by Sable Hunter
“That’s right. Damn.” Clint thought a minute. “I’ll make the time. I’ve been promising him I’d come over and check out some stock. As soon as I get this real estate deal wrapped up, I plan on buying a couple of horses. We can use that reason as a good excuse to check up on him.”
“Perfect.” Kyd climbed behind the wheel. “You go on ahead and I’ll stop by and speak to the foreman. I guess I’ll see you at Mom’s tomorrow night.”
“Sounds good.” He lifted his hand in a farewell wave. “I’ll call Sheriff Saucier today and I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Be safe.”
“Always,” With that assurance, Clint hit the trail. As he drove down the bumpy road, he sniffed the air. “Dammit.” The scent of Jensen’s jasmine perfume lingered in his truck like a haunting melody. He still remembered how good she smelled when he’d kissed her neck and held her close as he made love to her. The memory aroused him, causing him to shift uncomfortably in his seat.
Despite his better judgment, tomorrow he’d return to her home to move those rocks and do the interview with Jensen’s young neighbor. Even though he’d clearly implied he wasn’t doing this for her, part of him was disappointed to learn she wouldn’t be around. “I feel like I’m caught in a revolving door.” He’d finally managed to put her out of his mind to a degree and after seeing her again, he was right back where he started from – unsettled and unsatisfied.
Somehow, someway, Clint needed to find something else to distract him.
Where was a good storm when you needed one?
* * *
“I think I might get a dog,” Jensen mused aloud as she followed the pretty red-headed lab tech down the hall.
“What kind?”
“I don’t know, Mae. I guess I could go to the shelter and let one pick me out. What do you think?” She wanted something to love unconditionally that would love her back.
“Pets are a lot of trouble. I think you should shop for a husband instead.”
Jensen laughed. “I’ve heard husbands can be a lot of trouble too.”
“Well, that’s true. Mine keeps me on my toes. How about a cat? They’re independent as all get out.”
“With my schedule and all I want to do, the amount of time I’m away from home wouldn’t be fair to a pet anyway.” Jensen sighed, letting go of the idea. “I guess I’ll get a few houseplants instead.”
“Plants have feelings too, remember,” Mae Ellis warned her with the shake of a finger. “I’ve seen a documentary where they gauged a plant’s reaction to witnessing a murder. The little things did everything but throw up their tiny limbs and scream.”
“Wow. Okay. No plants. I don’t want to be responsible for traumatizing a flat of gerbera daisies.”
Mae retrieved a report she’d printed from the computer. “Here’s Robbie Squires’ report. Doesn’t look good.”
“Let me see.” Jensen took the paper and read the results. “Damn. Tau seeds are present in the sample. That’s not good.” While there was no sure way to diagnose CTE while the patient was alive, this test was a fairly good indicator. “Buzz Wilma and ask her to call Mr. Squires to set up an appointment. I’d like to speak with him.”
“Will do.”
Jensen sighed. She hated to be the bearer of bad news, but the young man was in a downward spiral to disaster unless he made some serious changes in his life.
“Excuse me, Jensen.”
“Yes?” She looked up to see her partner, Scott, framed in the doorway.
“I need to tell you something.”
His face was serious, and she imagined the worst. “What’s wrong? Is it my clinical trial? Is there a snag?”
“No. No. Nothing like that. I wanted to tell you I’ve agreed to do some neuro testing for several local colleges and a professional sports team.”
Jensen immediately got her hackles up. “Without consulting me?”
Scott held up both hands. “This is consulting you.”
“If you’ve already agreed to something, it’s after the fact.”
“Look, I know how you feel about football…”
“Yes, you do. I’m part of a movement for change. Change in equipment and change in the rules of play.”
Her partner came in and crossed his arms, sitting on the corner of the desk. “The neuro testing is a way of protecting the players.”
“The neuro testing gives the players a false sense of security and covers the NFL’s ass.”
