Jason watched as Winona worked, impressed with her confidence around animals that would scare most people.
She examined the mother, drew blood samples, and gave the animals rabies vaccines. “You guys didn’t see that.”
Her volunteers laughed, understanding a joke that sailed over Jason’s head.
Winona explained. “Rabies vaccines aren’t approved for wolfdog mixes, but I give them anyway. I do what’s best for the animal.”
She gave the wolfdog a drug to revive her, then left her and her pups in the crate with fresh water to rest. “Thanks, everyone, for your help. Heather should be here any minute. I’m going to fill out the paperwork.”
While Winona filled out vaccine certificates, Jason cased out the clinic, looking at its security from a law enforcement perspective, taking photos with his phone. A criminal would have no trouble gaining entrance. Only the back entrance was truly secure. The front door was mostly glass, making it an easy point of ingress, and he had no difficulty forcing the windows open from the outside.
He carried their bags next door to her house and scoped it out, too, finding much the same thing—doors and windows that were easy to force or break, as well as a deck railing that would make it easy for someone to climb into her bedroom.
He couldn’t leave it like this, but none of this was his decision to make. He’d talk to Winona tonight, give her the business card of Nate’s friend in Denver.
As he walked back to the clinic, the truck from the wolf rescue pulled up. He watched as Winona, the volunteers, and the woman from the rescue transferred the still-groggy mother and her pups to a new crate.
Winona handed the woman all of her paperwork. “Thanks, Heather.”
“Any word on the male wolf?”
Winona shook her head. “He ran off when the rangers and sheriff’s deputies approached. I’m worried about him. He might not know how to hunt or fend for himself up there. I’m going to contact wildlife officials and ask what they plan to do.”
“If they catch him, we’ll take him in.” Heather gave Winona a hug. “I need to get Mama and pups settled before dark. See you soon.”
Winona watched them drive away, then let out a relieved breath. “I’m hungry. How about you? Want to head to Knockers?”
He was hungry—for food and something more. “How about we grab something quick and stay at your place?”
“Do you like tacos?”
“Do I like tacos?” Jason stared at her. “I’m O’odham and a Mexican citizen.”
They climbed into Winona’s Outback and drove to a taco truck that was doing a brisk trade, the wordsTacos Sabrosospainted on its side—Tasty Tacos.
Winona ordered three tacos with shredded chicken and queso. “No jalapeños.Gracias, Juana.”
“No jalapeños?” Jason had to tease her just a little. “Are they too hot for you?”
Winona lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’ll explain in a minute.”
Jason ordered a smothered burrito with the jalapeños, the two of them standing beneath a heat lamp while they waited for their order. “Okay, let’s hear it. What’s the problem with jalapeños that makes you whisper in public?”
Winona leaned closer. “Chaska and Naomi got some food from Juana’s one day, and they were … intimate afterward. Naomi had eaten jalapeños, and the oils from the pepper burned Chaska on his… She says he had to spend an hour with his manly bits in a bowl of milk—which, by the way, isnotan image I needed in my mind.”
“Ouch.” Jason winced at the thought of dick-burn and picked the jalapeños off his burrito, leaving them uneaten. “Okay. Agreed. No jalapeños.”
He thought about it for a moment. “Wait. Does this mean you’ve got something specific in mind for later, angel?”
He certainly did.
Chapter 16
Winona and Jasonate their supper at Winona’s kitchen table, talking about everything and nothing. Their shared experience at the Cimarron. How Winona and Chaska had learned to ski. Jason’s first memory of snow.
“I must have been four.” There was a hint of sadness in his smile as he spoke, his hand taking hers. “My mother woke me up early and told me there was snow outside. I had no idea what she meant. I remember her putting a little snowball in my hand. I dropped it because it was so cold. That made her laugh. Then, I discovered that my shoes made prints in this cold, white stuff, so I stomped all over the place.”
Winona smiled, imagining Jason as a tiny child. “You were learning to track already. I bet you were adorable.”