They made sandwiches. Parker bit into his and his expression spoke volumes.
“Hey!” he said. “This is great!”
Katy smiled broadly. “Thanks. I learned how to make it from my granddad. He had a secret ingredient that set it apart from most tuna salad.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “And . . . ?”
“Oh, no,” she retorted. “I’m not giving it away. It’s a secret,” she said in a loud whisper.
He gave her a wicked look. “For now,” he said, and the way he was looking at her made her flush.
Teddie noticed. She smiled to herself.
They ate in a pleasant silence, except that Katy looked guilty and Parker wondered why.
After lunch, Teddie asked to be excused to watch a special program on the nature channel. Katy agreed at once.
She put up the lunch things and put the dishes in the sink, worried and unable to hide it.
“What is it?” Parker asked when she sat back down at the table.
She managed a jerky smile. “The vet called. They let Bart’s owner out of jail and dropped the charges.”
He sighed. “I know. I just found out this morning. I was going to tell you earlier, but I didn’t have the heart.”
“He suggested I get an attorney.”
“That’s a good idea,” Parker said. “He has one out of Denver,” he added. “A relative who’s a big-city attorney with a great track record.” He sighed. “Problem is, getting you an attorney who can stand up to him in court.”
“I thought about that.”
“We have some good local ones,” Parker continued. “But not one of them has ever gone up against a sophisticated city lawyer. Not to my knowledge. You need somebody comparable to the horse abuser’s counsel.”
“As it happens, I do know one back east.” She gave him an apologetic look. “The attorney who handled my husband’s affairs,” she began.
He rolled his eyes. “Not the suit with the attitude problem who doesn’t like Teddie?”
She winced. “Well, he’s the only big-city attorney I know, and if Teddie loses that horse, I don’t know what will become of her.”
He made a face. He sipped coffee. “I guess it’s not a bad idea.” His dark eyes met hers. “So long as he keeps his hands off you.”
Her heart jumped. Her lips parted. “Oh.”
Both dark eyebrows lifted and he smiled wickedly at her expression.
She threw a napkin at him and laughed.
“As it happens,” he said dryly, “I’m not kidding. If he makes a move on you, he goes on the endangered species list. I have squatter’s rights.”
Her whole face became radiant. “Really?”
He cocked his head and studied her. “I hadn’t planned on getting involved with anybody, ever again, you know.”
“Actually, neither had I.”
His big hand reached across to hers and linked fingers with it. “Life goes on. Maybe we both need to look ahead instead of behind.”
She beamed.