Vetted Again

by K'Anne Meinel

  “No, I thought I’d worry about the clinic first and then, the roundup. I mentioned to Althea and Buddy about having a horse clinic too, but I don’t think I mentioned it to you yet, did I?” She smiled at the two interns who were watching, including them in the conversation. She liked them better since they’d been going out with Fiona on calls and their attitudes had changed. They now realized how well they had it with someone like Fey willing to share her knowledge and expertise. The RV was a dream too, and Fey had explained that they would have been expected to sleep on a pile of hay with no hot meals or a shower otherwise.

  “I don’t know about that. Horses too?”

  “Maybe a separate clinic on another weekend? But if we had it the same weekend, those who had dogs or cats that needed fixing or shots could also bring their horses?” she asked as they discussed it.

  Buddy and Althea were both amazed at how equitable the relationship between these two women was despite their age and work disparity. They appreciated Allyssa more once they realized how invaluable someone like her was to a practice like Fey’s. They both knew Fey was pregnant, and she let them both do hands-on work whenever possible as she started to pull back from some of the more physical work in her practice. She’d talk them through simple procedures, and they became more confident with the practical experience instead of just observing. Althea narrowed her eyes when she saw Allyssa unconsciously rubbing her own rounding belly. Renee had told her Allyssa was having a sympathetic pregnancy, but the intern wondered about that now as she looked closer at the woman.

  It was decided they would have a three-day clinic in July, the week after the Fourth of July holiday. That gave them a month to prepare, and by then, both Allyssa and Fey would be seven months along.

  “You realize how much of this will fall on you two?” Fey asked the interns.

  “Wait, Allyssa is pregnant too?” Althea guessed accurately. The two women hadn’t realized they had given it away, and Allyssa flushed as she nodded shyly.

  “We were keeping it quiet, but...” she left off awkwardly.

  “Wow! Two babies at the same time,” Buddy said as he realized.

  Fey laughed. “We don’t do anything halfway around here,” she said as she gathered her tools and ducked under the head of the horse, patting it affectionately. “There, there. Feel better, ole girl?”

  Allyssa gathered the tray and the tools. She would clean them, so they were ready next time. “I’ll talk to the 4-Hers and have them help me clean out the barn for any guests that have to stay?” she asked Fey, changing the subject that was making her uncomfortable.

  “And advertise,” Fey answered her wife, knowing her astute mind was already planning that aspect.

  “I think I’ll also call it an open house, so the rescues can be seen.”

  “You aren’t keeping all those horses in the ranch area for a month with all that good grassland waiting to be cropped!” Fey exclaimed, gesturing towards the open fields.

  “Oh, no, but I’m going to start giving treats, so they come in more often,” she teased, imaging the muck that a herd of horses could make grinding up the in-ranch pastures. She knew that Fey hated that aspect of her job. She frequently wore knee-high rubber boots for jobs with all the muck that was often part of seeing patients. She’d had to stop in Pendleton for both Althea and Buddy to buy new sets for their own adventures on the various farms and ranches they visited.

  “And how will you get them to stop after the clinic? They’ll still whinny for your treats,” she pointed out.

  “Maybe I won’t want them to stop,” she pointed out in return, bantering with her wife and enjoying it. She smiled to show she was teasing. Still, it would be nice to have them come in more often since she couldn’t ride out to see them. There were already one or two who hoped for the apple treats they had received from time to time from one of the neighbors, who brought their fallen or bad apples by the bushel load.

  Buddy and Althea were amazed to watch Allyssa go into high gear arranging the clinic and getting the blogs out. On the third day after the clinic was announced, Allyssa reported the first two days’ appointments were filled. She’d arranged with Jeremy Dorcey and his wife, Bess to come and help with the small animal work. He wasn’t interested in the large animal aspect or the horses, but he would be invaluable in helping with the dogs and cats that would be receiving discounted procedures including spaying and neutering. She ordered large amounts of medical supplies and prepared dozens of trays for the vets. The 4-Hers, many who had helped with the rescue and rode the various horses, still volunteered to come out and help. They also helped her clean out the enormous barn that Fiona’s great-great-grandparents had built. It was usually kept quite clean anyway because Fey had an operating theater in it for procedures and that had to remain spotless and sterile. Still, everything could use a good sweep, and they proceeded to do just that.

