SIX
M EGAN BLEW HER HAIR out of her face as she tossed the remnants of the last shovel into the wheelbarrow. The air held a pungent scent, but she had actually begun to enjoy the smell of horses. It brought a surge of happiness to her every time she whiffed the earthy, sweaty scent.
“Last one?” Tyler asked as he took up the handles of the wheelbarrow.
The smell of horses wasn’t the only thing she had started to enjoy.
“Yes, sir,” she said, as she wiped the stubborn hair that clung to her face with the back of her forearm. “Thank goodness Josie has showers for her volunteers. Without them, I’d smell like horses for the rest of the day.”
“There are worse things to smell like,” Tyler said, his lips spreading into a bemused smile as he turned away to dump the last load.
“Storm and Snickers are happily munching their breakfast,” Krista said, as she leaned against the fence next to Megan. “Thanks for shoveling the poop.” Krista smiled wickedly.
“Yeah, maybe you can teach me how to feed them and we can switch jobs,” Megan joked.
“But you’re so good at it,” Krista teased, but the smile on her face softened. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie. Anything for you.” Megan turned as her heart clenched, feeling the truth of those words to her core. The last couple of weeks of working side by side with Krista and Tyler filled her with bittersweet longing.
The three of them worked so well together, like a well-oiled machine, picking up where the last one left off, communicating both verbally and nonverbally in an effortless dance.
“I wish this didn’t have to end,” Krista said, kicking at the straw underfoot.
“All good things come to an end,” Tyler said as he approached them.
“Ugh, I hate that saying,” Krista said, pushing off the fence.
“I agree. It’s not one of my favorites, that’s why I tack on another saying.” Megan smiled at Krista. “All good things come to an end, to open doors to the next good thing.”
Krista cocked her head, seeming to process the words. “Okay. I’ll take your bait.” She smirked, glancing from her uncle back to Megan. “So, where’s this door going to lead?” She waggled her eyebrows.
Megan felt heat travel into her cheeks. She hoped her already flushed skin hid the addition, but from Tyler’s expression, she didn’t think it hid very well.
“I know one door,” Tyler said, drawing their eyes toward him. “A dog. I’ve narrowed it down to two of them. Want to help me decide?” His eyes flicked to Megan, but they settled on Krista.
“You want me to decide which dog you’ll adopt?” Krista gulped down the word adopt like it struggled to release from her throat.
“Yeah, I think that’s important.” Tyler gave her a nod.
“Why?” Krista countered, crossing her arms and staring him down.
“Well, the dog will be with me most of the time, so you need to get along with it.” Tyler tugged on his hat. “I’ve got a meeting at the shelter at noon tomorrow.”
“That’s my day off.” Krista watched him, glancing at Megan.
“I’ll get it approved by Josie,” she said with a mock sigh.
“Great. I’ll pick you two up this time.” Tyler turned on his heels before Megan could disagree. “Good work today.”
After he had disappeared, Krista looked at her. “This is a good sign, right?”
Megan had started to drop an arm around the girl’s shoulder but stopped as she saw the state of filth covering her arms. “I think so, my girl. Does that make you happy?”
“Scared to be happy…to hope, but I can’t stop it,” Krista said, a frown on her face. “It’s a good thing, right? I mean, it would be good for me to be with my uncle.”
Megan pushed a smile to her face. “Yes. He’s a great guy.”
“He is.” Krista gnawed on her lip a little before meeting Megan’s eyes. “Why then does it make you sad when I talk about it?”
“Sad?” Megan took a step back, her heart racing. “I’m happy for you, sweet girl, not sad.”
Krista shook her head. “I see the light in your eyes fade every time we talk about it.”
Megan’s eyes burned, and she shrugged as she squeezed the words from her throat. “I’ll just miss you, that’s all.”
Krista’s mouth dropped open only seconds before she threw herself on Megan, hugging her tightly. “I’ll miss you, too. I never…I mean you…” She sucked back a sob and pulled away. “You’re the only one I can talk to.”
“I’ll always be here for you, sweetie. Besides, it sounds like your uncle’s place isn’t too far from town. Maybe he’ll let you continue therapy just so we can get together.”
“Maybe, and maybe…” Krista bit her lip and shook her head. “Let’s just promise we don’t have to say goodbye.”
“Just see you next time.” Megan smiled and nudged into the girl. “I like that.”
The breakfast bell rang, causing them both to sigh.
