Page 15 of The Texas Cowboy's Lady

“Jaxson, what have you found? What’s the problem? Are you okay?”

Stubborn woman! She couldn’t listen and follow instructions. “I’m coming out. It’s okay.”

He made a quick survey of the area and found no sign of any other puppy or their mother. He wouldn’t venture on what might have happened had there been others. The pup had to have been there in the hot ditch for a couple of days. Jaxson made his way back to the opening. Laurel was standing a few feet away, anxiousness evident in her body and eyes that implored an answer.

“It’s a puppy. And he is in pretty bad shape.”

“Oh no. Oh, hand him to me. We’ve got to get help. Let’s go. Doc Andrews is the closest. We can call him on the way.” She wasn’t waiting for his response or input but was already moving quickly back up the side of the ditch and toward the truck. “Hurry! You said we don’t have time to waste. Let’s go.”

Jaxson secured the rifle, then turned the truck around, heading it toward Abilene on the fastest route possible. He hit the button programmed with the vet’s number. It was only a few minutes before they were filling the vet in on what they were heading his way with. He assured them he would be waiting.

Laurel had taken off the helmet and lined it with one of Jaxson’s bandanas from the back seat to make it softer. She also took a bottle of water from the small cooler Jaxson kept on hand for the workday. She placed droplets inside the pup’s mouth. Too much water would be worse than too little. But they needed to buy as much time for the little one as she could. The pup lay still inside, and she was using two fingers to rub gently across the little body, using soft murmurs of encouragement as she did so. Jaxson tightened his grip on the wheel. The pup had bad odds against survival, and given Laurel’s soft heart with animals, it would crush her. If only he had taken a different road when they left the job site. But it wasn’t any use wishing that now.

“How did this baby get left out here in the middle of nowhere? Do you think its mother had her litter in that culvert?”

“Something like that. People still drive out along some country road and dump their problems on others’ hands. There aren’t many happy endings when an animal gets dumped. No luck for most of them.”

“But this little one will be one, a lucky one. In fact, I’ll call him Lucky.”

“Please don’t go getting too attached. He’s in pretty bad shape, Laurel. You’re setting yourself up to be heartbroken.”

“Stop that, Jaxson.” She turned her attention on him, and her gaze cornered his. “I know the odds are against him. But there is still a chance, no matter how little. Where there is one who believes, that’s better than none. He’s got us on his side now. So, move it faster.”

“Yes, ma’am. Faster, it is.”

*

Jaxson was awarethat his companion in the front seat was more upset than she was letting on after Doc Andrews had not been hopeful about saving the puppy. Memories of other critters over the years and her too-soft heart came back from his memory bank. While the youngsters on the ranch, and that included Sammi Jo, showed cattle and hogs they had raised from babies to earn funds for college and more, Laurel had refused. Because she could not stand to see them go off to the slaughterhouse after they had been auctioned off for that money. She refused to harm something she had raised and given her heart to.

Perhaps the slick Hollywood version of recent years had glossed over that young girl in his memories, and he’d never really given consideration to the idea that under those shiny layers, that other Laurel might be still lurking in the shadows. How that made him feel in that moment was hard to explain and surprised him at the same time. He had written her off as lost to her Texas roots. But maybe he might have misjudged. And that made him take another turn around the downtown square and pull into a parking space at the little group of food trucks on a side street.

Laurel roused from her silent regard outside her window. “What is all this? There are actually food trucks here? You are stepping up in the world?”

“We do have our moments. My stomach is telling me I need some of Teresa’s Tempting Tamales. They are their own food group. Come on, city girl. I’ll even treat.” He shot her a grin as he unbuckled his seat belt and opened the door.

For once, she gave no argument or comeback.

“You pick out a good shady spot for us, and I’ll get the food.” Jaxson stepped up to the order window.

It wasn’t long before he approached a waiting Laurel with a tray loaded with food with an aroma that was definitely an enticement to stop and try the fare.

“I got the mixed plate for you so you can sample not only one of Teresa’s great tamales, but you have her fajita beef burrito, her frijoles, and her grandmother’s rice. I got bottled water and a sweet tea, just in case you haven’t totally given up the Texas tea habit for fancy water. But you might want both once you get into some of the spicy goodness.” He sat the plate in front of her, and she slowly looked from her plate across the small picnic table to his much larger platter.

“Don’t judge. Working cowboys need a hearty meal.” He was already rolling up one of the flour tortillas and taking a bite.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She tasted the burrito first. “Wow! This is amazing. No joke. If they had this little food truck in LA, with this great tasting food, she’d have it made.”

“I’m sure she is quite happy right where she is.”

“And thanks to her and her cooking, I know where to find you when my cell phone can’t.” The speaker approached their table with a wide smile on her face, arms outstretched to slide with familiar ease around Jaxson’s waist as he hastily rose to greet her. His arms engulfed her in a welcome that caught Laurel off guard.

“Trust her to keep an eye on me. And sorry about my manners.” Jaxson lessened his hold on the woman, but she stayed at his side, her gaze falling on Laurel. “Laurel Burkitt, let me introduce Arabella Cavazos. Arabella’s aunt is the awesome Teresa who produces this great food.”

*

Jaxson’s grin waswider than Laurel had seen it in a very long time.

Arabella.The Arabella.The woman who had lured him away from their welcome-home dinner when she and Sean had first arrived. She was diminutive in comparison to Jaxson’s tall figure, but quite beautiful. Long, raven-black hair hung past her waist in a shining straight mass. She had curves that were shown off in the tight jeans she wore, knee-high red cowboy boots, and a bright-white peasant top that set off her golden skin. Flashing black eyes were outlined by long lashes that Laurel gauged to be real, much to her chagrin.

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