  “I wish we could build that surgical theater we saw in that movie,” Fey complained good-naturedly one night.

  “What movie?” Althea asked, eating the ham steak that Allyssa and she had prepared that night for dinner. She was interested in anything to do with horses.

  Fey told her about a movie she had once watched with Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn. It had a horse operating theater, which she wished she could duplicate. “It would require a lot of stainless steel and quite a few dollars,” she lamented.

  “Not necessarily,” Buddy put in. “I bet I could get one of my mechanical engineer friends to design it. Then, we could see how much it would cost to make it. Heck, I could use it as one of my papers.”

  “I’m up to helping on that,” Althea put in enthusiastically as she envisioned what Fey had described.

  “Could you look for a copy of the movie next time you go into town?” Fey asked Allyssa with a smile.

  “Will do. I’m going into Pendleton tomorrow to get some supplies. I’ll look for the movie.”

  “Don’t you lift those sacks by yourself,” she advised, glancing at the obviously pregnant woman’s belly.

  “No, two of the 4-H moms are going with me. We’re getting a quantity discount, and I offered to take the trailer and get them our price.”

  Relieved that Allyssa was thinking ahead, she smiled at her again. They had a doctor’s appointment together the following week for their six-month checkup. She was pleased how healthy they both seemed. Neither of them had been ill and their sex life, when they managed to find the time, was still intact.

  As Allyssa pulled into the feed lot, she read a sign on the side of the building that read:

  She could read it fine and laughed as the two women accompanying her tried to figure it out. Finally, she said, “It says, ‘If you can read this your saddle is too loose’.” The two women started to laugh as they realized they had been bested, and the three of them went inside to arrange for the pallets of feed they were picking up. Allyssa wrote a company check and soon, the forklift was lifting not one but two pallets of the supplies she had ordered into the back of the trailer. “My poor Jeep,” she lamented as she switched off the overdrive while she was pulling the now heavy trailer.

  “I know of a truck for sale, if you are interested?” one of the moms put in.

  “I also know one of the kids would love to buy your old truck,” the other one mentioned.

  “I’ll have to talk to Fiona about a new truck, but I’d sure like to get rid of the old one.” Since they’d gotten the RV, they used the Jeep for everything else and left the truck, which was parked unused back by the mobile home. They kept up an interesting and lively chatter as they did the shopping in Pendleton, even finding time to grocery shop at the bigger stores.

  “I tell you, they have the clinic once a year. You should call before all the slots fill up,” Allyssa overheard as she was comparing prices in the canned soup aisle. She liked to keep different kinds of soup on hand in both the RV and their cupboards and buying them in bulk at the warehouse didn’t always pan out because they didn’t hav
e the variety of the regular store. She glanced stealthily around to see who was talking and saw two older ladies having a conversation in earnest. “Take Tabby and get her fixed. You aren’t going to be able to handle any more kittens.”

  “But I don’t know where that vet’s clinic is,” Tabby’s owner answered.

  “Just call. I’m sure they’ll give you directions. You’ll save a lot on getting her fixed, and you won’t have to worry about any more kittens!”

  Allyssa wondered if they were talking about their upcoming clinic, and she soon received confirmation.

  “You’ve seen that Vet-Mobile around town. She’ll even come to you if you can’t make it to the clinic, although I understand there is a fee for her to come to you.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t get the special then,” she lamented.

  “You’re missing the point.”

  “I get it. I get it!” she argued in return. “I’ll call them today. What if they don’t have any more room for Tabby?”

