Before they could say anything more, Doc’s loud voice boomed out over the noise in the room.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?”
“Speech! Speech!” someone called out in a loud voice.
Others clapped and someone else called, “Here! Here!”
It took awhile for the voices to quiet, and when they did, Doc spoke again. “I suppose you all know this big fuss tonight is all about my retirement—”a few hoots caused him to pause —“but we’re also here to welcome your new veterinarian, Dirk Adams. Dirk, come on up here!” he called out over the crowd.
Barb watched the younger vet walk slowly toward the front of the room, pausing to shake the hands offered to him. When he finally got there, Doc Nick placed a large, weathered hand on his shoulder, gave a little speech and then asked Dirk to say a few words.
“I just want to thank you all for making me feel so welcome,” Dirk began, and then Barb found her mind drifting off to other things. She wondered how Ruffles was doing and if she could really trust Jack to keep an eye on him and call her if he had a change for the worse. Next thing she knew, her mother was pulling on her arm again.
“You ready to go, Barb?”
“What? Oh, yeah, okay. You know, Ma, I think I should stop by the Saddle Up tonight. Want me to drop you off at home first?
****
As Dirk drove back to the guest house that night, he admitted to himself how surprised he felt the people of Mercy Ridge accepted him so readily. Of course, with Doc Nick’s retirement, they had to have somebody for all the large animals in the area. But would they react the same way Barb Sessions did when he brought up natural medicine? He supposed he’d find out soon enough.
Chapter Five
Barb was the last one to arrive at the diner the next time The Pancake Club met. She nodded at Sami who was busy serving a group of tourists, but looked up when the bell tinkled over the front door. Barb thought she recognized a couple of the Saddle Up guests.
“Your usual?” Sami called across the room to her over the hum of voices and clatter of plates and silverware.
“Yeah, thanks Sami. That’d be great,” Barb called back, and gave the waitress a thumbs-up.
“So, what do you think of the new vet, Barb?” Chad asked when she sat down at the table.
“I think he’s nice,” Jennifer piped up. “And not bad-looking either.” She smiled.
“Well I don’t know about that, Jen—”Chad laughed—“but he seems nice enough.”
“I agree with Jennifer,” Tessa piped up from the chair next to Dolan’s. “He is a hunk... But not as sexy as you, honey,” she amended and kissed her fiancé’s cheek as she patted his knee. Dolan’s face flamed, probably waiting for the teasing remarks from the rest of them. And normally Barb would have been the first, but she felt a sudden yearning for someone of her own. Her friends might think she was content with her life, and she was—usually—but sometimes she wondered if she’d ever have a loving relationship like her parents shared. And lately, it seemed as though all her friends were settling down. First, Dolan found Tessa, and then Chad found Kristin—well maybe Kristin found him—and Jennifer and Mike got back together. Pretty soon, she’d be the only one left of their singles group, and she sure didn’t want to be a fifth wheel at these morning gatherings. She sighed.
****
Dirk’s first week went by quickly, as he got to know his new town and customers. Thursday he went out on a call to the Mercy Ridge Stables, owned by the Grangers, Chad’s folk’s, to treat one of their riding horses for a stone bruise, and afterward they invited him in for a beer. Since it was his last call of the day, and he’d probably sweated off any liquid left in his body, he gratefully accepted.
Somehow—well okay, he’d casually brought her name up—the conversation got around to Barb. Chad and his parents had known her and her folks all her life, they told him.
“It was just the saddest thing, that poor youngster,” Marge Granger said. “Bobbie Jo and Cy tried for years to have a child. Why, I remember when they got married, Bobbie Jo told me they planned to have a whole passel of kids. When Barb finally arrived, Bobbi Jo found she couldn’t have any more children. It put a lot of pressure on that girl to be the boy her dad wanted and a girly-girl for her mom.” Marge shook her head.
“Yeah, and then Cy died when she was a teenager, and Barb and Bobbi Jo have run the whole ranch themselves ever since,” Cal chimed in.
