Shelter of Hope (2 page)

“I think she knows where her monkey is,” Susan said with a laugh.

“I hope so. If I’d let her, she would live in a state of disarray all the time. And I can hardly get her to bed without that monkey.”

“I wish you the best with that battle.” Susan opened her purse slung over her shoulder and dug around inside it. She produced a piece of paper—the back of a sales receipt—and wrote a series of numbers on it. “This is my cell number. Please call me if there’s a turn for the worse. Otherwise, I’ll be back out here tomorrow after church.”

His mouth dropped open. “But you don’t even know the dog. Are you sure you want to get involved so much?”

Chapter Five

Story:

Susan stared at the dog lying on the table—injured, defenseless and, from the looks of her thin body, homeless. Susan was a cat person. She’d never thought of having a dog. At least she could make sure the dog found a good home. It was her responsibility, not Nathan Grayson’s. “I helped save her life. I can’t abandon her. I’ll be here at one.”

He took a card from his wallet. “This is how you can get a hold of me if you need to cancel, or if you have questions.”

She took it from his hand, their skin touching. Her breath caught. The man before her wasn’t the typical type she was attracted to. Medium-length sandy-blond hair lay at odd angles, as though he ran his fingers through it a lot. He wasn’t classically handsome, but there was something appealing about his chiseled features—a strength in them that fit what she had seen today. He recognized a need and went right to work to fix it. She liked that in a man.

She moved toward the door. “You can bill me for your services. I may have to pay out over several months, but I want to take care of her until you find a home for her.”

“I don’t charge people for bringing in stray animals that are hurt.”

Exiting the vet’s mini clinic, Susan scanned the yard. It was littered with pens full of various kinds of animals. “Now I understand why you have so many animals here.”

“Most people in Hope know they can bring an animal to me and it will have a chance to live.”

“But aren’t you running out of room?”

“That’s not my most pressing problem.”

“What is?”

“Enough hours in the day to do everything. I’m not even sure I can take Labor Day off to go on the boat with Kim and Zane, but Carly really wants to. I guess I could drop her off. Kim and Zane would look after her.”

Susan thought of the little girl who had such devotion to her father. Susan wanted to help the child spend as much quality time with Nathan as possible. Her own experience trying to get some of her mother’s attention was not so happy—it had hurt when her mother’s latest man had been more important than her. “Tell you what. I’ll come tomorrow to help you, and then again early Monday morning for the chores that need to be done so you can go on the boat. You need to be with your daughter.” She flashed a smile. “Besides, my boss invited me on the boat, too. We all should have a day of play from time to time.”

“I can’t ask—”

“I won’t accept no. You’re helping me with the dog, so in turn I’ll help you. A deal.” She stuck her hand out.

His fingers slowly closed around hers to seal the deal. “If you’re sure. We have a lot of animals to feed before we go.”

The rough texture of his hand spoke of a man who worked physically with them, and from the looks of the farm, she knew where. “I never offer unless I mean it. I don’t have anything planned this weekend. I like to be busy.”

“Oh, you’ll be that here,” Nathan said with a chuckle.

The sound struck a chord with her, kicking her heartbeat up. The laugh lines at the corners of his eyes deepened, and she couldn’t pull her gaze away.

When she finally dragged her attention to her car and started toward it, she knew she was in trouble. Nathan didn’t gush charm, but it was there under the surface, ready to suck her in.

But I’m not here for a relationship. I’m here because Nathan needs me—even if he doesn’t realize it.

Chapter Six

Story:

“Daddy, when is Miss Fayard gonna be here? You said this afternoon.” Carly set one fist on her waist. “Well, it’s after noon right now.”

Twelve oh-five p.m., to be exact.
Nathan pressed his lips together rather than laugh at his daughter’s impatience. Not to mention how literal she was. “Pumpkin, she’ll be here when she gets here.” In a short time his daughter was becoming attached to Susan Fayard.

“That’s not an answer. I have things to show her. Oreo wants to see her.”

“Oreo?”

“Daddy.” Carly exaggerated his name as though he should know who Oreo was. “The dog she brought here yesterday.”

