Page 17 of Puppy Kisses

Adam’s voice, quiet but firm, came from behind them. “Of course we’ll pay you for the damage, Mrs. Benson,” he said. “I know we can’t replace the effort you put into the garden, but feel free to name any figure you want.”

That seemed inordinately generous to Dawn, who would have unhesitatingly stated a million dollars just to see what Adam would do, but Bea snorted. “A bribe, you mean.”

He lifted his shoulder in a half shrug. “I don’t care what you call it as long as it leads to what we both want. The checkbook is in the glove box. You know what I’m prepared to pay.”

“It’s like a Dearborn to think money fixes everything.” Bea lifted her chin at a mulish angle and stared hard at Dawn, which seemed a little unfair.Shewasn’t the one trying to buy the poor woman off. “Now, if one of the Smithwood cattle had come over here and turned my vegetables into a playground…”

Both Phoebe and Adam stiffened in a way that was almost comical. It was as though they’d both been jolted by the same electric shock.

Adam was the first to recover, which he did by putting on a smile that would have charmed Dawn right out of her dirty clothes, had it been directed at her. He hitched a thumb in his belt loop, too, which only added to his appeal. “You know we’ll match anything the Smithwoods say or do. I’ve made that clear from the start.”

None of Adam’s charm worked on the older woman. “They’d have offered to come over and replant this garden from the ground up, keeping a lonely old woman company all the while. Is that what you’re prepared to do, Mr. Dearborn?”

His voice remained level as he said politely, “If that’s what you want, absolutely. It’d be my pleasure.”

“They might even make me a cake, seeing what a sweet tooth I have. In fact, they’ve made me three this week already. What would you say to that?”

“That you must be getting tired of them by now. What if I were to offer you a pie instead?”

Dawn watched this exchange with interest. Never, not even in the deepest throes of passion, had she ever heard Adam be this conciliatory. He fought and argued and dug his stubborn feet into every challenge that came his way. Likening him to a cow was a bit much, but she was sure there was an ass or two around these parts that fit the bill. She had no idea what power this cantankerous old woman had over Adam, but it must be something good.

“Too bad,” Bea said. “I don’t want you. Or your milky little sister or that swoopy-haired musclehead you call a brother, so don’t go offering me them in your stead.”

Adam’s smile began to falter. “Excuse me?”

“That boy doesn’t have the sense God gave this cow, and if I had to spend as much as five minutes in the girl’s company, what with her constant bitching and moaning, I’d shoot myself in the foot.”

“Now, see here. My sister does not—”

“Don’t, Adam,” Phoebe hissed. Her own smile had long since vanished, replaced by a tight line. “She’s only trying to rile you up. I’m not worth the fight.”

Actually, Dawn disagreed. Phoebewasworth the fight. She might not be physically imposing, but looks were often deceiving. Dawn’s own younger sister was of the same slight build and mien, and Dawn couldn’t think of any person, living or dead, who had as much resolve as her. She’d take one look at this mean old woman and tell her exactly what she could do with herself—all done with such a deceptively sweet air that no one would see it coming.

Since Dawn was much less adorable than her sister, she had to resort to her own tactics, which better resembled a battering ram than a petite Trojan horse.

“Okay, here’s the deal.” She stared at Bea, holding the woman’s gaze until she was forced to blink. “I’llbe the one to come help you with your garden, and I’ll be nice and keep you company while I do it. I might even bring you that pie Adam promised. But I won’t hear a word against any of the Dearborns while I’m here, got it?”

“How dare you speak to me like—”

“I’ll admit that they have terrible taste in cows,” she continued, rising up under the challenge in the woman’s stare. Her sisters would recognize the danger of pushing her like this. After the incident with the puppy, Zeke might recognize it, too. But none of the people present knew her well enough to realize that once she took a stand against something, it was almost impossible to get her to sit back down again. When Dawn did a thing, she did it all the way.

Stealing dogs. Confronting mean old ladies.Falling in love.

“They should obviously invest in a better gate, too, but they’re accepting responsibility and have shown themselves willing to make amends,” she added. “Insulting them isn’t going to change anything.”

Phoebe turned her hiss to Dawn. “Uh, Dawn? Maybe now’s not—”

“Oh, now’s the best time—believe me. It’s no use letting something like this fester. It’s better to get it out while we’re all here.” She put her hands on her hips. “Well, Mrs. Benson? What do you say? It’s me and my hoes coming to do your dirty work, or it’s a big fat check from the Dearborn Ranch. Which do you prefer?”

A chuff of something that was either laughter or outrage sounded from Adam’s direction, but Dawn didn’t turn around to see which. She didn’t need him derailing her right now. She was on a roll. Not even her confrontation with No-Pants Shotgun could touch this one.

“Well?” she prodded. “Do you want my help or not?”

A heavy sigh escaped the older woman as she looked away. “You’re better than nothing, I suppose,” she said.

“I’m a lot better, actually.”

Bea pointed a finger at her. “But you’ll need to find some work clothes before you come over, because I refuse to look at your tits all day.”