Once Touched Read Free Page B

couldn’t handle him herself. She called us.”
    Quinn sighed. The story was too familiar. “I’m glad she knew where to turn.”
    “Me too. In all likelihood Griff would have ended up being euthanized. Sometimes it seems like there aren’t enough shelters for all the creatures in need. Speaking of which, you made any progress?”
    “Still saving up. Mendocino County isn’t Napa or Sonoma, but even there land doesn’t come cheap.”
    “Have you thought about approaching your family?”
    Even though she could feel Ruth’s gaze on her, she didn’t lower her binoculars. “To help me buy a property, you mean? I couldn’t—wouldn’t. This is my dream.”
    “What about just using a piece of the ranch?”
    “Not possible. All of Silver Creek is tied up, either as farmland for the ranch or for the guest lodgings and amenities.” Which was how it should be, Quinn thought. The ranch was the family’s endeavor; the sanctuary would be hers.
    “Sorry if I sound pushy, Quinn. I know you’ll make the dream of opening an animal refuge a reality.”
    Quinn smiled. Sometimes Ruth could be pushy. Devoting her life to protecting wolves and educating the public about them wasn’t for the meek or timid. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
    “Anytime. So how are your various critters doing?”
    “Good.” Quinn hugged her crossed knees. “Have I told you about my gelding named Tucker?”
    “Don’t believe so.”
    “I spotted him at an equine rescue center near Sacramento. He’d been abused and then abandoned—you know the story. Once I got him healthy, I started working with him on the ground and in the saddle. I’ve been studying massage therapy and hope to work on him. But he’s really shy. Whoever hurt Tucker did a number on him. I don’t know if he’ll ever get over his fear of people. Especially men.”
    “So he’s with you for life.”
    “Yeah.” Quinn shrugged. She was fine with that. She never fostered or adopted an animal she wasn’t prepared to keep forever. “Luckily my friend Mel, who’s a wrangler at the ranch, is feeding him his hay while I’m here. Tucker’s used to seeing her around the corrals, so the change in routine won’t freak him out.”
    “And what about that other horse of yours?”
    “Domino? Oh, he’s set for the weekend. One of our new ranch hands took him out for a ride at the beginning of the week. When Josh came back he was grinning from ear to ear. Apparently Domino was one of the sweetest rides he’d ever enjoyed—no surprise there,” she added. “I decided to let Josh borrow him again this weekend—they’re cutting cattle from the herd for harvesting.”
    “Sounds like a lucky cowboy.”
    “Yeah.” Her only worry was that Josh might read more into her gesture and think he was going to get even luckier.
    “You fostering any new animals?” Ruth asked.
    “Only Alfie.”
    Ruth lowered her binoculars. “What’s he, a cat?”
    “Nah, that would make life too easy. He’s an Amazon blue parrot. Remember me telling you about my friend Lorelei?”
    “The one who works at the local shelter?”
    “Yeah. She’s housesitting and keeping Pirate, Sooner, and Alfie company this weekend. I’m going to owe her big-time.”
    “Let me guess. Alfie’s verbal?”
    “To put it mildly. I’m thinking a batch of killer brownies might go a ways toward compensating Lorelei for any hearing loss.”
    “Ahh, chocolate. The default solution to everything under the sun.” Ruth laughed softly and raised the binoculars again, scanning the pack.
    “Well, yeah.” Before she could launch into a catalog of the ills chocolate could cure, her phone’s alarm vibrated. With a frown she pulled it out of her jacket pocket and switched it off. “Drat,” she muttered. “I hadn’t realized how much time had passed. I’ve got to hit the road. I’m due at the airport.”
    She stood and shook out her legs to regain feeling in them after sitting on the cold ground. Ruth rose, too,