Part 5 (1/2)
Or was the fluttery feeling from the prospect of seeing Tracy?
Tracy pushed her gla.s.ses up her nose and stared at the list of cla.s.ses she'd have to take to complete her bachelor's degree. If she could go full-time, she'd be done in three semesters. But since she couldn't quit her life and devote every second to studying, it would take her at least five.
She sighed and clicked the exit icon at the corner of the University of Texas at Austin website. It was foolish to entertain the idea of going to medical school. She'd be forty before she'd graduate.
With a sniff, she opened her email, deleting junk mail and spam until she landed on a subject line that read, In response to your ad.
Tracy leaned back in her chair. Was it possible someone had already replied to her advertis.e.m.e.nt she'd placed that morning on the local paper's website after Henrietta had left? She clicked it open and read the note.
Hi, not sure if you remember me. I'm Melissa Blackwell. I'm back in Colton to take care of Buck, my dad, who recently was diagnosed with lung cancer. Anyway, I saw your ad this morning and would love to meet with you to talk about the job. I worked for six years in LA at LaSalle's. I've attached a copy of my resume.
I'll be waiting to hear from you.
Melissa Blackwell Tracy didn't remember Melissa, but she knew who she was. Melissa and her identical twin sister had lived in Los Angeles with their mother since they were little. Their father, Buck Blackwell, owned the Broken B Ranch across the road from b.u.t.terfly and Oak Springs.
As she opened the resume, the bell above the front door twinkled its cheery warning that someone entered the shop. No other customers were scheduled. She glanced at the clock on her computer and frowned.
”Tracy?” Zack's voice sounded from the front reception area. ”Are you here?”
She gasped, pulled the gla.s.ses from her face and reached up to touch her hair. Messy strands stuck out of the b.u.t.terfly clip. She hurriedly took it out, twisted her hair, and put the clip back in, calling, ”I'm here. I'll be out in a minute.”
After she jumped from her chair, she rushed into the small bathroom and peered into the mirror above the pedestal sink. Her makeup had long ago disappeared and the mascara had smudged under her eyes. She rubbed at the marks and sighed.
Figures, he'd show up when I look my absolutely worst after a day of making others look beautiful.
Giving up, she headed out to the front of the converted Victorian to the front room. Zack bracketed his waist above his service belt and stood next an older man she recognized as Herb Milroy.
Zack turned as she entered the room, and removed his hat. He stared at her with those new-denim blue eyes for a moment as if he wondered why he was there. ”Tracy, I think you know Agent Milroy.”
Tracy rounded the antique desk she used as a reception counter. Holding out her hand, she smiled. ”Herb, it's been a long time.”
Herb shook her hand. ”Ma'am, I'm hoping you can answer some questions regarding the cattle your brother and his wife lost the other night.”
She glanced at Zack, who was busy looking everywhere but at her. ”Sure. What do you want to know?”
One side of Herb's lips twitched up, and he took out a notepad. ”What can you tell us about the cattle that were stolen?”
Tracy folded her hands and shrugged. ”According to Tom Miller there were forty-five taken. Ah...I'm not sure what you want me to tell you.”
Zack stopped avoiding her and met her gaze. ”How long were they in that pasture?”
Sweat gathered at the back of her neck and she rubbed it. ”They were moved over into the pasture about two weeks ago. I think they were going to be rounded up after Dylan and Charli come back from their honeymoon, and put into the feedlot.”
”What can you tell us about their brands?” Herb looked up from his pad.
”They are the last of the cattle that were owned by Leon. Their brands are the old oak leaf with an F inside. The Oak Springs brand, rather than the B bar OS brand.”
”Thanks, Miz.” Herb put his notebook away and bobbed his head. ”That gives us something to work on. Have a good day.”
”You, too. Tell Ellie h.e.l.lo from me,” she said, referring to his wife.
”Will do.” Herb smiled as he settled his hat onto his head. ”See you tomorrow, Sheriff.”
Tracy expected Zack to follow Herb out the door, but he hung back. After the door closed, Zack looked down and turned his hat in his hands. ”Have you talked to Dylan and Charli?”
”I got a text from Charli letting me know they arrived in Hawaii okay. But if you're asking if they know about the cattle, the answer is no.”
He nodded and met her gaze. ”Are you okay?” Quickly, he added, ”I mean sometimes when a theft happens so close to home, it can shake you up some. Especially with everything else that's gone on with your family.”
She shrugged and rubbed her arms. ”I'm okay. It isn't like my house was broken into. But I can see how something like this could bother a person.”
When he put his hat on, getting ready to leave, Tracy was both glad and disappointed. Without meaning to say anything at all, she said, ”I got an interesting email this morning.”
Zack puckered his brow in askance.
”It was from Melissa Blackwell. She's back in town.”
He rubbed the side of his face in thought. His beard was coming in as a dark shadow on his angular jaw. She could imagine the sinful sensations it could cause on her skin in certain forbidden places.
She s.h.i.+vered as a blush heated her neck. Don't even go there.
”You heard about Buck?” he asked.
”Yeah, apparently she's here to take care of him. She answered the ad I placed this morning for help.”
He swung his sharp blue eyes to hers. ”You're looking to hire someone?”
She moved behind the desk and pretended to rearrange her pens and pencils in the lace-covered jar in which she kept them. ”I'm thinking about it.”
”So, you're expanding. That's good.”
Tracy shook her head. ”Not really.” A short snort of a laugh escaped her lips. She had to be crazy for even thinking this, let alone telling Zack, but something deep down needed his approval, or maybe it was his acceptance. ”I'm going back to school to finish my degree.”
He raised a brow, and his lips turned up at the corners. It wasn't much of a smile, but it made Tracy's heart soar. ”Good for you. Well, I gotta go and pick up Mandy from daycare.”
Still recovering from the thrill he'd given her, Tracy swallowed hard and nodded. ”Have a good night.”
At the door, he looked over his shoulder at her and tipped his hat. ”You, too. See you around.”
For a long time after he left, Tracy stood there in the reception area. What the h.e.l.l had just happened? When had she actually decided to go back to school?
She laughed aloud and shook her head. ”I guess I decided two minutes ago.”
d.a.m.n. She rushed to her office and clicked on the website for the university. She'd better get registered.
Chapter 5.