Dr. Stud

by Jess Bentley

  “And mama, would you please tell Hawk to stop trying to give that woman all of my favorite clothes on purpose so I have nothing to wear for the next month but college sweatshirts and leggings?”

  Candy throws her hands in the air. “That’s it! I’ve had it with you two! You’re acting like a bunch of spoiled, selfish little animals and I can’t deal with it. I’m going to go make lunch. Parrish, you handle them. Once you’ve figured it out, we can all eat at the table like a normal, functional family.”

  Hawk scoffs. “That’ll be the day.”

  Candy turns on him and shoots him a death stare that we all know very well. He takes several terrified steps back and hides behind Anna.

  “Hawk, when you’ve sorted yourself out, go find your father and tell him to come in for lunch. And find out what that reporter eats. I don’t want to be accused of starving her too.” Candy walks out of the room and into the kitchen. “Honestly. Behaving like a bunch of out-of-control children,” she mutters as she walks out. I pick up Gracie from the floor and walk over to them with a sigh.

  “Anna, honey, your mom is right. It’s on us to make this month as easy as possible, and acting like spoiled brats isn’t going to get us anywhere. If she was the same size as me, I’d give her some of my stuff, but you’re the tall, skinny one. So, I’m afraid this is your burden to bear. I’m the one who will have to show her around and deal with all of her questions. I had to give up my house. Gracie had to give up her room. Just consider this your contribution. You can borrow my sweaters if you need to in the meantime. Hawk, stop giving your sister shit. She’s not used to sharing anything with anyone, even me. You can’t expect her to learn overnight.”

  For a second, they look like twins. Their shoulders droop in exactly the same way, they pout in exactly the same way, and they huff in exactly the same way. I’d laugh, if I didn’t feel like I was punishing kids.

  “Now, Anna, just… go upstairs and give her whatever you can spare. Hawk, go find your father for lunch. And Anna, send Simone down here so I can find out what the hell she actually eats.”

  Neither of them says a word; they both just turn on their heels and disappear out of the family room, leaving me with Gracie. I turn to my daughter and kiss her on the cheek.

  “Never be a pain in the butt like your aunt and uncle, okay Smallfry?”

  “No, mama,” she says with a giant grin, and I don’t know if she’s disagreeing, or agreeing with me. But for now, I’ll take it.

  I set Gracie back on the floor as I hear Simone lightly pad her way through the dining room and into the family room.

  “You wanted to see me?” she asks, her arms crossed over chest.

  I dig down as deep as I can and summon up my biggest, friendliest smile. “We’re just about to get lunch started. What are some of your favorite foods? Is there anything you don’t eat?”

  Simone brushes her hair from her eyes and looks up at the ceiling like she’s pre-cataloguing a list. “Well. I don’t eat red meat. Or pork. Or sugar. Or gluten. Or fried foods. Or dairy. Or grains. Or anything made with palm oil, saturated fats, or corn syrup. Oh! Or corn.”

  My jaw drops. “Okay… so… I can steam you some broccoli and chicken? Bake you a potato?”

  She snaps her fingers. “No potatoes either! No nightshades at all, actually.”

  I run my hands over my face, unable to hide my exasperation. “So, the ribs and homemade fries I’m planning for dinner are out. I will, um, do the broccoli and chicken for lunch and then we can go to the store and figure out some things for the rest of your time here.”

  “Are the broccoli and chicken organic? I only ask because…”

  She doesn’t have a chance to finish because Candy comes back in, and I can tell by the look on her face that she’s heard everything. “Well, hey there, honey! Aren’t you just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen? I’m Candy McCormick. It’s wonderful to meet you. Now, I overheard you from the kitchen, and I can promise you. The vegetables in this house are grown in my very own garden. Only the healthiest foods for my family! And the chickens come from a farm right up the road. Humanely raised, not a lick of the horrible stuff you get from that grocery store stuff. So, don’t you worry your precious little head. I’ll take care of your lunch, and why don’t you go back upstairs and collect your clothes from Anna? Everything will be ready in a two shakes of a lamb’s tail!”

  Simone smiles sweetly and disappears back up the stairs. Once she’s out of earshot, Candy turns back to me.

