The cow batted her lashes and then finally turned back in the direction the cattle were heading.
One of the cowboys heard his bark and looked back. Eyes wide, he turned his horse toward them and began herding the stray back to the herd.
The cowboy looked at Jack, tipped his hat and said, “Thank you.”
Jack sat and watched.
Elana ran over to him and dropped to her knees beside him. “Jack. I thought you were going to run off.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
Suddenly, Grandma Cecilia and Ronald were there with big smiles on their faces.
“I told you he was a cow dog. Good job, Jack.” Ronald rubbed his head.
“Such a smart dog, Jack.” Grandma Cecilia clasped her hands together as she praised him.
He looked over at Elana. She swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, you are a good dog, Jack.”
He gave her a toothy smile. And then licked her from chin to forehead.
This time she didn’t wipe his kiss off.
CHAPTER33
After getting the tour from Ronald, Elana asked if she could walk back to the house instead of ride. She wanted some time to herself and said that Jack could keep her company.
Before Grandma Cecilia and Ronald pulled away, Elana fished her cell phone out of her coat pocket and tossed it on the back seat of the truck.
Since they had arrived, her cell phone had been buzzing with missed calls from her father.
She didn’t want to talk to him right now. She wanted time alone to think.
Her grandmother had handed her a small notebook and pencil. She said she might want to put her artistic talent to the test and sketch some of her surroundings.
As they drove away, she glanced down at Jack and then at the leash in her hand.
“I don’t suppose you need this.” She wrapped up the leash and shoved it in her pocket.
“Let’s have a nice walk, just you and me.”
Jack looked up at her and cocked his head as if he understood exactly what she was saying.
Elana stuck her hands in her pocket and started to walk in the direction of the house. She took her time, taking in the scent of mountain air and the way the dying grass would wave in the wind.
She glanced over at the mountain range. She’d never seen anything so beautiful in her whole life.
Stopping, she reached for the unlined notepad and pencil in her pocket. Sinking down, she sat on the ground. Jack sat beside her and watched as she began to sketch the mountains.
Elana took her time, wanting to make sure she captured the essence and the magic of the natural wonder.
Jack’s head jerked up. He spotted something a few yards away. She watched as a prairie dog popped its head out of hole.
Jack slowly stood and began easing his way over to the prairie dog.
Elana grinned and quickly turned the page of the notebook. She began drawing the scene in front of her.
The prairie dog let out a string of chatter, and Jack barked and leapt on the hole. The prairie dog disappeared before Jack could catch it.
But Jack was not deterred. He began digging in the hole, trying to ferret the animal out.
