Gold Star Chance

by CJ Murphy

  A woman who barely came up to Sarah’s shoulder slid under her arm and waved at Jax. “Hi Jax, good to see you. It’s been way too long. Welcome to the zoo we call home. I hope you’re hungry.”

  Kendra walked by them with her archery equipment and snorted. “I’ll bet they’re starving, because they worked so hard at Jax’s clinic.” She exaggerated the word “so” and made air quotes with her fingers, as she climbed the stairs and hugged Kristi before heading to where Daniel was opening the grill.

  Sarah raised an eyebrow, and Jax covered her mouth with her hand. She couldn’t hold the laughter back and turned into Chance’s chest, her shoulders shaking. Chance wrapped her arms around her and laughed with her.

  Sarah put her hands on her hips before waving them up. “Not much has changed. You two still can’t keep your hands off each other.”

  Kristi held her arms out for Jax. “It’s good to see you. I know we’re a little older. Still, it’s nice to know we turn their heads the way we did back then. How’ve you been?”

  Jax stepped into the hug. “Much better now that I’m back here. I worked on my tan and spent too much time around vineyards. I figured it was time to come back to the mountains and ice-cold beers.”

  Kristi put her arm around Jax’s waist. “Well, let’s see if we can find one for you. We’ve graduated from our days of Pabst Blue Ribbon. We’ve got great local breweries over in Thomas and Davis. We love the amber ale from Mountain State Brewing.”

  “Can I get one?” Chance raised her hand.

  Kristi squinted and looked at her then back at Jax. “Is she on any medicine she shouldn’t be drinking with?”

  This caused another fit of laughter from Jax. “No, not that I’ve seen.” She looked at Sarah. “I’ll bring them.”

  Kristi smacked her arm. “Don’t spoil her, she can come in and get enough beer for her and Sarah. Want to help me in the kitchen? It’ll give us time to catch up while the adrenaline junkies commiserate.”

  “I’d love to. What needs doing?”

  “You can do the salad, while I put the corn on.”

  “Put me to work, I can take it.” Jax looked back at Chance and winked.

  Kristi rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, you two. It’s like you never left.”

  “I never should have.”

  “Jax, we all have regrets. It’s what we do now that counts. My advice to you is let it all go. Live in the here and now. Come in here and catch up with me. We haven’t had a good girl chat since those days on the riverbank.”

  Jax followed her in, and Kristi set a pie and a knife in front of her. “That’s something we need to do when she gets that cast off. A good river float would be a great idea.”

  “I’m all for that.” Chance walked by them, grabbed two beers, and retreated to the deck.

  “I agree. Once Daniel figures out what he’s doing, I’ll have a little more time. That boy keeps me hopping.”

  Jax put the knife in the sink and wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “I still can’t believe you two have a son old enough to have graduated college.”

  “I know, and we waited to get pregnant until we felt certain we could afford to have him. It wasn’t easy. I can tell you. I still wouldn’t change a thing. He’s determined to go to work for Chance. I’d like to see him do something outside of law enforcement, but he has his heart set on working for her. For better or worse, those two,” she pointed out to the grill where Daniel and Kendra stood, “think Chance walks on water. I’m relieved we could get him to finish school first. He almost quit when she became Sheriff. The only thing that kept him from quitting was there weren’t any positions open. Chance said she wished she’d never hired Brad and tested for the vacancy instead.”

  “I met the guy. I can’t see how he can even be a police officer. Certainly doesn’t seem like he’s out to protect and serve.”

  “No, and he’s a royal pain in Chance’s ass. He ran against her when she was elected. Personally, I think he stays to be a thorn in her side.”

  “Like she needs an internal issue with all the outside problems.”

  Kristi put corn in the water to boil. “Daniel should have the ribs done in a few more minutes. Let’s have a beer.” Kristi grabbed two longnecks from the refrigerator and handed one to Jax.

  Jax saw the label and smiled. “This is good. I had this at Chance’s. I think I’ve found my new favorite beer.”

  “Our friend, Vickie, runs the place. She’s a master brewer and tends bar there at the tap room. Most of the time, we get it in growlers. Sarah found it in bottles over in Elkins the other day.”

