“You don’t understand. I’ve all but worn my heart on my sleeve, and she’s rejected me. Time and again. I need to move on.” She hadn’t even been to see Grandma and found he’d left dark chocolate for her, organic, at that. Surely Grandma would have remembered, even with her fragile hold on reality.
“All but?” Gabe’s fingers tightened. “All but? Are you crazy? Lay it out. Leave no room for misunderstanding. Tell her how you feel.”
He closed his eyes, opened them again. Looked at Gabe. “I’ll try one more time. For you. Now, you coming to dinner or aren’t you?”
Chapter 32
Jo fingered her cell phone late the next afternoon. Her mother had been on her mind since she’d spoken with Doreen. She really didn’t want to talk to Mom. But if something happened to her while Jo held this grudge, she’d never forgive herself. Had Jo been showing Christian love, or had she been too busy trying to push her opinions down her mother’s throat? Maybe that’s what all this had been about. A chance to spend time with her family and try to make things right.
So it might be God’s leading. If so, He had a nasty sense of humor, dragging Jo’s heart through all this emotional turmoil to reunite her with her mom and stepdad. Still, in the eternal scheme of things, maybe He considered it all worthwhile.
Jo’s contact list was open, but her finger hovered over her mom’s name. Please, God. Give me words. Jo tapped the screen. Listened to the ringing way off in California. With each buzz her stomach fluttered. What if her mom didn’t have her cell on her? Maybe sh—
“Hello?”
Jo cleared her throat. “Hi, Mom. It’s me. Jo.”
A brief hesitation. “Josephine?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know you knew my number.”
Ouch. She probably deserved that. Maybe she should try for a light tone. “Yep, got it here in my phone, right next to your name.”
“So, is something wrong? I can’t remember the last time you phoned me.” Her voice brightened. “Are you coming back to California?”
“About that.” Jo swallowed hard. “You said something a few weeks ago about a position in the organics department. Is that still open?”
Silence for a few seconds. “Don’t toy with me, Josephine.”
Jo paced to the window and stared out. “I’m not.”
“You’d come home? Really?” Mom’s voice rose in excitement.
How had Jo never seen that beneath Mom’s harsh exterior, she really did care about her daughter? Maybe this would be for the best. Maybe things would work out.
But without Zach? Without Claire and backstabbing Sierra? Jo stared at the orchard, the garden, and the straw bale house, finally to lock-up. Was she crazier to leave or to stay? “If you’ll have me.”
“How soon can you get here?”
Domino rounded the corner of the trailer, head down. A shudder ran through his body, and he staggered then toppled over. Rosemary had mentioned he wasn’t feeling well, but this? Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
Jo launched herself toward the door. “Mom, I gotta go. I’ll call you back.” She thumbed the phone off. Car. Keys. Thank heaven the girls had biked. Jo turned and grabbed the keys off their hook by the door. No time to lose. She sprinted for the car and opened the hatchback.
Domino drooped against the ground, trying to wag his tail for her as she scooped him up and laid him in the car. “I’ll get help for you, buddy. Hang in there.”
She jumped into the driver’s seat and revved the engine. In seconds she was careening down the road toward the veterinary clinic. With any luck Zach had already left for his new job in the city. She couldn’t bear to face him with his dog gravely ill. But there was no choice. No time to stop and see if Rosemary was home, no time to talk to anyone. She stomped on the accelerator as Domino coughed weakly from the back. The dashboard clock gave the time as 4:55 PM. If only she’d get there before the clinic closed.
Jo swerved into the parking lot and laid on the horn as she screeched to a halt right in front of the clinic doors. Please, God, let Domino be okay.
**
Zach made his final patient rounds of the day, talking to the dog he’d neutered and then the tabby that had endured an attack from a vicious tom. At the front of the clinic he heard blaring, then high, excited female voices. Nadine had been shutting down the computers last he’d seen. There must be an emergency.
He sighed. No wonder Doc Taubin wanted another vet here. The practice really was busy enough for two of them. He’d hoped to finish up the repairs to the tree house tonight, but by the sounds of hurried footsteps coming down the corridor, that wasn’t likely.
