by Irene Brand
“You sure were excited that day you came home from college and picked her out of the herd! I guess I never did buy the meal I owe you.”
“But you didn’t accept my bet. Besides, you fed me today.”
“Hot dogs don’t count. We’ll find time for a real dinner before Doc Wheeler gets back and you leave.”
Her heart rejoiced and was saddened at the same time as they drove back to Woodbeck Farm. She was happy to know that he’d dwelt as much on the past as she had and he wanted to continue seeing her. But he apparently had no interest in making any long-term commitment to her.
“Are you coming to the picnic, Saturday?” he asked as she got in her car to go back to town.
“Probably not,” she said. “Trina or I will have to keep the clinic open, and it might be better if she brings Dolly.”
“Who is Dolly?” She wondered if he’d noticed how many common characteristics he and Dolly shared.
“She’s Trina’s niece, whose mother provided us a home away from home while we were in school. She’s been good to us, and we volunteered to take care of Dolly this summer. She’s a nice kid.”
“If you can’t make it to the picnic, stop by when you’re out this way. I’d like to show you the improvements I’m making at the farm and the plans I have for the future.”
“Will do!” she promised and waved goodbye.
At noon the next day, Autumn stopped at a cafe for a quick lunch on her way out of town. She didn’t know any of the workers nor did she recognize the few customers. She took a booth and sipped on the cold water the waitress placed on the table. She fiddled with a wooden puzzle placed on the table to calm customers while she waited for her food.
The waitress brought her salad and sandwich and she ate hungrily. It had been a hard afternoon. She paid no attention to the other patrons of the restaurant until she became conscious of someone standing beside her booth. Her eyes lifted slowly. A tall, slender man with blond hair and smiling, brilliant green eyes, holding the hand of a girl about Dolly’s age, looked down at her.
“Hello, Autumn. I heard you’d returned to Greensboro.”
At first his identity eluded Autumn, but she finally recognized him as the young doctor her mother thought Autumn should marry.
“How do you do, Dr. Lowe?” she said. “News travels fast around here like it always did,” Autumn answered in an indifferent voice. She’d seldom thought of Harrison while she was gone, but when she had, she’d supposed he would have gotten tired of a small place like Greensboro.
“This is my daughter, Christine,” Harrison said.
Autumn mustered a smile for the child, who had a sensitive mouth and woebegone eyes, looking as if life hadn’t been too kind to her.
“May we join you?” Harrison asked.
“You’re welcome to sit here, but I’m almost finished.”
“We stopped for milkshakes,” Harrison said as Christine scooted across the seat, and he sat opposite Autumn.
“It’s nice to see you back in Greensboro,” he said.
“I needed a summer job and Ray Wheeler wanted an assistant for a few weeks, so it worked out well for both of us,” Autumn answered, continuing to eat.
“I understand you’re a veterinarian now. That doesn’t seem like a profession for Autumn Weaver.”
“That’s because you didn’t know the real Autumn Weaver. The plans my mother had for me were not what I wanted,” she said, hoping to put to rest any idea he might have that she’d been party to Clara’s matchmaking. To divert the conversation from her affairs, she asked, “Are you still practicing here in Greensboro?”
“You haven’t heard? My clinic has become a thriving practice. I have several associates and we’re working toward establishing a hospital.”
“Congratulations!”
Autumn signaled for her bill, and the waitress brought it when she delivered two strawberry milkshakes to Harrison and Christine.
Standing, Autumn said, “It was nice to meet you, Christine.”
Harrison stood and took her hand. “I’m pleased to see you again, Autumn. When can we get together for dinner?”
Autumn darted a quick look at Christine, who was sipping slowly on the milkshake, seemingly paying no attention to the adult conversation.
“With your wife’s permission, I suppose?”
Harrison laughed. “Apparently you don’t know anything about me.”
“I’d had no contact with anyone in Greensboro until I met Ray Wheeler a few weeks ago.”
