Chances Read online

  Chances—previously titled Second Chances

  Copyright © 2022 by B. K. Stubblefield. All rights reserved.

  First Edition: 2016

  Second Edition: June 2022

  Editorial edits: Sue Grimshaw/Edits by Sue

  Copy edits and proofreading: Sandy Ebel/Personal Touch Editing

  Cover Design: Kate Farlow/Y’all That Graphic

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locations, events, business establishments, or actual person—living or dead—is entirely coincidental. No portion of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Whoever said diamonds are a girl’s best friend

  obviously never loved a dog.

  -Unknown

  Contents

  1. Chapter 1

  2. Chapter 2

  3. Chapter 3

  4. Chapter 4

  5. Chapter 5

  6. Chapter 6

  7. Chapter 7

  8. Chapter 8

  9. Chapter 9

  10. Chapter 10

  11. Chapter 11

  12. Chapter 12

  13. Chapter 13

  14. Chapter 14

  15. Chapter 15

  16. Chapter 16

  17. Chapter 17

  18. Chapter 18

  19. Chapter 19

  20. Chapter 20

  21. Chapter 21

  22. Chapter 22

  23. Chapter 23

  24. Chapter 24

  25. Chapter 25

  Chapter 1

  Present

  Haley

  On most days, Haley Redmon absolutely loved her work, which was a good thing. It would have been an awful blow to realize she’d given up her job as a paralegal to run an animal rescue organization for a meager salary, only to conclude managing a shelter was a migraine-inducing venture.

  Today was such a day... migraine-inducing, that is. Because three days ago, a rescue mission of epic proportions, which Barkville had not seen in its four-year existence, set her hair on fire. Standing by the stove, waiting for the water kettle to boil, she recalled answering her phone.

  "Hi, this is Carol Padgett from the Oak County Attorney's office, calling for Haley Redmon." Haley couldn't say why, but red flags went up as she confirmed, and Carol Padgett continued. "To get straight to the point, we have an animal hoarding situation in Oak Creek, and we are looking at a large-scale rescue. We’re expecting to remove possibly over one hundred dogs and cats from a single-family residence. Would you be able to assist with the removal and housing of these animals?"

  Carol’s words sent Haley’s brain into overdrive. Wow! Over one hundred animals. Holy mackerel. She didn’t hesitate for one second. Of course, Barkville would assist. Her mind clicked ahead—how many animals could they shelter, and who would help with transport, bathing, feeding, and whatever else was needed?

  "Thank you, Miss Redmon. I will call back with the details. To avoid tipping off the resident’s owner, please share this information only with your closest staff."

  "Of course," Haley agreed. She understood Carol’s cautioning, but shouldn’t that be a given?

  Wow was right. Everyone at Barkville would have their hands full today. Haley poured boiling water over a tea bag dangling from a string into a mug inscribed with Mornings can be Ruff in black scrolls, which couldn’t be more fitting. So, what if tiny chips peppered the rim? The mug was her favorite, a gift from her best friend, Keira, after the approval of Haley’s non-profit application gave birth to Barkville Rescue, and she became the organization’s director. Keira knew her well. Yep, Haley was as far removed from an early bird as a night owl could be from a lark. Although right now, her mind resembled a buzzing beehive, and every muscle in her body tensed with the prospect of today’s dreadful, stomach-churning task she’d readily agreed to.

  Carrying her cup to the patio door, Haley watched her dogs, Jake and Maxwell, for a moment as they did their morning thing. From the way he crisscrossed the half-acre yard, gentle Jake, a yellow lab/St. Bernard mix had picked up a scent. His sidekick and troublemaker Max, a deep-brown energetic ball of unknown breeds, lifted his leg on the bare wisteria branches climbing up the trellis over the side gate. Jake and Max were her rescue kids.

