On a Snowy Christmas Night

by Debbi Rawlins

  “It is.” She wasn’t smiling now. Her expression grim, she carried the bucket to a spigot and started filling it with water. “We’ve always held on by a thread, relying on the charity of a few foundations and the ranchers in the area. This economy has made everything worse. It about killed me but I had to refuse three bison earlier this week.”

  Shea started to question their fate but decided she didn’t want to know. “How many people does it take to keep Safe Haven running?”

  “Hard to say...the place manages to run no matter what, but we’re never fully staffed. I figure five full-timers would be optimal. As it stands, we make do with six permanent part-time volunteers and myself. I live here, so that works out.” Annie exchanged the full bucket for an empty one, then carried the water to large plastic bins plugged into an electrical box. “God, we use so much electricity in the winter just to keep the water from freezing.” She motioned with her chin. “Plus the heat lamps. Then there’s more hay and feed to buy because there’s no grass for grazing.”

  “I read on your website that you try to find homes for the animals.”

  “We had two adoptions yesterday, so that was awesome. The holidays are tricky.” Annie shook her head. “Kids beg their parents to get them pets for Christmas. They give in, discover it’s too costly or too much responsibility, and we end up taking the animal back by mid-January. I try to vet anyone interested but you never know. You mind turning off the water?”

  “Sure.” Shea hurried over to shut off the spigot, then picked up the bucket. It was far heavier than she’d anticipated, and she grunted with the effort it took to clear the ground.

  Annie was kind enough to hide her smile. “I wish more men would get their butts out here and volunteer. Some of this work is plain brutal on the back, especially if you’re not used to physical labor.” She took the bucket from Shea and emptied the water into another bin. “Jesse’s really good about helping out but I hate to bother him...he has enough on his plate.”

  Good thing Shea no longer held the bucket or she would’ve dropped it. “Jesse McAllister volunteers here?”

  “Not exactly. He flies for shelters across the state and a few in Wyoming, but he’s good enough to do some pickups and drop-offs for us when the route’s on his way. We could never afford to chip in for fuel and plane maintenance like the better-funded shelters do.”

  “But I thought...” She shook her head, totally confused. Jesse worked at the Sundance. It wasn’t just an assumption on her part. They’d talked...just yesterday...he’d told her that himself... Oh, God, she didn’t know what he’d told her versus what she’d heard. He’d had her so messed up. “He hadn’t mentioned he was a pilot.”

  “He learned to fly in the air force.”

  “Oh.” Shea cleared her throat.

  “It’s not a secret.” Annie walked toward the stall where Angel had finished nursing, and let the goat out. Then she released Kiki from the harness while cooing to her about what a good mother she was. Kiki responded by using her nose to knock the empty metal bowl off the stump. “You’ve had enough, you little piggy. Now go on.”

  “Do you have instructions written down?” Shea asked, watching the woman shoo the goat into the general population and wondering how she was ever going to keep all this straight. It didn’t help that her thoughts kept drifting to Jesse. One thing for certain, she’d have to stay away from him if she kept losing her concentration.

  Annie smiled. “I can do that, and you know I’m going to be around.”

  “Will Jesse?” Shea groaned when she realized the words had actually tumbled into the ether. “I mean, it doesn’t matter if he is or not, so I’m not sure why I asked.”

  “Hey, I don’t blame you.” Annie grinned a little wickedly. “He’s hot. And smart. And loves animals. What’s not to like?”

  “You misunderstood. I’m rather hoping he isn’t around.”

  “Huh.” Annie studied her a moment and then shrugged. “He seems like a terrific guy. I only met him a little over a year ago after he got out of the service.”

  “No, he’s great. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I got the dates mixed up and arrived a day early so he took me on a trail ride yesterday.”

  “Nice.” Her brows rose. “I would’ve expected Trace to be the one who threw out the welcome mat. Jesse’s usually so quiet. Quite a few women around here would give their souls to go out with him.”

  And you? The words teetered on Shea’s lips but this time she managed to keep it to herself.

