but apparently your mother recognized a good idea when she heard it.” He opened the passenger door to his Cherokee and she climbed in.
When he was behind the wheel, she burst out, “Has the world gone mad? You’d think Mother had imported a whole herd of—of buffalo or something, instead of two nice fluffy little sheep. What’s up with that?”
“Apparently the homeowner covenants forbid sheep,” he said, giving her a sympathetic glance. “Also pigs and chickens.”
She groaned. “Don’t tell Mother, whatever you do. If they rile her enough, it’d be just like her to go out and bring in anything she can find that’s guaranteed to annoy her neighbors.”
“Like pigs and chickens?”
“Exactly like pigs and chickens. But in her defense, she was living there a long time before that housing development was ever built. How can they expect her to abide by their rules?”
He shrugged, but his expression was understanding. “Don’t ask me,” he said. “I’m just a simple veterinarian. I like all animals, including sheep.” He braked at Lorraine’s curb. “Let’s go see how Reckless is feeling today.”
“Okay, but I’m not getting close to any more telephones,” she said, and meant it.
THAT BORDER COLLIE WAS BORN to herd sheep, Luke thought admiringly as he watched the black-and-tan dog maneuver his small flock toward them. The dull eyes and hangdog expression had been replaced by sparkling excitement. As was common with his breed, Reckless slunk along behind almost on his belly, ready to dart right or left to “reason” with troublemakers by “gripping”—snapping at their heels.
Thalia gave Luke a helplessly confused look. “Did you ever see a happier dog?”
He had to admit, he never had. Reckless came obediently when called, suffered a swift examination, then, when released, took off after his charges like a streak of black lightning.
Thalia said dryly, “I’d call that a miraculous recovery.”
“Yes.” They turned back toward the house. “That’s all I’m interested in.” He slanted an amused glance at her. “Another brilliant diagnosis on my part, you’ll notice.”
“Brilliant except for the dissention it’s created in town. According to Mayor Kelly and my mother’s phone calls—”
They rounded the corner of the house and stopped short. Four very large black automobiles lined the street. She turned to Luke in confusion. “What in the world?”
“Unless I miss my guess—” Luke watched his old friend, Mike Forbes, walk toward them across the yard. “Yeah, it’s the lawyers. Jeez, they outnumber the sheep. Sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault.” She frowned. “Is it?”
“Well, it’s my mother’s fault, I expect. Mike’s her attorney—one of them, anyway.”
“Good grief, I should have known.” She stopped and waited for the lawyer to reach her. Four other, older, men, all carrying briefcases and wearing grim expressions, also closed in.
Mike approached with a cautious smile. “Hi, Luke, Thalia. I saw you two at the meeting the other night but didn’t have a chance to say hello.”
She nodded. “I saw you, too. Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, I should tell you not to waste any more breath. I have nothing to do with this sheep business—you are here about the sheep.”
“That’s right, but—”
“Forget it.” She backed away, shaking her head. “You need to speak to my mother.”
“Who is—?”
“Out of town for the day. You’ll be able to reach her tomorrow, I expect.”
“I see.” Mike waved off the rest of what looked like his legal team. “I’m sorry we bothered you, then, but we wanted to nip this sheep thing in the bud before it went any further. They’re illegal here, plain and simple. I’m sure once your mother realizes that, she’ll do the right thing.”
“Who do you represent in this, Mike?”
His calm expression gave nothing away. “Mrs. Dalton and Joe John Jeff Jordan. My colleagues over there represent some of your neighbors.”
“I see.” She glanced at Luke accusingly. “Maybe it’s time my mother got her own lawyer.”
Mike laughed easily. “Not over this. It’s pretty cut-and-dried. Sheep aren’t specifically allowed anywhere inside city limits, so it doesn’t actually matter whether this land is in the Shangri-la acreage.”
“It matters to us,” Luke said.
Mike looked flustered for the first time. “You’re dealing yourself in, Luke?”
“I’ve almost got to, since the sheep were my idea.”
“Your idea?” Mike looked taken aback for the first time.
“That’s right, and you can pass that word on to your clients. Now if you’ll excuse us, Thalia and I have more important things to do.” Taking her arm firmly, he escorted her along the walk, up the porch steps and into the house.
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