  Steam curled from her mug, dancing briefly in the air, then dissipated as she sipped and gratefully accepted the hot liquid sliding into her belly. As the sun rose, burning off the early morning mist, she knew the frantic activities of the last three days would pale compared to what was on tap for today. Dog rescue was her business and passion, but it was often demanding, heartbreaking, and unappreciated. Sometimes it just sucked.

  Especially when owners surrendered or abandoned dogs when they became too big, barked too much, shed too much, or became pregnant, and their owner didn’t want to deal with a litter of pups. Sometimes, she found them tied up and left outside the building, because, well… the good folks at the rescue would take care of them and find a new home. Jeez. Some folks shed their responsibilities like snakes slithered out of their old skins.

  Then there was a whole other level of cruelty. Where the ones collecting animals like others collected garden gnomes became a danger to themselves. Hoarders. Whew.

  People sucked. There, she’d said it.

  When someone adopted one of her kids, giving them a loving home, and treated them as family members, Haley cried. Happy tears, as her fur baby loped away with a wagging tail next to their new parent. And each time they did, she changed her mind.

  People were amazing.

  On that note, time was flying and she had to get moving. While she showered and dressed, Jake and Max could stay outside a little longer chasing squirrels up the maple trees or flushing rabbits from the clumps of ornamental grasses.

  As the first streaks of pink and orange peeked over the horizon, Hailey hotfooted it to the kitchen, rinsed her cup, stowed it into the dishwasher and dashed into the bathroom all the while wondering if she should count herself lucky, crazy, or simply doomed to fail in running a non-profit organization for animals.

  Lucky, because she could count one-thousand percent on her volunteers. Crazy, because the rescue building could hold thirty-five animals and the county attorney’s office needed space for over one-hundred. Possibly doomed, because the roof plus the HVAC system needed replacing while Barkville’s coffers barely covered the humongous electric bill each month. Millie, a retired art teacher and vigorous supporter—bless her heart—offered to pay for the roofing materials and currently petitioned Harold Miller, owner of a local construction company, to donate the labor. Haley smiled. If anyone could pull strings, it would be Millie. Yeah, people were great, and some were saints.

  Unless said saints swooped like vultures onto a property owned by an older lady, to take one hundred plus animals from her home. Those who knew of the woman called her sweet, compassionate, and caring. Her heart for animals knew no bounds. But Hailey, her team, and all the others involved in today’s rescue mission weren’t vultures, and the sweet lady was an animal hoarder.

  What time was it? Haley hurried into the bedroom. A quick peek to the clock on the nightstand and she made a mad dash into the walk-in closet. Ten minutes, and she still had to take care of the dogs. Pulling her oldest faded jeans from the closet, she tugged on a t-shirt sporting the rescue logo, and slipped one foot into a black and white sneaker.

  From the living room, she heard the weatherman come on TV, raving about the splendid day ahead. "We’ll have another sunny day with above-average temperatures for most of our viewing area…" Having picked up the important stuff, Haley tuned him out. No doubt, she could get used to above average temperatures minus the sticky humidity. June was a gift from the weather gods, and today would be no different. Thank heaven for small favors.

  Come on, come on. Where was her other shoe? Well, it wasn’t in the closet. "Dang it, Max…" she mumbled, would she ever remember to shut the closet door? She found the missing sneaker in the bedroom, peeking out from under the dresser. Slightly chewed on and wet around the heel but luckily, the shoe had survived Max’s teeth. Unlike a pair of Italian loafers, handmade and of the finest leather that Max had torn into just a few weeks earlier. . . Austin’s shoes, her ex's.

  "Dammit Max," she muttered.

  Oh, great, her hair was a mess, but an easy fix. She twisted the tresses into a ponytail while rushing to the patio door and calling her fur kids. Jake leaped toward the house with his tongue dangling from the side of his mouth.

  "You’re going to wear that goofy face all day?" She smiled and rewarded him with a pat on his head and a biscuit.