  “You’re right. I hate her.” Then she walks back into the kitchen without another word, leaving me laughing hysterically in the family room.

  Chapter 14

  Hawk

  The sound of the cement mixers rumbling on the edge of the property are more soothing and less of a nuisance than Simone jabbering in my ear.

  “Now, can you tell me about the reasoning behind the new farm?” she asks with her tape recorder jammed in my face.

  I take a deep breath and try to smile. “Well, as I’ve mentioned, we aren’t a farm. We’re a ranch. We breed horses, and enter competitions. We’re one of the foremost horse ranches in the country, and place third nationally when it comes to cumulative medals and prize winnings.” I try to ignore her when she waves a dismissive hand at me.

  “Okay, fine. So, why the new… whatever it is you’re building?”

  I can feel my jaw clenching. “Stables. It’s a new, state-of-the-art stable. My father is merging our ranch with another, smaller ranch in the hopes of breeding some real champions. The goal was to create an updated environment where they could thrive, while still keeping a bit of that down-home charm.”

  “You’re quite the idea man, Hawk,” she says, batting her eyelashes at me.

  “Actually, that was Parrish’s idea. Initially, I had drawn up something far more grand. But she reminded me of my roots, and that what would best suit this place was something comforting, with a real homey feel. She’s the one with the ideas.”

  Simone doesn’t even seem to hear me. It’s like she shuts off when I mention Parrish. I’m just about to make sure she registered it wasn’t my idea when dad comes walking across the property, his old poker buddy Russell by his side.

  “Son! You remember Russell Edwards, right?” he asks as he gives Russell a pat on the back. “Russell, this is my boy, Hawk.”

  I shake his hand, and for some reason, I get a real uneasy vibe off of him, one I don’t remember feeling when I was a kid. But I nod at him. “Sure. Good to see you, Mr. Edwards.”

  He chuckles heartily. “We’re grown men now, Hawk. You can call me Russell. And who, may I ask, is this lovely specimen standing next to you?”

  Simone isn’t paying attention. She’s tugging uncomfortably at Anna’s sweatshirt and watching the workmen as they double-check the markings for the foundation.

  “This is Simone Leoni. She’s a reporter for Modern Architecture and she’s covering the build,” I answer as I instinctively step in front of Simone so he can’t continue to eyeball her.

  “Well, I sure hope I get to know her better,” Russell says with a leering grin that makes my skin crawl. My father is equally distracted by the comings and goings of the builders, so I feel like I’m the lone witness to a car wreck and it’s making me feel sick. I turn to Simone.

  “Simone, I was just about to go to the shop that is supplying the brick to finalize the order? Why don’t we head over together and you can get some shots of the vintage materials we’re using?”

  She nods absent-mindedly and starts walking toward the truck. Once she’s entirely out of Russell’s line-of-sight, I take my father’s arm.

  “Dad, can I speak to you for a moment? Just over by the house? Alone?” Dad looks at me like I’m nuts, but nods “yes” just the same. When we get to the porch, I turn so I can keep an eye on the truck, and ensure that Russell leaves Simone alone.

  “What’s the matter, boy? I need to head over to the office and chat with Parrish about the price es
timates from the guy who is going to sand out all the wood.”

  “Dad, why did you hire Russell for this job?”

  Dad furrows his brow in confusion. “Huh? Why wouldn’t I? He’s one of my oldest friends, and he gave us a good deal.”

  “Dad, he’s a creep.”

  My father bursts out laughing. “What are you talking about, son?”

  “Did you not see the way he was looking at Simone just now? It was weird. And gross.”

  Dad tilts his hat up with a chuckle. “She’s a good-looking woman son, you have to admit that.”

  “That isn’t the point. He wasn’t just giving her an admiring glance. It was skeezy.”

  Dad turns around and looks at Russell, who has wandered over to the work men and is jovially chatting with them. Then dad turns back to me with a shrug. “I didn’t see it, but if you say so, Hawk. I’ll have a talk with him. But just remember, he’s an old dog. It’s hard to teach fellas like him to behave.”

  I cross my arms over my chest with a scowl. “That’s not an excuse. Just makes sure he knows that I won’t put up with any bullshit on my worksite.”