“You named it?” That never boded well for trying to give away the animal after it healed.

The other fist came up and rested on her waist. “Of course. I couldn’t keep saying ‘dog’ or ‘her.’ Daddy, Oreo doesn’t like to be in a cage.”

“She’s in it to keep her from walking on her bad leg. It hasn’t even been a day since the car hit her. We need to give her body a chance to heal before she starts running around and playing with you. Have you finished filling the water bowls for the animals?”

His daughter dropped her gaze to the ground, her shoulders slumping forward.

“You said you wanted an important job, and that is very important. The animals have to have water to live, just like us.”

She lifted her head. “I was just taking a break to check on Miss Fayard.” She whirled around and raced back into the barn.

An hour and a half later, Nathan glanced toward the dirt road that led to the highway.
Where is Susan Fayard?
The second he thought it, he wanted to take it back. He’d had other people offer to help with the animals, but often they ended up not coming because something better came up. That was why he didn’t depend on other people.

His wife had taught him that. He was the reason she’d died in the hurricane. He’d talked her into moving back a few months before Hurricane Naomi hit Hope. If he hadn’t, she would be alive.

Lost in his guilt, Nathan didn’t hear Susan’s car until it was almost at the house. The sight of her with a huge smile on her face as she climbed from her Mustang urged him to forget his past.

His long strides ate up the distance between them. “I figured you weren’t coming.”

“I’d hoped to be here sooner, but I got caught at church and had to help the pastor. So I’m all yours. What do you want me to do first?”

I’m all yours
stuck in his mind, playing over and over.

“I came to work,” she said.

He started to finally answer her when his daughter yelled, “Miss Fayard,” then ran full-steam toward her, skidding to a stop and throwing her arms around the startled woman.

Chapter Seven

Story:

Carly tugged on Susan’s hand, pulling her toward the mini clinic next to the barn. “You’ve gotta see Oreo.”

Susan threw a questioning look at Nathan as she passed him.

“That’s Carly’s name for the dog you saved yesterday.”

“Oh, I like that name. It fits her,” Susan said as she stepped inside the room where Nathan treated the animals he took in.

The night before, she couldn’t get the man out of her mind. The passion, care and love he gave these discarded animals touched her. His image had haunted her dreams. She’d gone to bed thinking about him and woke up doing the same. She’d given in to her curiosity about him this morning and phoned Kim, discovering that his wife had died only last year. That was when she’d decided to call him and tell him she couldn’t come and help him after all.

But every time she started to punch in his number, she couldn’t do it. Her fingers refused the command from her brain. He needed her. He’d even admitted as much. His recent loss shouldn’t stop her from offering her aid. So here she was, against her better judgment.

Carly squatted on the floor by a large dog crate. “Daddy says he still needs to observe her.” She grinned at Susan. “He does that a lot with the animals here. I help him.”

Susan knelt down next to the girl. “I bet you do a great job.”

The child thrust back her shoulders. “I also give all the animals water. Very important to them.”

Susan felt Nathan’s presence behind her, although he was quiet. The awareness shivered down her back. Oreo lifted her head slightly, her big brown gaze boring into Susan.

“Can I open the door so we can pet her? She’s probably lonely.” Carly moved to do it even before she got an answer, then gently patted the dog, whose head was closest to them.

Susan stroked the black-and-white mutt behind her ear and noticed her tail wag once. “You like that, girl.” Another movement of Oreo’s tail confirmed she’d hit a favorite spot.

Carly hopped up. “I’ve got some other animals I want to show you. I have a horse that lives here all the time. He’s mine.”

“I tell you what, pumpkin. You go to the corral, and I’ll bring Susan to see you and Jersey in a bit. I want to talk with Susan for a few minutes.”

“Sure. Can I give him some carrots?” Carly was running across the room as she asked.

“Yes,” Nathan said with a laugh as his daughter disappeared out the door. “Surprisingly, she
has
stayed still longer than that once or twice. She’s a moving target most of the time, though. I wish I had all her energy. Then I might get everything done.”

Susan rose to her full height and still Nathan towered over her by a foot. “Like I said before, I came to work, so what do you need me to do?”

