Free A Montana Cowboy by Rebecca Winters

yipping? It’s coming from Annie who went into her house to get away from Paul. She hasn’t stopped.”
    Cassie nodded. “Lulu is defending her. The sound of the sander frightens them. I didn’t realize our work would stress them out so much. They’re usually so calm. We’ll be gone in a few more minutes, Lulu. Don’t worry.”
    â€œCan anyone help?” spoke a deep, familiar male voice behind Cassie.
    She turned around with brush in hand and almost dropped it. The man she’d been trying her hardest not to think about had come to the sanctuary. “Hi! What are you doing here?”
    â€œI dropped by my Dad’s for a while and thought I’d check out the sanctuary before heading back to the ranch. What’s wrong with these wolves? They look healthy.”
    â€œThey are now, thanks to your dad. Two winters ago someone found them near dead in the forest just outside the town. Sam tested them for mange. Mites had burrowed under their skin and the scratching caused so much hair loss, they almost froze to death. Unfortunately they’re too domesticated now, so they have a permanent home here.”
    â€œDid he name them?”
    â€œNo. That was the owner of the sanctuary. She passed away a year ago at the age of ninety-five. I heard she loved the Little Lulu comic books as a child so she named these sister wolves Lulu and Annie. Aren’t they beautiful?”
    â€œThey are,” he murmured, but he was looking at her. She could hardly breathe.
    â€œWe’re finished with the painting for today.”
    â€œI bet your OB would tell you not to get around paint.”
    â€œIt’s okay. We’re outside, and this paint is VOC proofed. As long as you’re here, you need to see my favorite animal. Let me put my things away first.” She put the brush in the can of turpentine and sealed the paint can. As she started to pick them up, Trace took them from her and carried them down to the box at the end of the railing for her.
    â€œThank you,” she said. “See you next week, guys,” she called to her friends.
    They waved her off.
    â€œYou won’t believe how darling this little female fox is. Logan found her in the forest behind your house. He said she acted disoriented, so we took her to your dad’s clinic. He discovered the poor darling was close to blind. Wait till you see her.”
    Trace followed her around to the next enclosure. “Right now she’s housed in a special raptor mew waiting for new animal quarters. The owners call it the ‘fox condo.’”
    A low chuckle escaped him. Cassie felt it to her bones as she approached the fox. Her little goldish-red head lay propped on the grassy platform. “Look, Trace. That sweet face with all the white below. Have you ever seen anything like it? She’s elegant. You would think she was gazing out at the whole world, seeing everything.
    â€œGiselle?” The fox’s ears pricked like Buttercup’s. “Giselle? It’s Cassie.” The animal lifted her head and put her black nose to the fence. Cassie touched it with her finger. “I brought a friend. His name is Trace. Do you know what? He owns the ranch where you were found. Isn’t that amazing?”
    The fox moved its head as she talked.
    â€œGood heavens. That animal understands you,” Trace said under his breath. “I never saw anything like it.”
    â€œThen you haven’t watched Liz talking to her horses. It’s almost spooky the way they know everything she’s saying. On her last round barrel racing at Finals, she had to ride Polly because Sunflower had gotten stall cast. She spoke to Polly the way I’m talking to you and told her they had to win for Connor. I swear that horse knew exactly what she had to do.”
    Their eyes met. “I wish I’d been there.”
    â€œYou can’t be everywhere while you’re protecting our world from the