Scott bowed his head and let out a whoosh of breath. “It’s a done deal. I’m sorry.”
Jensen rose to walk across the room, placing Mr. Squires’ test results into her inbox. “Fine. As long as I don’t have to be a part of it. I refuse to lend my name to this half-measure.”
“Fine.” He echoed her sentiment. “You’re only saying what I expected you to say.”
“This is pretty underhanded, Scott. You surprise me.”
A guilty look passed over her partner’s face. “As soon as your drug is perfected, all of this will be a moot point. Right?”
She gave him an even stare. “How many players do you think will be permanently injured in the interim?”
“I don’t know. The testing has been known to isolate some problem cases. It’s not a total failure as a program.”
Jensen didn’t back down. “It’s a band aid and you know it.”
“Maybe so.” He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t want to fight about this. I’ll handle it. You won’t be involved at all.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Walker.” She gave him a half-hearted grin. “Now, get out of my office so I can get some work done.”
He did as she asked and for the next few hours Jensen reviewed results from the clinical trial. After the last note was read, she turned off her computer and rubbed her tired eyes.
“Headache?”
The question came from Jensen’s secretary, Wilma Robinson. “Throbbing.”
The older woman handed her boss three pills and a bottled water. “Take those. I made you an appointment to have your eyes checked at nine-thirty in the morning with Dr. Peeler in Georgetown. If you need spectacles, they’ll be ready by the end of the day.”
“What?” she asked in a voice that almost sounded whiney. “I don’t need glasses.”
“Yes, you do. I suspect all you may need is reading glasses, but I want you to be checked out before you come into the office tomorrow. I even made the time a little later so you could sleep in.”
At the mention of the following morning, Jensen remembered what was supposed to go down at her house. Clint was coming over to meet with Nicky. She’d fully planned on being long gone before he arrived. Clearly, that was the way he’d prefer it. Now, with the timing of the eye appointment, she didn’t need to leave so soon. Unless she just left early and hung out in the clinic’s parking lot – but that would be running from an uncomfortable situation and she didn’t want to be guilty of doing that anymore.
“Here’s a reminder for the appointment.” Wilma placed a small card in front of Jensen. “Now, take your pills.”
“Yes, Mama.”
Wilma gave her a warning look. “Somebody needs to mother you. You don’t take care of yourself.”
“I do.” She really did, she’d made a point of eating better, getting more sleep, and drinking eight glasses of water a day. “It’s sort of like shutting the barn door after the horse escapes, but I’m doing better than I used to do.”
“It’s never too late to work on your health.”
Jensen hoped that was true. She held out her hand as Wilma passed her two slips of paper. “What’s this?”
“The mechanic called, and your car will be ready tomorrow. Just drive the rental to work and they’ll deliver the Audi here and make the exchange.”
“Okay. Apparently, the damage wasn’t extensive.”
“Apparently. Secondly, here is your agenda for the next three days. Two consultations tomorrow. A brain donat
ion will arrive the next day from…” She checked the name on a card. “Frederick Hollins, a former running back for the Jets. He died last week; he’d been in a nursing facility for two years. He was fifty-seven.”
“Tragic. Okay.”
“And…the next day you’re scheduled to speak for career day at Westlake High. Of course, all of this is on top of your regularly scheduled duties.”
“Yes, just keep me herded in the right direction.”
“Will do. Thirdly, call Libby McCoy at your earliest convenience. Her number is on one of those slips I gave you.”
Jensen’s face brightened. “Oh, I will.”
“She seems nice. We exchanged brownie recipes.”
“She is nice.”
Wilma puttered around the lab space, helping Mae pick up a few things that were scattered about. “I’m going downstairs,” she told the pair. “As soon as I make this call, I’m heading home. Why don’t the two of you take off early? We’ve accomplished a lot today.”
“Good idea.” Mae patted Wilma on the shoulder. “Would you like to go to the fabric store with me? I’m starting a new quilt.”
