“What’s his name?”
“Rebel.”
“Does he act like one?”
“Too often,” Dylan answered dryly.
She stroked Rebel’s head, even though he kept throwing it like he was impatient. “What is he?”
“Thoroughbred. He must have sucked on the track since he ended up at the New Holland auction.”
“Where you swooped in like a hero to rescue him?”
“I can only hope I saved him from ending up in a bag.”
She brushed her fingers over his velvety-soft nose. “A bag?”
“Of dog food.”
Erin grimaced. “Has he thanked you yet?”
“Sure. By bucking my ass off when he decided an evergreen looked like Sasquatch.”
Erin rolled her lips under.
“You can laugh,” Dylan invited.
She covered her mouth with her hand. “I shouldn’t.”
“I missed your laugh,” Dylan murmured.
Erin dropped her hand, her amusement now gone.
But before she could address his comment, a chunky black cat came out of nowhere to weave around Erin’s ankles, head butt her shins and meow loudly for attention. “Another rescue?”
Dylan shook his head. “Not that one. She was one of my father’s barn cats.”
Erin squatted down and scratched her under the chin. “What’s her name?”
“Cat.”
Erin glanced up with a frown. She knew it was a cat. “Yes, but what’s the cat’s name?”
“Cat.”
It finally hit her… “The cat’s name is Cat?”
“Every barn cat’s name was Cat. Dad didn’t consider them pets, they were employed as rodent catchers.”
After running her hand down the feline’s arched back one last time, she stood. “Makes sense.”
“Sure, if you think so.”
“You don’t?”
Dylan shrugged.
“Then, give her a better name,” she suggested.