Cowboy Dreamin' (Thunder Creek Ranch Book 8) by Lorraine Nelson Read Free Book Online

herself here. If only… You can’t fall apart now, Wakefield.
    Allison hated to call home, knowing the lecture she’d hear, but she’d tried to check in on a regular basis. She was determined to call that night and speak to Bridget. When she walked back to the bathroom, she was once again cool and composed. “It’s excellent, Terry. Just beautiful. If you ever need a reference, let me know.”
    Terry Downs was young, fresh out of carpentry school, and he knew what he was doing. Ambitious, he’d started his own business, but as in most things, people wanted experienced workers. She’d met Terry when he’d brought his Doberman, Roscoe, in for his shots and they’d got to talking. She needed work done and he was available, so she’d hired him. He’d done a fine job and completed it under budget and on schedule. The man was due for a bonus.
    “Thanks, Allison. That would help a lot.”
    “I need to get back to work. I’ll leave your check at reception in case I’m with a patient when you leave.”
    “No rush. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
    “Nevertheless, it’ll be at the front desk waiting for you. See you later.”
    “Allison, do you need help moving? I have a truck and don’t do much on Saturdays anyway. No charge.”
    “Why, thank you, Terry. I hadn’t gotten around to thinking about helpers, so I’ll take you up on that, but I’ll at least cover your gas.”
    “Fair enough.” He smiled and went back to doing the grouting.
    Allison figured he was a bit of a perfectionist. It would carry him far in his business.
    She was on her way to the kitchen for her lunch when the front door opened and there stood Jack. I’d rather have him than lunch.
    She mentally slapped herself aside her head. Now where did that thought come from? A second glance had her noticing the frown on his face.
    “Anything wrong, Jack?”
    “Yeah, I took that tire to have it fixed and ended up buying a new one. It had been slashed.”
    “Oh no, Jack! Who would do such a thing?”
    “I have an idea, but there’s nothing I can do about it right now. Your first patient for the afternoon just pulled in.”
    ****
    Allison had arranged to meet Terry and Jack at the storage unit. Both men insisted on helping and with three trucks, they’d get all her stuff to the apartment in one trip. Everything she’d had at the motel was packed and in the cab of her truck, which left the box for bigger stuff.
    She’d backed her truck up to the door and opened it. The movers had her things stacked to the rafters. The men weren’t there yet, so she began loading what she could reach and carry. Most of the furniture required two people, so she left those items for the men. However, she did manage to wrestle the box spring and mattress onto her truck, as well as several boxes. She was loading the headboard when Jack braked to a stop beside her.
    “I hope you have tie-downs for that load,” he said.
    “No, but the clinic isn’t that far.” She looked at her truck and realized the box spring and mattress leaned to one side and was in danger of flipping out over the side if she hit a bump.
    “Good thing I keep rope in the truck. I’ll help you finish loading, and then we’ll tie a rope over it.”
    “Okay, thanks.”
    “Shall we load the rest of your bedroom furniture on? That will help support the bed.”
    “Okay. But my TV is right in the way.”
    “Why don’t I store that in the cab so it doesn’t take any hurt?”
    “My cab is full already.”
    Jack grinned. “Mine isn’t.” He grabbed the box with the television in it and walked around to the passenger side, then stopped dead in his tracks as Allison ran ahead to open the door. “Damn!”
    “What is it, Jack?” she asked with concern. Had the television been too heavy? Had he pulled a muscle or something?
    “Look at that.” He nodded toward the side of his truck as his hands were full. “Someone keyed my truck.”
    “You need to call the police,” she said as she considered