The instant Keaton was introduced to the Australian shepherd, he understood why Lark had been so taken with her. There was a lot of intelligence in her unique parti-colored eyes and he decided, unless there were obvious temperament problems, he would bring the dog with him to the ranch to see how she got along.
“Lark really fell hard for her, didn’t she?” Megan commented as Keaton stroked the dog’s coat.
“She did.” He was equally smitten. So much so that he was contemplating the complications that went along with co-owning the dog with her. “Lark said she’s a herder. I was hoping I might be able to take her to the ranch and see how she gets along.”
Megan grinned. “I’ve got a little paperwork for you to fill out first.”
In half an hour, Keaton was on his way to the ranch. The dog curled up on the backseat of his truck for the ride as if this were just a normal day in the life. It wasn’t what Keaton had expected. He figured Nicki would take a while to get used to him. As promised, he dialed Lark’s cell.
“What did you think?” she asked without bothering to say hello.
“Nice dog. I’ve got her with me right now. We’re heading to the ranch.”
A long pause followed his words. “Oh.”
“Megan let me take her on a trial basis,” he explained. “I want to see how she is with the cows.”
“If she does okay, will you adopt her?” Hope vibrated in Lark’s voice.
“I thought we could discuss that over dinner tonight.”
“Sure. Shoot, Grace is crying. What time will you be home?”
“Around six.”
“See you then.”
Keaton hung up, musing about the last time he’d included anyone in his decision making. Now it seemed that he was consulting Lark about everything from what he ate to how he spent his time. It should bother him that he had to consider someone else’s opinion. In fact, he liked being half of a team. Team Grace.
Not for the first time he became aware that when her parents returned to the picture, he and Lark would have nothing more tying them together. Was this why he was considering sharing a dog with her? So they could remain in contact no matter how much pressure Tyrone and Vera put on her to cut him out of her life?
When he arrived at the ranch, Keaton’s foreman gave him an odd look as he released Nicki from the truck, but one of the newer hands approached with a wide smile.
“That’s a nice-looking Aussie,” Treat commented, bending down to fondle the dog’s head. “Where’d you get her?”
“Royal Safe Haven,” Keaton explained. “Apparently she’s a good herding dog. Thought I’d see how she handled herself.”
He glanced down at Nicki and was surprised to see she watched him as if waiting for instructions. Keaton had half expected the dog to take off the second he let her out. Instead she glanced around, taking in the situation, and then sat at his side.
“You ever handled a herding dog before?” Treat asked.
“No, but I watched a few videos online last night and got an idea how it works.”
“My uncle used to breed and train Australian shepherds. I know a little. Want me to help you out?”
Keaton glanced at his foreman. “If Jeb can spare you for an hour or so.”
Jeb shrugged. “Shouldn’t be a problem.”
For the next thirty minutes Keaton learned the signals to guide the dog around the corral. At the end of the hour, Nicki had driven three cows into a narrow chute and Keaton was feeling pretty pleased with their teamwork. He called the dog to him and could swear she was smiling as she trotted in his direction.
“Sweet,” Treat said. “She’s really well trained.”
“And fast,” another hand said.
Keaton looked around and realized their herding exercise had drawn an audience. Jeb stood nearby. A traditionalist when it came to ranching, the old foreman wore an expression of grudging admiration.
“I can see where a few dogs like this could come in handy, especially when we’re trying to move the cattle for the vet or shipping,” Jeb said. “She managed them really well.”
For the rest of the day wherever Keaton went, Nicki stayed within ten feet. Her eyes roamed the yard and the barns, alert and interested. By the time they headed home, Keaton knew the answer to whether Nicki was going back to Royal Safe Haven. He just wasn’t sure what sort of arrangement he and Lark would come to about the dog.
When he arrived back at Lark’s house, Nicki at his side, her eyes bright and alert after working cattle all day, Lark met him at the door with a cold beer and a hopeful smile.
“How’d it go?” She stood with her weight balanced on the balls of her feet, searching his expression.