Reuniting With The Cowboy

The Cowboy Next Door

A charming cowboy moving in next door shouldn’t be bad news. But veterinarian Ally Curtis knows Cody Warren—she’d never forget the boy who left her when she needed him most. Cody is doing everything he can to show his beautiful neighbor he’s not the wild bull rider he once was, from helping her find homes for her beloved strays, to protecting her when her business is threatened. But Cody has a secret that keeps him from fully reaching out. Yet as they continue to work together to promote her shelter, he can’t keep himself from hoping that Ally might have a home for him...in her heart.

Ally put her arm around Cody’s waist. “Lean on me.”

A bum leg was worth getting this close to Ally. He slipped his arm around her shoulders. Her fruity shampoo tickled his senses along with vanilla, and that fresh hay scent that had clung to her for as long as he could remember. The smell of Ally. He’d missed it.

“We’re gonna turn around nice and slow and take you back inside. Once you’re on solid ground, I’ll go warm up the soup and bring it over.”

“That’s too much trouble.” He really should tell her he could walk just fine. Just needed his cane and to take it slow. But what he ought to do and what he wanted to do were two entirely different things.

“No, it’s not.” She helped him climb his steps. “I won’t have you hurting yourself for no reason.”

She cared and smelled good. But he couldn’t get used to leaning on Ally. Couldn’t get too close. Not until he figured out his future. If he had one.

SHANNON TAYLOR VANNATTER is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife/award-winning author. She lives in a rural central-Arkansas community with a population of around one hundred, if you count a few cows. Contact her at shannonvannatter.com.

Reuniting with the Cowboy

Shannon Taylor Vannatter

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

and He will establish your plans.

—Proverbs 16:3

To Dr. Mark Baker, DVM,

for keeping my pets healthy and for sharing his stories during our many appointments. Especially the mad mama cow episode, which inspired a fictionalized version for this book.

Acknowledgments

I appreciate former Aubrey City Hall secretary Nancy Trammel-Downes; Aubrey Main Street Committee member Deborah Goin; Aubrey librarian Kathy Ramsey; Allison Leslie; and Steve and Krys Murray, owners of Moms on Main, for all their help and support.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Fifteen dogs and twenty-one cats. The number of strays changed daily—but one thing didn’t—they all depended on Ally Curtis. This had to go well. She checked her appearance one more time, spritzed on vanilla body spray.

A clatter echoed through the house.

“Mom, you okay in there?”

“Just digging for a Pyrex lid.”

Ally hurried to the kitchen. Her two Pomeranians trailed behind, their nails clicking across the hardwood floor.

“Found it.” Mom snapped the blue lid onto a glass casserole dish on the counter. Layers of cream cheese and chocolate were visible through the sides. “I knew you’d be too tired to make anything after vaccinating all that cattle and we need to win over our new neighbor.”

“You really didn’t have to do this, but I’m glad you did.” A cramp shot through Ally’s shoulder and she massaged the aching spot. “Thanks, Mom.”

Every muscle she owned ached as if she’d spent the first day of September steer wrestling. And she pretty much had.

Vaccination day at a large ranch paid a lot of bills at her vet clinic in tiny Aubrey, Texas. But she always came home exhausted and reeking like a stockyard. The shower had removed the stench but not the twinges.

At least she had another vet in her practice and the new tech she’d hired would relieve some of their load tomorrow. But it was only Thursday night. Two more workdays until her only day off.

“You smell much better,” Mom teased.

“Definitely. Now all I have to do is lay on the charm.”

“My persuasive daughter bearing a four-layer delight. Who could resist?” Mom’s eyes widened. “What if our new neighbor is allergic to chocolate?”

“Or pecans.” Ally’s heart stammered. “Should I make something else?”

“Forget I said that.” Mom winced. “If there are allergy issues, just apologize and I’ll bake a pie or something else.”

“If there’s any more baking to be done, I’ll do it.” Ally picked up the dessert. “You’ve done enough.”

“It probably won’t be necessary. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t love four-layer delight.”

“Neither have I.” It was Daddy’s favorite. And Cody had practically begged for it.

Thoughts of her father always led to Cody. It had been twelve years since her policeman dad had died in the line of duty. Twelve years since her good friend Cody’s comfort had turned into an earth-shattering kiss. A kiss that had dug an awkward gulf between them.