“Oh, please, yes.”
With the phone message in hand, Jensen left the two women planning a sewing session.
Taking the stairs, she let her mind wander. The week promised to be full and rather exciting. Of course, when it began with a storm – what could you expect? “Oh, who am I kidding?” Running into Clint made the tornado dull as dishwater. Seeing him made her feel more alive than she’d felt since her cancer diagnosis. “Put those thoughts out of your head, girl.” The situation was even more impossible than before. “Just get through tomorrow and go on with your life.”
Easier said than done.
Once she was at her desk, Jensen found her phone. She didn’t carry it with her all the time. If she did, she’d never get anything done. After pressing the numbers, she leaned back in her chair with a smile on her face.
“Jensen. I’m glad you called.”
“Hey, Libby. How’s it going?”
“Hectic. As always. A herd of cows tore down a fence. They’re in the yard and one of them is staring at me through the window…with one of my roses between her teeth!” There was a bustling sound. “Hey, Myrtle! Get out of my flower bed, you overgrown hamburger, you!”
Jensen laughed. “Your life sounds like paradise to me.”
“Oh, lord, girl. Walk a mile in my shoes and you’d be singing a different tune.” Another bustling noise. “Colt! Cason! That chocolate cake is for supper!”
By now, Jensen was in stiches. “Do you want me to call you back?”
“No. No.” There was the sound of footsteps. “Let me just walk away from this zoo a moment. I called to tell you that I talked to Joseph.”
“Yes. And?”
“And – you’re in. I showed him your credentials online and he was super impressed. He said you’d be such an asset.”
“Wonderful. I’m excited.”
“I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to look at the website, but when you do, go ahead and register for orientation. There were two dates to choose from, but the first one is full. The second one is week after next, which should give you time to complete the online courses.”
“I’ll make time, I have plenty of vacation coming.”
“I think you could do them in the evenings, if you feel like it.”
“Oh, I’m feeling good. Plenty of energy.”
“Great. Anyway, sign up and get started. I think you’ll enjoy it.”
“I know I will.” Jensen turned her chair to look out the window. “You won’t believe what happened to me after I left you.”
“What?”
“I got caught in the middle of a dang tornado.”
“Oh, my God! Are you all right?”
“My car is damaged, but I’m fine. I was rescued by a very reluctant knight in shining armor.”
“Oh, really? Why was he reluctant?”
“Because it was Clint – that’s why.”
Crash!
“What was that?” Jensen asked. “Are you all right?”
“I dropped my tea glass and it shattered in a bazillion pieces.”
Jensen could hear Libby fussing.
“Do you need to go?”
“No, let me step over this and shut the door. I don’t want the boys crunching this mess with their boots and grinding the bits into my hardwood floor.”
Jensen couldn’t help but smile. “It does sound like a zoo over there.”
“You don’t know the half of it. Anyway…Clint rescued you?”
“Yes, he did – albeit a little reluctantly. He brought me home and we talked on the way. He’s coming over tomorrow.”
“Oh, my God. You two made up?”
“Oh, no. Not by a long shot. He’ll never forgive me. He’s coming over so Nicky can interview him. They’re also going to move rocks in my backyard.”
“I am so confused.”
“So, am I. Believe me.”
“Oh, crap.”
“What’s wrong?” Jensen could hear a scuffle and a bang. “Isaac! Don’t park that motorcycle behind my car! I’m fixing to go to the grocery store.”
“Do you need to get off the phone?” Jensen giggled.
“I do. I’m sorry. I’ve completely lost control. I do want to hear more about your adventure.”
“No problem. We’ll talk soon.”
“Absolutely. I’m more interested in your situation than you could possibly know.”
“Oh, all right. You know the exciting stuff; it’s all going to be downhill from here.”
“Not if Clint’s coming over.”
“I doubt we’ll talk. He’s going to avoid me like the plague, I promise.”
