“You keep asking me that,” he tossed his shirt onto the bed.
“Because you are giving me reason to ask.”
His shoulders slumped some. “She was so small. So cold. When I save children, I think of Livvy. What if it was her?”
“I’d say all first responders feel the same anguish.” She took the few steps between them and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against the warm skin of his back. He smelled so good. Felt so good. He laid his large hands over hers.
“I’m glad you came along,” he said in a throaty mutter.
“I’m glad I was there too.”
He turned and faced her, gently cupping her cheek with his callused palm. “Mindy.”
“Creed.”
“You drive me crazy,” he said on an exhale of breath.
“The feeling is mutual.” She smiled.
He lowered his mouth, but music interrupted the moment.
Chapter Thirteen
HIS PHONE RANG from the bed where he’d tossed it earlier.
A part of him regretted that he’d turned the ringer back on. He wanted to stay here with Mindy a while longer before he had to welcome the world back in and all its flaws.
“You should get that, right?” she asked in a soft, alluring voice.
“Yeah, I guess I should.” He grabbed the intrusion off the bed and glanced at the screen “It’s Sheriff Conley.” He clicked his phone. “Yeah?”
“Hi, Creed. Sheriff Conley. I wanted to let you know that Bailey woke up. Looks like she’s going to be all right. Her parents are here with her now.”
Relief spread through Creed. He wanted to pop open a champagne bottle, and he didn’t even like the stuff. “Great to hear. Have you been able to ask her any questions yet?”
“Not too many except that she asked about the dog. Did she have a dog with her?”
“Yeah, she did. We have him with us. Is he hers?”
“No. Apparently she chased after him last night and lost her way back. The parents want to keep him. Can they pick him up?”
“Hang on.” He covered the mouthpiece of the phone. “The parents want to come pick up the dog for Bailey. Is that okay?”
“That’s wonderful,” Mindy exclaimed.
He said to the Sheriff, “He’ll be here at Hawke Landing.”
Then he hung up and tossed the phone back on the bed. “Where were we before the interruption?”
“I’m gathering that was good news?”
“Very good news. Bailey is awake and her parents are with her. Now, where were we?”
She took a step closer, standing on tiptoe and kissed him.
His cell beeped. Mindy pulled back. “Shit!” he muttered, giving her an apologetic shrug. “Grand central station all of a sudden.”
“It’s okay,” she ensured him.
He grabbed the phone and glanced at the screen. It was Boone. “I’ll ignore it. It’s just my brother.”
Why the hell was Boone texting? They just talked earlier.
Another beep.
Where are you, bro? B.
Why aren’t you answering? B.
Do I need to call? B
Respond, dick. B.
“He’s a pest,” Creed growled.
“He’ll probably keep sending them until you answer.” Mindy chuckled.
Beep. Beep.
Hey, are you ignoring me? B.
Finally, Creed tapped in, I’m busy. Leave me alone.
Any news on the girl? B.
She’s fine but you won’t be if you don’t stop bothering me. C.
Fine, douche. B.
Good, asshole. C.
He stuck the phone inside his locker and closed the door.
Another beep sounded. This time it was Mindy’s phone. She dragged it from the pocket of his jacket and looked at him. “It’s Daddy. I better get it.” She chewed on the edge of her nail. Her father never called her.
“Sure.” He’d planned on kissing her, but it didn’t look like fate wanted to let him experience some pleasure.
She answered, “Yeah I’m with Creed now. I’ll put it on speaker phone.”
“Hi, Rusty. I’m here.”
“Bo called me. One of the goats is having a difficult time kidding. He can’t get a hold of the vet and I’m an hour away. How close are you?”
“I’m at Hawke Landing.” Guilt rushed through him. Creed knew exactly which doe. He had guessed this would happen. She was young and had been carelessly left in a pen with a seven-week old rutting buck. This had happened a handful of times in the past which resulted in dead does and kids. “I’ll be there soon.”
Hanging up, he swiped a hand through his messy hair. “Were you serious when you said you wanted to get your hands dirty on the ranch?”
“Yes.”
“Well then. Now’s as good a time as any to learn.”
~~~~~
Mindy and Creed stood outside of the goat stall monitoring the behavior of female one-forty-seven. As soon as she laid down in the fresh straw, she started licking herself and wagging her tail. “You got this, Jazzie.”
“Who named her?” Mindy asked.
“I did. I’ve been keeping an eye on her, so I thought it made sense just to name her instead of calling her “goat”. Jazzie sounds much better.”
Creed had a rare compassion for the livestock that she certainly appreciated and admired.
After thirty minutes of pushing, Jazzie’s kidding wasn’t advancing and the vet hadn’t shown up. Bo had an appointment for his leg and couldn’t stay.
Picking up the bag Creed brought with him, he opened it. “We’re going to step inside, very quietly. She’s friendly, but we don’t want to upset her any more than she already is. Have you ever helped deliver a kid before?” he asked.
“No, I haven’t. Please tell me you have.”
“A few times. Goat deliveries usually go smooth.” Inside the pen he bent and visually examined the doe. “The back hooves are visible so we need to