“I need a shower.” Megan took a step toward the volunteer shower building.
“Me too,” Krista said, looking at her closer. “Thanks, Megan. You…well…I mean…”
Megan smiled, “Hey, thank you. You fill a hole that’s been in my life. Besides, who else would have taught me how to shovel horse poop?”
Krista laughed and gave a wave as she headed up the hill to her bunk house. Megan watched until she disappeared behind the trees. With a heavy sigh, she ambled toward the showers.
That night she had dinner with Chasity as Derrick took over the night shift for his deputy, who was interviewing for a job with the FBI. After they ate, Kami excused herself to play with a new puzzle in the living room.
“She’s really blossomed, Chas. You’ve done great with her.” Megan’s heart ached, watching the girl.
“I hear that longing in your voice. Tell me how it's going with Krista.” Chasity turned to give Megan her full attention.
“She’s incredible. She’s really coming out of her shell and gaining a sense of optimism, at least until I call her on it.” Megan let out a little laugh. “I love how she feels safe enough to open up with me.”
“And Tyler?” Chasity leaned forward.
“Krista hero-worships the man, and who can blame her? He seems pretty smitten with her, too. Tomorrow he’s picking us up so she can help him pick out a dog.”
“Us?”
Megan shrugged. “I still have to chaperone…for now.”
“You think he’s going to go for custody?” Chasity asked.
“Yes. It will be good for them. They need each other.” Megan toyed with the napkin still under her now empty plate.
“And you?”
“Me?” Megan asked, but she knew what Chasity meant.
“It’s going to break your heart.” Chasity went to her and gave her a hug.
Megan patted her back and pushed away to pick up the plates to take them to the kitchen. “It’s what Krista needs. Besides, maybe she’ll continue therapy so I can still see her.”
Chasity stood still for a moment, before pushing her shoulders back, making her stomach stick out that much further. “Is the guy blind?”
“Who, Tyler?”
“Yeah, I mean, can’t he see what’s right in front of him?”
Megan stared at Chasity.
“You’ve totally fallen for him, and I don’t see how he can’t have fallen for you.” She waddled over to the calendar.
“What are you doing?” Megan asked, setting the plates down in the sink and turning back toward her friend.
“I’m planning a date night.”
“A date night?” Megan’s heart thrummed. “No….no, Chas, you can’t do that.”
“Oh, the men won’t know it’s a date night.” Chasity put her pencil on that Saturday. “You have Saturday off this week, right? I’ll let Kami have a sleepover with Derrick’s parents. She loves staying with them. We’ll invite Tyler over for dinner and you as well.”
“Chas…that’s pretty obvious, don’t you think?”
Chasity pouted. “Fine. Then we’ll invite Jordan and Shane as well, though I don’t think that’s the best idea.”
“Oh, Jordan is over me. In fact, I don’t think he ever was serious. That guy is still hopelessly in love with his ex.” Megan thought about Derrick’s friend and how they had tried to set her up with Jordan when she first came to town. It hadn’t taken long for her to see past his flirty, playful manner.
“I agree, and Shane is enjoying the bachelor's life. It’s just…it won’t give you time to really get some one-on-one time with Tyler, and that’s what you’ll need to open his stubborn eyes.” Chasity tapped her chin.
Megan squeezed her arm. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Chas, but if it's meant to be, it will happen all on its own, and if not…” She shrugged.
“Well, we can try to hurry it along, at least.” She looked past Megan, and Megan followed her eyes to her wedding picture. “Derrick didn’t wait very long.”
“That’s different. You two had a history. It’s only been a month since we’ve met, and he has enough to consider without adding a woman into the mix. Really, Chas. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay.” Chasity folded her arms. “I don’t like to see you sad.”
“I’m not sad. I have had a few awesome weeks. Look at these arms.” She flexed. “I’m getting strong, and now I know how to ride.”
“Okay. Okay, I’ll back off, but I’m still having the get together, and you have to come.”
Megan laughed and hugged her friend. “Time to spend with my bestie? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
The next day, Megan wrapped up her last appointment before it was time for Tyler to pick them up. She watched the curly-headed five-year-old bounce off her porch and toward the meeting hall. She would find a good match. The file on the potential parents seemed to fit her to perfection.
Her heart warmed at the thought of another little one finding a home, and it warmed further as she saw Krista walking toward her, swiping her dark hair behind her ears, only to let it fall in front of her face again.
