Page 24 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

“Jaxson did crawl inside that awful place, I heard. What if he had found something alive that could have bitten him? He knew there was that chance and went in, anyway. I’m thinking that is because you were probably in tears and he didn’t want you to be so upset. And the fact that, whether you want to believe it or not, the man does have a heart inside that chest that I have seen as pretty darn big now and then. I think this is just another thing you want to hold up between the two of you and the fact you don’t want to see his positives.”

Laurel shook her head and contemplated leaving the water. “Don’t you go preaching the great points about the man. And lecturing me on them.”

“He didn’t have to drive to Abilene and check on the pup. He could have called or had someone do it for him. He got up a whole hour earlier in a day that is already too long, but he did it because it was important to you that the pup survive. He made sure the vet knew that no matter what was needed, he was to do it. But no one needed to share that with you. I overheard his phone conversation in the office. So, seems to me that if he wants to give the little one a good name, that’s the least you can allow for his role in saving him.”

“Jaxson thinks he needs to keep the pup because he says I am going to get on a plane and abandon him. He was willing to bet on it... a realbet. He won’t believe me.”

“Hmmm, I can certainly see that point too. How many times have we had to say goodbye to you after begging you to not go? But you did leave each time. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism for him. He watched you leave one too many times. You told him you weren’t interested and he should move on. And now he seems to have finally gotten that message. He can protect his feelings with the rest of us. I’m just saying you can be super-stubborn at times, and that often has gotten you into deep water before you admitted it. Give the guy a break. You’re building your dream here and you’re going to be a bride in the very near future, so lighten up and be nicer to the man. You both are godparents to this little one I’m carrying, and I need you to form a solid front to watch over him or her if we can’t. Got it?”

A lot of what her sister said was true. Laurel was stubborn, and she owned that. Sammi Jo was right about more than one thing. She could live with the name of the pup. She should be happy that Jaxson had been willing to stop and do what he did to save the dog, to give it a chance to survive. Who was she to say that he had no right to those things? And why did she act like such a shrew?

She couldn’t blame him for giving her a wide berth. She hadn’t given him any reason to trust otherwise. He hadn’t seen what she had carved out career-wise for herself. How hard it was to be an outsider and a female daring to show the big boys at the studios she could come to their table and actually do better than many of them could. Sean had put his career and reputation on the line more than once in the beginning of their friendship to help open the doors wider for her, and she owed him for that. She and CeeCee had commiserated with each other for many hours over their dreams and failures until they were able to see their tenacity began to turn those tables. They were a mini-support system that got them all through rough times.

As for Jaxson, she came home less often, but when she did, they always seemed to take up where they left off, sparring and not seeing eye to eye on many things. But why had things changed? Why did it matter so much that he had moved on with a person like Arabella or could have an interest in CeeCee? Maybe he had gotten her message finally and shouldn’t she be glad about that? Perhaps he had his fill of being treated in such a way by her? Maybe it was because he was that decent guy that everyone sang his praises about, and he was respecting her wishes. Respecting the fact that she had come home with a fiancé in tow.

What would she have him do? Fight for her? He had fought. And that was a glaring fact that hit her full force. For years, he had done everything but beg her to stay. Jaxson wasn’t a man to beg for anything. But he had spoken up and put his heart on the line, and she had brushed it away. By coming home without warning and announcing her plans, then participating in a fake wedding scenario to make a special moment for CeeCee and Sean, she had turned it into a bittersweet one for her family and even worse for Jaxson.

Laurel took the blinders off. She had made a real mess of everything. What was she to do next?

*

“Dogs are notmy thing, sweetheart. I think I’m even allergic to them.” Sean shook his head as he stood in the hallway the next morning. They had finished breakfast, and Laurel was excited because the vet had called and left word that the pup was ready to be released that day. She had told Sean that they needed to make a slight detour to pick up the new member of the family.

“This is news to me. I remember you did just fine with Anna Stroble’s three corgis when you were trying to lure her into signing on to your last movie. They stayed in your condo, living the life, for six weeks. Of course, then she turned you down for that sci-fi flick. Didn’t notice your allergies then.”

“They’re new after such an experience, and why are you taking on a mongrel? Why not one of those cute little designer dogs everyone’s saying is the rage? Who is going to take care of it while you’re busy on our project?”