  Dad raises an eyebrow at me. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you quite the ladies’ man back in Los Angeles?”

  “You are wrong, dad. I do my share of dating. I’ve slept with my share of women. But I never do anything without their consent and I don’t treat them like pieces of meat. Your buddy would do well to learn the same lesson.”

  Dad holds up his hands defensively. “Fine! Fine. I’ll talk to him. Point taken. Now, go take care of the brick. I’ve had enough serious conversations for one day.” And with that, he turns on his heel and stalks off toward the build site. I grumpily walk over to the driver’s side door and jump in. When I do, Simone is looking at me with wide, surprised eyes.

  “What?” I ask.

  “I… heard all of that. Thank you,” she whispers. Shit, I think, annoyed that she had to be made aware of Russell’s behavior when she hadn’t been before.

  “Hey, don’t worry about it. I just don’t appreciate women being treated that way, you know?”

  She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “But you didn’t have to stand up for me like that. A lot of men wouldn’t have. Thank you, really.”

  I shrug. “Really, it’s fine.” Now, I’m suddenly uncomfortable with the change of tone in the car, because she’s looking at me like she’s never seen me before, and the last thing I want is her getting the wrong idea. I pull away from her and slip on my sunglasses.

  “Let’s go buy some brick, huh?”

  Everything that follows the rest of the day with Simone is slightly awkward. She was suddenly quiet, and spent a lot of time staring at me. I don’t want to make assumptions about what she was thinking or feeling, but I also don’t want to encourage anything when I’ve got enough bullshit floating around in my head right now. So, as soon as I was able, I left her with the contractor and snuck back up to the house, hoping to find my mother. Instead, the only person in the house is Anna.

  She’s sitting on the couch, watching TV and eating ice cream, despite the fact it’s one in the afternoon. I roll my eyes and plot down next to her.

  “Shouldn’t you be working?” I ask as I steal her ice cream away, despite her curse-filled protest.

  “It’s check-up day. The vet is in with the horses, and that’s Parrish’s thing. So, it’s easier if I stay out of the way. Besides, what do you care?”

  “You look like you did when you were five, and I came down here and found you eating caramel corn and watching Freddy Krueger at two in the morning.”

  Anna snorts. “I need to do that more often. Speaking of Freddy Krueger, Russell Edwards is pissed at you.”

  I groan and flop backwards, inadvertently hitting my head on the back of the couch. I swear, and rub the lump that is already forming. “Dad told him I was the one who called him out?”

  Anna shrugs. “Whatever. The old perv had it coming. He’s disgusting. I can’t believe dad hired him for this. Then again, dad is pretty clueless about anything not related to this ranch.”

  I sit up and look at Anna, rage burning my cheeks. “Anna, he’s never… to you…”

  Anna shakes her head adamantly. “Oh, hell no. I don’t think he’s that stupid. But I’m pretty sure he was creepy with Parrish when he showed up the first time the other day. She didn’t say it outright. But she mentioned it in passing that she wasn’t crazy about him.”

  I’m suddenly just as angry at the thought of him going near Parrish as I am at the idea of him doing anything to Anna, but for very different reasons. “Well, if he so much as looks at either of you while he’s on this property, you better tell me. You hear?”

  Anna salutes me. “Yes, sir! So, how was your morning with the princess?”

  I chuckle as I lean back again, more carefully this time. “Fine. Uneventful. She took some pictures at the mason’s, but she’s been pretty quiet today.”

  “A nice switch,” Anna says as she steals the bowl of ice cream back from me. I don’t put up a fight.

  “Whatever. I’ve dealt with a lot more annoying in LA, I can promise you that much.”

  The front door to the house opens, and Parrish comes in, her face streaked with tears, and her cheeks bright red. Anna drops her bowl on the coffee table and runs over to her.

  “Parrish! What’s wrong? What happened?”

  Parrish sobs. “It’s… Moonfire… She’s… sick…” she coughs out.

  I walk over and take her hand in mine. “Take a breath, Parrish. Sick with what?”

  “The vet said… she has Cushing Syndrome. Your father wants to put her down. He said… he doesn’t want to spend the money on a horse that isn’t even in competition.” She’s still having trouble catching her breath.