Megan swallowed her shock when Krista looked up as she entered the office without more than a dash of mascara on.
“Do I look awful?” Krista asked in a quiet voice as she clutched her arms across herself.
“No.” Megan cleared her throat. “You look beautiful. Your gorgeous eyes really pop out without the makeup to hide them.”
“You think so?” Krista bit her lip.
“I do.”
Krista plopped onto the couch. “I wanted Uncle Tyler to be proud to call me niece in front of other people. I thought maybe if I didn’t look like, well, a rebellious teen, he might…” She shrugged.
“I think he is proud of you, makeup or no makeup, but you look beautiful.” Megan tore her eyes away from the girl as Tyler pulled up in his truck. “Looks like it's time to pick out a dog for your uncle.”
“I’ve never picked out a pet before.” Krista chewed her lip. “What if I pick the wrong one?”
“There is no wrong one.” Megan held out her hand to help her out of the couch. “Come on. You’ll do great.”
Tyler had jumped down from the truck as they met him. He walked with them over to the passenger side and opened the door and the back half door. “Who calls shotgun?”
Krista giggled. “I haven’t heard that in years.” She looked from her uncle to Megan. “I’ll take the back. Megan gets carsick.”
Megan’s eyes opened wide as a flush came into her cheeks. “I forgot I told you that.”
“We know each other pretty well, Miss Megan, cowgirl extraordinaire.” Krista scrambled into the back.
Tyler raised his eyebrows, his gaze going from Megan’s slip-on dress shoes to her perfectly piled hair. “I could see that,” he said as he stepped closer, offering her his hand to help her into the truck.
She took it, bracing for the sparks she knew would ignite her blood the moment she touched him. They still tingled throughout her as Tyler drove them down the curvy road into Hope Lake.
When they passed the pullover spot where she had first met him, her eyes lingered long enough to catch his.
“Seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it?” He kept his voice soft, his gaze flicking to Krista in his rear-view mirror.
“It does in some ways,” she said, her smile stretching her flaming cheeks.
“I got a call from Derrick this morning.” He glanced at her before looking back at the road. “Seems they’re having a little get together on Saturday.”
“Yeah, I got the same invite.” Megan averted her eyes, looking down at her hands.
“It will be good to see a familiar face,” he said, and she couldn’t help looking at him in time to catch that sideways smile of his.
The lady at the counter of the shelter smiled as they entered. “Well, hello, Tyler. Looks like you brought company with you today.”
Tyler smiled at her, then to his niece, his eyes also meeting Megan’s before he looked back at the lady. “I did. This is Megan and my niece, Krista. She’s going to help me choose.”
“So, you think you’ll take one home today?”
“Yes, that’s my hope,” he said as he headed toward the door. “Can we go on back?”
“Of course, you know the drill. Nice to meet you, ladies.”
Megan and Krista waved as he led them through the door. The chaotic sounds and smells of a shelter always hit his senses with a bit of overwhelm. He glanced back, seeing the same reaction in Megan. Krista, on the other hand, smiled as if it was a place she always wanted to be.
“Aww, look at these kittens!” She stuck her fingers in the cage. “You’re a feisty one.”
Megan peered beside her. “Aww, they’re adorable! Look at the one rolling with the ball back there.”
Tyler peeked in, then cleared his throat. “I’m not here to get a kitten.”
Krista pulled her finger out and tore her eyes away from the tiny mewing kittens. “Sorry, Uncle Tyler.”
“It’s so hard. I want to take them all home.” Megan gave one a pet through the bars before she turned to him.
“Well, you did say you wanted a cat.” He raised his eyebrows.
“A cat…maybe…not a dozen.” Megan met him with narrowed eyes flashing with humor. “Unlike the way a certain cowboy thinks, I’m not that kind of cat lady.”
Tyler squeezed his lips shut, but he felt his nostrils flare out as a chuckle escaped. “You can keep looking if you want. I’m just impatient.”
“It’s okay, Uncle Tyler. This is your day…and hopefully a special day for one of these dogs, too.” Krista walked past the cat area, keeping her eyes focused ahead to the kennels in the back.
“She can be quite determined, can’t she?” Tyler whispered to Megan.
“She wants to impress you,” Megan whispered back.
“Me?”
Megan rolled her eyes and followed Krista.
“Which ones were you thinking of?” Krista’s eyes kept flicking toward a kennel of puppies.
