Free Only By Your Touch by Catherine Anderson

stories. “If we leave the pup, I will expect to pay you, Mr. Longtree. Can you give me an idea of the cost?”
    “You can’t afford me,” he said icily. “Fortunately, Jeremy can, and we’ve already agreed on the terms. Right, Jeremy?”
    “Yup. It won’t cost any money for medicine or anything, Mom.”
    Ben Longtree ruffled the child’s hair and grinned. The smile transformed his face. “Good-bye, Jeremy.” His voice turned chilly again when he addressed Chloe. “I wish I could say it’s been a pleasure, Mrs. Evans.”
    As he left the kitchen, he snapped his fingers. The wolf and cougar rose from their respective positions to follow him to another part of the house. Chloe gazed after the unlikely trio. Never had she felt quite so ashamed of herself.
    “Mom?” Jeremy leaned around to make her look at him. “Please, can’t I leave Rowdy here? Mr. Longtree will take real, real good care of him. I know he will. And it won’t cost us any money.”
    After the way she’d behaved, Chloe cringed at the thought of accepting the man’s charity. On the other hand, she was in no position to refuse. She went to stand over the puppy. His breathing was rapid and shallow. She could tell just by looking that he was hanging on to life by a thread. If she removed the IV, how could she be sure he would make it to the clinic?
    Decision made, Chloe jotted down her phone number. She signed off with two words, I’m sorry . As apologies went, it was inadequate. Maybe, as an olivebranch, she could bake Ben Longtree a cake or something. It was the least she could do. He’d even given her son lemonade. God, she felt like such a witch.
    She had just laid down the pen when a feminine voice rang out behind her. “Well, I’ll be! He actually did it.”
    Chloe whirled. A slender woman in a floral dress entered the kitchen. Her short brown hair was threaded with silver, and her blue eyes shone with warmth.
    “Hello,” Chloe found the presence of mind to say.
    The woman smoothed her bodice and patted her hair. “Isn’t it just like a man not to mention someone’s coming? I would have prettied up if I had known.”
    Chloe thought she was lovely as she was. This must be the demented Nan Longtree. Only she didn’t seem crazy. She looked sweet—and embarrassed to have been caught with her dress wrinkled and her hair mussed.
    “Actually, I dropped in unannounced.”
    “Oh. That explains it, then, and no matter. It’s glad I’ll be to have some female company once a week.”
    Bewildered, Chloe just smiled.
    “Has he shown you through the house?”
    “Oh, no, we didn’t get so far as that. I, um, think we have our wires crossed, Mrs. Longtree. I just—”
    “Why am I not surprised?” Nan flapped her hand. “It’s just as well that I do it. He’d never in the world think to tell you all that needs done.”
     
    Even with the glass office doors closed, Ben heard his mom’s voice. He cocked his head. Great. Just what the situation needed, a performance by his mother.
    Pushing up from his caster chair, he left the office. As he strode to the main part of the house, he heard Nan ask, “Do you do windows?”
    Chloe Evans laughed, the sound light and airy. “I’ve scrubbed a few.”
    “No store-bought stuff. Vinegar and newspaper. It never leaves smears.”
    “That’s how my mom cleans windows.”
    Nan replied, “It’s the only way to do them properly.”
    Just as Ben reached the kitchen, his mother jerked open a drawer. “Will you look at this?” She clucked her tongue. “With all these critters, we’ve got hair everywhere. In my day, I kept a spotless house. I can’t anymore.”
    “This is a large home,” Chloe said sympathetically.
    “Yes. I’m so glad Ben finally hired someone. To his credit, I have to say that he tries. But he’s so busy, he only gives the house a hit and a miss. The drawers are driving me crazy.” Nan opened another one. “Isn’t this awful?”
    Ben descended on his mother. “Mom?”