Snickerdoodle Secrets (River's End Ranch Book 25) Read online

  Since then, under strict orders from the veterinarians, they took Rocky on walks in the mornings and evenings but kept him pretty close during the day. They said he could exercise but not over-exert himself, and while Randy spent some time with Chad and Emma at the pro shop, Erica watched Rocky with her at the office in the Main House. Their small office was at the very back of the building, behind the kitchen, and if she took him in the back door rather than the front, it wasn’t an issue for the kitchen at all, and she was quite used to him sleeping at her feet while she worked.

  Beyond that, she’d enjoyed hearing Dani and Randy talk about the search and rescue training, and Randy had been quite helpful, it appeared, in the planning of it all. He and Dani talked for hours about what the volunteers needed to know, what they were capable of learning and she knew Dani was grateful for the assistance and knowledge that Randy brought, all the way from the Middle East. It was a blessing, and as Dani wasn’t stewing about her wedding, Erica could work on the baby shower things and purchasing for the ranch went along as smoothly as could be expected.

  In the evenings, she and Randy walked home with Rocky, and most nights, he came over to visit her in her cabin where they blander food for Rocky. They’d watched endless movies, preparing the games and favors for the baby shower. Randy had even become an expert on tying bows, and she sometimes felt bad that she’d laughed at his first attempt. He was really game to try anything, and she felt herself growing more and more comfortable, even missing his company on the nights he stayed home with Chad and Emma.

  Tonight, he came over and they made yet another batch of rice.

  “So, are you ever going to make snickerdoodles again?” he’d asked after they’d both watched Rocky gobble up his supper.

  “Hm, I don’t know. They were kind of dangerous,” she replied. Where was that recipe, anyway? She’d looked all over for the handwritten card Jaclyn had given her a month ago and couldn’t find it anywhere.

  Randy laughed and plopped on the couch. “Don’t tell me we’ll never have another snickerdoodle. That would be—well, just wrong.”

  She sat down beside him and he draped his arm around her shoulders. When had they become so comfortable together, she wondered? Somehow in the blur of the last week, it had just happened.

  “We’ll see,” she said as she spotted the boxes she’d taken from the closet. That seemed like ages ago, too.

  She picked up one of the boxes and set it on the coffee table, careful not to disturb Rocky who’d promptly fallen asleep after his chicken and rice.

  “You asked me a while back about my travels with the Army as a kid,” she said as she opened the box, lifting out several Japanese figurines. “I guess I packed all this away. It’s been in boxes forever.”

  He leaned forward, holding up a Japanese doll to the light. “Why haven’t you ever gotten them out?”

  She leaned back on the couch as he continued to lift out all her memorabilia.

  “I’m not sure. I guess I was waiting until I felt really at home, you know? Somewhere I planned to stay. Forever.”

  He set the fragile doll down on the coffee table and turned to her.

  “And this is it?”

  She took a sip of her coffee and stared at the doll for a moment. She glanced at the bare walls, with just the single photo of herself and her parents and felt a calm come over her.

  “Yes, this is it. I’ve moved around so much in my life, and it always seemed like I was looking for something. For a family I never had.”

  “And you’ve found it here?” he asked, his eyes not quite smiling but boring into her.

  Although she’d only known him for ten days, she knew what he was asking of her. Were her traveling days over? Was River’s End Ranch the place she wanted to put down roots? And she knew he was leaving. Soon, actually, but she had to be honest.

  “Yes. This is where I want to be.”

  He nodded slowly as he stood and took the Japanese doll over to the TV stand, placing it carefully beside the candles she’d set there earlier.

  “Then these things, these parts of your life, should be here, too.”

  She smiled as best she could, and reached for another doll in the box, setting it on the opposite side of the TV.

  As she stood back to admire it, comfortable in her decision, he reached for her and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.

  “I understand completely, but I want you to know that this time we’ve spent together is really special. To me, to Rocky. Just...thank you.”

