“Drake,” she said, her voice turning motherly, “We’re behind you on this. I’ll explain everything to the family. They’ll blow up your phone trying to be helpful, I’m sure.”
“At this point? I’d welcome it.”
She snorted. “That’ll be a first.”
“I know. But there’s more at stake here than my pride.”
“You’re a good man, Drake,” she said quietly. It was the first time she’d ever told him that, and he had to wonder if it was his efforts to save the ranch that drew out the compliment or if it was his ability to put his pride aside. Probably the pride thing—it just seemed like something Mom would notice.
They said goodbye, and he checked his email to make sure everything had come through. It had. She was incredible.
He dragged a thermal undershirt over his torso. Yeah, he’d noticed Clove’s eyes darting to his chest and stomach. She hadn’t really lingered there though–as much as a part of him wanted to flex for her, this morning wasn’t the time. He couldn’t get over the feel of her fingers on his bare skin when he’d held her back. It was like fire and ice and electricity decided to samba.
Too bad they didn’t have the luxury of a slow waltz. It was time to go to battle.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Clove’s head popped up at the sound of Drake’s feet on the wooden stairs. Grandma and Judy chatted softly, but she’d tuned them out a while ago, feeling numb and lost and lonely. The emotions were as comfortable as a tumbleweed sweater.
His phone rang, and he answered before he hit the bottom step. Drake barreled down the stairs, his phone at his ear. “Yes, I’ll be sure and get Faith in touch with her at her earliest convenience.” He hit the speaker button and mouthed: my family.
Clove moved to his side as if she’d been sucked there by a vacuum. He took her hand, lacing their fingers together. She leaned on him, thankful for his comfort. That’s what the hand holding was about, right? He was trying to help her keep it together, not pull her heart threads out at the seams and make her all gooey inside.
“I just found the local animal control center’s contact info and the Sheriff’s email address. I’ll send an initial message with your certifications and such and then I’ll follow with a second one flooded with the ranch’s credentials, our endorsement from the last three presidents, and whatever else I can think of to make them feel like idiots for taking Felix.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Drake squeezed her hand.
Clove smiled. She’d never met this woman, and she already knew Felix’s name and was mounting a rescue effort from North Dakota.
“Your dad has something to say,” said Anna. Clove remembered her name from the videos she’d watched. It was good to have a visual to draw on and she was grateful she’d stocked Drake the other night.
“Drake, this is your dad.” Drake rolled his eyes in a like-I-didn’t-know-that way that made Clove want to giggle. She didn’t. It was hard to laugh when your reindeer had sacrificed himself to the police to keep you out of jail for attacking the mayor.
“You tell Clove and Hannah that they have the full support of The Reindeer Wrangler Ranch behind them. I’ll even call Ginger and have people put on the Naughty List. No one messes with my family.”
Drake smiled down at her, his eyes warm and inviting. “You just told her you’re on speaker.”
“Oh, good. Clove?” asked Anna, jumping back into the conversation.
“Yes?” she barely got the word past the surprise at being called out by name. She ran her hand over her messy hair, grateful it wasn’t a video call. Drake had a lot of talking to do–how much had he told his mother about her? And why did she care so much about what Anna thought of her?
“We’re with you on this. Even if you don’t want Felix to stay on our ranch. We will fight for him to be with you. You hear?”
Clove was overcome with the surge of emotion that Anna’s heartfelt declaration brought on. “I–.”
“Listen you two–don’t do anything crazy. Okay? Drake,” Abner cautioned his youngest son.
Clove glanced up at Drake as his dad dished out advice. Apparently, he had a reputation for out-of-the-box solutions–like kidnapping Felix. “I’m calling in some favors and Anna is going to get the senator involved. We should have this figured out before the day is over.”
“Did you tell your dad you tried to kidnap Felix?” she asked softly.
Drake nodded his head. “I told Mom and they share everything.”
“You have a lot of explaining to do,” she elbowed him lightly.
“Later,” he whispered to her. “Thanks,” he said to his parents. “Keep me posted. I’m going down to the animal shelter to make sure the facility is adequate.”
Clove’s hold on his hand tightened. The sense of being left behind threatened to come back and she didn’t want to drown in it.
