Page 44 of Let Me Be the One
Until he stepped out and said, “Minus one.”
Callie noticed that he didn’t seem particularly worried about the death of a chicken, but it was destroying her. The birds relied on her and on her very first day, she’d failed one of them—“Ack!”
The chicken dropped from a tree with a lot of wing fluttering and excitement. It raced past her, up the ramp to the coop, and disappeared inside.
“They go in trees?” she shrieked, incredulous. “No one told me they go in trees!”
“A lot of people clip their wings so they can’t. Reggie didn’t feel right about that.”
Heart still hammering, she struggled to catch her breath. “I wouldn’t feel right about it either.”
“Reggie named that particular bird.”
His nonchalant tone told her this was a trap, and still she asked, “What did he call her?”
“Callie—because she’sflighty.”
Okay, so that was a little bit funny, prompting her to laugh with him. “You just made that up.”
“I did, but she really is the only one who seems fond of getting into the trees. You’ll have to check on her each night before you close up the latch.”
“She doesn’t fly away?”
“She knows her territory. They all do. They don’t venture off too far.” He led her over to the coop to show her how to properly secure the complicated latch. “If you don’t do it right, sooner or later a raccoon will get in there.”
And that would make for an awful surprise. “I need to let them out early?”
“As long as the sun’s up.” On their way to check on the goats, he gave her a rundown on how and when to feed the chickens, on keeping their water clean and fresh, and the upkeep of their coop. Then he surprised her with an offer. “I can come by in the morning and walk you through it, if you want.”
His voice had lowered, gone rougher as if the words were grudgingly forced from him, but she didn’t care. Every minute with him, even if they sniped at each other, felt like more. More than she’d had with a man in a long time. More intuitive and understanding. More warmth.
Moreimportant.
How that was, she didn’t know, but she figured it had something to do with Tanner. Maybe chemistry between them. Or just good old-fashioned lust on her part, because no one could deny the man wasfine.
The mature, responsible side of her had her asking, “Do you have the time for that? I know you keep a busy schedule.”
Typical of Tanner, he shrugged. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t.”
“Such a grumpy Gus.”
With a quick scowl, he opened his mouth, likely to withdraw the offer.
Callie didn’t give him a chance. “I accept, thank you.”
After holding her gaze for three heart-stopping seconds, he cracked a smile and looked away.
It felt like a victory, until the goats gave another eerie scream and she clenched all over. “I amnevergoing to get used to that.”
“You’ll be gone before you have to.”
This time he said it lightly, and she took that to be progress. “We’ll see.” The goats had already bedded down, piled close to each other in the shelter.
Tanner gave her a quick accounting of the space. “The fresh straw is stored up there in bales.” He pointed to the rafters of the oversized shed. “You’ll need help getting more down.” His gaze landed on her again. “So did Reggie, so don’t think that’s a dig. Kam or I can pull down a bale when you need it. The floor is dirt, then gravel, and a nice layer of straw.” In quick order he explained what she’d need to know about the goats.
After that, they went back inside. Callie was ready to wilt, but it was still too early for bed and she had promised Addie that she’d return.
At the front door, Tanner picked up the first aid kit. “Let’s take a look.”