  She closed her eyes as he leaned in and kissed her, his lips soft on hers. Her head spun, and she wondered if everything she’d just said had been wrong. Could she be with a career Army guy? Should she?

  He pulled away and brushed a stray lock of her hair from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. His eyes clouded, and she wondered if he felt as sad as she did. Wondering about what could have been, when it had never really gotten started in the first place.

  He stepped back and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. You were very clear about what you want and how you want your life to be. I just couldn’t help it. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this close to anyone—human or canine.”

  She laughed, and was happy that he smiled too. She didn’t quite know what to say, but he saved her the trouble.

  “We’d better go. I promised Dani I’d come in tomorrow and help with her training.”

  “That’s really nice of you. She’s very excited, and it’s just a few more days. Then we have the baby shower to look forward to.”

  He held up his palms as he whistled to Rocky. “Count me out of that one. No dirty baby diaper games for me.” He pointed his thumb at the basket of wrapped presents and party supplies. “I’ve done my duty on that one. See you tomorrow,” he said as he and Rocky walked down the row of cabins toward Chad and Emma’s.

  As she closed the door behind him, her fingers brushed against her lips, still warm from his kiss. She certainly hadn’t expected that, and she was glad that she’d told him what she wanted, what she expected and how she wanted her life to look.

  But as she crept into bed and turned out the light, her heart felt a little empty knowing that he wouldn’t be there to share it all with her.

  Chapter 14

  The picnic basket was all packed with everything they’d need—with the exception of actual food—and Erica hummed a tune as she headed toward the cafe. She called ahead and let Kelsi know she and Randy were going on a picnic, and in true Kelsi fashion, she’d said, “Just leave everything to me. Well, me and Bob.”

  As she waited at the counter for Kelsi’s surprises, she caught Jaclyn’s eye. She was sitting at the end of the counter, but as she leaned forward and looked down at Erica, she strolled casually toward her. Erica had a feeling she knew what was going to come next.

  “So, how are things going with you and that handsome soldier?” she asked, confirming Erica’s suspicions.

  “Okay. Perfect. We’re just friends. It’s going swimmingly,” she said, but even as the words left her mouth, her lips tingled at the memory of the kiss they’d shared. She couldn’t imagine Jaclyn could actually read minds, but she tried to raise whatever imaginary defenses she had, just in case.

  Jaclyn folded her arms over her chest and tapped her toe, her earrings swaying with each tap.

  “Hm. Something must be wrong. You’re not—romantically inclined?” she asked, not even subtly.

  Erica shuffled her feet and held the picnic basket with both hands, wishing Kelsi would hurry.

  “To be honest, Jaclyn, we’re kind of at cross purposes. He’s active military, plans to stay until he retires, and I’m happy here at the ranch. Really happy.”

  “You have no desire to travel with him, see the world?” Jaclyn asked as she rubbed her chin.

  “No. Absolutely none. Been there, done that,” she said as she reached out and grabbed the sandwiches Kelsi had made for her, along with a couple of bags of chips. “Thanks, Kelsi. I’
m sure they’ll be delicious.” She set the picnic basket on the counter and added the sandwiches, water and chips.

  “What, no dessert?” Jaclyn asked as she rushed back down the counter and grabbed something out of her purse, dropping it in the picnic basket. “You need dessert.”

  Erica’s eyes grew wide as she peered into the basket and saw a clear bag full of snickerdoodles.

  “Oh, my goodness, those snickerdoodles really got us in a fix,” she said. “I’m not sure we should have any more.”

  Jaclyn wagged her finger at Erica. “You can never have too many snickerdoodles. It always fixes things, no pun intended. I insist,” she said as she laughed at her own joke and patted Erica’s cheek. “It’s not over until it’s over, dear.”

  Erica’s mouth fell open as Jaclyn smiled and waved, heading back toward her stool at the counter. She shut it when she spied Randy and Rocky pulling up outside the restaurant, and she paid Kelsi quickly with a nod of thanks and headed out for their adventure.