“They’re cute, but I’m not ready for a puppy. That’s a lot of work.”
Krista nodded. “Which ones? If I keep looking without direction, I’m going to be with Megan and want to take them all home.”
Megan laughed. “You’re in trouble.”
“I’d say,” a man with coveralls and a broom greeted them. “I can tell soft hearts when I see them. You’d better be careful, Tyler. You’ve got your hands full with these two. If you don’t keep them on a short leash, they’ll have your house full of rescues before you can sneeze.”
“Good afternoon, Frank.” Tyler smiled, not bothering to correct him about what he obviously assumed. “Do you have them in the visitation area?”
“Well, I’ve got sad news for you,” Frank said, leaning on his broom. “Pickles was adopted yesterday.”
“Oh,” Tyler said, shifting his weight. “I see.”
“He got a good home, though. A family with a boy a bit younger than your girl there. That boy fell in love with him immediately.”
Tyler gave him a nod. “Well, I’m glad he found a good home.” He glanced at the area where they held the visits. “And the girl…is she still here?”
“Grace is eagerly awaiting you,” Frank said, nodding while pulling out a set of keys.
Krista smiled at him and followed Frank.
As they passed a kennel with a large rottweiler, the dog lunged and thundered a ferocious bark. Megan gasped, dashing back and colliding into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, instantly aware of her body against his and struggling for breath.
“You’re okay,” he said soothingly, bending his mouth down closer to her ear, smelling her sweet scent and feeling heady.
She stiffened in his arms before seeming to melt into him in a way that had his head spinning and in need of planting his feet firmly into the ground.
“That’s just, Brutus.” Frank glanced at them. “He’s all bark and no bite.” He motioned them to follow Krista into the visitation area.
Megan cleared her throat. “Sorry,” she said, before taking a wobbling step toward Frank, making Tyler wonder if her legs were unsteady from fear of the dog or if she had a similar reaction as he did to their close contact.
Grace sat in the far corner, her tail wagging and paws dancing. When the door clicked behind them, he squatted down. “Come here, girl,” he said, softening his voice.
Grace looked from him to the girls and back to him, still dancing in place and now whining quietly.
“Aww, she’s shy.” Krista squatted next to him. “Come on, girl. It’s okay, Gracey, come here.”
Grace took a few more dancing steps forward but didn’t come all the way up to them. Tyler glanced up at Megan, who still stood. She stepped further toward the door and squatted herself, but her expression was one of wariness.
Tyler tore his eyes off Megan and back to the dog. “Come on, girl. I brought my niece to meet you.”
The black and white dog took a few more steps, tails wagging so wildly her entire backside danced with the movement. She reached her nose out to smell him, then came rushing into his arms.
“She knows you,” Krista said, reaching over to pet the dog trying to crawl into his lap.
Grace tried to lick his face. “No licking.”
“Aww, they're just doggy kisses. Isn’t that right, Gracey? Just kisses.” She baby talked to the dog, sticking her face close to receive the eager kisses.
“Eww,” Tyler said, but he laughed, seeing the joy on the girl’s face.
He stepped back to let them get acquainted, coming into Megan’s space as they both stood.
“I think you’re going home with a dog today,” she said, her hands fiddling with her shirt.
Tyler raised an eyebrow. “You’re really not a dog person.”
She shrugged, averting her eyes to Krista petting Grace.
“Come on.” He grabbed her hand, knowing the minute he did, a shock would travel all the way through him. He allowed it and tugged harder. “You’re going to meet Grace, too.”
“She’s so sweet,” Krista said as they approached. “Megan, come meet her. Isn’t she so cute?”
Megan resisted against his tug, and he stood back up to read the fear in her eyes.
“Oh,” he said, switching from tugging her hand to sliding his thumb along her smooth skin in a soothing, repetitive caress. “I see.”
Megan narrowed her eyes.
“Look, there are dogs that can’t be trusted, but this isn’t one of them.” He flicked his gaze to where Grace had nestled herself in Krista’s arms, staring up at her with a look of adoration. “See? She’s safe.”
“She seems really sweet.” Megan pulled her hand from his and backed up. “I’ll wait for you guys in the truck, okay?”
Tyler didn’t think about his response. In fact, even as he did it, he pushed the warning down and grabbed her hand, anyway, wrapping his fingers through hers. “Looks like you aren’t the only one that will help people move past their fear.”
