Page 195 of Huckleberry Hill
“They’re from the same litter,” Pam explained. “Two boys and two girls. Nine-week-old Border Collie Aussie mixes. They need a lot of room to run and they’ll do best with folks who understand that they’re working dogs. They’ll get depressed if they don’t have room to roam and things to herd. Two of their siblings and their mama were already adopted.”
“Perfect ranch dogs,” I said.
“Yes, exactly,” Pam agreed.
“Hadley . . .” Declan warned.
Tempest maneuvered around the crouched volunteer and went to investigate the puppies. Four waggly, furry butts signaled that Tempest wasn’t a threat to them. One of the puppies rolled over onto its back and showed Tempest its belly.
“I’ll take them,” I blurted out.
“Great!” the volunteer said as she stood up. “Which one?”
“No, I mean I’ll take all of them,” I said again. I looked at Declan who cracked a smile and stared at me.
She frowned. “I’m not sure?—”
“I’m Hadley Powell,” I explained. “Connor Powell’s daughter. We own Elk Ridge. It’s a thousand acres of cattle ranch nestled in the mountains just north of here.”
Her expression cleared. “Oh, you’re Hadley! Congratulations on the baby!”
I paused. “Oh. Uh . . . thanks. So, the puppies?”
“Absolutely. Let me just start the paperwork . . .”
I looked at Declan and grinned. “You might want to go get the truck.”
“Yes, dear. Am I taking Tempest with me?”
“Please.” I leaned up to kiss his cheek and whispered, “Leave your credit card.”
He sighed again. “Yes, dear.”
Chapter Forty-Five
The Ranch
* * *
“Your father is going to kill me,” Declan said, glancing behind him at the puppies in the back seat of the truck.
I reached behind me and pet one of the dogs and it began to nibble my finger. Tempest was back there and it was becoming clear that she thought she was one of the puppies.
“He’ll be happy once he gets used to the crazy,” I said. “The thing you have to understand about my father is that he says no first, but then he always comes around. It’s his way. He’s stubborn.”
“Huh, like someone else I know.”
“Oh stop.” I laughed.
We’d made sure the puppies were empty before we put them in the backseat on a towel. By the time we got home, they were all asleep, nestled together in a ball of fur.
“You get to be the one to tell your dad,” Declan said as he pulled into the driveway of the main house next to dad’s vehicle.
“I’ll take care of it,” I assured him. I unlatched my seat belt.
“We need to talk about getting you a new car,” Declan announced. “I don’t like the idea of you driving a farm truck without all the bells and whistles of modern safety.”
I sniggered. “Now you’re being captain safety? Where were you with the condoms?”