  “Where are you taking me?” Randy asked as Rocky sat in the back seat—well, started sitting in the back seat but rushed back and forth from each window at the sighting of each and every squirrel or bird.

  “This will be Rocky’s first real outing and I wanted to take you somewhere special,” she said. “But first, could we pick up Indy? I mentioned yesterday that we were going out on a picnic and Ellie thought maybe Indy would want to come too. I didn’t think you’d mind, and Ellie’s pretty busy with baby stuff.”

  “That’ll be fun. We can double date.”

  “It’s not a date,” she said as she looked away and out the window.

  “Aw, it was just a joke.” Randy’s hands tightened on the wheel as he turned toward the aquatics complex.

  Erica was quiet as Randy drove right to the aquatics center. He’d spent so much time out with Dani that he seemed to really be getting to know his way around.

  “We’ll take good care of her,” Erica told Ellie with a smile as she opened the back door for Indy to jump in. Rocky’s tail beat a steady rhythm as Indy licked his face and they both settled down in the back seat.

  “They’re really cute together,” Randy said. Erica had noticed, too, but hadn’t wanted to comment on it too much.

  “Yeah,” Erica replied, not wanting to get much deeper into the subject.

  She pointed out a glade on the side of the lake that she loved to walk to. It wasn’t far from the ranch, but it was a beautiful spot, right by the lake, and the glade was covered in wildflowers.

  She handed a blanket to Randy and he spread it out as Rocky and Indy immediately headed for the water.

  “Rocky knows how to swim, right?” Erica said and she flushed when Randy laughed.

  “I’m pretty sure all dogs know how to swim, but yes, he has been in water rescues before. No problem there.”

  “After everything we’ve been through in these past two weeks, I didn’t want to push our luck. I mean, with you leaving the day after tomorrow and everything.” Her words plodded like stones.

  She hadn’t meant it to sound like that—almost like an accusation—and she wished she could take it back when she saw the hurt in his eyes.

  The kiss had been almost a week ago, and they’d never discussed it since. Watching him help Dani all week was bittersweet at best, and she did her best to look away, not pay attention. But the harder she tried, the more she admired him. He was brave, funny, kind, dedicated and helpful. And her first instinct when Dani asked her to take him on a picnic so he could have some fun after all his help was to avoid it—nothing good could come of it. He was going to leave, and that was that.

  But now that she was here, in her favorite spot by the lake, she decided to just enjoy it, enjoy his company. Enjoy watching Rocky have fun after so many days of doing very little.

  She laughed as Rocky and Indy played in the water, and she leaned back on her elbows, holding her face up to the sun. Even though it was the end of May, it was still a little cool and she learned last summer that summers in northern Idaho were pretty short. She soaked up the sunshine while she could, and Randy threw sticks for the dogs to fetch out in the water.

  Ripples lapped at the shore, and the sound lulled her into a light sleep. She jumped when Randy plopped down beside her, and she opened her eyes to see him looking down at her.

  “You’re really beautiful, you know that?” he said and heat rushed to her cheeks.

  “So, what do you think will happen with Rocky when you get back to the Middle East?” she asked as she handed him a sandwich.

  “Very subtle change of subject,” he said as he bit into one of the sandwiches Kelsi had provided. “Hey, this is great.”

  Erica bit into hers and agreed completely—the turkey avocado club hit the spot. She opted to chew rather than respond to his comment about changing the subject but it was just a topic that couldn’t go anywhere.

  “Seriously, what’s going to happen to Rocky when you go back? Will he see a psychiatrist or something?”

  Randy laughed as he looked out to the shore where Rocky and Indy were lying in the sun, their tails still wagging.

  “I don’t think they have actual canine shrinks, but the trainers will check him out to see if he’s still fit for duty. So far he seems all right, although he hasn’t been put to any real tests. I’m pretty pleased with his recovery.”

  “What kinds of tests would they do?” Erica asked.

  “Well, he hasn’t been around an active situation yet, although that one day I took him out with Dani he seemed calm enough. Hasn’t been around gunfire, quick transports, that sort of thing.”

