The Heart of a Cowboy

“Chloe named it after a character in one of her favorite movies.”

Before she could stop herself, she glanced toward Garrett and found him watching her. Even looking as if he’d been dumped in the lake, he still took her breath away. For a moment she forgot what she’d been about to say. It took forcing herself to break eye contact to get her brain functioning again. “The movie Penelope?”

“Yeah. She’s probably seen that movie a hundred times.”

“It’s a good one.” In fact, it was one of Natalie’s favorites, too. But instead of making her happy that she and her childhood friend still obviously had things in common, a heavy sadness welled up in her. She’d missed so much of Chloe’s life, so many adventures they might have had together if her father had simply not gotten in his car that night.

She shoved away that thought because she needed to concentrate on her task. When she finally finished, she caressed the side of Penelope’s face and scratched between her ears. “Good girl. You’ve had a rough night, huh?”

Seemingly calmer than she’d been since Natalie arrived, Penelope turned her head and nuzzled Natalie’s face.

“Well, wonders never cease.”

Natalie glanced toward the stall’s door and saw Garrett’s dad standing there with his forearms propped along the top of the door. Her heart ached in her chest. He looked so much older than she remembered. Even though that made perfect sense, the realization also made her sad.

When he looked at her and smiled, she had to fight tears.

“When Garrett told me you were in town and you were a vet, I couldn’t believe it.” He shook his head slowly. “You’re not that little girl I remember.”

She made herself smile back. “Not for a long time.”

“Lot’s changed since those days.” He nodded toward Penelope. “Looks like you could give Dr. Franklin a run for his money.”

“So he’s really still the vet here?”

“Yep.”

As she packed up her supplies, she couldn’t help a small smile, a real one this time. She had fond memories of Dr. Franklin, of helping out around his vet practice when her mom had volunteered there one day a week. Those hours spent watching him take care of sick animals had been what set her on the path to becoming a veterinarian herself.

She put the brakes on the trip down memory lane and slipped out of the stall, Garrett right behind her.

“After this night, we all need a big slice of pie,” Garrett’s dad said.

“That’s okay. I’ll just be going.” She needed to get away from the ranch, from the memories, from the way her pulse sped up every time she made eye contact with Garrett. Hell, every time she was within sight of him. It wasn’t helping that with his clothes plastered to his skin, she could see every well-defined muscle and wanted to skim her hands over them.

Mr. Brody patted her on the shoulder. “I insist. Someone has to save me from Linnea’s baking.”

She glanced at Garrett.

“Owen’s new wife,” he said. “She really likes to bake when she’s nervous.”

“And these last few days leading up to the wedding, she’s been going through sugar like we operate a sugar cane plantation instead of a cattle ranch.” Mr. Brody chuckled. “Not that I’m complaining.” He patted his middle. “But the girl is going to make me fat.”