions, guacamole, and lightly grilled tomatoes.
Adele lit the grill and started getting things set up on the shelf connected to the appliance. Jeri arrived, and she was a bosomy brunette that had a quick wit and loads of personality.
“Heya,” she said, carrying a huge white bowl. “Potato salad.”
“You’re kidding,” Scarlett said.
“No.” Jeri looked from Scarlett to Adele and back. “She said I could make any side salad I wanted, and my mom has a killer potato salad recipe.”
“No, no, it’s fine,” Scarlett said. “It’s just my favorite.” She grinned at Jeri. “And Adele made guacamole, which is also my favorite. I think you guys are trying to get me to gain weight.” She laughed, glad when the others did too.
“Mm, then there would be more of you to love,” Hudson said from behind her, snaking one hand around her waist.
“Oh, geez,” Adele said under her breath, but Scarlett giggled as she turned into Hudson.
“Yeah, you know how I feel about that.” She grinned up at him, because he was playfully smiling down at her. His statement was obviously banter, and Scarlett suddenly reminded herself that she wasn’t alone with him.
She cleared her throat and stepped back. “Adele is making hamburgers to order, since there’s only a few of us.”
“You think eleven is a few?” Hudson asked.
“Few enough to make hamburgers to whatever temperature people want,” Adele said, opening the lid on the grill. “So we’re ready to start,” she said to Scarlett. Then she opened a package of hot dogs and laid them onto the hot grill rack.
Then she faced the tables that had been set up as Scarlett said to Hudson, “You wanna whistle and get everyone over here?” The volunteers had set up a badminton net and a set of horseshoes in the shade along the side of the house, and they were playing over there.
Hudson puckered his lips and an ear-splitting whistle rent the air.
“Time to get started,” Scarlett called, and everyone came over. She didn’t know everyone well besides Adele, Carson, and Hudson, but she was getting to know them better. She hoped Last Chance Ranch would be a place they all could stay for a long, long time.
“Where’s Gramps?” she asked, and Hudson flinched.
“Oh, my gosh. I forgot I said I’d go get him.” He started across the lawn at a jog. “Start without me,” he called over his shoulder.
Scarlett did, explaining the food and giving all the credit to Adele. “And I just wanted to say that I’m so glad each of you are here at Last Chance Ranch.” She beamed around at everyone. “I’m really grateful for you, and…let’s eat.” So she needed to work on her sentimental speeches in her spare time.
No one seemed to mind her less-than-eloquent welcome to the picnic, and they started getting food. She went across the lawn to meet Gramps and Hudson, along with three dogs who seemed to be Gramps’s shadows lately.
A sense of joy filled her as she kissed Gramps’s forehead and said, “What do you want, Gramps? Hamburger or hot dog?”
A week later, Scarlett paced in the kitchen as she drank a chocolate protein shake. Jewel had called a couple of hours ago, and she had that pair of dogs she’d mentioned when she’d first come to Last Chance Ranch and a paint pony that needed a new home.
Scarlett had agreed to take them instantly, and she was thrilled to have her first new adoptees on the ranch coming. Jewel had explained that the animals would come with their complete records, which included their veterinarian care as well as their names.
All her phone call had done was remind Scarlett that she still hadn’t hired a volunteer coordinator, a veterinarian or any other animal health care professionals, or an accountant. So she’d have to look through their files and make sure they were healthy—Jewel had said they were—and assess any needs they may have by herself.
Which was probably okay. She should know how to do this stuff if she was going to run the ranch.
A dog barked at the same time she heard the crunch of tires in her driveway, and she hurried toward the front door. A navy blue truck sat there with a horse trailer attached to it. Two white dogs stood in the back
, and Scarlett stared at them.
Jewel got out of the truck and moved to the dogs in the back, giving them both a little pat on the head. Scarlett couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“Come on, guys,” Jewel said, and the two English retrievers whined to get out of the truck. Jewel made them wait as she lowered the tailgate, and then both dogs—Scarlett’s dogs—jumped down from the truck and ran toward her.
Tears flowed down her face as she went down the steps to greet Billy and Bob, and she said, “Hey, babies. Hey, my puppies.” They both licked her face, which made her laugh, and it was odd to be crying and laughing at the same time.
