Tell Me You'll Stay

Chapter 1

This is how I envision Kiernan Miller.

"Make sure Pocket gets plenty of water!" I called after Mrs. Johnson. The elderly woman waved with a smile and carried her lap dog out of the shop. Today was just a typical day down in the Laramie Animal Clinic and Shop. Pocket, a small black and white jack russell, was a regular patient. She was brought in all the time for some small thing or another. But I didn't mind. She was sweet and playful at a dog her age. Humming a light tune, I made my way into the back kennel to feed the current residents.

"Hey, Beth." I picked up a bucket full of kibble and a measuring cup before turning to see her in a pen with a fluffy german shepherd. "Hey," She grinned. "What was up with Pocket this time?" Opening a gate to feed the smaller dogs I responded. "What isn't wrong with her?" I teased with a laugh. "Good point!" She left Diesel and picked up her bucket to help feed the four cats in residence. It took a good fifteen minutes before we finished and for the bell to ring, telling us there was another pet. "I'll get it." I pushed through the door, wiping dog slobber on my jeans. Looking up, I caught the blue gaze of a tall cowboy. He was dressed in a blue and white chambray, jeans and boots, with a medium sized blue heeler in his arms. Damn...

"Um.. Can I help you?" I asked, coming up to the counter. "Yes, ma'am. Seems as though Cooper, here, got his paw stuck in a rabbit trap." He answered, his gaze steady on mine. I averted my gaze to the injured canine. He shifted the dog to show his bloody back paw, wrapped horribly with a rag. "He's not... aggressive, is he?" I asked eyeing the pup carefully. "Not at all. Wouldn't hurt a fly, would ya?" He gave the dog a scratch on his side. Instantly his tail began wagging.

Beth decided then to make an entrance by practically beating white dog hairs off her black t-shirt as she entered. "Who sto-" She paused mid-sentence. Looking at first him, then me. "Uh, his dog got caught in one of those traps. You enjoy the big dogs, have at him." I gestured with a grin. I only liked one big dog and that was my boy Fonzie. That was it. All others? A big pain.

"Yea, I've got him." Beth walked over, let the dog get a whiff of her before taking him in her arms and carried him to the back. I made my way to the counter computer. "I need a few details on... uh.. Cooper? Yourself as well." I put on my reading glasses and looked up at the tall stranger. "Right." He sauntered over to the counter and leaned his fore arms on the top. "What breed is he?" I had already put his name and gender into the database. "Blue Heeler." He answered. "Ok." I bit my lower lip as I typed it in. I scrolled down til I got to the owner's information. "And your name?" I glance up at him. "Travis Kane." Curt, much? I thought to myself. "Ill need your Phone number as well." My fingers moved quickly along the keyboard. "Sorry. No phone. Although I do work down at the Lazy C ranch." His blue gaze burning into mine. "Well... they are frequent visiting here. I have the number. That's all I need. Ill, uh, call the ranch when Cooper is ready to go." I offered a smile. He returned the smile and added a tip of his Stetson. " 'Preciate it. Ill see you around..." He paused. "Kiernan." I kept the smile on my face. "Kiernan." He repeated before turning to leave. The bell over the door tinkled as he left and I bolted for the back.

Beth had the dog on the table with peroxide and paper towels. She turned to me with a massive grin. "He. Was. Hot." She laughed. "I know! I mean.. Damn!" I joined her in a laugh. I walked over to the pup's blue head and gave him a scratch. "You heard nothing." I teased, scratching under his chin. "Lets get this over with, bud and you can go home to Travis." Cooper perked his ears as I spoke to him.

Luckily for us the cuts weren't deep and he didn't need too many stitches. maybe five at the most. Tomorrow, after the medication wears off, he'd be good to go.

"Ill see you tomorrow, Kiernan!" Beth called to me. At exactly five, she clocked out and was leaving. I, on the other hand, had to make sure everyone was secured in their cages and good to go for the night. "Bye!" I called after her. "Ok. You're all good to go." I murmured to myself and the animals. I made one last run though and headed out. Since I only lived like two blocks away from the clinic, I walked to and from everyday. I marched up the steps of my small, one bedroom, house and unlocked the door. Not five seconds later I was attacked by a big fluffy Shepard, thankful for my return home from work. "Hey, buddy, I missed you too." I laughed, hugging him as he hugged me. Fonzie was a full blood German Shepard and full of energy. I tossed my keys onto the small table by the door and made my way to my room, Fonzie in tow.

Maybe around nine I was finally in bed reading with my fluffy 'blanket' stretched over my legs. I couldn't help but think of that cowboy. I had never seen him around before, or heard of him. Hm. Maybe he's just a drifter. I closed my book and set it on my nightstand along with my reading glasses. "Good night, Fonzie. Maybe you can come to work with me tomorrow." I murmured to him as he scooched closer to my chest.