“Zach?” Nadine’s head poked into the recovery room, her eyes wide. “Come quick.”
He followed her, frowning. She’d seen nearly everything in her years with Taubin. It’d take something dramatic to rattle her. She flung open the door to Exam Room 2 and urgently beckoned him in.
A black-and-white dog lay on the table. Domino. Zach surged forward. The pup hadn’t been well this morning, but now seemed to be barely hanging onto life. Zach mentally combed through the tests he’d run and compared them to the dog in front of him. “Oxygen. Stat.”
Nadine reached for the equipment to give the pup desperately needed air.
For the first time Zach noticed the person crying in the corner, back to him. Short. Petite. Brown hair escaping one long, thick braid.
Jo.
“Where did you find him?” His voice broke as he swiveled to disinfect his hands. Oh, God, no. Not Domino.
“He came to our place, but he could barely walk.” Jo clutched her keys with white-knuckled fingers. “Will he be okay?”
Zach met Nadine’s eyes and poked his chin toward Jo. “Get her out of here and call Wally.”
Nadine put her arm around Jo’s shoulders. “Come, hon. Have a seat out front. Dr. Nemesek will do everything he can.”
She squared her shoulders. “I’ll stay.”
Oh, no she wouldn’t. Zach couldn’t focus with her in the room. And he had to. He could barely concentrate anyway. Nadine led Jo out, still protesting, while Zach prepped a blood transfusion. He only hoped he was guessing wrong.
**
Jo paced the waiting room, straining to hear anything from down the hall. Preferably a bark. She twisted her hands, peered down the hall, retraced her steps. Should she stay? Zach would come talk to her. Maybe he’d send Nadine. Then Jo wouldn’t have to look at him or hear his voice while her mind replayed the enthusiastic hug she’d seen between him and Sierra.
She couldn’t leave. Not if there was anything she could do for Domino. Which there probably wasn’t. But still.
Why didn’t Zach come out? Or his assistant? Surely one of them would tell Jo if Domino died.
Tears burned her eyes. She dropped to her knees in front of one of the reception chairs and buried her face in her hands. Oh, God. Please help Zach. Please save Domino.
But God hadn’t saved Bethany, so why would he care about a dog? Was it even right to ask? Yes, the Bible talked about God caring for the sparrows. That He counted them and knew when they fell. Domino was bigger than a sparrow. Smarter.
“Josephine?” A man’s voice, but not Zach’s.
She raised her tear-stained face to the older vet. “Y-yes?” She stumbled to her feet. “Please tell me he’ll be okay.”
“I hope so.” The lines on his face spoke of worry. “Zach’s a good vet, and he has an excellent reason to try his hardest.”
“But?”
Doc Taubin shook his head. “It’s tight. You’re doing the right thing there, praying. God’s in the business of answering prayer.”
Jo couldn’t think of many He’d answered favorably recently. Not since they’d bought the land.
Her disbelief must have shown, because Doc Taubin smiled as he sat down beside her. “Not only is the young man a good veterinarian, but he’s an answer to my prayers. If it weren’t for him, I’d still be hobbling around
needing hip surgery. But as it is, I’m feeling better than I have for years.” He patted Jo’s hand. “I’m going into Spokane on Monday to see my surgeon, and I expect a clear bill of health.”
Jo had once thought Zach might be an answer to her prayers, too, but anymore it didn’t seem like it. She tried to smile at the vet but it took more courage than she could muster.
Raised voices sounded from down the corridor.
Doc Taubin surged to his feet, Jo right beside him.
Zach rounded the corner, fatigue plastered across his face. He stopped dead when his gaze landed on Jo. “You still here?”
That hadn’t sounded very welcoming. Jo took a shaky breath. “How is he?” Domino couldn’t be dead, could he?
He looked from Jo to his boss and back. He practically spit out the words. “Mouse poison. We’ve looked at his chest x-rays. Pumped his stomach and run the blood work. There’s no doubt.”