  Randy peered into the basket and pulled out the bag of snickerdoodles. “You made more? I’m not sure we should tempt our fate with them,” he said.

  “No, no, I didn’t make more. I can’t find the recipe and can’t remember it. I ran into Jaclyn at the restaurant and she gave them to me. Said they were for us.”

  Randy bit into one and scrunched his nose. “No offense. She seems really nice and all, but these aren’t nearly as good as yours.”

  He finished it anyway, offering her the bag. She took a cookie and bit into it. She had to agree Jaclyn’s tasted different somehow, which made no sense as they were the same recipe.

  “These may be the only kind available from now on. I can’t find the recipe card she gave me, and now I can’t remember the recipe either. I don’t have the heart to ask her again after she entrusted me with such a special gift.”

  “Maybe it’ll come back to you,” he said as he popped the last of a snickerdoodle in his mouth.

  A gunshot cracked in the distance, followed by a couple more and a loud yelp from Rocky. Erica stood while Rocky ran in a circle a few times and came to stand at Randy’s knee. Randy grabbed his collar and knelt beside him, but by the fourth gunshot, Rocky tore loose and took off running, with Indy on his heels.

  “Oh, no.” Erica threw everything in the picnic basket and Randy tossed the blanket in the back of the car.

  “No, this is not good. Not good at all,” Randy said, and she jumped in the passenger seat as they tore off after the two dogs.

  Chapter 15

  By the time they gathered the picnic basket and headed down the dirt road, Rocky and Indy were long out of sight. They followed for a while where they thought they might have gone, and Erica looked all over out her window—nothing.

  “Would they have gone back to aquatics center?”

  Randy stopped the car for a moment, to get his bearings now that they were out of sight.

  “No, I don’t think so. Rocky was in the lead and he’s not all that familiar with that.”

  Erica rubbed her forehead. “Hopefully they didn’t just take off out into the woods. There are—things out there.”

  “Like Bigfoot?” he said as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

  She playfully pinched his elbow. “Don’t make fun. This is serious.”

  “Ouch,” he said as he got out of
the car for a second. “I know it is. I just need to think for a second. Rocky was scared, and I was hoping that wouldn’t be how he’d respond to gunfire.”

  “They shouldn’t even be shooting out there. It’s not hunting season yet.” She got out of the car and came around to his side, shielding her eyes and looking everywhere for the dogs.

  “That’s what we say overseas. They don’t follow the rules over there, either, so you just get used to it.”

  “Well, if you don’t think he’d go to the aquatics, what’s the most likely place?”

  Randy knelt and looked at the dirt road. Two sets of paw prints stretched out in front of them, and he stood with his hands on his hips.

  “Looks like they’re following the road for now. Makes sense that he’d go back to the cabins, don’t you think?”

  He hopped back in the car and waited for Erica. “I really don’t know. This isn’t my area of expertise, but it makes sense, I think.”

  Randy stepped on the gas and the made the quick trip back to the ranch’s cabins. Randy’s heart was almost beating out of his chest, but he didn’t want to scare Erica. In his experience, when people were in a panic they did all kinds of things that didn’t make sense. Try to dig a hole, run in the opposite direction of safety—you name it. There was no logic to panic, and he knew it was the same for dogs.

  They stopped at Erica’s cabin first as it was closest to where they’d been. They both got out and called for him and Indy both, even searched in the back—nothing.

  They rushed down to Chad and Emma’s, shouting for Rocky and Indy all the way. Again—nothing.

  “I lost their tracks once we hit pavement,” Randy said. He sat down on the porch and his head fell into his hands. He was pretty positive they’d find the dogs, but the thought of Rocky out there alone—well, except for Indy—and terrified made his skin crawl. He knew what it was like to feel scared and alone, and he wouldn’t wish that on anybody.

  And he’d made an oath to Jacob’s memory that he’d look after him. And in the space of two weeks, he’d been sick, to the vet, in recovery and now lost in a panic. It certainly wasn’t the way he thought he should be taking care of him.