Dirk looked at Chad. “So, since you and Barb went to school together and everything, were you two ever...close?” he asked.
“Sure, we’ve been friends forever...Oh, you mean...No, not that way. I dated a lot—a few—women before Kristin, but never Barb. She’s too much like a sister.” He smiled at his fiancée.
She smiled. “I know about your past, hon.”
“Is she seeing someone now?” Dirk asked casually—he hoped—while Chad seemed distracted by Kristin’s answer.
“Nah, she’s too picky. Besides, there aren’t too many available guys our age in town...until you came along.” Chad laughed.
Dirk could feel his face flame. He looked down at his watch to hide his discomfort. “Oh, wow, look at the time.” He stood up. Thanks for the beer and the conversation,” he said and amid protests from the Grangers, skedaddled out of their kitchen.
But as he climbed into the vet truck, he realized Chad followed him out. “Say, Doc, have you ever ridden a horse, you being from Seattle and all?”
Was this some kind of test for the new guy?
“No, I haven’t,” he admitted.
“Barb’s been riding since before she could walk,” Chad told him.
Uh-huh. So? Oh...
“Why don’t you come over this weekend? I’ll take you out for a trail ride. But we’ll do a little practice in the arena first. What do ya say?”
“Thanks, Chad. I’d appreciate it.”
Chad punched his arm lightly and winked. “Good answer.” Then he stepped back from the truck. “See ya Saturday.” He turned around and walked back to the house.
By the following week, Dirk felt good about his first riding lesson that weekend, and the relaxing trail ride that followed. Chad was a great teacher and a great guy. He didn’t make Dirk feel uncomfortable at his lack of riding knowledge. He just encouraged Dirk when he did something right. Chad even said that Dirk seemed to be a natural athlete. Dirk modestly admitted to playing a little tennis and some golf. When Chad asked if he minded Kristin riding along with them on the trail ride, Dirk didn’t feel at all embarrassed to have her see him ride. The three of them exchanged a lot of good-natured banter. He didn’t even mind too much that Chad evidently discussed with his fiancée Dirk’s attraction to Barb. She said she’d put in a good word for him. That made Dirk feel as though he was back in junior high school.
Kristin must have seen the look on his face. She laughed and said, “Don’t worry, Dirk. I won’t say anything to embarrass you. I’ll be subtle.”
Uh-huh.
Dirk drove home afterward feeling as though he’d made some good friends. He just hoped that wouldn’t change. Now maybe he should make a visit to the Saddle Up and check on his patient.
****
Barb walked out of the barn, hot, dusty and more than a little tired after a training session with one of the young horses. She put up a hand to shade her eyes from the glare of the sun. A bright light from the sun’s rays bounced off the mirror of a vehicle and she looked over to see the vet truck parked in the driveway. She knew Doc and Mrs. Nick left town in their motor home the weekend before, so it had to be Dirk. She felt disgusted with herself for the quick burst of pleasure that ran through her. She didn’t have time for a man. She was too busy at work and at home. Still, she was a woman.
She turned around and walked back inside, following the sound of men’s voices at the other end of the aisle. She’d better see what was up. Barb didn’t trust Jack after the last fiasco. What really bugged her was that Mr. Taylor didn’t seem
to feel the same way. He’d known her since...well, forever. Was it that good ’ol boys network? Or did he just not want to face that the man he’d hired to help wasn’t any good? Whatever, Barb determined to stay alert. She popped in when she was supposed to be off work, and explained that she just wanted to check on Ruffles. That way, she figured Jack would never know when she might show up. However, she wasn’t getting much sleep.
Chapter Six
Dirk turned at the sound of boots on the concrete floor, then watched Barb march down the aisle toward them with a determined look on her face. For a split second he imagined her walking down the aisle of a church in her wedding dress...until the sound of her voice broke his reverie.
“Jack. I’ll take over now. I know you have other things to do.” It was more of a command than a suggestion, Dirk understood by the tone of her voice and the way she looked pointedly at Jack. He felt sure the assistant wrangler did too, as he touched the brim of his worn straw cowboy hat, and then walked away.
