Page 55 of Mountain Rescue
“Hmm.”
What was that hmm for? What he was planning really was awesome, and she couldn’t imagine how satisfying it would be to be involved in something like Operation Warriors Center.
“Dallas already knows this, but I want to also include equine therapy in what we’re offering. I’ve been hearing good things about it. Problem is, I need the right horses for something like that, and all I know about horses is that you can ride them.” Jack eyed Dallas. “You know horses, and I want you to find me some that will suit our needs. I have a couple of places in the area you two can check out.”
“Oh, I’d like that,” Rachel said.
“You ever ride?” Dallas would enjoy an afternoon of riding with her.
She nodded. “I had to fall off once for a stunt. In order to fall off, I had to learn how to ride a galloping horse. It was fun.”
Of course she’d think that was fun. “We’ll go tomorrow.”
Noah showed up with Lucky trotting along beside him. “Dudes and dudette, what’s happening?”
“I’m sending Dallas and Rachel out horse hunting,” Jack said. “We get the okay to start construction on the lodge?”
“Affirmative. The contractor will have his men here on Monday to start.” He bumped Dallas’s shoulder. “Sure am glad you’re here to do that. I was afraid it was going to be my job, and I don’t know a horse from a donkey.”
“Oh, hell, he’s going to sing,” Dallas said, seeing that mischievous gleam that always appeared in Noah’s eyes when he was about to come up with a song for the occasion. And sure enough, he sang a song about riding a donkey to the honky tonky.
“He’s weird,” Dallas told Rachel when Noah finished the song. “Never bet against him that he can’t come up with a song that fits whatever you’re talking about.”
She laughed. “That’s a great talent to have. I actually know that one. It’s ‘Donkey’ by Jerrod Niemann.”
“Give the lady a prize.” Noah glanced at Lucky, who had his front legs flat on the ground and butt in the air, tail wagging, trying to get Bella’s attention. Bella had her face buried against Dallas’s leg. “I know she’s pretty, buddy, but she obviously has no interest in you.” He snapped his fingers. “Leave her alone.”
Rachel had to smile at the disappointed expression on Lucky’s face as he came to Noah’s side. “Aww, it sucks to be rejected, doesn’t it, Lucky?” At hearing his name, his ears perked up, and he trotted over to her. “I think Bella’s just playing hard to get,” she stage-whispered to him. “She’s also very shy, so don’t give up.”
“You tell them about Saturday morning pancakes?” Noah asked Jack.
“Not yet.”
“We get together on Saturday mornings for pancakes,” Noah said. “Jack’s grandmother and Dirty Mary join us, and—”
“Dirty Mary?” That sounded to her like a rude thing to call someone.
Jack rolled his eyes. “My grandmother’s friend, and her pals at assisted living nicknamed her that. You’ll see why Saturday.”
“And she’s okay with that?”
He nodded. “Actually, she loves the name and does her best to live up to it.”
“She’s a hoot,” Noah looked at Dallas and grinned. “She’s in her eighties and harmless...mostly. Just keep your ass away from her grabby hands, and you’ll be fine.”
Rachel decided she couldn’t wait to meet Dirty Mary with the grabby hands. She’d miss seeing her friend, though. “Nichole make it to Florida okay?”
“No, she did not,” Jack said. “Stubborn woman refused to go. We did come to a compromise. She’s staying at her brother’s house until Hargrove isn’t a threat.” He frowned. “Mark’s name and address isn’t in your contacts, is it?”
“No.”
“Okay, good.”
The only names from here in her contacts were Jack and Nichole’s. She’d never forgive herself if something happened to any one of them. “I... I need to go.”
Chapter Sixteen
Dallas leaned against the bedroom doorframe as Rachel threw things in her suitcase. “What are you doing?” She’d been fine back at Operation K-9 Brothers one minute, and in the next, all the color had drained from her face.