One of his eyebrows lifted. His gaze slipped down the length of her, appraising her white capri pants and a lacy white jacket with a red T-shirt and sandals. “You did?”

Chapter Eight

Story:

“You look like you came from church,” Nathan said as he took in her manicured fingernails and toenails, which were painted a bright red color that matched the only thing she wore that was appropriate for working on a farm—the T-shirt under her delicate lacy jacket.

Susan folded her arms over her chest. “I did, that’s what I said earlier. I didn’t want to make myself any later by running home and changing.” Shrugging out of her lacy cover, she folded it over her forearm. “See. Now I’m ready.”

He stared at her white sandals with two-inch heels. “I need someone to clean the cages and pens. Carly and I feed and water the animals first thing in the morning, then I check to make sure all of the ones who are sick or have been injured are all right before we clean out what cages and pens we have time for. Most of the job falls to the weekend when I’m not at my veterinary practice in town.”

Her eyes widened. “You have all the animals fed and watered before you go to work?”

“Yes, my day starts at five. It seems to be getting earlier as the population grows here at the farm. This wasn’t supposed to be a second job, but it has evolved into one.”

“Who stays with Carly while you’re at work?” Susan left the farm clinic and strolled toward her car.

“My aunt. Sometimes she also comes when there’s an animal that needs a closer watch.” When the woman who had dominated his thoughts for the past day turned and opened her car door, he added, “I appreciate the offer of help, but I can understand if it’s more than you signed up for. I’ll take care of Oreo.”

She threw a quizzical look over her shoulder, pushed her front seat forward and rummaged around in the back of her car. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re leaving.”

She straightened and faced him. “What in the world gave you that idea?”

“You opened your door.”

She twisted back around and withdrew a pair of tennis shoes. “To get these. Heels aren’t appropriate for cleaning out cages and pens.”

“What about your white pants?”

“Bleach. It works wonders on dirt.”

“So you’re staying?”

Okay, maybe today she would help—or at least try to—but he seriously doubted he would see her again.

Susan sat sideways in her car’s front seat and put on her tennis shoes. When she finished, she stabbed him with a look that told him he shouldn’t doubt her resolve. “I don’t go back on my word. I came to work.” She stood and slammed her door. “Why do you have trouble accepting help from others?”

Chapter Nine

Story:

A tic twitched along Nathan’s jaw. “What do you mean? I accept help. My aunt watches Carly in the summer when she isn’t in school.”

“Anyone else?” Kim had told Susan at church how much Nathan had retreated after his wife’s death, spending more and more time at the farm with his strays. He may be grieving, but his behavior was affecting his daughter, too. He couldn’t be a hermit with someone like Carly, who seemed to love to be around people.

“Maggie and her son, Brady, gave me a hand finishing up the repairs to the house,” he replied.

“She’s a cousin. Any outsiders?”

“Outsiders?” Nathan’s hand raked through his hair and ended up kneading his nape. “Maggie brought some friends with her. I didn’t run them off, if that’s what you think.”

“This is your hometown, and since the hurricane you have kept yourself apart from your friends and even your family. Kim told me this morning you called and said you weren’t going on the boat tomorrow for Labor Day. I’m sure Carly would love the boat, and I’m here to make sure you catch up on your chores. So why aren’t you going?”

“Leave or stay. I don’t have time for this.” He pivoted and stalked off toward the corral on the other side of the barn.

Susan curled her hands at her sides. Why had she pushed him?

Because he’d taken it for granted that she wouldn’t stay and help. His doubt had been written all over his face. And she wanted to know what made him keep himself apart from others. Yes, the hurricane had been hard on everyone in Hope, but people were helping each other and getting back on their feet. Nathan was doing his part by taking in homeless and stray animals, but he insisted on doing it by himself when it was obvious—from his own mouth—that it was too much for him alone, even with Carly. And his withdrawal from life would be hard on his daughter.

Susan’s gaze latched on to Carly, who was jumping up and down and pointing toward a small brown horse in the corral. Susan was going to stay and help him whether he wanted it or not…for Carly’s sake.