Thanksgiving at Canine Corral: Holiday Corral Romance, #2

By Irene Onorato

Tanzy Meadows works hard to keep the Canine Corral, her no-kill shelter for dogs, financially afloat. She provides the animals' needs, often neglecting her own, and strives to find forever homes for them. But her problems mount when the city council threatens to put her out of business, and a close friend develops a life-threatening condition.

Tanzy is smitten by Jake Strickland, a handsome but mysterious new arrival in town. Graphic designer and computer guru by trade, Jake revamps her shelter's web page, helps bring in much-needed funds, and provides innovative ways to find her dogs loving homes.

But will Jake be the one person she can share her hopes, dreams, and future with? Or is he hiding something? Underneath his charming demeanor lurks a mystery Tanzy can't understand. Will this side of him turn out to be a blessing, or will his reticence tear them apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Irene Onorato
• Release date: Nov 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9798224585335

Irene Onorato

Irene Onorato was born and raised in Bronx, New York. Her father, a first-generation American whose parents were born in Italy, was an Army veteran who had served with the 178th combat engineers during WWII. He told numerous stories of battles, hardships, tragedies and triumphs. The glimpses he gave into the hearts of many American warriors would later become the inspiration for much of Irene’s writings.   In 1972, a few months after graduating high school, Irene met James Onorato, a soldier who had just returned from Vietnam. After dating two weeks, they married, raised three children, and are still happily married today.   Irene and James, both radiation protection technicians, retired from the nuclear power industry in 2014 and now reside in Louisiana. Readers can visit Irene’s website at ireneonorato.com, and find her on Facebook.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Tanzy Meadows stormed out of City Hall and headed toward her aging pickup in the rear parking lot. If she were a bull, she’d be snorting smoke through her nostrils and looking for something red to charge. The council’s proposal to annex miles of property and extend the city limits was nothing more than a thinly veiled setup for a land grab. A way to add tax revenue to their coffers, impose new licensing fees and regulations to businesses, and give nothing in return.

Benefits of living within the city limits, my foot. She hopped into the truck, slammed the door, and started her up. What I don’t need is another government agency to have one hand in my pocket and another squeezing my neck.

She rumbled over the rough curb exiting the parking lot and turned right onto Main Street. The jolt had the power to rearrange her organs. Sooner or later, she’d have to get the shocks and springs checked before she bottomed out for good. But with funds at an all-time low, a trip to Gordy’s Car Care would likely be later than sooner.

What Tanzy needed was a long talk with her mom to vent her frustrations and help sort things out. Nothing compared to talking while swiveling around in a salon chair and watching her mother style someone’s poof for a party or perm a blue-haired senior citizen’s thinning crown.

Tanzy stomped the brakes, tires squealing. She jerked to a stop. Oh, no! Please, please, God. Tell me I didn’t hit it. She unbuckled the seatbelt, threw open the door, and jumped out of the truck. Great. Just what she needed with everything else going on in her life.

A black and white border-collie mix loped out from in front of the truck, head held high, with a black padded bra hanging from its mouth. He wagged his tail, his eyes shining as if playing a practical joke on somebody.

Are you all right, baby? Tanzy held out an open hand.

The dog took off on a dead run, crossed the street, and disappeared down an alley between two buildings. With a sigh of relief, she climbed into the truck and continued down the road.

Whew! That was a close one. But it was a bit unusual to see a dog stealing somebody’s bra. She couldn’t help but smile.

The phone sitting face-up on the passenger seat jingled. Tanzy shot a glance at it, stopped on the shoulder, and answered. Hey, Wanda. What’s up?

Sorry, Tanzy, but I made a mistake and booked two dogs for grooming at two o’clock. Puddles is here already and Veronica Maxwell just pulled in with Choo-Choo.

It’s all right. I’m headed that way anyway. Start on Puddles, and tell Veronica I’m on my way to do Choo-Choo.

Thanks so much. Again, I’m so sorry about the mistake. Veronica’s walking in now. Gotta go.

