Page 9 of A Cowboy's Trust
Petra snorted. “And there’s the second cookie request.”
Jinx looked confused, but Tansy reassured her. “We absolutely can make crescents. But you get what I mean about helping when it’s appropriate?”
“I do, but I don’t think it’s a problem.” Jinx glanced at Petra this time for reassurance. “That’s what High Water is about, right? Doing what we can to help others. Making this place work for the people who will start coming through. And since I’m a full-time part of the family, I want to help.”
The part inside Tansy’s belly that had felt a tingle ofthis is rightthe minute she had heard what was going on at the ranch—that spot grew warmer.
Jinx had been caught in a bad situation. But even in the short time she’d lived at the ranch, High Water had made a difference in her life. Tansy knew about that. Knew how much her own world had changed when the Fields adopted her.
Petra stepped forward, moisture in her eyes but pride in her expression. She laid a hand on Jinx’s shoulder. “You’re right. You are part of this family. We’ll make sure that you get to help as much as makes sense.”
Jinx snuggled into Petra’s side, smiling at Tansy. Dixie settled on the girl’s feet, offering a picture-perfect moment of clarity. This was the reason why Tansy had arranged to remove herself from her own café and stir up her entire life.
Making a difference. Proving her worth. It was one thing to have been saved by others, but sometimes more was needed.
She held out a hand to Jinx. “I have more boxes in my SUV. Once we bring them in, you and I should talk to Jake and do some planning. After, we’ll do some cooking. I think cookies are first on the agenda.”
Jinx’s smile was a reward in itself.
Followed closely by the thought that showing Jake her plan would be amusing as all get out.
Tansy could do both spontaneityanda plan.
Could he?
3
The shift to having Tansy on the premises wasn’t nearly as difficult as Jake had imaged.
Five days a week, food magically appeared. Hardy,going to pack on the pounds if I don’t watch outtype meals, with a steady supply of treats stacked on the counter of the main ranch house.
The two days when Tansy was officially off-duty, the brothers continued as before, occasionally taking turns working the grill in spite of the temperature dipping well below freezing. None of them were picky eaters as long as the food was plentiful and delivered somewhat on time.
Plus, it was far easier when Tansy left them a well-stocked fridge filled with the ingredients they needed.
No, if anything, Jake had to swallow his pride and give his siblings an award for being smart enough to hire the woman. It was the other component that turned out to be a whole lot more challenging than expected.
Tansy was one huge, enormous distraction.
He grumbled his way along the well-packed snowy trail that led to the ranch house and tried to figure out exactly what it was about her that got his hackles up.
Maybe it wasn’ther, but the fact another person now lingered in their space, contributing to what had originally been a plan cooked up by him and his two brothers. They’d always said it was a chance to come back together after moving apart when their stepdad passed.
They needed a fresh start—or at least he and Declan both had. Declan’s wife had passed suddenly after a short but intense bout with cancer. Jake had left the police force after becoming completely disheartened by the politics and corruption.
“You look miserable.”
Jake glanced up to discover the other full-time occupant of High Water eyeing him with curiosity. Kevin Robb was their on-site psychologist and enthusiastic dog walker for the few beasts currently living in the animal shelter.
Even now he had two of them on leashes, the difference between the giant husky and the small Pomeranian comical as they sniffed eagerly at the full extent of their leads.
“Your dogsled team isn’t going to win you any awards,” Jake offered dryly.
Kevin grinned. “Wouldn’t that be something? Honestly, the big brute is a bit of a lazy butt, so I think Little Princess here would outpull him any day of the week.” He eyed Jake closer. “Something on your mind?”
“We hired you for the ranch hands who will be coming through.”
Kevin glanced around and raised a hand in the air. “Business is slow, and I’ve always got my analyst hat on.”