Jo’s world spun. She stumbled back and fell into the chair. Closed her eyes.
When she opened them again an instant later, Zach glared at her from across the room. “Know anyone who uses mouse poison, Josephine Shaw?”
She’d only put it under the trailer, making sure the skirting was snugly back in place. But then… She gaped at Zach. But then she’d moved a piece to show Mr. Graysen the water line. Had she gotten it back tightly, with one arm in the cast? Domino’s condition was more her fault than she’d dreamed.
“Your face tells the whole story.” His eyes blazed. “We may not be as good as you in other ways, but we don’t use poison on vermin at our farm. Dad won’t have the stuff on the property, so I know good and well Domino didn’t get into it at our place. You’re the only people I know who have an out-of-control mouse problem. If he didn’t find the poison at Green Acres, where did he?”
Her eyes riveted to his, and she could barely breathe. The whole waiting room wavered.
“Bah! It’s as I thought. You may preach a good green sermon about fertilizer and water systems, but you don’t practice what you preach. Doesn’t every package of poison clearly state to keep it well away from pets? Doesn’t it?”
She nodded slowly. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”
“Sorry won’t save Domino. You and your high and mighty ways, all that environmental stuff, and you poisoned my dog!”
Chapter 33
Jo turned in the driveway to see her roommates mixing cob plaster beside the straw bale house. Claire and Sierra stomped in a circle, hands on each other’s shoulders, with mud oozing between their bare toes and laughing like fools. Jo stared at them through tear-blurred eyes. They’d obviously be fine without her when she was gone. She hadn’t been pulling her own weight since she broke her stupid arm. They were used to doing things without her. She shoved the car door open.
Claire dropped her hands. “Jo, where have you been?”
They’d want her to leave once they knew what she’d done. What she’d forgotten to do. “It’s Domino.” Jo’s voice cracked. “H-he got into mouse poison.”
Sierra’s arms fell to her sides and her face blanched. “No.” She swung on her heel and stared at the trailer skirting, but of course the piece Jo had moved was on the back. Sierra strode around the end with Claire at her heels. Jo trailed along behind.
Sure enough, fresh dirt mounded beside a hole that led under a bent corner of the skirting. Not that Jo needed to see it to know it had happened. Zach’s accusation had stabbed her heart with the resonance of truth.
Claire and Sierra examined the situation, murmuring to each other. They could discuss it until the cows came home, but it wouldn’t bring Domino back. Only God could do that. He might if He still loved Jo. Not that there was a lot of evidence.
“You didn’t answer me.” Sierra turned around and rested her hand on Jo’s arm. “Is Domino okay?”
Jo hadn’t heard her. “Zach had to pump his stomach and give him blood and some kind of antidote. I don’t know if he’ll make it or not.”
“Zach was on duty?” Sierra’s eyes brightened.
Of course she’d care about that, but did she have to be so obvious? “Yes.” Jo pulled her arm from Sierra’s touch and headed around the trailer.
“Did he tell you?” Her voice was eager. Too eager.
Jo stopped but didn’t look back. “Tell me what?”
“If he didn’t say, I’m not sure I should.”
Her worst fears realized. “Look, I wish the two of you very happy together.” Liar. “All he told me is what a moron I was to let his precious dog into mouse poison.” She wouldn’t be able to hold the tears back much longer. Her shoulders trembled from the effort already. “And he’s right, of course.”
“Wish us very happy?” Sierra grabbed Jo’s arm and yanked her around. “What on earth are you talking about? It’s not me he loves. Open your eyes, Josephine Lynn Shaw!”
That’s what had gotten Jo into this mess to begin with. Open eyes. The tears would not be held back any longer. “In my dreams, Sierra. Not in real life. My eyes are open. He doesn’t care about me.”
“He does.” Sierra shook Jo until Jo’s teeth rattled. “He told me it was all about you.”
Jo pulled herself out of Sierra’s grasp, backing up slowly, staring at Sierra. “You lie.”
“I do not.”
