“Thank you,” Tucker said. “The attitude of the volunteers tells me a great deal about an organization.”
“Well, sir, we’re all simple folks from around Black-foot Falls. We believe the sanctuary helps everyone. To my mind, a community should be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable creatures. We’re doing what we know in our hearts is right.”
“I agree,” he said.
“And I need coffee. I’ll see you when we’re done inside.” Annie started walking before Tucker could see her sappy grin.
HALFWAY TO THE CABIN, Tucker decided to change things up, take a chance. See what happened. “As long as you’re covered here at Safe Haven, how about dinner tonight?”
Her inhale told him the suggestion had thrown her off balance. So did the pause in her step. She hadn’t expected the invitation. For a moment there, she’d been frightened. He’d seen it, but only because he’d been paying close attention. So far, they’d kept things professional. Dinner could mean anything.
“I’ve been wondering what motivated you to take over the sanctuary. I don’t know much about you, and it’s always interesting to discover what leads someone to this kind of life. It’s not an easy one. You have to want it badly to put up with all the obstacles. I thought we could talk about it over a meal.”
The flash came again, only for a second, and more contained this time, but it was important that he push her. More than ever, he needed to get to the bottom of this mystery. If she had acted under duress, as he suspected, he had to know. Not that he was forgetting about Christian. His brother was still his priority, but if he could get to the truth, it would solve both their problems.
“You know what? Let’s see how the day goes.” She hurried the rest of the way to the cabin, held the door for him. “Why don’t we have that coffee and go over the books? Then see where we are. I mean, you’re going home tomorrow, so—”
“I’ve moved some appointments around. Thought I’d attend your first meeting tomorrow, meet the rest of the board.”
She looked at him as if he’d slipped a rug out from under her feet. He supposed he had. Trouble was, instead of taking satisfaction in throwing her off kilter, it seemed he wanted to catch her before she fell.
THE HORSE ANNIE GAVE TUCKER TO ride had been named Ronald Weasley, by a committee of four from the high school. She assured him that at one time, the majority of the cast from the Potter series had been in residence, but that a lot of them, including Harry, had found homes.
She rode Candy Cane, who’d become something of a favorite among the staff. The names and explanations behind them had taken them past the first and second corrals. Annie was grateful for the distraction, knowing she couldn’t put Tucker off for too much longer. After the ride was over, she planned to shower and change, sending him to town on his own. After all, it was foolish to take one vehicle when he’d be going back to Kalispell for the night. She’d meet him at Marge’s.
She’d debated calling him with an excuse after he’d gone to the diner, but that seemed like a surefire way to kill any chance of getting foundation funds. A man like him was used to conducting business over dinner. In New York she’d done it more often than not. There was no reason for her to think he wanted to share a meal for any other reason. At least him driving ahead would give her time alone to figure out what to tell him.
When she’d first arrived in Blackfoot Falls, people were curious about her and of course they’d had questions. But she’d been vague and firm, and for nearly two years no one had pressed her about her past. God bless cowboys. Not that everyone didn’t gossip about her—she knew they did. But that was fine.
Tucker had caught her off guard, that’s all. Sure, he had money, but at heart he was a cowboy. She’d been ready to tell him every last detail about Safe Haven and all her plans. She wasn’t comfortable telling him lies.
It was bad enough she’d donned Annie Sheridan like a new skin. On the few occasions anyone asked, she said she was from back east. True. When they asked her why she wanted to run Safe Haven, she said she’d always had an affinity for animals, horses in particular. Also true. Then she changed the subject. That wasn’t going to work with Tucker.
“This is gorgeous country.” Tucker rode in a way that made her feel like a klutz. “I’d forgotten what a real spring looks like.”
She wasn’t a klutz. In fact, she was a good rider. But Tucker had been born to the cowboy life.
“The drought has hit everyone in Texas hard,” he said, his baritone laced with sadness. “It’s a different landscape from when I was a kid. It breaks my heart.”
“I’ll bet,” she said. “This is all Safe Haven land, you know. It doesn’t belong to the state or the Bureau of Land Management. That’s good, because we need the space. But we’re not incorporated, and if there’s a fire, unless it threatens buildings or livestock, it’s only going to be managed, not fought. So the more snow and rain we have, the better it is for everyone. Thankfully, this far north, we still get a lot of snow.”
“You have trouble with predators?”
“Much as any ranch out here. We’ve lost our share, but that’s the way of it. the price for free range. Most of the cattle are just passing through, though. We’re not equipped to take care of many, but people are quicker to take cows.”
“That’s good. What about the horses?”
She found herself urging Candy Cane to move faster. “We get a lot of abandoned horses. Too many folks have lost their homes, lost their property, including their ability to care for their stock. Cows are typically bought, but horses…There’s a lot of sentiment around horses, even if the old-timers want to deny it. Nobody likes to send a horse to slaughter. Unfortunately, those same people aren’t able to find them new homes. I’m sure it’s the same story on your end.”
“Every rescue shelter we support has a different set of circumstances unique to their location.” Tucker looked around at the distant prairie, spread as far as they could see. “There are plenty of lakes here. Shade trees. Underground water flow. A horse might find a decent chance.”
She nodded. “Good thing we have that because there’s never a time we’re not at capacity. Not a week goes by we don’t have to turn someone away.”
“That won’t change if you get funding.”
“It’ll happen less. That’s something to hope for.”
He seemed to study her with a different kind of interest. “Safe Haven is lucky to have you. Whatever happens from this trip, the work you’ve put into this place is something you can be proud of.”
“Thank you.” Annie rode ahead a bit, trying not to let him see her confusion over the oddly ominous compliment. Had he already eliminated Safe Haven as a worthy nonprofit? Then why bother to stay for the board meeting?
Maybe they weren’t ready for a gift yet. She’d run across that in her fundraising efforts, where an organization would hold back money until certain goals had been met.
That would be a blow, but only because she was letting herself hope too much. Nothing was ever guaranteed. Especially when things looked brightest.
They weren’t far from the field she wanted Tucker to see. Putting aside her worries, she let the excitement of this amazing project spur her forward. Candy Cane caught her enthusiasm and Weasley trotted along. The perfect breeze lifted Annie’s hair, taking her out of her myopic panic for the first time since he’d mentioned dinner.
The day couldn’t have been better. Green leaves and buds and early flowers were everywhere she looked, the scent of