  “We’ll have to find some time to go to the taproom and try the rest.” Jax stopped and grinned. “So many things I look forward to, now that I’m back here.”

  Kristi pulled out a chair at the kitchen table. “I think Chance smiles more now than I’ve seen in years. When she was with Faith—” She stopped abruptly.

  Jax reached out a hand and put it over Kristi’s. “It’s okay. I met her at the hospital and more recently at a checkup. It must be hard for you guys, not having them together.”

  “Not as much as you think. Faith is Sarah’s sister, and we love her dearly. When they were together, we enjoyed doing things with them. Unfortunately, there was always tension. Those little town criers on their sides tend to interrupt plans.” Kristi pointed to the small boxes with knobs clipped to both Chance and Sarah’s waists. “Over the years, I’ve learned it’s part of who Sarah is. Faith couldn’t stand competing with Chance’s need to protect and serve. There is no difference in Chance on or off duty. Faith wanted to be Chance’s only focus.”

  Jax looked at the radio Kristi spoke of. She’d heard its alert more than once. While Chance was recovering, she was on limited duty with the rescue squad in a consultant only role. “Out in California, I headed up an equestrian search and rescue team. I hold a paramedic license to use during operations. I never had the need to jump on an ambulance. My skills were more for fieldwork when we reached the patient. I understand that calling. Matt Carson approached me after that call out to Lindy Point. I was supposed to sign up for the squad and then…” She stopped abruptly without finishing her thought.

  “Chance got hurt and you had your own patient.”

  Jax nodded. “I’ve never been so scared. I could have lost her before I really got a chance to tell her how I felt. I missed my opportunity with her all those years ago. I won’t do it again.”

  “Well, if the way Chance looks at you is any indication, I don’t think you have much to worry about. In all the years they were together, I never saw Chance look at Faith the way she did at you when you guys got out of her truck today. She’s happy, and that’s important. Chance is family to us, with or without Faith. She’s actually been my friend longer than Faith has.”

  “You two don’t get along?”

  “We do. Let’s leave it as a different kind of relationship. I don’t think she ever thought I was good enough for Sarah. Faith thought Sarah should have gone to medical school instead of starting a family. In her mind, I kept Sarah from being what Faith thought she had the potential to be. Faith loves Daniel, don’t get me wrong. I think she wanted Sarah to be more than a paramedic supervisor working on an ambulance.”

  “I think Sarah has always been very capable of making her own decisions. As an outsider looking in, I don’t see any regrets.”

  Kristi blushed. “She told me she was going to marry me the first day she met me. I wasn’t even out of the closet.” She held up her ring. “That didn’t matter to Sarah. She made it so I couldn’t live without her. I don’t have any regrets either. I’m happy being a nurse at the Harman Medical Clinic. Faith tried to get me to come to work for her. I declined. That would be a little too much family togetherness for me.”

  “She certainly gave Chance a dressing down when I went with her for the checkup. I think she still has feelings for Chance.” She held up her hands. “I know, I know. Everyone keeps telling me she’s happily marri
ed. I can’t help but see regret when I’m around her.” Jax looked out the window. “Sometimes, it’s the one that got away that you can’t forget.”

  Kristi got up and took the corn out of the pot. “You should know, and I’m happy to see you working toward changing that outcome. Come on, grab that bowl. If I know those four out there, they’re starved. And if you were busy,” Kristi made air quotes, “with Chance today, you probably are too.”

  Jax bit her lip, stifling a laugh, as they headed out the door. Kristi put the corn on the large wooden picnic table. Jax put a spoon in the pasta salad and placed the pie she’d cut at the end of the table. Sarah regaled Jax with stories of the antics she and Chance had gotten into when they were younger, even as they admonished Kendra and Daniel not to get any ideas.

  When the pie and ice cream had been devoured, the group made their way to the fire burning in a stone surround. The four adults leaned back, sated, while Kendra and Daniel set up the archery range.

  Chance egged Kendra on. “Think you still got it?”

  Daniel smirked. “I’ll smoke her ass.”

