Free Her Homecoming Cowboy by Debra Clopton Page A

help me for a minute?” Gabi called, poking her head around the door of the clinic.
    “Sure.” Annie pushed out of her chair and hurried to follow Gabi into the back room. Gabi was standing by the squeeze chute out by the small outside corral. She and Susan were about to leave for an on-site vaccination job of a herd, and Susan was double-checking her supplies on her truck before she headed out.
    “Annie, we’ll be at Ross Denton’s for most of the day, but if you need us, use the radio and you’ll get us.”
    “Okay, I’ll do that.” She walked over to where Gabi was holding a contraption that looked like a hole puncher. Gabi had acted all morning long as if she had something on her mind. She’d been quiet, and Annie thought Gabi might be preoccupied with her wedding plans, but worried that it wasn’t the case.
    “Can you check the number on this heifer with the records and make me a printout?” Gabi’s watchful eyes met hers.
    “Sure.” Annie wasn’t certain how to take the look. Making a mental note of the number, she headed back into the office. Within moments she’d pulled the info up and took the printout back to Gabi. Susan was heading out by that time, leaving Annie alone with Gabi.
    “Thanks.” Gabi took the page and studied the information on it.
    Annie turned and started to head back to the office.
    “Did your sister go to many rodeos?”
    Annie stilled her nerves at the question. She hadn’t missed how Gabi had watched Leo from day one. Did she know? Annie was having a hard time hiding the truth of Leo’s identity, but that was for his safety until she knew the right decision to make. But Annie couldn’t lie outright to Gabi. When asked a direct question, she had to answer truthfully. “Yes, actually she did. Jennifer loved the rodeo.”
    Gabi tapped the printout on her thigh. “She liked bull riding especially. And Colt best of all?”
    “Yes.” Their eyes held on that answer. Annie waited for Gabi to say more. For her to come out and ask if her sister had spent time with Colt. After a minute, Gabi nodded, then turned back to her work.
    Annie didn’t move. She tried to decide whether to smooth out what had just transpired or to slither back into the office like the snake she felt she was. Had Gabi been waiting for her to tell her something? To make a confession about what she suspected?
    Nerves rattling, Annie went back to the office. She had a big decision to make.

Chapter Seven
    A sound woke Annie and she sat up in bed. Footsteps outside on the porch. Annie glanced at the clock—it was two in the morning. Who would be on her front porch at two in the morning? It sounded like there were a couple of people. Swinging her feet to the floor, Annie tiptoed to her door and listened. From her room it was a straight shot down the hall to the back door. Because the door had a paned-glass window in it, she peeked around the corner to see if she could see anyone. But it was dark on the porch, and if she saw shadows she couldn’t tell.
    There was a faint bit of light coming into the hall from the night-light in the bathroom next to the kitchen. The light glinted off the back doorknob. It was just enough light for her to see the doorknob turn. Someone was trying to get into the house!
    Annie had had a bad day—she’d spent the rest of the afternoon at work attempting to keep her mind on track and do her work, while trying not to panic about telling Colt about Leo. Then she’d picked Leo up from day care and he’d been running a fever. She’d spent the evening getting his fever down and taking care of him, which had effectively halted any thoughts she’d had of going to Colt’s and confessing. And now, to top off an already horrible day, she had someone breaking into her house!
    Trying not to let the person or persons on the other side of the door see her, she peered around the bedroom door again. Squinting, she struggled to see who stood on the other side of the glass, but there