“Okay, so this is—”
“Billy,” she said, stroking the dog’s face with both of her hands. “And Bob.” She let him lick her cheek, the way he’d done so many times before.
“Yeah,” Jewel said. “How’d you know?”
Scarlett stood up and took the folder Jewel had extended toward her. “These were my dogs. I lost them in my divorce to my ex.” She flipped open the folder, her eyes flying across the page there, but she wasn’t exactly sure what she was looking for or where to find it.
“Your dogs?” Jewel asked.
“I can’t believe Vance gave them to a shelter.” She slapped the folder closed. “Why didn’t he call me? I’d have taken them in a heartbeat.” Of course he wouldn’t call her. He’d fought her for two years to keep Billy and Bob with him. And the judge had agreed, because the paperwork was in Vance’s name. The pet insurance too. The credit care card they used for veterinary bills.
So the judge had determined the dogs belonged to him. And only six months later, he’d given them to a shelter?
“We’ve only had them for a month,” Jewel said. “And now they get to be here with you.”
“I’m adopting them,” she said quickly. “I can do that, right? Adopt them from Forever Friends?”
“Of course, Scarlett.” Jewel put her hand on Scarlett’s forearm. “So I guess we just need to get this horse over to his new home.” She walked back toward the truck. “You didn’t lose a horse in your divorce, did you?”
Scarlett laughed, but way down deep, something seethed. Anger. She could not believe Vance. She wanted to call him and scream at him, but she didn’t have his number anymore. And even if she did, she wouldn’t call him. Not even for this.
She rode with Jewel over to Horse Heaven, where Sawyer met them. He grinned and said, “Hey, ladies. What’ve we got here?”
“He’s a paint,” Jewel said. “Three years old. Good boy, but likes to kick a little.”
Sawyer opened the horse trailer and expertly guided the animal out. “What’s his name?”
“Blade,” Jewel said, running her hand down the side of his neck. She obviously loved the horse, and while Scarlett had a soft spot for all animals, the bigger ones scared her a little bit still.
“Come on, Blade,” Sawyer said. “I’m going to start him in the pasture alone. See how he does.” He led the horse away, and Scarlett could admit that it was beautiful.
“Thank you, Jewel,” she said. She bent down to scratch behind Billy’s ears.
“Of course,” she said. “We’ll probably have a few more dogs for you soon. We’re doing our big adoption events every weekend until Labor Day, but any we can’t find forever homes for, we’ll need a new place for them.”
“I can take them,” she said. “As many as you’ve got. I hired a carpenter, and she’s making great progress on the new enclosures.”
“Yes, I think I’ll swing over there and talk to her,” Jewel said.
“All right,” Scarlett said. “I’ll contact Adrian for the adoption papers. I’m going to hire someone to do that here too. I just haven’t gotten to it yet.” There were so many things she hadn’t gotten to.
“Oh, it’s fine. Have you heard from Rich about the website?”
“Yes, he called last week. We went over everything, and we should be up soon. He said he’d email when it was live.”
“All right then.” Jewel exhaled. “I’m so glad you got your pups back.” She got in her truck and drove away, leaving Scarlett to watch the dust settle—and reunite with her dogs.
She crouched down, her emotions overwhelming her again. She just couldn’t believe they were here, and she straightened and said, “Come on, guys. There’s someone you have to meet.” And while it was mid-July and no one should be striding outside in a California summer, she did as she headed for Hudson’s house.
Hudson—the person she wanted to share her good news with. And her bad news. And everything in between.
Chapter 16
Hudson had just sat down to eat his turkey sandwich when someone banged on his door. He startled and Hound jumped to his feet—well, as much as the old dog could do. He looked at Hudson and then started for the door, a single bark coming out of his mouth. It sounded rusty and misused, because the dog literally never barked.
“Hudson?” Scarlett called, and Hudson got up from the table.
“C’mon in,” he said, and the door opened a moment later.
He reached the doorway to find her standing there, crying. His pulse skipped like a perfectly thrown rock on still water. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked in his most tender voice. He didn’t dare move toward her as this situation was brand new and he had no idea how she’d react.