Instead of pulling her toward the dog this time, he pulled her down until she landed on her rump with a humph. When Megan glared at him, he smiled in return, wrapping his arm tightly around her so she couldn’t move. Her breathing quickened. He could feel her chest expand and contract rapidly.
“It’s just like with horses,” he said, keeping his tone soft, soothing. “They can sense your fear, but look at her. She only wants to please us.”
“You know nothing about her past,” Megan said, keeping her tone low.
“Actually, I do.” Tyler shifted himself, sidling closer to Megan for a better grip, finding it hard to concentrate as he breathed in her sweet, flowery scent. He knew that light perfume, though he couldn’t place it. “She belonged to an older man who had lost his wife. He was broken-hearted when he had to move into an assisted care facility and leave Grace behind.”
“Oh,” Megan said, though her body still shook and he could see her pulse lightning quick in that soft spot on her neck.
A surge of desire to kiss that rapid pulsing skin shot through him with enough force that he almost lost his hold on her. “Slow your breathing,” he said, his voice deeper than he intended.
She shut her eyes as a shiver ran through her.
“Grace won’t hurt you,” he said.
She licked her lips and opened her mouth to speak, but before the words came out, Grace had snuck over and nosed Megan’s fist. Megan drew in a quick breath as her eyes shot open.
“Shh, you’re okay. I won’t let anything happen to you.” Tyler rubbed her arm where he held her in place. “Open your hand and let her smell you.”
For a second, he didn’t think Megan would do it, but then, slowly, her palm opened. Grace shoved her nose into Megan’s palm, nudging underneath it in request for pets. Tyler loosened his hold, rubbing her arms, then her back, breathing soothing words to Megan.
“That’s it. See, she’s a good girl, aren’t you, Grace?” Tyler rubbed the dog’s ears with his free hand, the other one sliding up and down Megan’s warm back, making his hand tingle and burn.
Being that close to Megan was the sweetest torture he had ever experienced, and one he didn’t want to end. By the time Frank knocked on the door and opened it, Grace had settled herself against Megan’s side, and Megan had stopped trembling and petted her without support.
“Well, it’s time for my lunch break. You’ve made up your mind?” Frank asked.
Tyler glanced at Krista. “Well?”
“I think she’s perfect,” Krista said, hope welling in her eyes, eyes that he noticed weren’t lined with heavy makeup, making them look even more like her mom’s. “Aren’t you?” She turned back to Grace. “You want to come home with us, I mean…” She flicked fearful eyes up to him before keeping them averted and focused on the dog.
Tyler met Megan’s eyes, eyes that held so many different emotions he almost had to pull away his gaze. She gave him a slight nod. He searched her gaze, then watched Krista nuzzle into Grace again.
“I think we found the one, Frank,” Tyler said, slowly coming to a rise and holding out a hand to help Megan up with him.
“Great! I’ll tell Carla to draw up the paperwork. Then I’ll gather up Grace’s things and meet you in the lobby.” He handed Tyler a leash before disappearing.
“Krista, do you want the honor?” Tyler handed the leash to his niece.
She beamed at him, taking the leash and clipping it to Grace’s collar. “You’re free, Gracey! You have a home!” Krista’s lips quivered a little, but she turned her face away from him and walked Grace toward the lobby.
“She’s getting attached,” Megan said, her tone lined with sadness.
“Well, she’s a sweet dog,” Tyler said, brushing off his pants.
“I didn’t mean to Grace,” Megan said, walking off after Krista.
Tyler froze as realization sunk heavily in his guts. It was time to make a choice. He had no right to give the girl false hope…if he… He squeezed his fists together. That girl deserved more than him. She deserved a full family, but as she turned back to meet his eyes before going into the lobby, he knew what it came down to. She was his, and he was hers.
As she disappeared into the room, Megan’s eyes came into his view, and his heart clenched all the more. Could he really hope for the complete package, for them both, for something he not only didn’t deserve but could become a liability to them all?
Frank shuffled past, his hands full of a feeding dish, a dog bed, and toys. “Still battling indecision?”
Tyler rolled his shoulders, realizing he stood frozen in place.
“Take it from me, son. With women like that, you don’t get a choice. They make it for you. It’s best if you learn that now. It will make your life much easier.” Frank chuckled.
Tyler rushed to open the door for the man, but his words of advice filtered through his senses as he saw both Megan and Krista loving on his new dog, Grace. Maybe Frank had given him the answer he’d been needing.