  Annie opened a metal trash can, dipped in a scoop and scattered feed for the chickens. “Not me, though. Another time, another place, and oh, yeah,” she said, a touch of wistfulness in her voice, unmistakable even to Shea. “I’m not looking for a relationship. This place keeps me busy enough.” She replaced the lid. “But good to know Jesse is circulating. I should talk him and some of the other guys into a bachelor auction for a fundraiser. That would keep this place in grain and feed for the winter. Don’t say anything to him. We might not see him again.”

  She didn’t have to tell Shea twice. She couldn’t imagine Jesse’s reaction to being auctioned off like a prize bull in front of a room full of salivating women.

  “So where did you go on your ride?” Annie asked. “Toward Mount Edith?”

  “I don’t recall that name. We stayed in the foothills, I think, but it was beautiful. I wish I was a better rider.”

  “You can practice all you want here. It’s not a requirement, but the permanent volunteers take turns exercising the horses. You’re welcome to climb into a saddle anytime.”

  “Thanks.” She followed Annie outside. The sky had lightened up considerably. Behind them the sun was rising over the distant rolling hills and she could see a fenced-in area where horses gathered in small groups. Closer to the barn there were more goats. “How many acres belong to Safe Haven?”

  “Almost two hundred, all donated.” She indicated a small cabin Shea hadn’t noticed before. “There’s coffee inside. I’m ready for a cup. How about you?”

  “Definitely.”

  They took the short walk in silence, while Shea mentally debated if another question about Jesse would be inappropriate. It wasn’t anything personal so she didn’t see the harm. “What exactly does Jesse do for the shelters?”

  “He flies rescue flights for injured animals, especially if time is critical or they’re found in the mountains and it’s too difficult to get to them. He also transports animals to no-kill shelters and foster homes. Or say someone in Wyoming sees a picture of a potbellied pig online from a Montana shelter, Jesse would fly the pig to a Wyoming shelter that would facilitate the adoption. He’s in demand because he can fly both a Cessna and helicopters. He even has access to an old cargo plane for the big animals.”

  “Does he own them?”

  “No. That would cost a small fortune. The bigger shelters contribute to fuel and maintenance, and there’s a small airfield not too far from the Sundance that donates the hangar space. Jesse does the upkeep and the flying.” She stopped at the door and scraped the bottom of her boots on a thick bristly rug.

  Shea followed suit and immediately smelled the coffee as she crossed the threshold. The place was tiny. Basically it was one room with wooden floors and a loft. What passed for the kitchen appeared to be a short counter hosting a microwave and a coffeemaker that flanked a sink. A pair of worn tan leather recliners shared a narrow oak table that was stacked with books. Behind it was a goose-neck floor lamp, and a fire blazed in the wood-burning stove, keeping the room quite toasty.

  “In case you couldn’t tell, this is where I live,” Annie said, indicating the personal items scattered around. “I’m not usually this messy but I’ll be damned if I could find the backup can of coffee I swore I bought last week.”

  Shea accepted the chipped blue mug of coffee Annie passed her, then shook her head to the small pitcher of milk. “I can pick some up in town on the way to the Sundance.”

  Annie hes
itated. “I haven’t checked under my bed yet,” she said, her gaze going to the stairs leading to the loft.

  “It’s not like it’ll go bad.”

  “No...” The reluctance was still there.

  Shea took her first sip of the sadly weak brew and instantly understood. “Consider it my donation.”

  A smile lit Annie’s face and she clinked Shea’s mug with hers. “I won’t turn it down.”

  Ridiculously pleased that she could do something that mattered to this woman, Shea drank her coffee. First Rachel, then Jamie and now Annie—it was crazy, but these women somehow seemed like friends. Using the term loosely, of course, because Shea didn’t easily forge relationships with anyone much less people she’d just met.

  Mahler’s Adagietto suddenly jolted her out of her reverie. It took a moment to realize the classical music was coming from Annie’s cell phone. She dug it out of her jeans pocket, her brows dipping into a frown as she answered the call.

