But it was the calls from people who asked if they’d still be able to come to the ranch for their appointments today that hurt. Their voices, the attempts they made to stay calm, to sound rational, when it was only her and she never judged them. For those callers, she gentled her voice as if she were soothing a startled horse.Yes, I’m afraid if you came up today, you’d be spending the night, she told them.But, the ranch cams are working, and even though I know it isn’t the same, you can watch the animals in the barns. I’ve got a plan to reschedule everyone, so you’ll be getting an email from me after I’ve gotten everything battened down for the weather.
She’d turned down a couple of offers of help—telling one patient’s father that while she appreciated the offer, his son Danny needed him more. She knew the storm would be interrupting the boy’s routine in myriad ways and he tended to melt down when that happened, poor kiddo. She told Danny’s dad that she’d feed Ripple his customary apple at six o’clock on camera so that the boy could watch. She dearly hoped that would help him.
And now, the pounding at the door was setting off the newest member of the ranch, sending the dog into a frenzy. Ever since she’d gotten him three weeks ago, the black- and gold-mottled Labrador’s behavior had only gotten worse. Hypervigilant, jumping at every little sound and getting into mischief unless she watched him every minute of the day.
Bam, bam, bam.
Wonderful. The more the dog barked, the louder the pounding came. She glanced at the photo of her brother on the mantel and sighed—she could have really used his help this year. Burying her emotions, she yelled that she was coming.How am I going to restrain the dog?He was so strong, and the way he was barking, she was worried he might attack whoever was stupid enough to be out in this storm after ten o’clock at night.
Or whoever’s unfortunate enough. Then a horrible thought came to her—what if it’s Mr. Sanders out in this?She hadn’t gotten a call, but she hurried to the door anyway.Unlikely he’d be pounding like that, but just in case, I’d better check.
The dog stood between her and the door, hackles raised, and that protective stance just melted her heart. He wouldn’t let anything hurt her. She ran a hand down his back to calm him.
“Hang on, I’m right here,” she said as she undid the deadbolts but left the swing lock in place. Then she added, “I’m armed, so you’re going to want to step back to the edge of the porch if I don’t know you. Or, I’ll just let my dog eat you.” The way he was losing his mind barking, that alone should scare off anyone who might want to do her harm.
At least it got whoever it was out there to stop pounding.
But as she opened the door as far as the swing lock let her, she heard something more disturbing than the previous banging on her door.
A man’s voice said, “Camo?” and for a moment, her heart stopped.
She reached for the sawed-off beside the door. “How do you know my dog’s name?”
“Because he’smy dog.”
Okay, asshole, that’s it. Arden shoved the business end of the sawed-off out the crack in the door. “Um, no. I don’t know what game you’re playing but he isn’t your dog, I definitely do not know you, and I won’t hesitate to pull this trigger to protectmydog.”
Except, Camo had gone silent the second he’d heard the guy say his name. He hadn’t done that for anyone else.
“Ma’am, I will happily take a bullet formydog. It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Take a bullet for my dog… Arden’s world blurred for a second as she tried to get a hold of herself. “Who are you?”
“My name is Kyle McGuire, formerly of the US Navy SEALs. Just like my dog.”
Arden smiled.Okay, Kyle, you just upgraded yourself tofuckingasshole. “Really, Kyle McGuire? You’re a SEAL? Prove it. Is a Draeger RBD 5000 semi-auto or fully-auto?”
Yup, there it was. The idiot paused, thinking he had a fifty-fifty chance of getting the answer right. Or, maybe he was wondering if he could back away fast enough to keep himself from getting shot.
He laughed instead. “Ma’am, I can’t answer that question, because I’ve never shot a Draeger RBD 5000 before. Don’t think anyone has, considering it’s the product name for a military-grade diving kit.”
Arden blew out a breath. “Well, okay then. Good answer.”Shit. Now what?
“Considering you even know the name Draeger, that makes me wonder if you’ve served, ma’am.”
“No, not me. I wasn’t…I haven’t.” She peeked out the door at the man’s silhouette outlined by the security light in the yard behind him.Wow. Tall. While his silhouette was filled out, it wasn’t nearly bulky enough to be dressed for this weather. No evidence of a parka. A light jacket at best. Was this guy crazy?
Next to her feet, Camo whined and pushed past her, then stuck his nose through the crack in the door and sucked in a lungful of air. He whined and wagged his tail, trying to push the rest of his body through the narrow opening.
The silhouette dropped to its knees. “Camo. Hey, boy. That’s my buddy. Hey.” His voice had quieted and gone up in pitch. There was something else in the guy’s voice, something akin to awe—longing—and Camo responded with a full-body wag.
Arden knew dogs didn’t lie, except maybe about being fed. Camo knew this guy and knew him well. So, the guy was not lying about knowing Camo, but claiming he washisdog? Couldn’t be. But either way, if she didn’t let him in, she’d find a man-sized popsicle on her porch by morning. She set the shotgun aside, leaning it against the wall beside the door.
“Okay…Kyle, was it? Camo’s got me convinced that you’ve at least met. I’m going to let you in now, but no sudden moves, okay?” Arden got Camo’s nose out of the way, which was no small feat, then closed the door to release the swing lock. When she opened the door again, Kyle was still crouched down. Beyond him, she didn’t see a vehicle in the driveway, just blowing snow in the arc of the security light. Arden stepped back out of the way as, still crouched, Kyle moved forward quickly, all his attention focused on the dog.
“Buddy!” Kyle threw his arms around Camo while the black-and-gold Lab covered his face in kisses. Arden studied him in the low light of her mother’s favorite cut glass lamp. Melting snow covered his dark, almost-black hair and ice frosted the five-o’clock shadow that was looking more like seven o’clock. His eyes were closed against Camo’s happy onslaught but his mouth was open as he laughed—the guy had a great laugh—and when he turned his head,wow, he had the profile of some Roman god carved from marble. When he finally opened his eyes, he was staring straight at her legs. Which were sadly hidden under her mom’s ratty old robe that Arden would never part with, but that she kind of regretted wearing at that moment.
His eyes were frost-blue rimmed in indigo.Moonlight on snow.
