Page 43 of A Furever Home (Gaynor Beach Animal Rescue #8)

brOOKLYN

“I think they should’ve given you a rabies shot.” I plopped next to Cheyenne on the couch in the family room, glad to stop moving after hours of hell.

Chili launched herself onto the couch next to me and nuzzled my arm.

Eb sat at Cheyenne’s side. On the couch.

Twain and Sadie lay on their beds—pressed together—fast asleep.

Arthur sat in the recliner with his feet up, an ice pack on his leg, the heating pad ready to take over, and Xandra resting on the top of the chair as she occasionally kneaded his hair.

Naturally, I wanted him next to me on the couch, but keeping the leg elevated was a requirement. Also, Cheyenne needed me close.

Dogs on the couch? We could go over the rules again tomorrow.

I hadn’t missed how excited Sadie had been to see Cheyenne. Hell, almost as excited as Chili had been when she spotted me.

“Sadie doesn’t have rabies.” Cheyenne appeared absolutely indignant. “And she didn’t bite me.”

“True.” I grinned. “But Harvey might’ve. You had blood exposure.” I had to joke—even with dark humor. Although…I hoped they’d test him for blood-borne diseases because it actually wasn’t funny. Crap.

“I owe Sadie treats from now until the end of time.” Cheyenne managed a smile. “If she hadn’t bitten that asshole first, and if it hadn’t become infected, then my chompers might not have been so painful. Blech.”

She’d washed her mouth repeatedly in the hospital—along with being checked out from head to toe. Air bags could cause serious damage. She’d been so hellbent on escaping that she hadn’t done up her seat belt. Had the airbag hit at a different angle, I might not have her beside me right now.

I grasped her hand.

The doorbell rang.

Arthur, dear man, tried to get up.

“I can go.” Cheyenne offered, but the uncertainty was clear in her eyes. Harvey might be in jail, but if Denver had decided to follow, then…

Nope. Couldn’t go there.

I ordered Arthur to stay put, disentangled myself from Chili, and headed for the door. Midnight was late for visitors, but practically all the lights in the house were on.

Arthur had only been home half an hour, since dealing with the chaos at the shelter.

The smashed front had been boarded up, the power turned off at the main pending an inspection, and a security guard was onsite, thanks to one of the cops who knew someone.

They’d talked about evacuating the animals, but decided that as long as there was no live electricity, the risks were minimal.

Arthur said some of the animals were a bit freaked out, but they’d settle better in their familiar cages and runs.

He’d wanted to stay all night as reassurance, after the cops and firefighters were done.

Then that Neil guy had showed up, stuffed him in a cab with promises to keep an eye on his babies, and sent him home to rest.

I owed Neil a whole bunch of homemade cookies.

Tomorrow, my boyfriend could deal with all the cleanup and inspection and assessing the damage. And the insurance.

Again.

I checked the peephole, then grinned as I opened the door. “Wynn.”

“Hope I’m not too late.” His eyes read uncertainty.

“Not at all. A welcome sight.” Unless you’re coming to tell me that Cheyenne has to go back. Hell, I might just take her and run to Canada.

I closed the door and beckoned him to follow me. “Soda? Water?”

“I’m not staying that long, but thank you. I heard what happened, and I wanted to check in, see if there was anything I could do.”

“That’s mighty kind of you.” We walked through to the family room. “Won’t you sit?” I pointed to a wicker chair with a comfy cushion on the seat. Thank God I have that. Otherwise, he’d be on the couch with the pile of pooches.

“Sure. Thanks.” He lowered himself into the chair.

God, I hope there’s not too much fur. Oh well, he’s wearing jeans.

His gaze honed in on Cheyenne. “How are you?”

She touched the bruise on her temple from the airbag. “Could’ve been worse.” She managed a smile. “Eb might’ve tagged me instead of Harvey.”

Wynn’s gaze shot to me, then switched over to Arthur. “Tagged?”

Arthur shrugged as he swapped the ice pack for heating. “A game his previous owner taught him, leaping on people. I’ll need to unteach it, again —because having a ninety-pound dog knock you to the ground isn’t a good thing.”