  “Yeah, Russell, what’s up?” Annie paused and listened. “Is he injured?” she asked, and Shea’s heart sunk to her stomach. “Okay, so you’ll be here in about an hour?” Annie’s gaze went to the plain white wall clock. “No problem, really, it’s okay,” she said, disconnected the call and sighed heavily. “I lied. We have a problem.”

  6

  SHEA HAD ALWAYS considered the notion of love at first sight silly. Her parents were proof the idea held no merit. But the minute she saw Caleb, the beautiful two-year-old roan being led by Annie from the horse trailer, Shea experienced a wash of emotion for which she had no words. Holding her breath she stared at the magnificent creature of her childhood dreams. The long pinkish-blond mane was tangled and his light chestnut body too lean, but he was still a superb horse.

  She felt as if she were ten years old again, kneeling at her bed on Christmas Eve, palms pressed together, head bowed, praying with all her might she would awake to find a miracle on her front lawn.

  “Easy, boy,” Annie whispered when the horse’s hooves hit the ground and he danced restlessly to the left.

  “You need help getting him to the stables?” Russell came around from the front of the truck with a rope in his hands. He was a friend of Annie’s who worked for the government in controlling the mustang population. It was pure luck that he’d found Caleb, who’d been abandoned.

  “No, I’m good. I’ve already called Doc Yardley for an evaluation. He should be here within the hour.”

  “I hated springing this on you, Annie.” The stocky man in his mid-forties raked a hand through his hair. “Shitty time of year, I know.”

  “You’ve bailed me out plenty of times. Don’t worry about it. Go home. Get back to Butte and be with your wife and kids.”

  “He was a little skittish when I loaded him. Don’t know when he ate last so I gave him what little feed I had in the truck. Let me take him while you sign the paperwork.”

  Annie’s gaze never wavered from Caleb as she backed up, bringing him with her. “You have it ready?”

  “Right here.” He pulled it out of his back pocket. “Hopefully I can get you some reimbursement for his upkeep ’til we move him.”

  As if he understood what was being said, Caleb suddenly planted his forelegs and refused to budge. Sides heaving, his velvet nostrils fluttering in distress, he nickered low and deep.

  “What spooked him?” Annie murmured.

  “I don’t know.” Russell stood at the ready.

  “May I try?” Shea asked.

  Annie darted her an astonished look. “Leading him?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea... Careful,” Annie said sternly when Shea moved to stroke his neck.

  Caleb seemed to relax and turned his head toward Shea, his ears pricked forward with curiosity.

  “You want to come with me, you sweet boy?” She slowly reached for the lead.

  Annie was hesitant to release it, which Shea totally understood. She sent her a brief beseeching look, anyway. But the deal wasn’t sealed until Caleb took a calm step toward Shea.

  Her heart nearly pounding through her chest, she felt the lead being pressed into her hand and she gingerly moved in the direction of the stables. “You’re safe now, sweetie,” she whispered to him, aware that Annie was shadowing her closely. “I’ve got you.”

  Shea understood Annie’s concern, though she herself wasn’t worried one bit. Of all the places she could’ve chosen to spend Christmas, this was why she’d come here. Who knew Montana was the place she’d finally feel at home?

  * * *

  JESSE WAS WORKING late in the barn when he saw headlights turn down the driveway. He hoped it was Shea because if it wasn’t her, he’d end up calling Annie to see what the hell was going on. And man, he did not want to get involved, but Shea should’ve been back by now.

  It wasn’t just him. Rachel was worried, too. When she’d called him inside for dinner an hour ago, he’d thought she might’ve heard from their guest. Failing that, he figured he could count on his sister to make the call. But she hadn’t, and he’d refused to say a word, and now that the sun had been down for two hours, it was colder than shit and if that wasn’t Shea’s car, then he’d have to...

  He didn’t know what he’d do because he had no business thinking about her at all. Yesterday it had been crystal clear to him that she was someone he needed to stay away from. She was...complicated. So what was he doing? Why was he worried about her? She was a big girl. Maybe subconsciously he was looking for a distraction. But that wasn’t like him.

