“Someday soon I hope to have land,” Cole said, wondering if he’d made a huge mistake buying the restaurant for Sunshine. The way things were going she’d never cook there. Maybe he should have been selfish and bought a ranch instead. Well, he still would, come hell or high water. “I need to make a plan for how best to use it. Any suggestions? Maybe bison?”
“Maybe. You’d need a big spread, though. Bison require a lot of grazing room. Have you considered windmills?”
“No, can’t say I have.” He pictured the big wooden tourist traps he and Sunshine had seen in Holland, but he figured Evan meant something more modern.
“I’ve heard some ranchers make more money selling green energy back to the power companies from wind turbines than they make by traditional methods these days. I plan to bring some in soon. I’m also studying German farm and ranch practices. They create power from manure and composting, too. They’re way ahead of us in efficiency and energy production.”
“Huh.” He’d never given windmills a thought, but it made sense. “Thanks, I’ll look into that.”
“Let’s get together again soon and talk about it. Maybe we can help each other with research, or get some kind of discount if we buy them together.”
“Sounds great. Listen, I need to head into town.” He described the restaurant he’d bought for Sunshine and his plans for it. “The contractors are coming today to work on the floor. I’d like to be there to supervise.”
Evan looked at his watch. “I can join you for a while. You can put me to work—how’s that?”
“I’d appreciate it. But I’d like to go before Sunshine gets here.”
“I think you’re too late,” Evan said, bringing Cole back to the present. “That looks like Morgan’s car coming up the drive.”
“Don’t say a word to her,” Cole cautioned him.
“I won’t. I’ll tell her you’re helping me with an errand in town. Can’t ruin a Christmas surprise.”
He led the way back up toward the house to meet Morgan and Sunshine. Cole made the introductions between them, and Bella came out of her veterinary practice to say hello.
Cole was ready to make excuses for their departure when Bella invited Sunshine to tour her practice and the kennels. Morgan said her good-byes and a few minutes later, Cole and Evan were able to slip into Evan’s truck without being seen.
When they reached the restaurant, Ethan and Jamie were already there, as was the contractor whose job it was to sand down and refinish the hardwood floor in the dining area. While the contractor and his assistants got busy on that job, the men swarmed over the large kitchen, scrubbing every appliance, cupboard and counter. Cole had decided that the functional stainless steel appliances would stay. They didn’t need to be swapped out like the furniture and decorations in the dining room. Several hours later, he judged that they were a third of the way done. He thanked the other men and sent them on their way, knowing they all had chores to do. “Remember, you were line dancing,” he told them on their way out.
“Autumn will never believe that,” Ethan said.
“Neither will Claire. I’m going to keep my mouth shut,” Jamie said.
“You’d better. If you spill the beans you’ll ruin everything,” Cole said.
But he had a feeling things had already been ruined.
“You’ve never owned a dog?” Bella asked Sunshine in disbelief as they toured her animal shelter. “Not even as a kid?”
“My parents weren’t animal people,” she explained, her mind still on Cole and how awkward things were between them. “And when I moved out I worked a lot. There just wasn’t time or space for a pet.”
“Well, I’m a sucker for animals. I couldn’t do without them.” Bella led the way further into the large building. Sunshine expected to see rows of cages, and there were separate places for all the different animals, but there were also plenty of spaces for the pets to be together—big spaces with different types of terrain and obstacles that the animals could explore. Several young adults were working in the shelter, too, some cleaning cages and dishing out food to the animals and others exercising and playing with them.
“This is amazing,” Sunshine said, taking in the scope of the building. “Oh, my goodness, there are so many.”
“We take in overflow from other shelters. We’re able to subsidize spaying and neutering and have a very progressive adoption program. It’s a lot to handle, though, now that I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” Sunshine cast a sideways look at Bella’s flat belly. “How far along are you? This looks like a lot of hard work.”
“It is, but I have help, and I’m not due until July. Another vet is coming in to take over for the first three months after my baby is born. After that I’ll be right back to work. I’m looking for a live-in nanny and housekeeper.”
Sunshine wished she could afford help like that. The Mortimers were obviously well off if the log-house style mansion she’d seen when they drove in was anything to go by. She squashed a surge of jealousy. She’d traveled the world, after all, and by buying the ranch she was investing the rest of her money in something worthwhile.
She didn’t have time to wonder once again if she should sell to Carl; there was far too much to look at. When they entered the area where one of the volunteers was playing with several dogs, a large, shaggy yellow mutt bounded up and gave its paw to Sunshine.
“That’s Duke,” Bella said. “He’s a wonderful dog. I’ve only had him a week and haven’t put him up on our adoption website yet. I know the minute I do he’ll get snapped up. He’s a happy, healthy, loving animal that’s just right for a family.”
Sunshine shook the dog’s paw and let go, but Duke didn’t bound away. Instead he sat down in front of her and whined, as if asking for something.
“What is it, boy?” Sunshine asked. When the dog whined again, she knelt down to take a closer look at him, thinking maybe he was hurt, but that made no sense; Bella was a vet. Still, Sunshine couldn’t ignore his doggy pleas. “What’s wrong?” She pet him a few times and Duke’s joy was unmistakeable. His tail thumped on the ground and when he couldn’t restrain himself anymore, he licked her face.
Sunshine rubbed his fur and his tail thumped harder. Her attentions made him so happy, she finally plunked down on her bottom and wrapped her arms around his neck. Duke nuzzled her and his tail thumped even harder.
“Have you two met before?” Bella laughed. “This is starting to look like a reunion.”
“More like a reunion of kindred spirits,” Sunshine said. Bella was right; she felt like she knew Duke already—like she was greeting a long-lost friend. She knew instinctively that this dog was prepared to love her wholeheartedly for the rest of its life.
“Maybe you should adopt him.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.” Not the way things were. Even discounting the fact that the new home she’d bought needed renovation and she was pregnant, she wasn’t sure about her relationship with Cole.
And then there was Carl, who’d called her again. She’d put him off another couple of days.