  Kendra scowled. “My nickname is Bullseye, you jerk. We’ll see who wipes the floor with whom.”

  Everyone chuckled at the inaudible sound of the proverbial gauntlet drop, as the two young archers stepped up to the line. Daniel’s first shot missed the center. His arrow pierced the line that separated the rings, nudging him to a higher score.

  “Jar-licker.” Kendra zinged him using archery slang for the type of score he’d earned. She adjusted the quick release on her bow and drew the string back near her ear. When the arrow struck the center of the target, Daniel hung his head.

  Jax put her hands over her ears, as Chance let out an ear-splitting whistle that echoed around the yard. Daniel adjusted his stance and let his next arrow fly, burying it directly beside Kendra’s first shot. Sarah clapped and cheered her son on.

  “Keep up, if you can.” Kendra pulled her next arrow from her quiver and notched it on the string. As she released it, Daniel faked a cough in an attempt to throw her off. The tactic failed, and her arrow sank beside her first, dead center.

  “Spider! Nice shot, Bullseye.” Chance yelled and Jax clapped.

  “Lucky shot,” Daniel sneered.

  “Lucky my ass. When that arrow splits the x, that’s skill.” Kendra bowed.

  The shots continued to hit the target until the quivers were empty. When the scores were tallied, Kendra stood with an eyebrow raised and a smirk lifting one corner of her mouth. Daniel went to one knee and presented Kendra with his bow.

  “Get up you jackass and start practicing more. Maybe someday you can be this good.”

  Sarah stood and clapped. “Chance would still smoke both of you, and you know it. If she didn’t have that cast on, I’d put money on it.”

  Daniel and Kendra both turned and bowed to Chance, who waved them off.

  Jax leaned over and kissed Chance. “I think you’re still top dog, honey.”

  “Who do you think taught the likes of them?” Chance laughed and pulled Jax into her lap.

  The rest of the evening was spent around the fire, making s’mores and telling more stories, before it was time to say good night. Zeus climbed into the back seat. Chance turned the truck around and looked at Kendra.

  “Where are you staying tonight?”

  “Momma D asked if I could help put down those pavers in the backyard, so I’ll crash at home tonight.”

  “I’m sure it killed her to ask. It was more than likely on Mom’s orders.”

  Jax laughed. “Oh, I’d bet money on it.”

  Chance stopped the truck and looked at Kendra. “If I wasn’t in this cast, I’d help. I know if I even tried to pick up a shovel, I’d be henpecked. You know how scared we all were with her heart attack. Don’t let Dee hurt herself. She’s doing really well, and she’s got most of her strength back.”

  Kendra held up her hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll be the manual labor. She can be the brains of the operation.”

  “Now I really am worried how that design will turn out. Just watch her.”

  Kendra shook her head. “You think Mom won’t be there supervising the both of us?”

  “True. Let’s get you home so you can be well rested.” Chance let a grin show.

  “Uh huh, getting Jax all to yourself has nothing to do with it. I’m twenty, not five.”

  Chance held up her hands and leaned over to kiss Jax. “I plead the fifth. I refuse to incriminate myself.”

  Kendra reached up and flicked Chance’s ear. “Just drive, Romeo.”

  Jax leaned in and kissed Chance again. “Yeah, what she said. Drive, Romeo.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  ONE WEEK LATER, CHANCE sat in an exam room to have her cast cut off. She hoped she would be cleared for full duty once she saw Faith in the afternoon. She needed to get back on the road. Even more importantly, Chance wanted two good hands to touch Jax with. The sound of the cast saw didn’t bother her as much as the tickling sensation it caused.

  “Let’s get an X-ray. If it’s completely healed, I’ll send you on your way and release you to return to full duty.” Dr. Alden watched the nurse use the spreaders to separate the two halves of the cast. “You know, I’d like to not see you like this again. We can get together for some burgers and beer instead.”

  Chance let her smile shine. “If I can help it, it’s the only way you’ll see me again.” She left the orthopedic office and let Zeus in before she climbed into her truck. She was still waiting on her new department vehicle. She voice activated her Bluetooth feature to make a call. When Jax answered, Chance told her the good news. “One doc down and one to go.”

