Page 2 of New in Town

“Ninety bucks.”

“Sold.”

A warning bell flairs in his mind that he’s been standing here for too long. But he knows that number is unusually low, so he brings his focus back to the discussion. “And there’s nothing wrong with her? With you willing to sell her for that much?”

The man shakes his head as he holds her out to Grey. A small yawn escapes the animal as she blinks up at him, and he knows in this moment that he’s taking this dog, healthy or otherwise.

Besides, his pulse is quickening from spending so much time idly talking to a stranger instead of continuing his escape. Above all, he hates feeling trapped. He prefers to be on the move and in the open.

Without wanting to do any more talking, he hands the money over and wraps the puppy up in the crook of his arm. Tipping his Stetson to the man in thanks, he continues to his truck. He’s determined to hit no other delays on his way back to the ranch.

Moving at a fast clip, his thoughts are moving faster. He wonders about everything he’s going to need for his new dog, and which of those things he needs to get tonight. After making a mental list, he knows he’ll also need to get her to the vet sooner rather than later. Especially based on the circumstance of his acquiring the animal. First thing in the morning he’ll call the local vet in Sterling Ridge, he determines, now in the parking lot.

Upon reaching his truck, he looks down to find the puppy in his arms fast asleep. It has been only minutes, but the small snore confirms that she is out cold. He rummages around in the large toolbox mounted in the bed until he finds the spare saddle blanket he’s searching for. Laying it across the passenger seat, he deposits the small pup onto it.

As he climbs in the driver’s seat, he glances over at his new pet. He shakes his head at himself because this is one of the more impulsive things he’s done. Apparently, Sam was right, he couldn’t leave empty handed.

He wonders how Brett will react when he returns home with a dog. Realistically, Brett’s fiancée Laurel will be thrilled upon seeing the puppy, and Brett will be thrilled to see her happy. That’s how it's been since she first showed up at the ranch, and Grey can’t help but feel envious of his closest friend. He got to witness the whole thing unfold firsthand, from Laurel’s arrival to the way Brett opened up to keep her in his life. He is infinitely happy for them, all the while wondering if he’ll ever find his person.

Starting the truck and turning up his favorite music, he peels out onto the road and loosens a deep breath. On the move now, his shoulders and jaw relax, the fuzziness in his head clearing.“What do you think, girl? Ready to be a cowdog?” he asks, glancing over at the puppy resting her head on his center console. She lifts her head, apparently waking from his voice, and blinks blankly back at him. But the light thud of her wagging tail is enough of an answer for him.

2

MADDIE

Maddie glances up at the towering concrete staircase before her then turns and takes in theout of servicesign on the elevator once again. Why does she live on the seventh floor? Adjusting the backpack on her shoulders and feeling thankful that she wears sneakers to work at the animal hospital, she begins the climb.

Proudly reaching the top faster than she did the day before, she turns to her door just as it opens. Her best friend and roommate, Juliette, leans in the doorway with an amber bottle in hand. “You texted me that you were leaving work an hour ago, did it really take you that long to get up the stairs?” she teases, handing the shandy over.

She accepts the drink as they move into their living room. “I was leaving, but then someone brought in a pretty critical dog, so I decided to stay and help the vet on the night shift.”

“Two vets? That must have been a bad one, I’m sorry.”

She only shrugs in response, sinking down onto the sofa as she watches Jules’s mouth press into a hard line, knowing what her friend is thinking. They’d had this conversation quite a bit lately.

“I’m not sure how you’re still doing it. I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to work as an emergency vet. And this was never what you wanted to do with your training,” Jules says gently.

“It is… a lot. But what I want is pretty hard to come by. Do you know any small practices that do domestic and livestock jobs in Denver?”

“When was the last time you searched postings?” Jules asks, reaching into the fridge and withdrawing a bottle of grapefruit shandy for herself this time. She strides over, dropping onto the sofa beside her, and she rolls her eyes as Jules bumps her shoulder knowingly.

“Only like, two or three times a week. So hardly at all,” she replies sarcastically.

A knock at the door surprises them both, but Maddie rises first to answer it. She’s surprised once again when it’s her mother standing before her. “Hi Mom, aren’t you supposed to be at your night nurses book club tonight?”

“Well, I was. But honey, I have some news,” she replies, holding up a weathered wood box and stepping inside.

“Charlotte! Can I get you anything?” Jules calls, patting the seat next to her.

“No, no.” Charlotte replies as she turns back to Maddie. “I need to tell you… I need to give this to you. It belongs to Henry.”

Maddie accepts the box as they join Jules on the couch. She runs a finger along the curved letters in the lid.Henry Wells, it reads. As in, her father who has never been a presence in her life.

“Maddie,” her mom starts. “He died, honey.”

She looks up at Charlotte, shocked beyond words. A heaviness settles in her chest as she absorbs the news. Should she be feeling sad? How do you mourn someone you didn’t know? She doesn’t have much time to wrap her head around it all before her mom continues.

“Apparently, he left you this in his will,” she motions to the box. “Along with his apartment where he lived in Wyoming. A town called Sterling Ridge.”

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