“Harvey?” Wynne grinned. “So that’s how he cracked his head? I heard they diagnosed him with a concussion, although I didn’t get a full report. HIPPA privacy, you know. I assumed that was the airbag.”

I said, “Probably both. Too bad it didn’t knock some sense into him.

” I’d heard him howling about false arrest, illegal imprisonment, and how his militia was going to come and save him, even as they strapped him into the gurney.

When the cop asked me if he was serious, I said about the first two, certainly.

About the last? I couldn’t see community members driving across the country to break down the walls of the jail.

Even people as…special…as my former family and acquaintances wouldn’t run that afoul of the law.

“He’s facing damn serious charges.” Wynn’s gaze settled back on Cheyenne.

“The custody case is now a slam dunk. We already have them on tape promising to force you to marry Harvey. Now I heard he admitted your father sent him after you. Or, at the very least, provided all the information about where to find you. Your parents knew the kind of man they were sending, and they didn’t care.

Judge Mathas will take all that into consideration.

I know her, and she takes child-endangerment seriously.

Brooklyn’s the only person who’s had your welfare at heart through all this. She’ll pick your brother.”

A tightness in my chest loosened a little. I’d been so fucking worried. Yes, things looked good enough to be cautiously optimistic. But that was a far cry from slam dunk . Wynn might be confident, but I’d wait until I had the papers in my hand before celebrating.

Wynn leaned forward. “I’m also going to suggest counseling—perhaps for all of you, but definitely for Cheyenne. Not just because it will look good, but because I truly believe you will benefit. You’ve been through a hell of a lot.”

She stiffened.

Since I’d retaken my place on the couch, I was able to reach over and grasp her hand. “Yes. Whatever we need.”

“Dr. Josiah Braithwaite counsels children and young adults?—”

“I’m an adult.” She jutted out her chin.

“I believe his practice is toddlers to twenty.” Wynn held her gaze.

I don’t want to know why a toddler might need therapy. “If you text me the doctor’s information, I’ll be happy to make the call.”

“Give the receptionist my name, and she may be able to expedite—this isn’t the first time I’ve called in a favor.”

As a lawyer in a small town, he probably saw a lot. Possibly more than I could’ve ever dealt with. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “Are you going to be okay? I mean, okay is relative…” His gaze traveled over all of us, but settled on Cheyenne.

She gripped my hand. “I’m safe.”

“You are.”

“I’m never going back.”

“No, highly unlikely.”

“Then yeah, I’m okay. Although that was scary shit.” She cut me a glance. “Mom and Dad would flip their lids at the idea of a shrink, but hey, if they hate it, maybe that’s a good sign. Talking to a professional wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

I offered an encouraging smile. “Nope. Not at all.”

“Then I’ll leave you be.” Wynn rose.

Cheyenne released my hand and popped up. “I’ll see you out and lock the door behind you.”

It didn’t surprise me that Cheyenne wanted to check the door locks herself tonight.

Even knowing Mrs. Bollinger and her cell phone were on one side while trusty Roger was on the other, it’d be a long time before I left a door unlocked, even just to step outside a moment.

Probably longer for Cheyenne. The shock of finding Harvey looming up inside a safe space would linger.

They exited the room.

“So, she’s staying.” Arthur said the words quietly.

“Yep.” I eyed him, spotting the uncertainty. “So are you. You think I can do this by myself?”

“Of course you can. You’re Brooklyn West—you can do anything, have anyone?—”

“Stop that bullshit right now. I want you. Like a forever kind of thing. So we’ll need to figure out how to bring the rest of your stuff from the shelter?—”

“Just like that?”

“Yeah, just like that.” Cheyenne popped her head into the room. “Since the pooches have all had a run outside, I’m going to shower and then go to bed.” She eyed us. “I get Eb and Twain. Eventually, when she’s more comfortable, I want Sadie in my room. That fourteen days will be up soon.”

Not that soon, but I’d done precisely nothing about trying to rehome her.

Because, despite Arthur’s menagerie, we had room for one more.