Autumn disengaged her hand and started toward the door, but Harrison detained her again. “I’ve been divorced for two years. Christine lives with her mother in Cleveland, but she’s visiting me for a few days. May I telephone you?”
“I don’t expect to have any free time. Ray has many customers. Thanks, anyway.”
She left the restaurant hurriedly, but she sat in the truck for several minutes before she turned the ignition key. Here was a complication she didn’t need! She didn’t want the presence of Harrison Lowe to cast a shadow on her relationship with Nathan this time. Surely Harrison wouldn’t press his invitation if she didn’t encourage him. He seemed to be a fine man, and he would probably be enjoyable company, but he didn’t cause her heart to miss a beat. Yet the touch of Nathan’s hand sent tremors of anticipation up and down her spine. How important were feelings to a successful marriage? Should one choose a mate by rational thinking rather than by emotional attraction?
As she drove away from the restaurant, Autumn considered what her life might have been now if she’d stayed at Indian Creek Farm to eventually marry Dr. Lowe. If she’d married him, and Christine was her child, would she have gotten over her longing for Nathan? Or when he returned to Greensboro, would she still want him as she did now?
On Wednesday, Autumn had a late-afternoon call to a farm north of Greensboro to assist in a difficult calf birth, and it was after seven before she started home. When she realized she’d be late again, she notified Olive that she’d stop at a restaurant for supper. The day had been hot and muggy, and Autumn turned off the air conditioner and rolled down the windows. The breeze felt good on her face. She liked the sensation of wind blowing through her hair.
She didn’t find a place to eat until she came to a truck stop on the outskirts of Greensboro. She drove into the parking lot and stopped beside a red truck, recognizing it as Nathan’s. Sacks of feed filled the pickup’s bed.
Autumn hesitated before she turned off the truck’s engine. Should she drive on and find another place to eat? If she went inside, would Nathan think she was following him? The desire to see him outweighed the possible consequences, so she stepped out of the truck and locked it.
Passing through the glass doors of the restaurant, she saw her windblown appearance and she stopped short. Her natural curls had been stirred by the wind and her hair was fluffed out so much she didn’t think a bushel basket could cover it. The heat of the day and the wind off the road had turned her normally rosy complexion only a few shades lighter than her hair. She was a mess! But she lost her chance to retreat when she looked through the window and saw Nathan sitting at a booth. He’d seen her, too, so if she left now, he’d think it was because she didn’t want to encounter him. She’d pretend she looked neat and tidy.
She opened the door and strolled to his booth.
“Mind if I join you? I’m running late, so I missed Miss Olive’s meal.”
He gestured to the seat opposite him. “Sit down. I’ve just ordered. I went to a meeting of the Angus Breeders Association over in the next county this afternoon, then stopped for feed and other farm supplies. I’m running late, too, and I wasn’t in the mood to cook tonight.”
The waitress brought the menu, and Autumn ordered. “I’ll have broiled chicken, baked potato, glazed carrots, and garden salad. I’ll want coffee with a chocolate chip cookie later on, but now I’d like a pitcher of water with lots of ice.”
“I didn’t suppose you ever ate anything but hot do
gs,” Nathan teased after the waitress left their table.
“Only when I’m really hungry.”
“Had a hard day?” Nathan asked.
“It’s been a hot day and a disappointing one. I was out on a calf delivery, but the farmer waited too long to call me. I couldn’t save the calf. The cow survived, but it depresses me when I have a failure. I always wonder if Ray could have done a better job.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t have asked you to take over for him if he didn’t think you could do the work.”
“He doesn’t know what kind of work I do. I met him at a veterinarians’ conference in March, and that’s the first time I’d seen or talked with him since I left Greensboro. He took me out to lunch, but we didn’t talk more than a couple of hours. I think he invited me to work for him on impulse as if he had an ulterior motive, rather than just the need for someone to look after his customers while he’s away.”
“You’re qualified for the work, aren’t you?”