  Anna kicks the wall in anger. “That miserable old goat.”

  I turn to Anna, confused. “Anna, what is Cushing Syndrome?”

  “It means she probably has a tumor in her brain, but it can be treated with medication. She just has to go on a special diet, and we’d have to bring the farrier in a little more regularly for her. She could live a full and healthy life with the medication and regular checkups. I can’t believe he’s doing this.”

  I shake my head. “No. Fuck that.” Then I stalk out of the house in the direction of the stables. When I get there, the vet is standing outside, talking to my father.

  “You can come pick her up on Friday, then?” my father says. I don’t give the vet a chance to answer.

  “Hold on a minute. My sister said all Moonfire needs is a medication and a special diet. Is that true?”

  The vet nods. “That’s correct. You can get it at your local pharmacy with a prescription.”

  Dad holds up his hand. “Son, I’m not spending good money on a horse that…”

  “Shut up, Dad. And how much does it cost?” My dad looks at me with daggers but I don’t care.

  The vet brushes her hair out of her face as she thinks. “At the dose Moonfire would need, you would probably get fifty doses for a hundred dollars or so? I’m honestly not sure. It’s a lot more expensive when we sell it, but I know some of our patients have said it’s less at the drugstore.”

  “So it would be what? About seven hundred bucks a year?”

  The vet nods. “Give or take.”

  “Write the prescription. No one is putting that horse down for seven hundred a year. I’ll pay for the medicine, and whatever it costs to change her diet and cover her upkeep.”

  “Now, hold on a minute, son,” dad tries to interject.

  “No. Parrish loves that horse. She’s loved that horse for as long as I’ve known her. There is no way in hell I’m letting you put her down for what you know damn well is pocket change on this ranch. After everything that woman has been through, I can’t believe you, Dad.”

  I hear a sniffle from behind me, and I turn around. Parrish is standing there, her arms wrapped around her waist. She has been listening to the
whole thing.

  “Parrish, I…”

  I don’t get a chance to finish my sentence. She runs over and throws her arms around me, hugging me with every ounce of strength she has inside of her. I can feel her crying into my shirt. She’s sobbing so hard, for a second I don’t think she is breathing. So, I hold her tight and let her cry, patting her hair as I whisper, “Hey now, it’s okay. She’s going to be okay, Parrish. I promise. She’ll be okay.”

  After a few minutes, Dad walks up, and the look on his face is one of pure and utter misery.

  “Parrish. I didn’t… I wasn’t thinking. It’s just, with this project, and all of the money going out. I wasn’t thinking about Moonfire, and what she meant to you. I was an ass. Can you ever forgive a foolish old man?”

  Parrish pulls away from me, and brushes the tears from her cheeks. Then she hugs dad. When they separate, she gives him a gentle shove.

  “I love you, you old coot.”

  Dad laughs, and brushes a single tear from his cheek. “It’s more than I deserve.” Then he turns to the vet. “Obviously, we’ll be moving ahead with the treatment. Write us that prescription, Doc.”

  Chapter 15

  Parrish

  I’m getting Gracie settled into her old bed in the ranch house, but my mind keeps drifting to what Hawk did for Moonfire today. It’s the nicest thing he’s ever done for me by a mile… it may actually be the only nice thing he’s ever done for me. But I feel like I’m being forced to admit that Hawk is a different person now. Sure; he’s a big city player, with a different model in his bed every night. But maybe, just maybe, he’s more than that. Maybe coming back here has opened up his eyes to the kind of person he’s capable of being.

  Or maybe I’m just fooling myself.

  I check to make sure Gracie is fast asleep, then I wander downstairs to the kitchen. Usually, everyone is asleep by now. Anna is generally curled up in her bed watching TV, and Candy and Sam are “early to bed” types. I have no idea where Hawk is, and I don’t really want to go searching for him. The only thing I want right now is a giant slice of the carrot cake Candy made after dinner. When I get to the kitchen though, I find Hawk there too, eating directly from the carrot cake with a fork; his eyes go wide and he looks epically embarrassed. I shake my head with a smile and get a cake knife from the drawer and two plates.