“So, how is he?” she asked. When Dirk must have looked a little confused, she nodded at Ruffles. “The horse.”
“He seems to be doing well.”
“Even without your natural medicine?” She barely paused for a breath. “Say, how is that working out for you here with the other ranchers?”
Dirk heard the challenge in her voice. “The opportunity hasn’t arisen with the others—yet,” he answered. He wondered again what she’d told her friends, and if Kristin talked to her yet.
“Uh-huh. Well Doc, if you’re through here, I have a trail ride to get ready for.”
This wasn’t going the way he’d hoped.
“Do you ever give private rides?” he blurted before she could walk away with the horse.
“Private rides?” Barb raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, you know, take people riding who aren’t guests at the ranch.”
“Not usually. The Grangers have the riding stable. We try not to compete.” She gave him a look as though she wondered why he asked, but didn’t say it.
“Oh, yeah, that makes sense.” He wondered if his disappointment showed.
“Is that something you might be interested in?”
“Sure.” He smiled.
“Do you know how to ride—you being from Seattle and all?” She smirked.
“Yes, I do. I did my internship in Stanwood, in the country north of Seattle. Lots of horses there and places to ride.” He didn’t feel too guilty when he said it. After all, he didn’t say he rode there, though he may have implied it. He gave her a smug look. He felt sure she didn’t expect to hear that.
“Well...” she drawled. “You being new in town and all, and since we don’t have a Welcome Wagon, I suppose I should be a good neighbor and give you a tour of the countryside.”
“That would be great,” he replied enthusiastically. “What do you charge for a trail ride?” He frowned. Money was tight right now since he’d bought the vet practice.
“I don’t know. I’ve never done something like this before. The guests buy a package deal. I’ll need to discuss it with Mr. Taylor, I suppose.”
“Yes, I don’t want to get you in trouble with the owners.” Dirk frowned again.
“Nah, they won’t mind. Why don’t you give me a call later after I’ve talked to him and looked at the ride schedule? I need to see when we aren’t all booked up.” She turned away and started to walk down the aisle with Ruffles.
“Uh, Barb?”
She stopped and looked back at him. “Yeah?”
“Call me Dirk.”
She turned back around and as she walked away, amid the clip-clop of the gelding’s hooves on the concrete, Dirk faintly heard her say, “See ya later, Dirk.”
****
Before she left for home that night, Barb stopped in at Mr. Taylor’s office in the lodge.
“That’s a great idea, Barb,” he responded with enthusiasm. He’ll tell his friends and family from the west side of the mountains, and bring in some more business.”
“What should I tell him is the charge for the trail ride?”
“We won’t charge him anything. This is great PR. In fact, after this, maybe we should offer some introductory rides for newcomers.”
Barb noticed his eyes shone with enthusiasm, something she hadn’t seen in them for some time. But her wayward tongue got the better of her, and she blurted out, “Why don’t we just invite the whole town?”
“That’s a great idea. How can they talk us up to their visiting friends and family if they don’t really know what we do here? We could fill up some of the rides that aren’t booked...”
Barb felt glad for her boss, and even gladder that she’d been the one to make him happy, but she was also tired after another long, hot day, and she wanted to bring up another subject.
“Have you noticed how smoky the air smells? And sometimes it looks downright dark out there when the sun’s out.”
It seemed to take Mr. Taylor awhile to get his mind from the previous topic, but after awhile he said, “Well sure, it’s the wildfires.”
“What?” she asked, surprised. “What wildfires?”
“Heavens, girl, don’t you watch TV or listen to the radio?” Her boss stared at her. “It’s all the guests talk about and we’ve gotten several calls from people with reservations wanting to cancel.”
“It’s that bad? I guess there was some talk of it at the diner this morning, but my mind was on other things. Other than that, Ma and I don’t have satellite TV service and the radio in my Jeep quit working years ago. We don’t get a paper either—too busy to sit that long and read one.”