  The motion detector lights he’d put up after the horse trailer was stolen a few months earlier, flooded the driveway and glinted off her silver rental as it got closer to the stables. He was more relieved than he had a right to be, he wouldn’t deny it...certainly not to himself. Now he couldn’t decide if he should walk out to meet her or go back into the barn, act as if it was just a fluke that he’d been standing in the entryway.

  Muttering a curse, he tossed the rag he’d been using to clean out a distributor cap and grabbed his hat off the workbench. He settled the Stetson on his head, then tugged down the brim to keep the floodlight’s glare out of his eyes.

  Apparently Shea hadn’t seen him yet. She slipped out of the SUV, went around to the back and lifted the hatch.

  “You need help carrying anything?” he asked.

  She jumped, her hand going to her throat. “You startled me.”

  “Yeah, I see that. Sorry.”

  Her hair was a wild mess, as if she’d been riding in the wind, her cheeks flushed pink and her eyes alive with excitement. “I’m glad you’re here. I have a question for you.” She reached into the back of the SUV, still talking. “I bought this for Caleb and I want to make sure it’s all right to stay in the car overnight.”

  Jesse’s attention snagged on the curve of her nicely rounded backside and it took him a second to process what she’d said.

  “Caleb?” So she’d met someone. He didn’t recognize the name. Had to be a fellow volunteer. Well, good for her, he thought grimly.

  “Yes.” She backed up, each arm wrapped around large cans of Colombian coffee.

  He frowned, not sure what she expected him to say. “What is it, a Christmas present?”

  “What?” She stared at him as if he were the one being weird. Then she glanced at the cans in her arms and laughed. “No, not the coffee...that.” She managed to point inside the SUV but almost dropped everything.

  He caught one of the cans, drawing close enough to her to get a whiff of vanilla-scented skin under the familiar smell of hay.

  “Thanks,” she said. “I should’ve put these in the backseat. Mind opening the door for me?”

  “Sure,” he said and watched her grab yet another can of coffee. He tilted his head to the side to see what else she’d bought and caught a glimpse of a fourth can, along with stacks of fifty-pound bags of corn and oats. Jesse smiled. “Caleb’s a horse.”

  She nodded, her eyes shining. �
�A gorgeous strawberry roan. He’s only two years old and so beautiful and sweet-tempered. You have to see him, Jesse. You just have to. I can’t imagine how someone could’ve abandoned him.”

  The temptation to touch her soft smiling lips caught him off guard and he moved back a step. “The coffee isn’t for him, I hope.”

  Shea laughed, hugging the cans to her breast. “These are for Annie. She’s down to her last dregs so I thought I’d surprise her.” Her expression sobered. “Safe Haven operates on such a shoestring I think she’d use her last dollar on the animals before she’d buy anything for herself.”

  “You’re right about that.” He scooped up the last can and went to open the back door. “Did you wipe the Food Mart out of coffee?”

  “Almost. I left one on the shelf out of guilt when I heard they can’t restock for two days.” She waited until he’d stowed the can he held, then handed him the other two. “I hope I don’t offend her by bringing these.”

  “Nah, when it comes to the shelter, Annie has no pride. She’ll take all the help she can get. That includes plying the volunteers with coffee.”

  “Oh, shoot.” She wrinkled her nose. “I should’ve picked up cream and sugar for the others.” She didn’t move, just stared into space, trapping him against the open car door and giving him no room to maneuver. “I leave too early to stop in town tomorrow.”

  This wasn’t good—her standing so close and the light from the stables shining in her face. Her skin, her lips...she looked so soft it made him itch to touch her. “My mom keeps a hefty supply of sugar on hand. She can help you there. Don’t know about the cream.”

  “Oh, that would be great, then I can replace it.”

  He waited for her to move. Finally, he touched the back of her arm.

  “Sorry, sorry.” She scooted back, far back. Shoving the tousled hair away from her face, she gave him a sheepish smile as he walked around to the rear of the SUV.

  “You had a question about the feed?”

  “Will these bags be all right left out here? I know the temperature will drop below freezing tonight.”