She pointed at the two dogs crowding into the doorway to get a better sniff at Hound. “These are my dogs,” she said, her voice much too high. “Remember I told you I lost my fur babies in the divorce?”
“Yes,” he said slowly, trying to put together the pieces.
“Jewel just brought them. Vance took them to the shelter about a month ago.” She smiled amidst her tears and stepped into his house. “Can you believe this, Hudson? No one adopted them, and she brought them here.” She wiped her tears, and she was lovely and beautiful and gentle with those tears coming down her face.
“Okay,” he said, gathering her into his arms. She fit so well there, and Hudson felt her wedging herself right into his heart. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to fall in love with her, this woman he held while she gripped his shoulders like she couldn’t stand without him.
“This is good news, right?” he asked, and she pulled away enough to look at him.
“Yes, this is great news.”
“So we’re crying because we’re happy.”
She grinned and nodded, wiping her face again.
“I’m happy you’re happy,” he said, brushing his lips along her cheek. “So let’s see who we’ve got here.” He stepped away from her and greeted the dogs. They were good-looking dogs, and they didn’t seem to be in ill health. He scratched behind their ears, smiling at them as their tongues hung out of their mouths. “And what are your names?”
“Billy and Bob,” Scarlett said. “They’re brothers. We got them—I mean, I wanted them, and Vance got them for me as a surprise.”
“For a birthday?” Hudson asked.
“No, just because. That was one of the reasons I couldn’t get them.” She knelt down next to him and started rubbing the dogs too. “Vance said he bought them, and they were his. It didn’t matter that I said they were a gift to me. I had no proof. He had the purchase documents.” She shrugged, but Hudson could hear the hint of pain in her voice.
“I just can’t believe it,” she said. “It just feels surreal to me.”
“So you don’t need me over at the Canine Club to help with the new dogs, do you?”
She ginned as she shook her head. “No, these dogs are going to live with me.”
Hudson liked seeing her so happy, but his gypsy soul wanted to get off the ranch for a few days. He’d been thinking about asking her to go with him. Where, he wasn’t sure. He had the camper shell he could easily put back on the truck, and he could literally go anywhere he wanted.
His mouth turned dry, but the opportunity to ask her hovered between them.
“Hey, you okay?” she asked, putt
ing one hand on his arm.
He felt like she’d branded him, but he nodded anyway. “Yeah.”
She went back to the dogs, and even Hound got a few pats. She jumped to her feet. “Gramps. Hey, guys, let’s go meet Gramps.” She started to step over the dogs to get to the front door, and Hudson found his chance to ask her to go on a road trip with him disappearing.
“Scarlett,” he blurted before she could leave.
She turned back. “Yeah?”
“I was wondering….” He took his cowboy hat off and ran his hands through his hair. “I want to get off the ranch for a couple of days.”
“You do?”
“Just a quick trip to the beach.” As he spoke, he realized that was what he wanted to do. See the ocean up close. Hear the waves. Eat some seafood. “I was thinking maybe you’d like to come with me.”
Her eyebrows shot up, and Hudson wanted to suck the words right back into his throat. She recovered quickly, and her eyes searched his face. “A trip,” she finally said.
“A few days away from the stress of this place. From all the animals. The dogs can come, of course. But don’t you want to just get away from things for a while?” Hudson felt the craving to get away clawing at him. And he wanted her to come too, because it would be good for her. Good for him to have her with him.
“I do, yeah,” she said. “But I don’t know if now’s a good time.”
“Okay, then when?” he asked.
She looked away, and he could tell she was just stalling. That she didn’t want to come with him. “It’s okay,” he said. “You don’t have to come. But I’m going to leave Friday, I think. Just head to the beach. Stay for a couple of days. I’ll be back on Monday, so I won’t be gone long. I’ll talk to Sawyer about covering my animals.”
He turned to go back to his sandwich, wishing his stomach wasn’t so jittery. He really was hungry, and he had a full afternoon ahead of him out in the wilds.
“Do you go to church when you go on vacation?”
He glanced up at Scarlett, who’d followed him back into the cabin.
