Instead, he said goodbye and hung up, not dialing George right away. Annie was clever. Which was part of the reason he believed in her so resolutely.
Tomorrow afternoon he’d prove it to her.
ANNIE, HOLDING A BOX OF FILE folders, pulled open the door to the Watering Hole half an hour before the meeting would start. The jukebox was quiet, the bar deserted because it wouldn’t open until four, although she knew Sadie had to be around somewhere. She didn’t leave the door unlocked if she left anymore.
There’d been a rash of thefts in Blackfoot Falls last summer, which sadly had turned out to be perpetrated by locals. But it just went to show that people were people, whether they lived in New York or the wilds of Montana.
She walked across the wooden floor, her eye catching on the beautiful Wurlitzer. She wished it held more music that she liked instead of mostly country songs, but it didn’t really matter since she hardly ever came in here.
Lounging around and having drinks with friends felt like something she’d read about in a book. So many things had gone away, vanished in a haze of panic and shame. A manicure would be laughable considering how she spent her days, let alone a pedicure. In Manhattan she’d often saved up for a spa day, not the high-end deals, of course, but a soothing massage, a facial. God, to be pampered like that was unthinkable now.
“Hey there, girl. Thought you’d be coming in early. Good to see you.”
Annie swung around at Sadie’s rusty voice. Every time Annie had seen her in the past few months, the older woman had lost a bit more weight, used a touch more makeup, including lipstick this time. “You look wonderful.”
“Yeah, I’m a stunner.” Sadie came up to Annie, but knowingly didn’t reach out for a hug.
“Hey, none of that.” Annie surprised herself and Sadie by briefly touching her arm. “I think Shea’s going to be here soon, too, but the big news is that we have a potential donor coming to the meeting.”
“Really? Think that’s wise?”
“I’ve warned him. And he understands that the board members are locals doing a nice thing for the animals. I think it’ll be fine. I hope. As long as Abe and Will don’t get into it.”
“They do and I’ll knock their fool heads together. Come on, let’s get these tables set up. You want something to drink?”
“No, thanks.” Annie put the box on the huge mahogany bar, then helped Sadie push the small tables into a big rectangle. Halfway through moving the chairs, Shea walked in.
No hello or other pleasantry. “Is he still planning on attending?” Shea asked.
Annie nodded, while Sadie appeared unfazed. People were getting used to Shea’s blunt ways.
“According to some,” Sadie said, darting an amused look at Annie, “you were at Marge’s last night with the best-looking man seen in Blackfoot Falls since Paul Newman visited town forty years ago.”
Annie hated the fact that her cheeks filled with heat. “His name is Tucker Brennan, and don’t you dare let people start rumors about him. He’s rich, and he’s got a foundation that could be the salvation of Safe Haven. Anything else about him is nobody’s business.”
“Whoa,” Sadie said, holding up her hands. “I wasn’t implying anything.”
“I know people in this town live for gossip but I don’t know what I’d do if somebody’s stupid remark screwed this up.”
Sadie touched Annie’s shoulder. “I understand. I’ll do my best to derail any talk.”
After releasing her pent-up breath, Annie sighed. “Thanks. And sorry for getting worked up.”
“Don’t you fret.” Sadie turned to greet Jesse, who’d walked in, then she herded Shea behind the bar to help fill mugs.
Beer, Annie had learned early, came automatically with all meetings that took place in the Watering Hole. Annie was used to it, but she wondered what Tucker would make of it.
Just talking about him had set her body all aflutter, and she had to tamp down her excitement. This was no time to act like a silly girl. This could be the most important few hours since she’d come to Blackfoot Falls. Something that would set her up for a future she had more than accepted. She belonged at Safe Haven, and every day spent working there chipped away at the guilt and pain of what she’d left behind.
Abe, the owner of Abe’s Variety, and notorious for his unrequited crush on Sadie, walked in right ahead of Will Woodruff, who was pretty partial to Sadie himself. What they had in common did not bring the two men closer together, to say the least. Even though their scowls were a matched set.
In silence, they headed for the back room where Jesse was scrounging more chairs.
Cy Heber joined them, and he would always make Annie smile because he’d donated four acres to Safe Haven, bless him. He was an old cowboy who gave a damn, who wanted to leave something good behind, even though his own ranch was a shadow of its former self.
The door opened one more time, and Tucker Brennan walked in wearing a fine-looking Stetson along with dark pressed jeans, a pale blue Oxford shirt and a navy blazer. She bit her bottom lip, not because he filled the doors with his broad shoulders, but because of the smile that lit up his face the moment he saw her.
“Oh…okay,” Sadie murmured as she put four beers down on the table. “So they weren’t exaggerating.”
“Hush,” Annie whispered as she went to welcome him, trying her best not to mentally replay last night’s kisses.
It didn’t take long for everyone to take their seats and for Annie to make introductions. She sat Tucker at one end of the table, and she took her place at the other. Which might have been a mistake from the way she kept getting caught on his gaze.
But somehow she managed to begin the meeting in what was considered parliamentary procedure for Blackfoot Falls. Everybody raised and seconded everything. At least at the start.
Up until she called for new business. That’s when Tucker stood. Took off his hat. Reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a slip of paper.
“I’ve been spending some time at Safe Haven, and I’m very impressed with the operation. I’ve seen facilities with much more do a lot less. I applaud you all for doing your part for animals in need.” He paused, glanced around at everyone, but settled his gaze on Annie. “This is a check. It’s not from the Rocking B Foundation. I don’t make the call on who gets foundation funds. This is a personal check, one that I hope will help as you continue to develop the sanctuary. There are no strings attached―it’s to be spent at your discretion.”
He walked around the table and handed the check to Annie. When she looked at it, she gasped at the amount. Twenty thousand dollars. What she could do with twenty grand was more than she could comprehend. She blinked up at Tucker, then turned to the others. “We can get the engine. We can fix the tractor.” She looked again at the check to make sure she wasn’t crazy, then back at Tucker.
“I believe in what you’re doing,” he said. “I believe in you.”
Annie’s