  "Max," she called again, and when the damn dog didn’t listen, she turned up the volume. "MAXWELL… COME. NOW." Eventually, the animal came inside on a lazy stroll. Good grief. As much as she loved the sweet mutt, sometimes his stubborn head could shred her last nerve, especially when she needed to get moving and Max ignored her. "Oh, Max," she huffed. "Will you ever grow up?"

  As she closed the patio door, Austin, the man she’d fallen in love with and who’d shared her home for a few months, crossed her mind once more. Max—the reason she couldn’t be with Austin—sank to his haunches and slanted his head
as if saying, "Whatever do you mean, Mom?"

  Not that Austin didn’t care for her dogs, he had, but being an intolerable, hyper-active puppy, Max had put their new and fragile relationship to the test. Truth be told, the dog could tax the patience of a saint. At least, that’s what it had boiled down to. All things she didn’t want to think about right now.

  Haley breathed deeply through her nose and exhaled slowly. "Maxwell, you do know you’re a dog parent’s worst nightmare, don’t you?" She’d joked about Max being her puppy on steroids, but there was nothing funny about it. Flunking obedience training, Haley defined his listening ratio of about two to ten as progress. She knew better than to reward Max after he’d ignored her command, but the soft spot inside her heart made her hand over a biscuit, anyway. She couldn’t help it.

  Shrugging into a lightweight hoodie as she made her way to the kitchen, Haley snagged her phone from the charger and fished her keys from the catch-all basket on the counter. She grabbed her backpack, which dangled from the back of a chair, and slung it over her shoulder. The soft-as-lambskin leather satchel had been a Christmas gift from Austin. She loved this bag and used it all the time. Good God, but why did he keep getting into her head this morning?

  Was it because when Christmas came this year, she’d be spending the holiday in the same way she had before Austin? A phone call to her dad who, until recently, had been a stranger for most of her life. Followed by FaceTiming her sister, who’d married a Brit and had moved to the UK.

  Haley stepped outside, texting her friend Keira that she’d be there in five. In less than an hour, she wouldn’t have a second to think about Austin.

  Chapter 2

  Haley

  “Good morning.” Keira opened the passenger door to the Barkville van while balancing a travel mug in her hand and an oversized canvas tote on her arm. A bright smile stretched across her face as she settled into the passenger seat.

  "Morning, chipper." Haley could have sworn her friend woke up with sunshine on her face, no matter how early, or how dire the circumstances. Like today. She loved her friend’s sunny disposition and wished she could muster the same perkiness every day at this early hour. Haley’s needle on the perky meter started moving around nine o’clock, after feeding it a pot of tea.

  "God, I can’t believe we’re doing this," Keira put the mug in a holder and snapped the seatbelt across her chest. "Hmmm," she hummed as the scent of coffee filled the space.

  "Yeah. Right. It’s definitely a first for us. Is it just me or does it feel like three hours and not three days since the County Attorney asked for our help?" Haley blew a stream of air through pursed lips. "You know how I worried we wouldn’t have enough time to clear the shelter, or have enough volunteers to help with transport and intake of however many animals we may be getting. But we said we would, and thanks to you, Millie, and Julie, we are."

  "I guess jumping through hoops is part of our job description." Keira picked up her mug and removed the lid as Haley backed out of the driveway, blew across the escaping steam, and sipped.

  "No kidding, girl, but hey, whatever comes our way today, it’ll be fine. We’ll deal with it." Haley glanced at Keira and smiled.

  Of course, everyone at Barkville had a hand in moving mountains to help out the county in this time of need. As one of three non-profits accepting animals, it was their time to shine. In a flurry of phone calls, Haley and her volunteers had appealed to every foster parent, friend, family member, and neighbor to foster one of Barkville’s animals, assuring them it would only be temporarily. They needed to make room for the ones coming in from the hoarding situation—the ones in good enough shape to go to a shelter.

  "Hmmm," Keira said after a moment. "As bad as this whole situation is, the boarding fees from the county will help with the bills until the court decides the fate of the pups."