“You don’t graduate from vet school unless you’re qualified, but I haven’t had any experience on my own.”
“Didn’t you help Doc Wheeler when you were a girl?”
“Lots of time, and I loved the work, but I still wonder when something goes wrong if I’ve messed up some way.”
“You impressed me with your skill and knowledge when you treated my cow. I’m sure you’re doing all right.”
His unexpected praise suffused Autumn with a warm glow.
The waitress approached with their salads and Autumn excused herself. “I’ll make a quick trip to the rest room. I washed in cold water before I left the farm, but my hands need soap and hot water. Don’t wait for me.”
Nathan almost groaned aloud watching her go down the narrow hallway to the rest room. With her hair blown in every direction, her face flushed with heat and wind, she looked like she did when she was eighteen. Even when he’d thought Autumn was spoiled and was disappointed in her when she wouldn’t defend him to her father, her beauty had appealed to him.
He’d believed the times they’d spent together had been nothing but a summer’s flirtation to her. Now he wasn’t so sure. Why hadn’t she married? There must have been other men besides Dr. Lowe who would have been drawn to her physical and inner beauty. Had she thought of him all of these years as he’d thought of her? The more he saw her, the more she fascinated him. How many times could he see her without grabbing her and kissing her the way he’d dreamed of doing for years?
In the rest room, Autumn tried to corral her hair, but without a comb or brush, she couldn’t do much, so she bathed her face in cold water, washed her hands and rejoined Nathan. He’d waited for her, and when she sat opposite him, he reached for her hand, bowed his head and said a few words of thanks for their food.
They chatted briefly as they ate, and while waiting for their dessert to be served, Nathan relaxed in the seat and said, “I should be home working. Taking a day off for a meeting is a luxury I can’t afford during this busy season.”
“We’ve been busy, too. I don’t know how Ray can handle all this work alone. I don’t blame Miss Olive for being concerned about him. She’s hinted that I’d make a good assistant for him.”
“Are you interested?”
“I don’t know,” she said, hesitating as the waitress brought their dessert. Nathan ate a piece of apple pie with vanilla ice cream, while Autumn nibbled at the cookie she’d ordered.
“Tell me the subject for the lesson next Sunday,” she said, “and I’ll study in advance. I have a lot to learn about the Bible.”
“We’ll be continuing our study of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, where he warned His followers not to store up earthly treasures. It’s a lesson I need, for sometimes I get so busy trying to make a success of my farm that I don’t take time for Bible study and prayer.”
“It was the same way when I was in vet school and working every evening. I found time for everything except my spiritual nourishment.”
Nathan seemed in no hurry to leave, and although Autumn knew she should at least make contact with the clinic, she didn’t want to interrupt this moment. Their opportunities to meet would be limited, so she didn’t want to hurry away. The restaurant was almost empty and she wasn’t concerned about occupying the booth for an extended time. He talked about the meeting he’d attended that afternoon, his plans for the farm, and how expensive it was to purchase the equipment he needed.
“My uncle’s machinery is mostly old, but I go to farm sales, and I’ve accumulated quite a few good pieces of equipment. I’m slowly moving toward my goal of having a thriving farm, but I can’t let my desire for that crowd out life’s more important aspects.”
“The alienation with my family stands in my way of being the kind of Christian I should be.”
“You haven’t seen any of them since you returned?”
She shook her head.
“Your folks will come around. I’d venture to guess that your dad is eager to see you. You’re his pride and joy.”
“I used to be, but not any more. I wish I could make up with my family before I leave again. I’ve driven the truck by the farm several times and wanted to stop to see my parents, but I was afraid of how they’d treat me. I dialed the phone number one day, and the line was busy, so I decided that was God’s way of telling me to wait a while. Ray had told me how bad things were with my folks. I believe he persuaded me to come to work for him so I could be reconciled with Mother and Daddy.”
