Page 14 of Downpour

Silence for miles. No engines. No voices. No car horns. Nothing.

The trees rustled as a gentle breeze danced across the yard. The house was picturesque. Neatly edged flower beds werecovered in dark mulch. The house had a star on the side, matching the one on the house at the front of the property.

I really should have walked around to try to find the client Peggy had assigned me, but the sun felt too good. I plopped down on the front step and took it all in. Today was the perfect day to stop and smell the roses.

The scrape of hooves made me look up from the plant on my lap. The cow with pool noodles on his horns sauntered up the drive and gave me a curious look.

“Oh, hello again.” I couldn’t help but smile at the pool noodles. “Are you friendly? You look friendly. Can I pet you?”

As if he understood me, the cow eased up and settled down in front of the steps. His head was heavy against my leg.

“Well, aren’t you just the sweetest thing?” I smoothed my hand down his nose. “What’s your name, handsome boy?”

He let out a soft grunt and promptly fell asleep right then and there.

“That settles it,” I said as I scratched beneath his copper-colored chin. “I’ll just wait here until they get home.”

It was common law that if an animal laid on you, you were to be their bed until they deemed it time to get up. I shuffled my things to the side so his head could take up full residency on my lap.

A rumble like thunder started low in the distance. The growl of the engine grew closer and closer until I spotted the nose of the truck poking through the opening in the trees.

The cow didn’t stir. Poor guy must’ve been tuckered out.

A heavyset man with a thick beard leaned out of the driver’s side window as he navigated the curving driveway. Two other people were in the truck, but the glare from the sun obscured them from view.

I nudged the cow. “Hey, fella. I need to get up now.”

It didn’t even open an eye.

The truck came to a stop five feet from my knees, and the door opened.

“Hello!” I said, waving at the driver.

His hair was tied back in a neat bun, though most of it was hidden beneath his cowboy hat. Brown boots scraped against the paved driveway.

“Ma’am,” he said with a nod.

The passenger’s side door opened, and a woman stepped out. She took one look at me and raised an eyebrow. “Who are you?”

Oh my god, she was hot. And scary.

“Who? Me?” I clarified.

She rolled her eyes. “No, I meant Mickey. Of course, I mean you.”

At the mention of his name, the cow—Mickey—lifted his head and looked at the woman.

“Get lost,” she shooed.

“Cass,” the cowboy said as a warning as he reached into the bed of the truck and lifted a wheelchair out.

I scrambled to grab the plastic gas station bag and my plant as the cow heaved himself back to his feet.

“Bye, Mickey.” I patted his back as he wandered off. “Thanks for the snuggles.”

The cowboy set the wheelchair on the ground. His body was hidden behind the back door as he reached in to help the third person from the truck.

“Who are you?” the woman asked sharply.

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