Read Online On a Snowy Christmas Night by Debbi Rawlins - Free Book Online
Authors: Debbi Rawlins
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so much electricity in the winter just to keep the water from freezing.” She motioned with her chin. “Plus the heat lamps. Then there’s more hay and feed to buy because there’s no grass for grazing.”
“I read on your website that you try to find homes for the animals.”
“We had two adoptions yesterday, so that was awesome. The holidays are tricky.” Annie shook her head. “Kids beg their parents to get them pets for Christmas. They give in, discover it’s too costly or too much responsibility, and we end up taking the animal back by mid-January. I try to vet anyone interested but you never know. You mind turning off the water?”
“Sure.” Shea hurried over to shut off the spigot, then picked up the bucket. It was far heavier than she’d anticipated, and she grunted with the effort it took to clear the ground.
Annie was kind enough to hide her smile. “I wish more men would get their butts out here and volunteer. Some of this work is plain brutal on the back, especially if you’re not used to physical labor.” She took the bucket from Shea and emptied the water into another bin. “Jesse’s really good about helping out but I hate to bother him...he has enough on his plate.”
Good thing Shea no longer held the bucket or she would’ve dropped it. “Jesse McAllister volunteers here?”
“Not exactly. He flies for shelters across the state and a few in Wyoming, but he’s good enough to do some pickups and drop-offs for us when the route’s on his way. We could never afford to chip in for fuel and plane maintenance like the better-funded shelters do.”
“But I thought...” She shook her head, totally confused. Jesse worked at the Sundance. It wasn’t just an assumption on her part. They’d talked...just yesterday...he’d told her that himself... Oh, God, she didn’t know what he’d told her versus what she’d heard. He’d had her so messed up. “He hadn’t mentioned he was a pilot.”
“He learned to fly in the air force.”
“Oh.” Shea cleared her throat.
“It’s not a secret.” Annie walked toward the stall where Angel had finished nursing, and let the goat out. Then she released Kiki from the harness while cooing to her about what a good mother she was. Kiki responded by using her nose to knock the empty metal bowl off the stump. “You’ve had enough, you little piggy. Now go on.”
“Do you have instructions written down?” Shea asked, watching the woman shoo the goat into the general population and wondering how she was ever going to keep all this straight. It didn’t help that her thoughts kept drifting to Jesse. One thing for certain, she’d have to stay away from him if she kept losing her concentration.
Annie smiled. “I can do that, and you know I’m going to be around.”
“Will Jesse?” Shea groaned when she realized the words had actually tumbled into the ether. “I mean, it doesn’t matter if he is or not, so I’m not sure why I asked.”
“Hey, I don’t blame you.” Annie grinned a little wickedly. “He’s hot. And smart. And loves animals. What’s not to like?”
“You misunderstood. I’m rather hoping he isn’t around.”
“Huh.” Annie studied her a moment and then shrugged. “He seems like a terrific guy. I only met him a little over a year ago after he got out of the service.”
“No, he’s great. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I got the dates mixed up and arrived a day early so he took me on a trail ride yesterday.”
“Nice.” Her brows rose. “I would’ve expected Trace to be the one who threw out the welcome mat. Jesse’s usually so quiet. Quite a few women around here would give their souls to go out with him.”
And you? The words teetered on Shea’s lips but this time she managed to keep it to herself.
Annie opened a metal trash can, dipped in a scoop and scattered feed for the chickens. “Not me, though. Another time, another place, and oh, yeah,” she said, a touch of wistfulness in her voice,
“I read on your website that you try to find homes for the animals.”
“We had two adoptions yesterday, so that was awesome. The holidays are tricky.” Annie shook her head. “Kids beg their parents to get them pets for Christmas. They give in, discover it’s too costly or too much responsibility, and we end up taking the animal back by mid-January. I try to vet anyone interested but you never know. You mind turning off the water?”
“Sure.” Shea hurried over to shut off the spigot, then picked up the bucket. It was far heavier than she’d anticipated, and she grunted with the effort it took to clear the ground.
Annie was kind enough to hide her smile. “I wish more men would get their butts out here and volunteer. Some of this work is plain brutal on the back, especially if you’re not used to physical labor.” She took the bucket from Shea and emptied the water into another bin. “Jesse’s really good about helping out but I hate to bother him...he has enough on his plate.”
Good thing Shea no longer held the bucket or she would’ve dropped it. “Jesse McAllister volunteers here?”
“Not exactly. He flies for shelters across the state and a few in Wyoming, but he’s good enough to do some pickups and drop-offs for us when the route’s on his way. We could never afford to chip in for fuel and plane maintenance like the better-funded shelters do.”
“But I thought...” She shook her head, totally confused. Jesse worked at the Sundance. It wasn’t just an assumption on her part. They’d talked...just yesterday...he’d told her that himself... Oh, God, she didn’t know what he’d told her versus what she’d heard. He’d had her so messed up. “He hadn’t mentioned he was a pilot.”
“He learned to fly in the air force.”
“Oh.” Shea cleared her throat.
“It’s not a secret.” Annie walked toward the stall where Angel had finished nursing, and let the goat out. Then she released Kiki from the harness while cooing to her about what a good mother she was. Kiki responded by using her nose to knock the empty metal bowl off the stump. “You’ve had enough, you little piggy. Now go on.”
“Do you have instructions written down?” Shea asked, watching the woman shoo the goat into the general population and wondering how she was ever going to keep all this straight. It didn’t help that her thoughts kept drifting to Jesse. One thing for certain, she’d have to stay away from him if she kept losing her concentration.
Annie smiled. “I can do that, and you know I’m going to be around.”
“Will Jesse?” Shea groaned when she realized the words had actually tumbled into the ether. “I mean, it doesn’t matter if he is or not, so I’m not sure why I asked.”
“Hey, I don’t blame you.” Annie grinned a little wickedly. “He’s hot. And smart. And loves animals. What’s not to like?”
“You misunderstood. I’m rather hoping he isn’t around.”
“Huh.” Annie studied her a moment and then shrugged. “He seems like a terrific guy. I only met him a little over a year ago after he got out of the service.”
“No, he’s great. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. I got the dates mixed up and arrived a day early so he took me on a trail ride yesterday.”
“Nice.” Her brows rose. “I would’ve expected Trace to be the one who threw out the welcome mat. Jesse’s usually so quiet. Quite a few women around here would give their souls to go out with him.”
And you? The words teetered on Shea’s lips but this time she managed to keep it to herself.
Annie opened a metal trash can, dipped in a scoop and scattered feed for the chickens. “Not me, though. Another time, another place, and oh, yeah,” she said, a touch of wistfulness in her voice,
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