Page 197 of Huckleberry Hill
“Like this: no.” Dad attempted to back away.
“Stop being a grump,” Muddy said, elbowing him and Jane out of the way. She picked up a puppy and thrust it into her son’s arms. “You miss having a dog. Admit it.”
“Now you have four,” I said with a smile.
“Oh no.” Dad shook his head. “They’ll stay outside. They’re outdoor dogs. Barn dogs. Ranch dogs. Not sleeping-on-the-bed dogs.”
One of the puppies let out a whine and Jane picked it up and started crooning at it.
“What kind are they?” Muddy asked as she picked up another one of the puppies.
“Border Collie Aussie mixes,” I said. “The volunteer didn’t want to let them all go to one home until I explained I lived on a ranch.”
Declan climbed out of the truck, gathering Tempest in his arms, leaving me to pick up the last puppy.
“No,” Dad said, though his tone lacked conviction. “Absolutely not. We’ll keep one of them. Maybe two. The other two can go to the Argentum Ranch. Max has been needing some good herding dogs.”
The puppy in my father’s arms lifted its head and licked Dad’s chin. Dad looked down at it and I watched in real time as my father fell hard and fast for the little beast.
Without a word, he started toward the house.
“Where are you going?” Jane asked.
“Where do you think I’m going?” Dad growled. “I’m finding them a box to sleep in.”
Declan pulled his buzzing cell phone out of his shirt pocket and looked at it. He stood and pushed away from the dinner table. “Will you excuse me for a moment? I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Muddy asked.
“My rodeo buddy is returning my phone call,” Declan explained. To me he said, “The coffee thing again.”
I nodded.
He pressed a button and put the cell to his ear and stalked from the house, the front door closing behind him.
“Coffee thing?” Muddy asked. “What does that mean?”
“His best friend is still on the rodeo circuit and he got a brand deal. It’s a coffee company and they wanted Declan too, but Declan said no. Now he’s telling his friend, Bowman, that he’s officially saying no.”
“A brand deal,” Dad repeated. “He hasn’t said anything about that.”
“It’s a recent development. And he was going to say no all along, so that’s probably why he didn’t tell you.” I stood up and began to gather the dinner plates. “Jane? Are you finished?”
“I am,” she said. “Let me help you with these.”
“Thanks,” I said.
We picked up the dishes and brought them to the sink.
“Why wasn’t he going to take the brand deal?” Muddy asked. “It’s good money I bet. Probably better than what your father pays him.”
“Mom,” Dad warned.
“Just stating a fact.” Muddy shrugged. “There’s no money in being a ranch hand and everybody knows it.”
“He has no desire to go back to the rodeo circuit. Aside from potential injuries, he’s very happy with his life. And if you must know, Declan’s got a nest egg and investments from the rodeo circuit.”
“That’s good to hear,” Dad grumbled. “Because if he thinks he can leave my pregnant daughter?—”
