Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
“I’m going to go ahead and X-ray him. I don't like how his leg feels or how he’s crying. As for the owner situation, if he or she surrenders him, you’ll be the first to know. Which is saying something because Dean would take over if I so much as a breathed a word to him about a dog. Bucket here will need to stay regardless for three days. I’d like to do bloodwork, check for parasites, and make sure he can hold down food without getting sick. That’s not including his leg, though I don’t suspect a break, thank goodness.” Dean, Tallulah’s husband, is a softy exactly like his mom, Catherine Johnson.
“I will fight Dean, Tully,” I say with laughter. In all fairness, I’d pull out the big guns and make Trey do my dirty work. We may not talk and there’s a lot left unsaid, but he knows how I am with animals. I’ve heard Amos talk about the menagerie that seems to find me, and Trey always sides with me on letting them stay.
“Of that I have no doubt. Are you willing to cover the cost for treatment?” I’d never expect her to do any of this for free. Even should the owners come back to claim Bucket, I’d pay her fees.
“Without a doubt. Do whatever you need to. As long as he’s healthy, that’s all that matters.”
“Good. I won’t tell Dean. Anytime one comes in and we can’t find the owner or adoption isn’t possible, he swoops in, rescues them, and foots the bill. This way, if you do, Dean won’t even try.” Tallulah winks at me. My stomach is no longer at my feet.
“Perfect. I’m going to head out. Can I come back later to check on him?” I need to get to Genevieve’s, or she’s going to try and do everything herself.
“Of course. I have your number and so does Maureen. I’ll let you know regardless about the owner situation.” I pat Bucket on his head one last time, bend to whisper a see you soon in his ear, and his soulful eyes stare back at me, looking at me like I’m the best thing since sliced bread.
“Thanks, Tallulah. I appreciate your help, a lot.”
“It’s what I’m here for.” She smiles softly, and you can tell this is truly her calling.
FIVE
TREY
“How’d everything go?” Amos asks me the minute he answers the phone. He had shit to do at the Ellison ranch. I didn’t. My lucky ass came for the both of us. I’m leaving with more questions and less answers.
“I’ve got bad news and more bad news. Take your fucking pick.” I put the phone on speaker while taking off my button-down shirt in the parking garage of the building where I had my meeting. The damn thing constricts me in the shoulders and makes it uncomfortable while driving. In all likeliness, I’ll run a couple of errands, drop off what needs to be dropped off, and then get my ass working on the ranch.
“Son of a bitch, what now?” We’ve been through so many roadblocks, permits, paperwork, documents on how we’ll sustain our herd, what the purpose of raising Bison will be, so on and so fucking forth. The bad part about all of this is we’ve supplied everything they’ve asked, and next thing they’ll need is a kidney as well as my first-born child. And I’d gladly give it to them at this point. Shit is getting tiring. The back and forth between us and the board. The driving, having my brothers cover me for a few hours on the ranch. Needless to say, I’m going to be owing my brothers favors left and right.
“You’re up next time. I’ll fix your fences, load your cows, shovel horse manure, but I’m tapping out. The paperwork they want now needs to be notarized, which would have been helpful had the board so much as put that on the paperwork we had to fill out. They want a statement from both of our banks also notarized, and they want the survey to the land the herd will be on. They’ll probably come to look at it, too.” I run my fingers through my hair, annoyed at the time suck this has been and ready to have a damn drink. Too bad it's still midmorning, and I’ve got a list a mile long from my mom to pick up whatever she’s cooking up for dinner and a woman to go after.
“Well, I’ll be damned. Trey Johnson can’t close a deal.” I don’t take the bait. Amos has no fucking idea what happened behind his back. There will be a day of reckoning. It’s coming, I can feel it and I’ll be man enough to own up to doing shit the wrong way. What I won’t do is allow him to make Sienna feel any type of way except happy.