  “Everything looked good?” Jax asked.

  “She gave me a lightweight, elastic support for a few days. Other than that, she said I should have full mobility. I might be able to predict the weather better than a meteorologist though.” Chance turned out of the doctor’s office parking lot and merged into traffic.

  “Ah, a little weak is it?”

  “The muscle tone will come back quickly. She told me if it persists, we’ll look at physical therapy. Other than that, she said she’d rather meet for dinner than surgery. I agreed.”

  “Are you on your way back?”

  “I am. I need to stop by the clinic and see if I can wrangle a get-out-of-jail-free card signed in blood by Faith, with six copies for interested parties.”

  “Need back up this time?” Jax chuckled.

  “Nah, I think I’ve got it. I’ve been good, really good. I can tell you I’ll be mightily pissed if she doesn’t sign.”

  “You have time to run over to Fairmont after your visit? They called to say they found a truck with everything I wanted two states away and brought it over. I can either wait on mine to come in or take this one. I’m ready to stop driving the Silverado all the time.”

  Chance brightened at the thought of a road trip with Jax. “That’s great. Want me to drop Zeus with Taylor? He sheds like a cat this time of year.”

  “Honey, I’m a vet. Every second of my day, I’m wearing some kind of animal hair. He’s welcome to come. Though, I’d really like to take you to dinner on the way home.”

  “Good point. I’ll leave him with Taylor. He needs some play time anyway. I’ll drop him at the office when I take my return-to-duty slip in. Okay, I’m about twenty minutes out. I’ll go by the clinic and give you a call after that.”

  “Sounds good. Marty is going to hang out here this afternoon and answer any barn calls. I don’t have any more appointments. Oh, Maggie called and said the paperwork is all ready for me to sign on the Richards place. If we hadn’t had that hiccup with the mineral rights, we’d have had this done a week ago.”

  “Great. Let me know where you’ll be, and I’ll pick you up either at your office or Mom’s when I’m done. Oh, and Jax?”

  “Yes?”

  “Have I told you how happy I am that you’re back?”

  “Every day. I l
ove you, Chance.”

  “Love you too. See you in a bit.” Chance disconnected the call.

  Having Jax back in her life made her feel alive and hopeful about the future. She knew there would be some conflict; no relationship was perfect. The difference was Jax had no issues with her job, her volunteer work, or the time either took. Jax had even joined up with the equestrian group as both a rescuer and a vet. Riding with Jax was something she was really looking forward to.

  Every time Chance had mentioned getting on a horse over the last month, everyone and their stepbrother had a fit with her. She’d visited and groomed the horses daily. What she had yet to do, was to make her way back into the saddle. Submitting was not her favorite thing, but one concerned look from Jax and she was mush. If all went well today, she’d be riding by tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll take Jax home with me and let this hand become reacquainted with the woman I love. I still can’t believe she’s back and in love with me.

  The clinic didn’t look busy, and Faith’s Sequoia was in the lot. She checked in at the desk and was ushered back to the hallway. Faith stood at the counter writing in a chart.

  “Well, well. I see that Rhonda freed you.”

  “I’m hoping to swing for the fences and be released from your watchful eye as well.”

  Faith pointed to a room and stepped in with her, leaving Zeus in the hallway in a sit. “There used to be a time when you wanted me to watch over you. Guess that’s changed too, huh?”

  “Faith…”

  Faith held up her hand and read over the paperwork from Dr. Alden that Chance handed her on the way in the room. “Rhetorical question, no need to answer.” When she’d finished the report, she clipped it to the chart and threw down the folder. They stared at each other for a long time.

  “Is the plan for you to snipe at me and then not let me respond?” Chance held up her hands in question.

  “I’m trying to formulate my thoughts without needing to bite my tongue. Let’s put this on the back burner while I examine you.”

  “I’m all for that.”

  Faith went through a series of concussion tests and examined Chance’s wrist. At one time, Faith’s touch would have ignited her core. She would have longed to feel those elegant fingers on her body. It was different now; it had to be. It felt as clinical as it should. She could nearly touch the tension in the room.