Free Lonestar Secrets by Colleen Coble Page B

forget all about this place."
    "You'll see me around from time to time. Caring for animals is in the blood." He studied her face. "You were born to be a vet, Shannon. You've got a gentle touch that creatures sense."
    "You always know where you stand with animals," she said. "If they wag their tail or lick your hand, you're in."
    Grady laughed. "I know you. You'll work yourself to death for them. But don't forget to have a life too."
    "I won't." She went toward the hall door. "I'll check on the patients." She left Grady in the office and stepped into the big room in the back. Both cats began meowing and rubbing up against the cages. She opened the first cage and ran her hand over the black cat's fur. It began to purr. "You're not sick, are you?"
    She lifted the kitty and put her face against its fur. The tension she'd been under began to ease. Grady said she had a way with animals, but in truth, animals had a way with her. Their unconditional love made her believe there was goodness in the world. She never felt inept when caring for someone's pet.
    After checking the others, she put a message on the answering machine directing people to call her cell phone, then hugged Grady good-bye and drove to the Bluebird Ranch. The aroma of green beans cooking wafted out on the breeze through the open window. Allie was probably canning the beans she'd snapped this morning. Or else she was cooking them for supper.

    Allie saw her through the window and waved Shannon inside. When Shannon stepped into the kitchen, she saw rows of canned beans cooling on every available surface. Allie's face was red, and her forehead was damp as she bustled from stove to counter with a hot can in some tongs.
    "Should you be working this hard?" Shannon asked.
    "Did you change your name to Rick?" Allie sent her an impish grin, then set down the jar and wiped her forehead with her apron. "This is the last batch. Hey, the girls have been begging for Kylie to spend the night. Is it okay with you?"
    The thought of going to that empty house alone set Shannon's nerves on edge, but she nodded and went to pour a cup of coffee from the carafe. She spooned in sugar and cream and took it to the table. It was only five, so by the time she got home she might get some cleaning done.
    "How did it go with Jack today? Did you talk about the girls?"
    "We did." Shannon managed a weak smile.
    Allie brought a cup of tea to the table and sat beside Shannon. "What was his suggestion on how to work this out?" she asked.
    "For me to just sign Faith over to him and he'd pay off my school loans. You owe me, girl. I won that bet." It gave her no pleasure to be right.
    "What did you say?"
    Shannon looked away. "I don't want to tell you. It was the stupidest idea of the century. I still can't believe I said it." If she could roll back time, she'd take it back.
    "What on earth? What happened?"

    Shannon sipped her coffee and wished she'd never brought it up. The taste of the drink purged the bile on her tongue. Hot and strong, the way she liked it. She set her cup on the table. "I told him I wanted us to marry"
    Allie's jaw dropped, and her eyes widened. "Wait, I'm not following you here. Say it again, only slower."
    "You heard me. M-a-r-r-y. Marry as in a wedding. I told him we should get married and provide both parents for the girls." She rubbed her forehead. "It seemed the only answer. He has to think I'm a total idiot."
    Allie still hadn't said anything. Shannon dared a peek at her friend and found her staring back with a thoughtful expression. "What?" she asked.
    "What were you thinking? I want to know how you came up with this idea." She wagged her eyebrows. "He's a hottie. One look and you were smitten, right? Oh wait, I know. His housekeeper slipped you a little love potion when you weren't looking."
    Heaven forbid. Shannon studied her hands: the unpolished nails, the nick on her forefinger. The truth was going to come out anyway. "I have MS, Allie." When Allie gasped and Shannon saw