Nathan wondered if that was the only reason. He’d been puzzling for days over Ray’s statement when he’d told Nathan he would be gone for a couple of months. “I’ve got a bright new helper coming in. It might be good for you to have another vet around for a while.” Was Doc Wheeler also matchmaking? Ray had never mentioned Autumn’s name to him, but he wondered how much the veterinarian knew about the things that had happened between them.
When the waitress brought their bills, Nathan took both of them. “This one is on me.” Grinning slightly, he said, “As I recall, I owe you a meal.” At her startled gaze, he added, “You did recognize Noel when I didn’t think you could.”
“Oh! I considered that paid when we went to Jimmy’s last week.”
Reaching for his billfold, he handed the waitress three ten-dollar bills. “That wasn’t much of a meal—just a nostalgia journey into the past. I’ve been wondering if we shouldn’t forget the past and start building on the present.”
Autumn didn’t want to forget some of the things that happened between them, so she found it difficult to respond to that remark.
They walked in silence to the parking lot. Autumn stopped by the cab of the vet truck and Nathan imprisoned her by placing both hands on the truck. He leaned toward her, his eyes warm and tender.
“Don’t you have a few pleasant memories of the past?” she whispered. “All I had to sustain me for years were memories. I’d have died if I hadn’t focused on the few good moments we had together. Didn’t you ever think about seeing me again to resolve the differences we had?”
“Maybe in my dreams. I’ll admit I’ve always been sorry your father knocked me down that day before I finished kissing you the way I wanted to.”
“He’s not here now,” she murmured.
He bent closer until Autumn sensed his warm breath on her face and she lowered her eyelids. If he’d kiss her, perhaps the loneliness around her heart would disappear, but she sensed Nathan’s hesitancy as he straightened and looked around.
“No, he isn’t here, but lots of others are.” He motioned toward several people who watched them from the restaurant windows. He dropped his arms and stepped back. “Good night, Autumn. I enjoyed our meal together.”
He waited until she drove out of the parking lot, and he smiled and waved at her. Autumn drove slowly back to the clinic. He obviously didn’t want to kiss her, didn’t want to recall the past. Had she been too pushy again?
Chapter Eight
The evening meal at the Wheeler hous
e was just finished Thursday evening when Elwood Donahue came to the door. After Trina had persuaded Olive to let her take care of the dishes, Olive had gone visiting.
“Is this a bad time to call?” Elwood asked when Autumn opened the door.
“Not at all, unless we have an emergency call. Come in the kitchen. We were washing and drying dishes to give Miss Olive a break. If you’re hungry, there’s a piece of blackberry pie left.”
“Sounds good,” he said. “I haven’t stopped long enough to eat today. I went to Columbus this morning where a parishioner was having surgery, and I’ve been busy since I returned home. I always make follow-up calls when we have church visitors, but I’m a bit tardy visiting you.”
“We’re glad to see you,” Autumn said, leading the way into the kitchen.
Trina brought the pie and poured a glass of milk for the pastor. “Sit down and visit with him, Autumn. I’m almost finished with the dishes. Miss Olive won’t have a dishwasher,” she explained to Elwood, “for she doesn’t think the dishes are clean unless she does them by hand.”
“She makes mighty good pie,” he said. “I haven’t had any fresh blackberry pie since I left my home in North Carolina and went to seminary.”
“Trina and I shared an apartment while we were in college and vet school, and neither of us had time to cook. We existed on canned soup and sandwiches, except for a rare holiday when we indulged ourselves. It’s been great to have some home cooking.”
Trina gave a final swipe to the sink top and joined them at the table with a glass of lemonade in her hand. “Sometimes I feel as if I’ve died and gone to heaven when I come down to breakfast and sink my teeth in ‘made from scratch’ buttermilk biscuits. Miss Olive’s spoiling us.”
Elwood pushed aside his empty plate, and Autumn replenished his milk glass.
“How did you like our services last Sunday?” he asked.
“Your message was encouraging to me,” Autumn said.