“Well don’t worry. There are wildfires every summer, you know that. We’ve never had a problem up here on the hill in all the years we’ve lived here.” He seemed more interested in drumming up business and turned to the appointments book. “Looks like plenty of room on this ride.” He pointed to the book. “Why don’t you call the vet now and tell him?” He pushed the phone across the desk. “Be sure to tell him there’s no charge.”
Barb would have preferred to make the call in private, but her boss seemed so anxious about it, that she called the vet’s mobile number. When she heard his voice, she opened her mouth to speak, and then realized she’d reached voice mail. She left the information and glanced at Mr. Taylor as she emphasized no charge. He smiled and nodded at her.
As she left the lodge, Barb looked anxiously at the sky beyond the surrounding hills. She could swear she saw the smoke as well as smelled it this time.
****
Dirk smiled when he listened to the message on his mobile phone. He’d heard the beep of his pager, but in the midst of treating an unruly patient, he couldn’t answer. He didn’t get a chance to look at the number until he got back in the truck to write up the bill. Yes. He pumped the air with his fist, and then looked around. It wouldn’t do to look so excited when he handed his customers their bill.
On his way home, he stopped at the Granger stable. It had become a regular habit. He enjoyed Chad’s folks, but Chad and Kristin seemed like old friends to him now. Just to know they rooted for him and Barb helped him feel as though he had someone on his side in his new town—and possible courtship.
He didn’t want that friendship to end, so before it went any further, he told Chad about his discussion with Doc Nick, and Barb too, on natural medicine.
“Yeah, most of these old ranchers will probably balk about that. Funny you brought it up though. I’d heard about it in some of my meetings with other horse breeders, and did a little research on the Internet. I even brought it up to Doc, but he just blew me off. I guess that kept me from asking you about it first thing. Tell you what...Next time we have you out here on a call, we’ll talk about alternative treatment.” He slapped Dirk playfully on the back. “Ready for another brew?”
This time though, Chad was the one with a concern. “Hey, Dirk. Gotta question for you,” he said when Dirk stepped out of the truck.
“Sure.”
<
br /> “You’ve heard about the wildfires haven’t you?” When Dirk nodded, he continued. “We’ve been lucky and never had a problem here with them, but they say this year it’s especially dry and hot and, well, I’m a little concerned.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that on the news too. So, do you and your folks have a disaster plan?”
“Well...no,” Chad admitted.
“Are your folks and Kristin home? You should all sit down and talk about this. I can give you some ideas.”
When everyone was seated at the kitchen table, Dirk gave them some tips. “As horse owners, it really pays to plan for disasters rather than wait for one to strike,” he told them. He could see that Cal wasn’t buying in on the whole thing, and before the man could open his mouth to speak, Dirk held up a hand. “I’d suggest you set up a phone tree with the other horse owners in the area. This would really help if you—or they—need to evacuate your animals. You could share resources, like trailers and extra hands. Cal, you wanted to say something?”
As he drove home to the guest house, Dirk looked up at the hazy sky. He could only hope that the family implemented at least some of his ideas. Both Cal and Marge looked pretty skeptical, and Cal reminded Chad that they’d never had problems with the wildfires there before.
Dirk just hoped they never would. But, as he’d told Chad’s father, it didn’t hurt to be prepared.
Chapter Seven
When Dirk drove up to the Saddle Up, he noticed there weren’t very many cars in the parking lot. He looked over at the corral where he’d seen the horses for trail rides wait for their riders. Only two stood there now. Could he be early? Had the ride been cancelled? Suddenly, he felt more aware of the pinch from the too small cowboy boots he’d borrowed from Chad.
“Hi Do—Dirk!” Barb hailed him from across the gravel lot. “Are you ready to ride?”
He waited till she reached him to reply. “You bet. But where are the rest of the riders?” He looked around.
“Oh, it’s just us this time. Is that okay with you? That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? Your own personal ride?” He couldn’t tell if she was teasing him.
The Pancake Club Anthology Page 10