Tanzy sighed as she passed her mother’s shop. There went her much-needed counseling session.

Leaving Fletcher Falls. Come back soon.

Civilization seemed to stop at the sign and give way to farmland, pastures, and raw woods. The sprinkling of houses set back on acreage with ponds, floating fowl, and neatly stacked rows of cordwood didn’t detract from nature’s beauty. No, these people knew how to enjoy life in a rural setting without disrupting the natural flow of things. Without the restraints of sidewalks boxing them in or worrying about a factory or big-box store being erected within a stone’s throw of their front door. This was Pennsylvania at its finest, and she loved it.

Tanzy put on her blinker, left the main road, and turned onto the property Grandpa Meadows had left to her in his will. She’d shared his vision, worked alongside him, and vowed to take care of everything when he passed on. This was what she lived for. Her purpose in life. And she loved it.

She stopped where the driveway forked—the road to the right leading to Canine Hotel and Doggy Daycare that also housed the grooming salon, the other to an identical renovated barn where Canine Corral stood as the proud and loving no-kill shelter for needy dogs.

What would happen to her and her business if the city had its way and the expansion plan passed? She shook her head. For one thing, she’d be forced out of the apartment above Canine Corral. With the exception of house pets, Fletcher Fall’s ordinances didn’t allow for human habitation of a building that also housed animals. She could only hope the idea fizzled and the council would find something more useful to do with its time and power.

Puddles, a standard poodle, stood regally on the grooming table while Wanda ran clippers through his fur. Tanzy stopped by his head and scratched behind his ears. Hey, buddy. Getting all handsome, are you? His back end swayed with his wagging tail.

Veronica rose from the guest chair with her Yorkshire terrier nearly springing out of her arms with excitement. My baby loves you, Tanzy. She started whining as soon as she saw you get out of your truck.

She’s my little sweetheart. Tanzy petted her playfully.

You might want to take a look at some of these nasty tangles before you bathe her.

Tanzy gave the dog one last scratch behind the ear and stepped away. Sure. Hang on to her for a sec while I gather what I need to pretty her up.

She raised the hydraulic grooming table to the proper height and pulled her rolling tool stand closer. Okay, Choo-Choo, my friend. Come let me get some of those tangles out of your fur.

Veronica placed the dog on the table and sat down again. She folded her hands on her lap and sat erect, lips pursed, eyes twinkling.

Tanzy smiled while she secured the dog and calmed her with soothing strokes. Spit it out, Ronnie. We’ve been friends since high school, and I know full well when you sit like that, you’re dying to share an odd bit of news or a tasty morsel of gossip.

Ooh, gossip. Wanda flicked her brows. Please, do tell.

All right, then. Veronica giggled. Have you heard about the new guy in town? He moved here about a week ago.

No, can’t say that I have. Tanzy picked up a brush and started on Choo-Choo. A new person in a town the size of Fletcher Falls stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb. Neither a tourist destination nor a stopping point along a major thoroughfare, new people didn’t usually show up unless they were related to someone who lived there. Where’d you meet him?

I haven’t met him.

Wanda laughed and shook her graying head. Then you don’t have much to tell, now do you?

Ha! That’s where you’re wrong. It just so happens that my realtor cousin, Mandy, told me a little about him. Now with the upper hand as holder of valuable information, Veronica stood and walked between the grooming tables. The Mitchells came to see her because they were throwing around the idea of selling their house on Brent Street and moving to Florida. She gave them a comp analysis, suggested a price, and was ready to put it on the market when they decided instead to rent it to a nephew who lived in New York City.

Why would they do that instead of selling outright and being done with it?

Since they weren’t 100% sure about the Florida move, having the nephew rent the place for a while seemed like a good idea.

Choo-Choo licked Tanzy’s hand as she removed hair from the corner of her mouth. Good. I’m glad it worked out for everyone involved. The Mitchells are great people.

Veronica cleared her throat. I haven’t met this nephew of theirs, but!

But what?

I’ve seen him, and I’ve decided I’m going to marry him.

