“I just had the most amazing, unusual date,” he told the dog as he picked up the remote. “This woman makes me feel special, like I’m ten feet tall and bulletproof, as the old country song says. I don’t know why. She just does.”

Tex yipped once and stared at the television.

“I know. I know!” Jackson laughed out loud. “You missed watching shows with me when Waylon moved in for those months. How are you going to feel if a lady moves in with me someday?”

Tex growled.

“Not anytime soon, old boy, but for the first time, I’m thinking about it.”

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

April was surprised to see Stella and Maudie having a cup of coffee together when she arrived at the vet’s office that Wednesday afternoon. “Hey, it’s good to see you again. Is this the day you volunteer every week?”

“Yep,” Stella answered. “I volunteer a day a week, most of the time on Wednesday. Usually my sister, Vivien, and I come together, but the two of us went on a vacation last week up to Branson, Missouri, and she’s plumb worn out. But I’m here to help you today. We tried our best to get Lucy to go with us on our little short trips, but she always made an excuse.”

Maudie pointed toward the coffeepot. “Help yourself. I was wondering if maybe you could start coming in at eleven next week. Stella’s been telling me about the quilt you kids have to finish. When you get that done, would you like to turn this into a full-time job and come in at nine every day?”

April wondered if she’d heard Maudie right. “Are you serious? I would love that.”

“I’m very serious. You are a godsend, April. Bending to clean out those bottom cages has gotten to be a real chore for me. Plus, I’ll be able to take a whole hour for lunch next week, and when you start coming in at nine, you can help me in the vet side of this place. Know anything about computers?” Maudie asked. “They’re a cross for me to bear. I hate inputting the invoices and the animal information.”

“I can do that for you. We had plenty to input at the garden center.” April’s heart thumped in her chest so hard that she wondered if Stella and Maudie could hear it.

“Good, then when you get here next Monday, you can work on that after you get the shelter taken care of. I’m at least three months behind,” Maudie said. “Now, Stella, tell me more about Branson before you get back there with the kittens and forget the good parts.”