Chapter 3
Vanessa stared at the four-legged creatures with their beady eyes and long moustaches while Frankie vibrated at her feet. “Huh. I have goats.”
“I’m surprised no one told you,” Dax said. “Who’s been feeding them?”
She rounded the closed-off pens and kept her eyes on the small herd. The smell of wet hay and mud hung heavy in the air. The large red barn shielded them from the continuing rain, but she pulled her jacket tighter around the middle to keep away the chill.
The goats stared back, expecting God only knew what from her.
“I guess my uncle or aunt. They’ve been taking care of the property since Grandpa died.”
Dax leaned over the barrier and patted the top of a tan-and-white goat with glassy blue eyes. “Chip didn’t mention anything about caring for these guys to you?”
“Not a word.”
Frowning, he stared down at her. “What about the rest of the property? This hasn’t been a working ranch in a while, but there’s a lot of land that needs tending. Most of the animals are gone, but he kept a couple sheep, and I think he still has Bessie.”
“Bessie?”
He turned in a circle then walked down the wide aisle. His boots slapped against the concrete as he moved further away and then pointed toward the far corner. “There she is.”
Vanessa followed him, a mixture of dread and excitement weighing down each step. She loved animals, even Frankie with his heavy snoring and judgy looks had grown on her, but she didn’t have the first clue how to take care of farm animals.
A knee-high cow with big brown eyes and shaggy tan bangs stared up at her, and her heart melted. “Oh my goodness. She’s adorable!”
Dax’s chuckle glided over her skin. “I figured you’d think that.”
“Can I pet her?” Asking permission to touch her own animal might be ridiculous, but she didn’t want the furry little creature to turn feral and bite off a finger.
“Sure can.”
Slowly, she ran her fingers through the crop of hair at the top of the cow’s head. “How do you know so much about my grandfather’s land?”
Hooking his thumbs in the front pockets of his jeans, he shrugged.
“Small town. I’ve lived here my entire life.
Not much happens around here that folks aren’t aware of.
Especially when someone buys a miniature Highland cow.
Not exactly common in these parts. Bessie was a big hit with the kids, and the ladies. ”
He shot her a wink that curled her toes.
Not wanting him to catch the light blush in her cheeks, she rested her forearms on the top of the wooden door that caged Bessie in her hay-filled home. “I have no idea how to take care of her, or the goats, or hell, even all this land that’s suddenly mine.”
An invisible weight crashed down on her, stealing every ounce of joy at starting this new adventure. Who was she kidding? She had no knowledge of how to live on a ranch, and absolutely no support system.
At least, not one who could do a darn thing to help her.
Bessie shook her head and a long, low moo echoed off the aluminum roof. Frankie bounced around, yapping in response.
“Good news is you already have one hell of a farm dog.” Dax scooped Frankie into his strong arms and the dog instantly quieted. “The rest you can learn. It’s not too hard.”
She wrinkled her nose, mostly because of her doubt but also in response to the foul smell suddenly coming from Bessie’s backside. “Sure. I’ll just hop onto YouTube and watch a few videos. Easy peasy.”
He ran his hand along Frankie’s back, inducing a round of enthusiastic kisses Dax was forced to dodge before setting the dog back on his feet.
“What about your uncle? You said he’s the one who’s been out here taking care of things.
I’m sure he helped your grandpa the last few years as his health faded. Won’t he give you a hand?”
“Maybe, but I’ve only spoken with him a couple of times over the phone and through email.
He wasn’t exactly forthcoming with information.
He didn’t seem all that excited to meet me.
” Another stab of disappointment. A reminder that family bonds were something she’d probably never have, no matter how much she yearned for them.
Not wanting Dax to think she was looking for pity, she forced a smile. “Back to the YouTube plan it is.”
Scowling, he shook his head. “I’m sure you can figure out plenty of stuff by watching videos but not tending a ranch and all that comes with it. I’ll show you.”
His offer made her heart lurch. “You will?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Because we just met. Because you don’t know anything about me. Because you have your own life and responsibilities to look after.”
He batted away her concerns with a flick of the wrist. “We’re neighbors.
You’re new to town and didn’t exactly get the best welcome.
Least I can do is lend a helping hand to get you started.
Besides, there’s not a ton to do around here.
I might not know much about you, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. ”
Unexpected tears stung her eyes. She blinked to chase them away. “Thank you.”
He dipped his chin then glanced into Bessie’s pen before retracing his steps back to the goats, Frankie at his heels. “Looks like they’ve been fed. Since the rain’s slowing down, they’d probably like to go out in the pastures a bit. Get some fresh air and burn off some energy.”
“Okay, how do I get them to the pasture?”
“Chances are they know the way. You’ve just got to give them a chance to show you. Or let Frankie be a sheepdog and show them where to go.”
Frankie’s ears twitched at the sound of his name.
“I think he’ll need more training than I do,” she said, studying her furry little companion. “I guess let those little ones out.”
Dax unlatched the gate and a chorus of maas and bleats made her smile as close to fifteen goats leapt and sprinted forward.
She couldn’t stop the rolling laughter as the animals formed a chaotic line toward the door that Dax swung open, freeing the lively crew into the attached yard.
“Go ahead and let Bessie out, too,” he said.