“Well, it’s too late, now.” Jo ran for the steps.
“It’s never too late unless one of you is dead,” Sierra shouted just as Jo slammed the door then locked it. Their keys might be inside, with any luck. She’d have a few minutes to herself.
In the living room, Jo fumbled with her laptop, willing the airline page to load quickly from sleep mode. She’d looked at the best flights to California. How soon could she leave? A blackout period over the weekend for some stupid reason. Monday. That was the soonest? Three days she had to hang around here and live with the mess she’d made? It couldn’t be. But it was.
The girls pounded on the door, demanding to be let in.
Jo ignored them as she entered her charge card number. She could ask one of them to drive her to the airport, but in the mood they were in, they’d deny her for sure. So, how else could she get there?
Doc Taubin. Providence. He’d said he had an appointment with his surgeon that day. Surely he’d give her a ride. The airport wasn’t that far out of the city. She hunted for his phone number.
**
“Zachary? Looks like he’s more alert now.” Wally Taubin rested his hand on Zach’s shoulder.
Zach lifted his heavy head and ran fingers through already tousled hair. He’d sat by the pup’s oxygen tent day and night all weekend. He barely dared to doze off for fear Domino would need him.
But Wally was right. Domino’s ears had perked and his eyes looked brighter, though his breathing still labored.
He was going to make it. Zach slid his hand in and ruffled Domino’s head. The pup gave a half-hearted attempt to lick his hand.
“Take the day off, son. You need some rest. I asked Nadine to call today’s appointments and postpone them. She can keep an eye on the lad.”
Zach stared at his boss, the words barely registering. “Take the day off?”
“It’s Monday. I’ve got a checkup with my surgeon at two.” Wally glanced at his watch. “And you’re in no shape to look after the clinic. Go home.” He headed for the door then glanced back. “Look, you know Josephine didn’t mean to poison Domino.”
Zach rubbed his burning eyes. “I know. She really likes the dog a lot. It’s just—”
“Everyone makes mistakes.”
And he’d made a big one Friday, yelling at her as he’d done. It had been chewing at his gut all weekend, but he’d pushed the guilt away and focused on monitoring Domino.
“It’s maybe none of my business, but I think you should talk to her before she leaves.”
Zach squinted. “Leaves?” He tried to make sense of the word and failed. “Who’s going where?”
“Jo. She’s flying out to California this aft
ernoon.”
Zach shot out of his chair, Domino momentarily forgotten. “California? To see her mom? But they don’t get along.” What was going on? She’d been really distraught when she left the clinic the other day. He’d yelled at her. Said unthinkably hurtful things. Regret slammed into him like a bull at full speed. He’d had no business treating her that way.
“So she said.” Wally watched Zach closely. “Don’t know when she’ll be back.”
“But—”
“Listen to me, son. Listen real good. She’s a fine girl. She and her friends are shaking things up in this community. And I think you’ve fallen for her. Don’t let her go without telling her that.” Wally leaned closer, his nose inches from Zach’s. “You’ll regret it the rest of your life.”
Chapter 34
Jo’s tears had dried up, but her resolve stood firm. Sierra and Claire had, individually and together, done their best to dissuade her from leaving Green Acres all weekend, but she had no ears for their entreaties. Finally the two of them had taken the car and left for town this morning. As though lack of a vehicle would keep her at the farm.
Her bags stood packed by the trailer door. Wally Taubin would be here in an hour to pick her up. She hated leaving without knowing Domino’s fate, but the vet would be able to tell her in the car. No way was she calling Zach, not after that earful he’d given her. No way was she calling Rosemary, either.
She ran her hand over the straw bale walls, partially cobbed in, and tears started to flow again. This house was her dream. This garden. This orchard. This farm. Everything here.
She looked around, walking the property, trying to say goodbye. California was the opposite end of her universe. Brad couldn’t fool her with his organics division. It was all for profit, but maybe she could make a real difference there anyway. She could build her own house—adobe, perhaps, to suit the climate. Her friends wouldn’t be there, though.
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