“I am. People bring their kids to work with them, and some do the same with their pets. I will teach him to be my shadow, and he won’t be any bother at all. But I need to go pick him up and grab things he needs, like food and a bed and collar.”

“Good luck. I will be in our makeshift office with CeeCee and the contractors. We’ll expect you after you finish playing out your motherly instincts. Don’t forget to get several hair and lint brushes for that dog’s hair to keep it off things.” That was his parting shot.

Laurel had run out of possible people to go along. Lacy was volunteering at a day camp for children with disabilities, Sammi Jo was tied up with mounds of tax paperwork getting ready for a meeting with her accountants, and that had left Sean. Why did she need anyone? She was used to handling things on her own, so this would be no different. Grabbing her keys to Sammi Jo’s SUV and a straw hat, she headed out.

When the vet walked into the room with the squirming pup, she couldn’t believe the change. They had obviously cleaned up his fur and now she could see that he was a patchwork of browns and grays and blacks, with some white thrown in for good measure. The whiskers looked even longer. And one ear stood in perfect erection while the other one preferred to be in a perpetual droop. His stub of a tail was just that—a stub of short white hair.

“Aren’t you something? You are so handsome!” The vet transferred him into her arms, and it was as if a light switch had been turned on. He was a squirming, shaking live wire. The bright pink tongue was reaching upward to land wet licks on Laurel’s chin, causing her to laugh and fall even more in love with the pup.

“I admit I had little hope for his survival, but he has a lot of spunk and determination to survive. And he is one lucky little guy having a great chance at a good forever home now.”

Laurel thanked the man and they walked to the front desk. The receptionist handed over the necessary tags Laurel would put on the new collar she would pick up after Lacy came home and could watch the pup long enough for her to run into Burkitt and buy the necessities.

The day was sunny, but it hadn’t heated to unbearable yet and there was a steady wind, so Laurel rolled down the windows on the truck and turned on a country station. The pup joined her in the vocals on the Shania Twain tune, followed by Miranda Lambert. Neither of them was going to make a career of it in the music world, but that didn’t matter. Laurel caught a glimpse of herself in the rearview mirror.

Was that her? Her hair had grown a bit longer, it wasn’t perfectly coifed into its usually sleek bob, and her makeup was just a light dusting with pale-coral lipstick. Cowgirl boots with entwined yellow roses on their shafts, jeans, a white gauze shirt over a camisole with her chunky gold ear loops, and she looked like a country girl. Well, as country as she was probably going to get at this point. And she liked it.

She liked itall—the landscape, the small-town atmosphere with its interesting and often eclectic mix of good people who made sure to let her know they were glad she had come home. And they hoped she’d stay, but it was a theme even with them. Granted, they didn’t put it in the same way Jaxson did, but they had doubts, and she couldn’t blame them.

But she would prove to all of them that she had tossed her last suitcase on that jet, unless she needed to fly back to pick up another one of those little gold dudes—that would be an exception. She smiled at that. There was a challenge ahead, so many unknown variables to success, but she thrived on those. And that kept the smile on her face as she pulled up in front of the house and lifted her new friend out. As they approached the porch steps, she slowed until she came to a full stop.

On the bottom step was a wicker basket. It had a big blue bow with white paw prints stamped along the ribbons. There was another ribbon with the words,Welcome home, Lucky. She was confused. Only she and Lacy knew what she had decided was the best name for the pup. She didn’t think Lacy would have had time to make something like this happen.

Laurel knelt down. “Let’s see what all you have gotten. It’s quite a haul, little one. You have a cool blue leather collar and a matching walking leash. Hairbrush, shampoo, a blanket, and some treats.”

“I figured the wicker basket would be a good bed for him until he got a bit bigger and you’d probably want to pick out a bigger, better bed for him. Unless he can use his charms and con his way into sharing your bed. I think he’s smart enough to figure out how to do that.”

Jaxson had materialized in his usual stealthy manner. For some reason, her pulse decided to do jumping jacks, and she tried to use a couple of deep breaths to gain control as she stood.

“You did this? How did you know I was keeping that name? I was thinking about the one you chose, and maybe it was better and—” Jaxson raised his palm, stopping her. Why did she have to ramble in front of him?

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