She hurried to the little cow who’d stolen her heart and freed her.
Bessie ambled forward, stopping when Frankie sprinted to her side, barking the whole way. The cow lowered her snout and gently brushed it against the dog, sniffing.
Frankie’s barks quieted and he licked Bessie’s nose before following her into the yard with the goats.
“Looks like he made a new and unlikely friend.”
She couldn’t help but look up at his handsome face and smile. Frankie wasn’t the only one who’d made an unexpected friend. She just hoped all the bad was behind her and the rest of her time in Cloud Valley would only get better from here.
* * *
Dax grinned at the joy pouring off Vanessa in waves, her eyes fixed on her new herd. Her yappy little dog wagging his butt and weaving through the annoyed goats and sheep. The rain had stopped and the sun peeked out behind the cover of clouds blanketing the gray sky.
“I can’t believe I own all this,” she said, awe filling her voice. “What the hell did I get myself into?”
At least her panic had gone away, or enough of it that a little bit of excitement filled her voice.
Hell, the majority of the land his family had owned for generations had been sold out from under his feet when he was still a teenager.
He’d spent years soaked in bitterness for the turn his life had taken—the turn someone else made for him—and would give anything to have a chance to make his mark at the McKay Ranch.
That dream would never become a reality, but time had dimmed the pain enough for him to forge a new path.
“Are they okay out here alone?” she asked. “Seems like the pasture goes all the way to the mountains.”
“How do you know it doesn’t?”
She turned to him with wide eyes and her mouth open.
Chuckling, he strolled back down the aisle of the barn. “They’re fine. Let’s get those boxes inside before the rain starts again. The way the sky looks, it’ll be back before we know it.”
She jogged to catch up with him, reaching him before stepping outside. “You really don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind. Once we’re done, we’ll bring the animals back in then we’ll head to the office. I can grab the equipment we need to get your house secure, and talk about cost. My brother, Madden, is the one who’ll discuss that with you.”
“You work for your brother? That’s so cool.”
He barked out a humorless laugh. “Not really, but that’s a story for another time.”
“Can’t wait.”
He hated how much he hoped she was being sincere, but he didn’t dwell on it as he carried box after box from the silver SUV into the house.
Vanessa kept pace with him every step of the way with the lighter boxes he purposely left behind.
Stacks of her personal belongings cluttered the dusty living room.
Sweat dotted his hairline and his muscles ached.
When he grabbed the last box, Vanessa slammed the door closed and followed him into the house.
“I can’t thank you enough.” She stood near the doorway with her fists planted on her hips. “Can I grab you something to drink? I assume there are at least glasses and water in the kitchen.”
He glanced at his watch. As much as he’d like to linger, the three missed calls from Madden told him he needed to return to work before his brother showed up and kicked his butt.
Not to mention he still needed to get the security system installed for Vanessa.
“Appreciate the offer, but I’ve got a bottle of water in my truck. I better get back. If you tag along, we can make everything official then get the security system installed before dinner. Any chance you know which one of these boxes has towels?”
Frowning, she studied the mounds of boxes. “Why?”
“Frankie’s going to be head to toe in mud. You’ll want to wipe him off before he gets in your vehicle.”
“Oh crap. I didn’t think that through. Most of these are labeled by room, so towels should be with the bathroom boxes—wherever those are.”
He swallowed the laugh at the horror etched on her face and instead moved around her belongings to help locate what she needed. Finding one that fit the bill, he picked it up and carried it to her. “The black marker says ‘bathroom’ and it’s pretty light. Might be what we need.”
She tore open the packing tape and lifted the flaps before turning wide eyes on him. “Seriously, are you some kind of cowboy angel or something sent to help a flailing damsel.”
He couldn’t stop the laugh this time. “Just a good neighbor. Now, let’s get the animals in the barn and grab that mutt.”
Marching outside, he hurried to the barn and made sure the animals had water in the pens before letting them inside. Frantic barking reached his ears before he made it to the door, and he quickened his pace.
“That sounds like Frankie,” Vanessa said. “But far away. How much area do they have out there?”
“Not sure, but maybe they ventured further than Frankie liked or maybe he’s just playing.”
Stepping into the pasture, he noted Bessie surrounded by a handful of goats in the right corner as well as a couple sheep chewing grass, mud marring their white coats. But no Frankie.
“Frankie! Come!” Vanessa shouted, but to no avail.
Dax stalked through the muck and puddles. The yard stretched in front of him, but not so far he couldn’t see the barbed-wire fence around the perimeter.
But still no dog.
Shit.
He jogged toward the continued yapping until the fence stopped him.
Vanessa kept pace beside him, her ragged breaths tearing from her mouth. “I don’t understand. Where are the rest of the goats and Frankie?”
Mangled wire caught his attention and he crouched low to study it.
Double shit.
“Oh my God, the fence!” Vanessa dropped beside him, her knees hitting the muddy ground. “Did they tear it?”
Anger boiled his blood, and he pointed toward the busted fence. “See this metal? It’s not all jagged and strained. The line is smooth and intentional.”
Her eyelids slid closed. “You think this was done on purpose?”
He nodded. “Yes. Somebody cut this fence. Now we just need to figure out who and why.”