I was certain, with my boyfriend’s tutelage and Cheyenne’s patience, that the little dog could gain enough confidence to co-exist with strangers.

She was beginning to attach herself to Cheyenne.

Just as Chili had become my shadow, I could imagine Sadie becoming Cheyenne’s, and then we’d be okay.

Cheyenne added, “I want a home with all the dogs in it.”

“You’re going to get tired of the clouds of dog fur.” Arthur said the words with a smile, but I recognized worry.

“Nope.” She popped the p . “Fur’s fine. Furry clothes, pillow, not a problem.”

“Dogs aren’t supposed to sleep on the bed.” I met her gaze.

She blushed just a bit—a sure sign she knew she was in the wrong.

“But I guess tonight can be an exception.” Whatever she needed to ward off the nightmares. “We’ll need to get you into school next week. Or at least earning a GED. And college or a trade isn’t optional. If you’re staying here, then—for now—you’re in school.”

“But soon I’ll be living at the rescue shelter and helping take care of the animals.” She twirled a lock of her hair in her fingers. Another sign she was uncertain.

“All things we can discuss in the future.” I gave her my brightest smile.

“The point is, you’re staying in Gaynor Beach.

This is your home. We’re a family, Cheyenne.

The three of us.” I shot a glance at the man I already loved more than life itself.

No way was I letting him go anywhere other than our bed. And soon. We were both exhausted.

“A family.” Cheyenne repeated the words.

“A family.” Arthur said them with a lot of feeling—like he was starting to accept this.

I could love Arthur and not have to hide anything.

My sister was mature enough to know what would be going on inside my bedroom.

I dreaded to think how soon she might bring a boy—or girl or enby—home, putting me in the parental position.

But I’d deal with my own neuroses at the time.

Hell, if I was back home, I’d be married with at least one kid and another on the way.

Probably more if I’d married Rachel. I could stand up and take the responsible adult role.

“You’ll always be my little sister.”

She rolled her eyes. “Good night.” She eyed the collection of pets, from Xandra on the back of the recliner to the herd of dogs. “Eb, Twain.” She clicked her tongue.

Twain sleepily rose from his bed and stretched.

Eb jumped down from the couch, stretched, and sauntered over.

Chili, as if sensing the moment, scooted off and strutted across the room. She tucked herself into Twain’s bed—clearly enjoying the warmth—and rested her nose mere inches from Sadie.

Who cracked an eye, decided all was right with the world, and went back to sleep.

I figured we were good leaving the two dogs free in here.

Both had their crates where they could hunker down if they needed the comfort of their own space. Sadie hadn’t shown any destructiveness so far, and she was calm with a dog friend around. As things stood, they clearly felt each other was enough.

Cheyenne was nearly out of the room before she pivoted and hurried back. She made her way to Arthur and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

His shock was priceless.

I rose and pulled her into an embrace. She still felt slight in my arms, but a comfort in a way I’d really never had in my life as she hugged me back. Now I had two people who would hold me tight. Two people who needed me as much as I needed them. That kind of reassurance meant everything.

She pulled away first, clicked her tongue at the dogs, and then took off.

Eb and Twain followed—clearly pleased with however things would go.

Arthur lowered the recliner footrest. He flicked off the heating pad while I snagged the ice pack.

He rose, tested his leg, then reached for his cane. Stretching stiffly, he met my eyes, then deliberately ran his gaze down my body. “Soon.”

“Not until the doc clears you. I’m well aware tonight will set you back.”

He frowned.

I stepped into his space and kissed his cheek above that wild beard. “Come to bed? I need to hold you tonight. Also, forever.”

Xandra leapt from the back of the recliner and headed toward the bedrooms. She quite liked the room that Arthur had used for what…a day or two? Now, she could rule it.

“Yes?” I murmured against Arthur’s skin.

He grasped the back of my neck and guided me to him for a proper kiss. “Yes, to a forever thing. Yes, I’ll come to bed.” His eyes held promise, despite a rueful edge of knowing we’d have to wait. Then his expression softened and the heat faded, leaving only the promise of love.

I’d hold him to that promise. And eventually ensure we made it a forever thing in every way possible.