“Oh, Belle.” Harlan looked to the ceiling and prayed for strength. “You know exactly what you’re going to do. You and your menagerie are coming back to the ranch with me.”
* * *
AFTER A SHOWER and a change of clothes, Belle and Harlan packed up what they could from her apartment, crated the animals and drove to his ranch. She always thought you had at least thirty days to vacate once you received an eviction notice. Turned out it was only three days in certain cases—livestock being one of them. She pulled in behind him, still trying to wrap her brain around the day. This morning she was single and independent. Tonight, she was married and relying on her worst enemy to put a roof over her head. Maybe worst was a little harsh. He had earned significant brownie points during the past twenty-four hours. That still didn’t mean she forgave him for what he’d done. She doubted that would ever be possible.
Harlan leaned in her passenger window. “Are you coming?”
“In a minute.” Belle glanced up at the white farmhouse. It should have been her house. They had picked it out together and Harlan’s uncle Jax had fronted them the down payment until they could afford to pay it back. She loved the house. Had envisioned exactly how she would decorate it. Only she never had the chance to spend a single night in it. Molly had had that honor.
She needed to get it together. The ranch was a much better place for her wards. The previous owner had rebuilt the stables, along with the apartment above it. At least there had been an apartment eight years ago.
“Come on, let’s get them settled, and then we’ll get you situated in the house.”
“I don’t think so, Harlan.” Belle looked up at the main house again. “Where’s your daughter?”
“She’s staying with Dylan and my uncle Jax at the Silver Bells Ranch. I’ll pick her up tomorrow.”
“Is there still an apartment over the stalls?” Belle dug the tip of her boot into the hard dirt drive. “I’d rather be near the animals. Lillie needs constant care.”
“Lillie?” Harlan furrowed his brows. “Ah, you named the pig already.”
“I’ll have to take her to work with me.” Belle began unloading the truck. If she kept moving and talking, she wouldn’t have a chance to change her mind. “She needs to be fed every couple of hours and that will wake up you and Ivy. So if that apartment is available, I think it’s best if I stay out here. I’ll pay rent until I can find another place. I don’t want to upset your routine, or raise Ivy’s hopes.”
Harlan closed the short distance between them and gripped both of her shoulders. “Breathe, Belle, breathe.”
She didn’t want to look up at him and see the pity he must feel for her. “I’m breathing.” She turned away and grabbed the pet carrier from the front seat and held it up. “Isn’t that right, Lillie? We’re both breathing.”
“The apartment’s yours. It’s been a few weeks since I last cleaned up there, so there might be a few cobwebs. Ivy likes to use it as a playhouse.”
They finished unloading both vehicles and set the animals up in two of the stalls. Olive bounced around like an overexcited child, and Samson, the two-week-old black lamb, settled right in.
“This will work out well. Olive will be able to go outside to graze and I need to introduce Samson to grass soon to activate his rumen. I prefer grazing to only giving them hay.”
“Rumen?”
“It’s a large fermentation vat where bacteria and other microorganisms live. Sheep and goats are ruminant animals. Like cows. They have a four-chamber stomach.”
“Okay, what’s with the duck?” Harlan sat on a hay bale and watched the large white bird waddle down the stable corridor, squawking at the horses as she passed. “She seems old enough to be on her own. Why do you have her?”
“Imogene can’t fly, so she’s a—”
“Sitting duck. I get it now.” Harlan smiled. “She can’t defend herself.”
“Lydia—Dr. Presley—is working with me to help create a nonprofit animal rescue center for injured and abandoned animals.” Belle picked up Imogene and sat next to Harlan on the hay bale. “The main goal is to foster them until they find their forever homes. Finding and affording the land is the biggest obstacle. I’m hoping I can convince one of the larger ranches to donate some acreage, but I need to file for my nonprofit first. My, um, police record doesn’t help matters.”
“Then why do you continue to put yourself in that situation?” Harlan asked.
“When you work for a large-animal vet, you amass an extensive network of animal hospitals, foster homes and volunteers willing to help give animals a second chance. I’m sure you experience the same thing on a human level. For each success story, there are many that never make it. When someone calls me, or Lydia, we go. We’d love to navigate through the proper channels every time. And sometimes we can. Other times it’s an emergency. If Lydia gets arrested, she can lose her veterinary license. I have nothing for them to take.”
Harlan reached out and petted the top of the duck’s head. “Everyone has their passion.”
“Yours is law enforcement. Mine’s animal rescue. Sometimes that means we butt heads.” Belle stood and placed Imogene inside the stall with Olive. “These two love to snuggle together at night. Care to show me upstairs?”
Harlan led Belle to the studio apartment. It was larger than the one-bedroom she’d just been evicted from. It was nicer than she remembered. Little frilly touches here and there. She wondered if they had been Molly’s doing or possibly his mom’s or Ivy’s.
She’d never met his daughter before, only seen her from afar around town. It had surprised her when Harlan had told her Ivy wanted her to move in. It was one more reason not to stay in the main house. She didn’t want to involve Ivy in their fake marriage drama any more than she already was.
“I think I’m going to turn in. It’s been a long, interesting day.” Belle smiled up at him, not sure what the proper protocol was for saying good-night. They may be husband and wife, but there was no way they’d ever consummate the marriage.
Harlan jammed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, eliminating the awkward hug she wanted to avoid. “There’s plenty of room in the barn behind the stables. We can pick up the rest of your things tomorrow and store them in there for the time being. If you need anything, just ask.”
“Thank you. I think I’ve gone above and beyond my favor quota for the week.”
Harlan laughed. “It’s okay. I’ve always said your heart is in the right place. How you go about doing certain things is a little more questionable. I know you mean well. Please promise me something.”
“Yeah, yeah. Stay out of trouble.” Belle smiled. “I promise to try.”
Harlan nodded. “That’s all I ask. I’ll leave you and Lillie to it. Good night, Belle.”
“Good night, Harlan.”
Belle watched him shut the door behind him as he left the room. He hadn’t even tried to hug or kiss her. It was exactly what she wanted. Any chance of a future they had together had shattered into a million shards of glass long ago.
Belle ran to the door, threw it open and bounded down the stairs, hoping to catch him. By the time she made it to the stable entrance, he was already halfway up the porch steps. As he reached the top, he hesitated. Belle held her breath and willed him to turn around, but he continued into the house.