Page 31 of The Cowgirl's Forever Love
Ignoring the echoing volume of complaints around them was hard. It was constant, soaking into their ears and vibrating through their bodies.
In the future, whenever Lisa thought about hopelessness, this sound would be what she remembered.
“Come on,” Lisa said. “Let’s see if there’s a water supply anywhere.”
It was over an hour before anyone else showed up to help, but eventually there was a veritable crowd in the building. Lisa had called Caleb, and he had contacted their foreman.
Ashton walked in the door moments after Josiah’s staff arrived.
Josiah clipped out orders. “Any of the dogs coming out of here need to stay in quarantine. We have room in the kennels at the clinic, but I can’t take more than a dozen between there and my place.”
Ashton looked apologetic as he spoke. “The men and I can give you a hand moving the animals, but we can’t bring any of them to Silver Stone. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize,” Josiah assured him. “We’ll just need to—”
“You can move them all to my place.” The proclamation came with shocking clarity, cutting through the wailing chaos.
Everyone turned to look at Sonora. She was staring defiantly at Ashton, of all people. As if daring him to protest.
Josiah glanced at Lisa briefly before taking a deep breath. “Sonora, that’s a generous offer. But while you’ve got the room, there’s no way you can take care of this many animals. Not without help.”
“Then I’ll hire some,” she said. “I’m no wide-eyed child. I know what’s going to happen to the animals I don’t take in.”
“It’s going to cost money as well as time,” he warned. “I’m hugely grateful you want to make a difference, but you need to know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“It’s too much,” Ashton grumbled. “You’ll work yourself into an early grave.”
Sonora stiffened her spine. “I think I’m the best judge of how I spend my time and energy. It’ll be good for me. And I don’t mind that it’s going to cost money.” The last comment was directed at Josiah. “In fact, I’ve been thinking about ways to use my property more effectively. I don’t want actual livestock anymore, but it’s kind of lonely without more critters around. I was thinking about setting up an animal rescue.”
“An animal rescue—?”
Ashton’s protest cut off sharply as Sonora glared ice daggers at him.
Lisa stepped forward to wrap an arm around the woman. “I can’t commit long term, but if this is something you’d like to do, I’ll help however I can while I’m here.”
The tension that eased out of Sonora’s body made it clear Lisa’s support was appreciated, unexpected as it had been.
Sonora lifted her chin defiantly at Ashton. “So.”
He didn’t say anything, but he nodded.
She turned to Josiah. “It’s up to your people to decide which animals are in good enough shape you think they’ll make it. I don’t envy your task, so I’ll let you get on with your job and I’ll get on with mine. I’ll head home to start getting things ready.”
“Thank you,” Josiah said softly. He looked around the barn, motioning to one of the staff from the clinic to join them. “Pam will go with you. With her help, and maybe a couple of the hands from Silver Stone, you should be able to get things set up for the first arrivals.”
Lisa squeezed Sonora’s arm. “I want to stay to help Josiah so someone else will need to ride Licorice back to Silver Stone. I’d appreciate it if you’d go with them.”
Because no way did she want Sonora heading off on her own. But no way could she leave Josiah, either. The man looked as if he was turning to granite.
Sonora nodded, then huffed in annoyance. “Then I may as well take the biggest pain in the behind with me. Ashton Stewart,” she called loudly. “You’re taking me home. Get a move on, buster. I don’t have all day.”
She patted Lisa firmly on the arm, took one more look around the barn and shook her head sadly. She adjusted her hat and headed for the door, leaving Ashton to scramble through pens until he could catch up.
Lisa turned to Josiah. “Put me to work.”
It wasthe worst sort of hell. As they stood in the midst of the barn, Josiah remembered all the reasons why he’d gone in for veterinary training. It was good to be able to reach down and find a healthy little pup squirming with excitement, tongue lashing out to bathe Josiah’s fingers enthusiastically.
Josiah’s job was to help make animals feel better. Not to have to save them from pain that should never have happened in the first place.
