Page 20 of Headstrong Cowboy
“Hey, boy.What are you doing out here all by yourself?”Ryder’s voice was smooth and calm, and she had visions of him soothing a horse with that same tone.“I’m about to get up, okay?”
She loved that he was telling the dog what he was about to do, as if the creature could understand him.The dog cocked his head to the side, like he did understand what Ryder was saying.
Chrissy held her breath and waited as Ryder slowly rose and took one step toward the stray pup.Then another until he was able to kneel down in front of him.“You’re a good dog,” Ryder crooned.
“You’re really good with him,” she commented, after the dog sniffed and licked Ryder’s outstretched hand.Soon they’d be able to get him, and hopefully, find his rightful owners.
The dog let out a small bark before turning and zipping off down the path, leaving both her and Ryder shocked at his quick action.There was no way either one of them could catch up with him, and if they did chase him, Chrissy suspected that the dog would think they were playing with him.
“What just happened?”she asked a few seconds later.
“I’ve got no idea.”Ryder shook his head and chuckled as he got to his feet, wincing a little at the action.“That little rascal played us.I’m guessing he knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Chrissy got up and stood beside him, this time leaning her head on his shoulder when Ryder’s arm came around her waist.“Is your leg okay?Do you think we should go try and look for him?”
“My leg’s fine.And nah, I don’t think so.I think he’ll be okay.He needed a bath, but he wasn’t skin and bones.He’s getting food from somewhere.”
“I hope so,” she murmured, saying a quick prayer that wherever the dog had disappeared to that he was safe.The weather wasn’t too bad at the moment, but in a couple of weeks, it was going to get colder, and the thought of the poor thing out in the open as winter approached wasn’t a comfortable one for her.
“I’ll call the city in the morning and let them know there’s a stray dog on the loose.”
“That’s a good idea.”The breeze picked up and swirled around her legs.She shivered at the coolness.
“Come on, let’s get you out of the cold,” Ryder said and nudged her to start walking back toward the hotel.
Chrissy wanted to say that she was warm right where she was, but it would be a little white lie.While her top half was warm being tucked against Ryder’s body, her legs were suffering with her choice of clothing.She also didn’t want the night to end.For a few brief hours, she’d been able to forget about the farm’s issues and her responsibilities.She was able to be Chrissy, the woman, and she found she liked it much more than being Chrissy, the problem solver.
Being with Ryder was tempting her to reconsider what was important and saving the farm wasn’t at the top of her list anymore.
Chapter Ten
Ryder found himselfdriving down a driveway he hadn’t thought he’d be driving down again.Lucinda had called and informed him that the Bloom Flower Farm was going up for sale.She’d also said that until Eunice Bloom had told her daughters about the sale, he couldn’t say anything to anyone.
After the evening he’d spent with Chrissy three nights ago, he didn’t like keeping it from her, but surely her mom had told her by now what was happening with the property.
As much as he’d wanted to spend most of his time with Chrissy, Ryder had kept their interactions to a couple of phone calls and text messages.
Now here he was, about to surprise her with lunch.He glanced at the picnic basket Flo from the Main St.Diner had prepared for him and hoped he could tempt her to join him.
He pulled to a stop out in front of the workshop and sat for a few moments, staring at the building.
What was he going to find when he knocked on the door?Would Chrissy be happy to see him?He hoped she would.
What sort of mood would she be in?Would she be sad knowing that the farm was going to be sold?
If she’d spent most of her life there, he imagined it would be heartbreaking to find out that her home wasn’t going to be hers for much longer.
Ryder sighed.He should tell her he was interested in the property and the reasons why he was.Tell her that whatever financial issues were causing her mother to sell would be solved because of him.
No, he couldn’t say that because he would sound so arrogant, as if he didn’t think Chrissy and her family were capable of running the farm just because her father had died.
A knock on the window had him jumping and he turned to see Chrissy’s smiling face looking at him.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”she asked, her question a little muffled.
There were no signs of distress or sadness.In fact, her brown eyes sparkled in the sunshine.
She didn’t know.Had her mom not said anything to her yet?Why hadn’t she?Was she keeping the information from her daughters deliberately?
