He settled in the hay next to Blue. “What do you think, mate, shall we keep them?”
In the quiet, a muffled sound came from beneath the matted hay of Gemma’s bed. John perked up listening. Was that a Buck tune? A flash of light drew his attention. Stretching, he dug around Gemma’s bed until he found her buried phone. The name on the screen simply read “Matt.”
Should he answer? Was it important?
“Gemma’s phone,” he answered.
“Who’s this?” a male voice boomed in his ear.
“May I inquire of you first?”
“Her boyfriend.”
“I see. She’s not here now. Can I give her a message?”
“Look, dude with the accent, why do you have her phone? Why did you answer? Are you sleeping with her?”
John glanced at Gemma’s empty pallet. “Not at the moment. She’s gone to work.” Who was this arrogant chap? Gemma never mentioned a boyfriend. John didn’t like him. Surely she had better taste.
The man called John a name he knew to be untrue and ended the call. Then he stared at the screen before tucking the phone in his pocket.Well, Matt with no last name, you’ve raised my curiosity.
How did Gemma get away without her phone? Was she in need of it? He’d take it to her if he knew where she’d gone. He had his truck since Gunner was off in the rental car.
A squeaking drew his eyes to the puppy pile. The small chap, whom he already named Chandler, was away from his siblings, blind and lost.
“I know the feeling, little guy.” John cradled Chandler on his chest as he rooted around, sniffing his shirt, his skin.
Tweedy placed her paw on his foot as if to sayBe careful, while Blue watched with steely, dog-fighting eyes.
According to Doc’s sheet, the puppies should weigh about a pound, but wee Chandler had clocked in at twelve ounces.
“Maybe a little extra for you at noon.”
He’d just returned Chandler to Tweedy and the pile when Gemma’s phone buzzed from his back pocket. This call said it came from Taylor Gillingham. Ah, Gemma’s friend. From the footrace.
“Hey, it’s me. Did I leave my phone in the barn?”
“You did.” He felt oddly delighted to hear Gemma’s voice and the casual way she addressed him.“It’s me.”
“I can’t believe I forgot. The phone has all my notes for the shoot. Is Imani there by chance? She could bring it to me.”
“She is not.”
“Shoot. I’d leave but at the moment, I’m about to string Christmas wedding lights through a set of rafters. And Taylor is frantic. Her model isn’t here. If I leave, she might lose it.”
“I’ll come round when Gunner returns. Text me the address. By the way, Chandler and I spent some time cuddling. We’ll have to take care with him though. He doesn’t weigh a pound.”
“Chandler? So you’ve assigned the names?”
“Not all. Just the Chan-Chan man.”
Her laugh kissed his morning. “Save Monica for me. She and I are kindred spirits. And sorry about the phone. I really appreciate you bringing it to me. I guess there’s no rush since the model is late but I’d like to be ready whenever she does show.”
Gemma gave him quick, verbal directions to the chapel. It wasn’t far. Just down River Road a few miles. He considered Matt’s call. Should he mention it?
“Um, Gemma, you had a call. I answered it which I shouldn’t have. So my apologies. It was from Matt. He said he was your boyfriend.”
This elicited a colorful response. “He’s such a liar. What did he say?”