“We’ll see. Just sign up for the SAR thing ASAP. I don’t want you to miss your spot.”
“Okay.” Jensen wondered why Libby seemed so invested in her joining this program. “I’ll do it tonight.”
“Great. Take care.”
“You, too.” She shook her head as the call ended. “That woman is a character.”
…A few hours later, Jensen sat on the couch with her computer in her lap. She’d completed the registration form and now she was deep into a course learning about the proper use of a compass and a map. To her surprise, it wasn’t as simple as she’d thought. After this course, there were others on terrain challenges, helicopter rescues, radio communications, load sharing anchor options – whatever that was, and injury assessment. And that wasn’t all. In addition to those she’d reviewed, there were at least six more. Jensen couldn’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed. “I can do this,” she encouraged herself. The courses weren’t long. Each consisted of three lessons and a quiz. She’d need to score eighty percent or better on each one to move on to the next.
During the evening, she stopped to eat, then returned to the grind. By the time bedtime arrived, she’d completed three of the courses. After taking a shower, she went to bed. One good thing about the intense studying, she was too tired to dream about Clint or worry about seeing him the following day.
* * *
“Jeepers, creepers,” Clint hissed as he jumped up to jerk his laptop away from the spilled soda. “Pay attention, Wilder!”
He’d been sitting on the back porch of his mom’s Lago Vista home, having a drink and working on the SAR courses. Every once in a while, he’d toss a slice of bread over the bannister to a couple of nearly tame white-tail deer who patiently stood in the yard a few feet from the porch waiting for a handout. Even his outburst over the spilled liquid didn’t scare them away.
After wiping up the soda with a paper towel he’d brought out full of now-consumed corn chips, he settled down in the easy chair to continue with the course on map reading. Surely, this would be a breeze. Usually, he didn’t even need a map to get where he was going. Clint trusted his own instincts; he just had a nose for that sort of thing. Still and all, as his mother always said, he neede
d to finish these courses and get the necessary marks in order to qualify for the rest of the training.
When he came to a stopping point, he lifted his head to rub his eyes, then gazed out over the lake. The sun was going down and the view was out of this world. An artist’s palette of stunning colors painted the sky in vibrant orange, purple, and red. Clint could see people in the distance taking picture of the stunning vista. He wasn’t so inclined, but he could understand their enthusiasm.
Holding his arms over his head, he stretched. Having the house to himself was nice, but he sure missed his mother’s cooking. She and his sister would return sometime the following morning. He knew his mom was still in shock over the amount of the check she’d received from Joseph and his family. She’d questioned Clint as to the properness of accepting such a sum of money. He’d told her she needn’t hesitate. They were her family, and this was her just inheritance. Where the problem lay would be convincing her to spend the money on herself rather than on her children. If she asked Clint’s opinion, he would tell her that he and his siblings were grown with careers and well able to take care of themselves.
Snort. Huff. Stomp.
The deer his mother called Cutie Pie vied for his attention. “All right, you spoiled hussy.” He tossed a few more slices of raisin bread into the yard. The former owner had initiated the spoiling, but his mother was glad to carry on the tradition – and here Clint was just adding to the delinquency of the Lago Vista wildlife. “Now, let me finish this. You’re gonna make me flunk out.”
With a little bit of discipline, he managed to work uninterrupted for two more hours. After completing two of the courses, he shut the lid to his laptop and leaned his head against the soft cushion of the chair. As soon as he closed his eyes, Jensen’s face appeared in his thoughts. The vision was no surprise, he’d been having the same daydream for years. Dr. Mistretta had put a serious crimp in his love life. Oh, he hadn’t exactly been a monk, but he’d indulged in the bare minimum of intimate moments necessary to qualify as a man. Mostly, he’d used his own right hand and thoughts of Jensen as inspiration. Now, how sad was that? If his teammates knew the truth about his sad excuse of a sex life, he’d be the laughingstock of the Houston Texans.