A laugh burst out of Wanda. "Honey, in case you’ve forgotten, you are married."

I know. Happily so, I might add. But I’m not blind, and this nephew of the Mitchells’ is a grade A hunk of manhood.

Tanzy stopped grooming the dog and instead just petted her. What’s he look like?

Tallish. I guess six foot or better. I’ve only seen him through my window while he’s jogging at the park across the street. Every morning like clockwork at seven-thirty he comes around the track where it bends and follows parallel to the road. That’s when I see him.

What’s he look like besides tallish? Get on with it already. Tanzy blew an exasperated breath. Veronica loved to draw out the simplest of stories.

Chiseled face, neatly trimmed dark hair, fantastic legs. This morning he was wearing a white pullover that clung to totally ripped abs. She paused with a sigh. He’s a hot mess of muscles covered in a glaze of glistening sweat. And those green eyes of his? To die for.

Wait a minute. How can you tell he has green eyes by looking at him from your window across the street?

Veronica smiled. Through my binoculars.

Wanda burst into laughter. Puddles craned his neck around as if curious about the outburst.

Binoculars? Seriously? Tanzy shook her head. Do you have any idea how incredibly creepy that sounds? Especially for a married woman.

Wanda was still laughing and couldn’t seem to stop.

Veronica’s smile stretched across her face, showing lots of teeth. Admit it, I’ve roused your curiosity. Haven’t I?

Oh, for goodness sake. Your mama’s a crazy woman, isn’t she, Choo-Choo?

Tanzy groomed the dog and avoided Veronica’s teasing gaze. But at twenty-four and single, the thought of maybe meeting someone new—someone of the male persuasion—did pique Tanzy’s interest. Who was this nephew, and why would he want to move to Fletcher Falls?

Yes, she had to admit, Veronica’s news intrigued her and gave something else to think about besides city council business.

CHAPTER 2

Still in a nightgown, Tanzy poured her morning coffee and carried it down the back staircase from her apartment to the ground level of the Canine Corral barn. She strolled passed the corrals of sleeping dogs, some coiled into balls on their trampoline-style elevated beds, others stretched out and enjoying the coolness that the concrete floors offered during steamy August temperatures. The hum of large fans blended well with snores coming from a few of the senior dogs. The peaceful early-morning atmosphere always managed to warm her heart.

With clean environments, nutritious food, adequate veterinarian care, and daytime access to outside enclosures for playtime with human interaction, the only way the furry residents could have it better was if they were adopted into their very own forever homes. Something Tanzy prayed about for each and every one.

She stopped at the gate of a corral and squatted. Inside, Chester, sixty-something pounds of dubious but cuddly lineage, lay on his back, forepaws leaning to one side, hind legs splayed with his belly facing the ceiling. He opened his eyes and swept the floor with a few shakes of his tail.

Hey, buddy. Shh. It’s six in the morning. Way too early for you to get up. Go back to sleep, Tanzy whispered. She glanced at Boswell, Chester’s friend and corral mate. He slept soundly on his tramp bed and didn’t stir. It would take more than a whisper to wake the old guy. Buddies since puppyhood, Tanzy wouldn’t dream of adopting them out to separate homes. No, she’d keep them together just as she’d promised before their elderly owner passed away.

Chester’s eyes drifted closed. Later, when the paid, as well as the volunteer staff arrived, someone would, no doubt, give him a good belly-rubbing and make his day.

Tanzy sipped coffee and continued her silent rounds. Minutes later, satisfied that all was well, she went back upstairs, turned on her laptop, and pulled up the calendar.

Other than interviewing a potential Corral worker at nine, today’s agenda didn’t differ much from yesterday’s or tomorrow’s. Overseeing the ins and outs of running the money-making side of the business and looking for ways to beg, steal, or borrow to keep the shelter afloat. A challenging endeavor, but worth the struggle.

A flying ball of fur landed on the keyboard and trilled a melodious meow. Two new browsers flashed open.

Tanzy picked the cat up and hugged her. "Good