Page 1 of A Touch of Cowboy

Chapter One

AveryStinsonlovedherlife. She might occasionally find the long nights a little lonely, but her busy days and active circle of friends more than made up for the feelings that crept in when she found herself with only her dog, Rex, for company.

She eyed her pooch.

He eyed her back. Then he leapt on her lap. Before she could react, he licked her cheek.

“Naughty dog. You’re not supposed to jump up without permission. You’re not supposed to give kisses without permission.”

Rex gave her the same baleful look he always did when she reprimanded him—no matter how gently. He was a damned smart dog. He knew the rules. He also knew when he could bend and break them.

She was a sucker. And her dog was so far from the animal she’d rescued from the shelter three years ago that the odd times he didn’t do what he was told were okay because he was so much more affectionate. Less scared. Less nervous. It’d taken more than a year of training with Torah before Rex really started to come out of his shell.

“Down.”

Rex obeyed.

“Sometimes you behave.”

The English cream lab mix cocked his head.

Avery petted his head, scratching his silky ears in the way that made his eyes drift shut in ecstasy. “Okay, Jean is next up. She likes you, but you still have to wait for permission before joining her on the couch.”

Rex wasn’t a therapy dog. Or a comfort dog. Not for lack of trying. Torah had tried to get him up to speed so he could pass the test, but his odd fear of random strangers just made him too unpredictable.

Avery’s boss, Kennedy, allowed her to bring Rex to work on days when all her clients were okay with having the pooch around. And he did offer comfort to some of them. Other clients would merely acknowledge him, and then he’d go hang out in his bed in the corner of Avery’s sunny office.

Healing Horses Ranch was truly a wonderful place to practice counselling. Avery’d come here after several years of working in the trenches with social services, and a bad incident led her to conclude she wasn’t cut out for the grind of government work. She’d brought her counselling degree with her when Kennedy opened the ranch more than half-a-dozen years ago. Hard to believe so much time had passed.

“Stay.” She rose, eyeing Rex.

He sat, fully compliant.

She didn’t miss the gleam in his eye. She opened the door of her office.

Rex bolted.

“Hey.” After rolling her eyes, she followed the pooch’s path to the main reception area.

The two-story room with its soaring wood beam ceilings had plenty of comfy sitting areas for clients waiting to see their counsellors.

Four full-time therapists, including herself, and a part-time psychiatrist were on the staff.

To her horror, Rex barrelled into the room and took a flying leap.

Graceful, he was not. He landed on the newcomer’s chest, forcing air from the man’s lungs.

“Rex.”

Even her most-admonishing tone didn’t deter her dog as he proceeded to lick the poor man’s cheek incessantly.

“Rex.”

A chuckle emanated from the man. “It’s all right. I don’t mind.” He stroked Rex’s shiny, light-brown coat. “Lab?”

“Some mix of. A rescue,” she offered. As if that would somehow excuse her beast’s behavior.

“Oh, those are the best.”

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