Chapter 5
NAOMI HESITATED AT the ranch’s doorway, shrugging into her fleece-lined jacket while Sophie and Holger looked at her expectantly.
The smell of fresh bread wafted through the air, mingling with the savory aroma of whatever was simmering on the stove.
The scene inside was inviting: Mason cracking jokes in the kitchen, Colton flipping through a seed catalog, and Taylor helping Sophie set the table.
Yet, Naomi felt a pull in another direction.
“Thank you for the invitation,” she said, offering a smile, “but I think I’ll pass on dinner tonight.”
“Oh, stay,” Sophie urged. “You must be starving! That was such a meager lunch this noon.” She tossed a raised brow at Mason.
Naomi shook her head gently. “I appreciate it, but the pup needs to see a vet sooner rather than later. It’s best to rule out anything serious.
” She glanced down at the scruffy little dog in her arms, its soft brown eyes meeting hers.
“I’ll feel better knowing she’s okay. And maybe the vet’ll know who she belongs to. Someone must be worried.”
Holger nodded, his expression understanding. “Yup. The clinic’s about twenty minutes into town. Dr. Porter’s good people. Let me know what she says.”
Naomi tightened her grip on the dog, whose little tail wagged weakly. “Will do. Thanks again.”
The animal clinic was a modest building with a warm, welcoming glow from its windows.
Snowflakes clung to Naomi’s jacket as she stepped inside, the door jingling softly with a bell.
The smell of antiseptic was sharp but not unpleasant, mingling with the faint scent of lavender from a candle burning on the receptionist’s desk.
“Good afternoon,” the receptionist said with a cheerful smile. “Do you have an appointment?”
Naomi set the dog gently on the counter. “No. We found this little gal on the ranch. She’s limping a bit, and I want to make sure she’s all right. No tags, no collar. I thought it’d be best to bring her in.”
The receptionist nodded, reaching for a clipboard. “Let’s get some quick details while Dr. Porter finishes with her current patient.”
As Naomi filled out the form, she listened to the soft murmur of voices from an exam room and the occasional bark from the kennels in the back. The dog nestled against her, its little body warm and trusting.
“Okay, we’re ready for you,” said a woman in scrubs as she emerged from the hallway. Her name tag read Dr. Porter, and her kind smile instantly put Naomi at ease.
The exam room was small but cozy, with posters of happy pets and a faint hum from the heater. The dog whimpered slightly when Dr. Porter began her examination but relaxed as she spoke soothingly.
“She’s in pretty good shape overall,” Dr. Porter said, running her hands gently along the dog’s legs. “The limp might be from a minor sprain, but it’s nothing serious.” She checked the ears, teeth, and belly before reaching for a small handheld scanner. “Let’s see if there’s a microchip.”
The scanner beeped as she passed it over the dog’s back. They waited, but no second beep came.
“No chip,” Dr. Porter confirmed. “No collar or tags either. She’s a stray, for sure.”
Naomi exhaled, relieved and a little sad. “Do you think she’s been abandoned?”
“Hard to say,” Dr. Porter said gently, stroking the dog’s scruffy head. “She seems well-fed and friendly, so she might’ve had a home recently. We can keep her here overnight and put out a notice in case someone’s looking for her.”
Naomi nodded. “Please do. And if no one claims her…” She hesitated, then smiled as the dog gave a tiny lick to her hand. “I’ll take her. I can’t leave her out in the cold again.”
Dr. Porter grinned. “That’s wonderful. Let’s get her settled, and I’ll update you tomorrow.”
Naomi lingered a moment in the waiting area after handing over the dog.
The clinic was quiet now, save for the soft hum of fluorescent lights and the rustle of papers at the reception desk.
The warmth of the building seeped into her, along with the satisfaction of knowing the little pup was safe and cared for.
As she stepped outside, the brisk evening air filled her lungs. She looked up at the stars, feeling an unexpected sense of peace. Montana was turning out to be more than she’d bargained for—but in a good way. She liked dogs. She liked cowboys.
***
Trent noticed how nervous Wyatt acted at dinner. Something had gotten him worked up, but since Wyatt roomed in the house and Trent couldn’t follow him up the stairs, he had to figure out a way to keep him in the living room.
Naomi had declined to stay for dinner, taking the canine patient to the vet instead. She’d be back tomorrow morning which made Trent feel hopeful that he could get to know her even better. But right now, after dessert, he thought up a reason to get Wyatt out of the house so he could quiz him.
“Hey, dude, you got a minute?” He lowered his voice. “I don’t want to bother Holger, but I think something’s wrong with the heat in the barn and I know you have some expertise …?” He raised his shoulders to match the question.
“Yeah, sure,” Wyatt said, frowning.
Once outside and on their way to the barn, Trent said, “Hey, last week when I lent you my car … everything go all right?”
Wyatt made a sound between a groan and a growl. “Not exactly.”
“You were meeting your girlfriend, the hypnotist, right?”
“No, I wasn’t seeing Mia then. She’s been out of town, visiting relatives.”
They reached the barn. Trent pushed the sliding door open and Wyatt went in first.
“Brrr. I forgot how cold it is out here. Another guy and I had these two new loft rooms first. Sorry it’s not working out for you.”
He started for the staircase and Trent touched his arm.
“It’s working fine. I just made that up to get you out here. Something’s bothering you and I want to help.”
Wyatt turned away from the staircase and leaned on one of the stall gates instead. “When I borrowed your car, it was to go see the old dude I was working for before. A welder. He was going to hold my job until my, uh, my sentence here was over, but …”
“He hired somebody else?”
“He’s about to. Technically I have three more weeks left here, but Ray says I have to come back next Monday or else.”
Trent folded his arms and leaned against the opposite wall. “So that’s who you were talking to on the phone.”
“Yeah. I haven’t had the guts to ask Holger if he can, you know, commute my sentence. He’s a stickler for rules.”
“Couldn’t you work there and be back by six? That’s your curfew, right?”
Wyatt nodded. “But not only do I not have a car to drive there … my license was suspended for a year.”
“Hold on. You drove my car and you don’t have a license? Shoot, man, I’d have driven you myself if I’d known.”
One of the geldings nickered and a gust of cold air swirled around their legs as Levi came in. He frowned at the two of them without saying a word and bounded up the steps. A moment later his bedroom’s door closed with a decided click.
“You know what?” Trent said, straightening. “Let’s go ask Mr. Olsen if he can spare you. If you can give me some gas money, I’ll drive you to work and pick you up. Welding, huh? I’d like to see that.”