“Oh, Tony, I’m so glad you didn’t put him down. But he’s all bandaged. Is he hurt badly?”
“Doc said he may limp. Other than that, he should heal just fine,” Tony said, watching Lindsay instead of the dog. She smelled wonderful and she looked great. He still wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her, but he knew that wasn’t what she would want.
She placed her hand on the dog’s head to pet him and he slowly thumped his tail.
“He has to get well. Thank you for calling me and thanks for taking care of him. I think he’s wonderful. Look at him. He’s so sweet.”
“You don’t know if he’s sweet yet. Remember, he still has the lingering effects of sedatives.”
“He’s sweet. You’ll see. Look at those beautiful eyes.”
“I am,” Tony said, and she turned to look at him as he met her gaze.
She shook her head. “That’s what I thought. You’re not thinking about the dog.”
“No, I’m not. It’s good to see you.”
She didn’t respond to his statement. Instead, she teased him. “You know, if he had been a gray wolf, you could have had a wish granted, according to legend. As it is, you just became the owner of a stray dog.”
“If I could have a wish, I’d wish that you’d go out with me tonight. But I guess, for the good of all, I would wish for rain this week.”
“Doesn’t matter. That was just a legend and he is just a dog.” She petted him and Tony watched her. He couldn’t help wishing those gentle hands were on his body, caressing him. But while her touch stilled the dog, it had aroused him.
“So,” he prodded, “will you go out with me tonight?”
She turned to look at him solemnly, a slight frown on her brow, and he feared her answer. Then the frown disappeared and she nodded. “Tony, we need to talk,” she said, suddenly sounding serious, as if she had something difficult to discuss. After her hesitation, she nodded again. “Yes. Tonight will be a big thank-you for rescuing this dog and giving him a home.”
“Great. Let’s go someplace fancy in Fort Worth. Someplace to dance, to talk and have a good time and super food, and then you can come back here and we’ll see how our patient is doing.”
Again he received a solemn look that puzzled him. “I don’t know about coming back here, but we’ll go out.” Then, as if a thought just struck her, she asked, “But what about the dog? When you leave, he won’t leave, will he?”
“I’ll shut him in here where it’s air-conditioned and he can be comfortable. In his condition, he can’t get out. He’ll have water and by that time I will have fed him something, so he should be all right.”
“Do you want me to stay with him today?”
“Lindsay, I’m guessing you have a lot of things to do today.”
She shrugged. “I suppose so, but I just don’t want him to get up and go.”
“He won’t. I promise you.”
She leaned down to croon to the dog and scratch behind his ears, and Tony took the opportunity to run his gaze over her. He didn’t know if it was his imagination or just knowing whatwas beneath the clothes she wore, but she looked better than she used to with her braid, her old hat and jeans. Or was it because he hadn’t seen her for a while and it was good to be with her again?
After a short time, she leaned back. “I need to get home, but I had to come see him.”
They both stood and left the stall. While the dog raised its head, Tony closed the stall door and walked with Lindsay outside. “I’m glad you’re going with me tonight. How about six so we have time to get to Fort Worth? I’ll be glad to see you.”
She smiled, but despite her acceptance of his dinner date, he sensed something off about her. Something had changed. There was a reluctance about her.
He tried to tease her out of her funk. “Still no fights between us, darlin’,” he said quietly. “I’d say we’ve done well.”
“Yes, we have, Tony. I hope it lasts,” she said, and he had an even stronger feeling that something bothered her.
“Lindsay, come back into the barn for a minute.”
She walked with him into the cool barn and turned to look at him with curiosity in her expression. “What’s on your mind?”
“I wanted some privacy for us. Is anything wrong?”