  That much was true. Haley had dreamed about getting her own shelter, and the universe had granted her this wish. With it came a slew of financial worries, but who in their mutt-loving heart could put a price on the wellbeing of an animal?

  Thirty-five minutes later, when Haley and Keira arrived at the property, a police cruiser with flashing lights was directing traffic. The car in front of her slowed to a crawl, causing Haley to slam on her brakes. "Stupid rubberneckers," she muttered as the driver craned his neck to get a better view of a police officer escorting a woman from the house to a cruiser in the driveway.

  "Jeez." Keira balanced her coffee, avoiding a spill-over. "That sure woke me up."

  "Sorry," Haley smiled. "Think the local news stations will be showing up soon?"

  "Heck, yeah. I’m surprised they’re not already here." Keira’s gaze scanned the expanse in front of the unassuming ranch home sitting back on the property.

  After giving their purpose for being there, a police officer directed Haley to a grassy area designated for parking on the far side of the house. Animal control, cruelty investigators, and local veterinarians were setting up an examination station a small distance from the front door, where they would check and document each animal taken from the home.

  Haley’s van rattled over the uneven terrain to the designated parking area. "Hey, there’s Millie and Julie." Haley waved as they passed the Barkville volunteers, who were unloading several empty kennels and cat carriers from Millie’s SUV. At the edge of the parking area, Haley spotted the volunteer sign-in station where two women in white coveralls were handing out hazmat suits, gloves, and masks to a group of people.

  "You know what? Let’s go over there, register, and get our suits." Haley said, shutting off the engine. "We can gear up when we come back for the kennels."

  "Sounds good." Haley opened the car door and scrunched her nose. "Oh my God. What a disgusting smell." A revolting whiff of decomposing animal feces drifted on the clear morning air, making her stomach queasy.

  "Dear Lord," Keira echoed as she slammed the car door shut and pinched her nose. "This is horrendous. It’s coming from over there," she pointed to the chain-link fence behind the house. "I don’t even want to know what it smells like inside," she said, tipping her chin toward the house.

  Signing in at the registration booth, Haley and Keira received their masks, coveralls, and heavy gloves. With protective layers in hand and about to hurry back to their van, Keira suddenly nudged her elbow into Haley’s side.

  "Holy shit, girl—"

  "What?" Haley gave a slight shake of her head and raised her brows.

  "You’re not going to believe this—""

  "What?" Sounding a little flustered to be strung along, Haley followed her friend’s gaze to a minibus parked close to the area dedicated to the animal intake station. At the open door, a man and woman were donning their hazmat gear. A trick of light, or not enough caffeine in her tea, Haley couldn’t be sure, but even as she laid eyes on the guy, her stomach twisted and tied into a double knot.

  "No way." It couldn't be. She blinked, and it still was... Austin.

  The guy who looked as delicious in flannel shirts and sneakers as he did in a business suit and designer shoes. The same guy who’d moved out of her house—okay, she’d broken up with him—because of her insufferable little hellhound, Max. Well, Austin’s living arrangement had been temporary anyway. Nope, she wasn’t thinking about any of it right now.

  Strange enough, somewhere between shocked and annoyed, Haley’s heart had stopped beating, then it picked up a staccato all its own.

  "Kei," she said, striving for a neutral tone and failing miserably. "For heaven’s sake, why is he here? Doesn’t he have some Italian loafers to shop for or something?"

  Keira, who knew every detail of the argument that led to Haley’s and Austin’s separation, snapped her eyes to Haley. "Ouch. That’s so unlike you, Haley bug. Why not cut him some slack?"

  "You don’t think the rumors are true of him being seen around town with a pretty brunette? Haley squinted her eyes. And the woman over there doesn’t have a thing to do with it?"

  "But you don’t care, or do you?"

  "Come on, Kei. I won’t dignify that with an answer." Haley glared. "Anyway, somehow she roped him into volunteering for animal rescue, so both thumbs up for her." The words left her mouth on a snarky note, and to her own ears, she sounded testy.