Page 25 of Refuge

“Other than the horse poop, I like it.” Sherry pulled the now empty bottle out of the calf’s mouth, making a loud popping sound. “What about you?”

“I mean, for the first day, it’s okay, but honestly, I’d rather be working with the wolves, but I need to make a paycheck,” Leeza replied with a long sigh.

“I don’t know.” Sherry shrugged, then looked around and whispered, “I guess we deal with wolves all the time, and I am one. It’s kinda nice to deal with different animals.”

“True.” Leeza pulled the bottle out of the still hungry calf’s mouth and laughed when it still made sucking noises. “Oh, Lord, they are cute though.”

“Smelly, but cute.” Sherry laughed.

Charlie walked into the large barn to check on them. “You all finished?”

“Well, I think they’d take another bottle or four.” Leeza grinned, patting the calf on the head. “But yeah, we’re finished.”

He looked at his watch before glancing around. “I know it’s early, but that’s all I have for you today. Mr. Cutter will be back tomorrow, so we’ll have more for you to do.” He took the empty bottle from Leeza and then Sherry. “Thank you, ladies. You’re free to go. Just make sure you keep track of your time.”

“Thanks.” Sherry blushed when he tipped his cowboy hat to her. He was an older man, but nice-looking and had that cowboy gentleman quality about him that would make any girl blush.

“Oh, sir,” Leeza called out before he could disappear.

“Charlie,” he corrected her, then waited for her to continue.

“Sorry. Charlie, is there any way we can start an hour later tomorrow? I’ve been taking care of one of the wolf-dogs, and I really don’t want to stop.” Leeza hoped it would be okay. She had been so excited about getting a job that she totally didn’t realize that in order to be at work early meant she couldn’t work with Ari, and that didn’t sit well with her.

He thought for a moment, then nodded. “Tomorrow is okay to start at eight, but make sure you talk to Mr. Cutter if you want to make it permanent. I don’t make those kinds of decisions, but since he’s not here, I’ll let him know you talked to me about it and I told you it was fine.”

“I really appreciate it. Thank you,” Leeza replied, then felt her own blush when he tipped his hat at her. Once he was gone, she looked at Sherry. “What the hell is it about a man in a cowboy hat?”

Sherry laughed, shaking her head. “I have no idea, but every time one of them tipped their hat, my face burned. Even that old man who helped us with the horse.”

Rushing to Cole’s truck, they hopped in and took off. They were only getting off half an hour early, but Leeza needed to get a shower, and bad. She glanced over to see Sherry smelling herself.

“Yeah, we stink.” Leeza laughed. “Hopefully Gemma will be generous and let us use her shower.”

“Dibs!” Sherry yelled, scaring the crap out of her and making her swerve.

“What?” Leeza righted the truck. Cole would freak if she wrecked his truck on her first time driving it.

“Dibs.” Sherry grinned. “Means I called shower first.”

“Oh, so we’re playing that way, are we?” Leeza gave her a sideways glare.

“When I smell this bad, then yes, we are,” Sherry shot back, then gazed out the window.

Throughout the day, Leeza had noticed Sherry’s mood swings. One minute she was happy and laughing, the next she was staring off with a haunted look in her eyes. She understood, but it was sad to see someone her age going through a trauma like that. She didn’t want to push Sherry to see a professional, but she was going to follow up with Gemma to see how soon Sherry could get in to see someone. She knew Sherry didn’t have insurance, because shifters really didn’t need it. Human medication didn’t work on them; they rarely got sick unless it was an infection and usually they could shift. Unfortunately, with her brother that hadn’t been the case. Sadness seeped into her heart, and she wondered if maybe she should make an appointment herself.

Pulling into the sanctuary, a sense of home washed over her, and it felt good. Leeza searched for Cole as she turned off the ignition and was disappointed when she didn’t see him. Hell, what did she expect? Him standing there, waiting for her return? Rolling her eyes, she shoved the door open with her shoulder and jumped out of the truck running into something very hard. Looking up, her stomach flipped, and her heart sped up at an alarming rate. He was waiting for her.

“Hey.” She smiled up at him, but then frowned when he took a step back instead of taking her in his strong arms. “What?”

“Honey, I really hate to say this but you… smell.” Cole scrunching up his face made her laugh.

Faking outrage, she formed her mouth into a hurt pout. “That’s all you have to say to me after not seeing me all day?” She finished that off with what she hoped looked like a devastated stare, before turning to walk away.

She yelped when he grabbed her, turned her around and took her in his arms, landing a sensual kiss on her lips. After a few seconds, she grinned against his mouth.

He pulled away, giving her a glare. “That really didn’t hurt your feelings, did it?”

“Nope.” She laughed at his expression. “I do stink of horses, horse shit, and cattle though. I can hardly stand myself. But Sherry called dibs on the shower first, so I have to wait. You’ll just have to put up with my stinky self for a while longer.”

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