Page 60 of High Intensity

“These dogs certainly perked up,” I point out.

“They did, didn’t they? It’s amazing what a whiff of cool outside air and a good run in the snow will do.” She puts a hand on my arm. “Did you get done what you needed to do?”

All I did was talk to Jonas about my schedule and Ama about dinner tonight. Things are pretty slow at the ranch right now and, unless we get called out on a search, taking some personaltime is not an issue, according to Jonas. Ama was already aware of the extra guest at the ranch and accounted for it in her planning of dinner, so that wasn’t a problem either.

“I did. I got tomorrow off and was going to suggest heading to Kalispell. Maybe checking in on Mom at Wellspring? We could take Peanut, and I’m sure Jackson would be happy to have the other two hang out with him.”

At least I’m hoping he will be. Since Jillian first arrived here, we’ve been trying to get Jackson—who suffers from PTSD—to let her find him a good emotional support dog, but so far he’s been a bit resistant. Maybe looking after Jillian’s two will open him up to the idea.

She glances at Emo and Murphy before turning those pretty green eyes back to me.

“Happy? That doesn’t exactly sound like Jackson. You wouldn’t be manipulating the situation now, would you?”

I point my index finger at myself. “Me? Manipulate? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She grabs the front of my coat and pulls herself up on her toes, laughing in my face.

“You’re an awful liar, but I appreciate the effort.”

I slip my arms around her waist to hold her in place and drop my head so I can kiss the grin off her face. As every time my lips taste hers, the world disappears, and I don’t even realize we’re standing out in the open until a sharp whistle pierces the air.

When I look up, I see Thomas standing at the edge of the porch, hollering.

“Do I gotta put the hose on y’all?”

Eighteen

Jillian

“We may need to postpone the trip to Kalispell.”

I glance up from the amazing breakfast spread Ama put out in the kitchen.

She’d cooked dinner last night as well, which was scrumptious, so when Wolff suggested going to the main house for breakfast after finding only a stale box of cereal and a quarter gallon of questionable milk in his cabin, I was on board.

“Why?”

Wolff braces a hand on the kitchen island and leans in.

“Doc called. She’s on her way here to check in on an injured horse and may have your pups in her truck.”

The pressure balloon I’ve carried around in my chest these past few days pops, and all the worry for Hunter and Nugget drains in the form of unexpected tears. I’d wanted to go see them so badly, but recognized that probably wouldn’t be smart, not only exposing myself but possibly drawing unwanted attention to Janey Richards. As hard as it was to stay away, I wasn’t going to take that risk.

“Nice going, Lucas,” Jonas’s father grumbles when he shuffles into the kitchen. “What’d I tell you?”

Embarrassed, I hide my face in a napkin.

“Ease up, old man,” Ama jumps to Wolff’s defense. “I believe those are happy tears.”

I lower the napkin to find Thomas intensely staring across the kitchen island at me.

“They are,” I confirm.

He turns his attention back to Wolff. “Well, in that case, well done, son.”

“More coffee?” Wolff asks me, pointedly ignoring the older man.

“Please.”

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