Like a strong, independent woman, I silently admit that I can use some help. Sitting back, I watch as he unwraps it and breaks off a piece, tossing it just inside the hole—close enough I can scoop up the kitten when she takes the bait.
“I hope it does,” I whisper.
Then we back off, the sun warming our backs despite the snow slowly soaking through our pants. Silently waiting for the kitten I’m still not sure he gives a shit about.
“That was really harsh of me,” he finally says. “I didn’t mean I think the cat shoulddie. It’s just the way things work on a farm sometimes.”
I nod solemnly, not taking my eyes off the piece of orange cheese.
“We’ll get it, okay? Even if I have to tear the floorboards out of this shed.” He takes my hand in his, rubbing a thumb slowly over my skin. “You have dirt—likely some horse poop, too—under your fingernails, and you’re sitting on the ground trying to rescue a filthy kitten. I can’t exactly ignore that crazy amount of character development.”
My lip quirks. “Helpless little animals are my kryptonite. When I was really young, I wanted to be a vet. After a horse bit me, I thought my dreams were crushed entirely, but my grandpa assured me I could be a small animal vet.”
He tips his head to look at my face. “Lots to unpack here.Youwanted to be a vet? Until ahorsebit you?”
“Yeah. Asshole got me right on the shoulder and ripped my Cinderella dress.” I point to the spot, letting my gaze drift from the cheese for half a second to look at him. “I realized later on that I don’t have what it takes to be a veterinarian, anyway. But Ididvolunteer at a shelter through high school. Just because I’m not outdoorsy and like to wear cute clothes doesn’t mean I can’t get my hands dirty when I have to.”
“You continuously impress me, you know that?”
Whether he’s being genuine or trying to kiss my ass, I don’t care right now. I just want the cat to be safe. “Think the cheese will work?”
He purses his lips and leans over to look into the hole. “I hoped it would, but I think she’s too scared. But maybe I can—”
With a grunt, he flops to his stomach and shimmies forward, trying and failing to shove his thick arm in the small hole. With a shake of his head, he yanks his coat off and tries again.
“I think… I might…” The crease between his eyebrows tightens. “Fuck. I’m so fucking close—ouch!Bastard.”
He rockets out of the hole and examines his fingers. “Fucker bit me.”
With a snorting laugh, I bury my face into the thick sleeve of my coat.
“It hurt,” Lucas whines. “This little shit needs to come out of there right now. I’m gonna show it who’s boss.”
“Oh, yeah, you’re really giving boss energy crying about a tiny kitten bite that didn’t even break the skin.”
Ignoring me, he crams his hand back in and seconds later exclaims, “Gotcha!”
The tiny, black kitten, clearly scared out of her mind, emits the most non-threatening hiss. She fits perfectly in Lucas’s palm, and I beam at him when I scoop her up.
“Poor little girl,” I tuck her against my chest and stand. “We’ll have to get you some food, and give you a bath, and make sure you’re healthy.”
“How do you know it’s a girl?” Lucas brushes the snow and dirt from his chest.
“I can just sense it, okay? Mother’s intuition.”
Back in the barn, I curl up on my chair near where Lucas abandoned his work to help me, tucking the blanket around the small cat. The distraught mews slow as she settles in, and a moment later, Lucas appears with a big box.
“I got this so she can’t run away, in case you need to set her down.” Crouching in front of me, he gives a thin-lipped smile. “She seems old enough to not need milk, which is good. We can grab some wet food at the grocery store on our way home.”
I stroke my index finger over her furry head and glance down at the box.
“I know you’re still mad about what I said out there. I’m sorry.” He seems earnest, with moody eyes and worry knitted in the space around them.
“Volunteering in the shelter, I sawso manyhelpless animals go on to be euthanized. That’s when I decided I couldn’t be a vet,” I say.
“I would’ve torn that shed to pieces—carefully, so the kitten didn’t get hurt—if I needed to. We got her, and we’ll make sure she’s taken care of now. There’s a really great animal rescue in town.” He lets out a loud exhale, hooking a thumb toward the tied-up horse. “I’m almost done here. We’ll give ’em a call after.”
Cradling the cat in the crook of my arm, I bring my free hand to the nape of his neck and kiss him.