  “Then, you are going to have to cough up full price to have the vet fix her. That’s far too many kittens over the years. You are going to lose her, and what’s more important: Tabby’s health or more kittens?”

  “Still, it costs–”

  “And it’ll cost more if you don’t do something about it. I know the stress will be greater on Tabby if you go there. It’s too bad you can’t have the vet do it in your home. Remember the old days when the doctor made house calls?”

  Allyssa wanted to say something but kept silent. She was smiling slightly as she put several different soups in her shopping cart and listened unashamedly.

  “Well, if you want to pay more the vet can come to you. I hear she does operations in that van she drives around.”

  Allyssa had heard that too, and she was pleased that Fey had put down plastic to catch any splatters, so her patients didn’t make a mess of the nice RV. She made a mental note to check on the plastic supply when she got back home. Slowly, she made her way through the grocery store, still thinking of the two women and their conversation and smiling to herself.

  “What are you smiling about?” asked Lorna when she saw her. Lorna was one of the two moms who had gone with Allyssa.

  “Oh, I overheard something that amused me. Are you and Gretchen about ready to get in the checkout lines?”

  “Yes, that’s why I was looking for you. You amaze me with how quick you are. I’m just so glad we did this while the kids were busy. I never seem to get away from them long enough and with school out they are driving me crazy.”

  “I don’t like shopping, so I make it quick and easy,” she explained as they got in line.

  “Still, you are managing the practice for Fey, and I can’t believe how efficient you are,” she said admiringly. “I can’t seem to manage my kids and my job much less their horse lessons.” She was one of the 4-H moms who used the few rescues they kept in the yard to train with the other kids.

  “It’s my job,” she shrugged off the compliment as the cashier began to scan items and unload her cart onto the conveyor belt. She scanned the chain’s card before shoving in her credit card with the chip and waiting for the cashier to finishing ringing up her purchases.

  “Paper or plastic, ma’am?” the bagger asked her.

  Ma’am? When did I become a ma’am? she thought wryly. “Paper please,” she said pleasantly, not wanting to contend with more plastic out on the ranch. It was simply impractical to keep hauling plastic to the dumpsters in town.

  “You get everything?” Gretchen greeted her as they finished bagging her purchases.

  “I think so. I always feel like I’ve forgotten something, even with a list,” she lamented. She really did hate shopping. She didn’t mind so much when they were stocking up or when Fey was with her, but Fey hated shopping as much as she did. They waited while Lorna’s purchases were bagged up, and then, the three of them made their way out to the Jeep to fill the back with the bags.

  “What’s this roundup I hear the kids talking about?” Gretchen asked when they were on their way again.

  “That’s not until this fall. We’re going to hire some professionals to help sweep our range of the cattle and horses,” Allyssa explained. “I can’t have the cattle scaring our phone company people.” She explained about the letter of complaint they had received stating one of their people had been ‘treed’ by a belligerent bull. It was more likely they just weren’t used to wild cattle and had been scared by the curious creatures. Still, after reading Molly and Erin’s journals, maybe there were offspring of Billy’s somewhere out there in the hidden pockets of the hills. After reading about Billy in the journals, she liked to think that was possible. The three of them laughed over the idea of someone getting ‘treed’ on the open prairie where there were no trees, but technically, there was a mobile phone tower. “The kids can bring the animals in nearer to the ranch. I’m sure that’s what they were discussing.”

  “I think the kids think they will be out on the range and camping out,” Lorna put in, laughing at the kids and their grandiose ideas. They’d probably all had them when they were younger.

  “I’m not doing anything like that, even from the comfort of Fey’s RV,” Allyssa admitted, unconsciously patting her burgeoning stomach. “Can you imagine having a baby in your arms and having to deal with cowboys?”

  “I like that RV,” Lorna put in as Gretchen agreed with her. They’d both seen the luxurious interior and envied their friend.

  “Yeah, we were lucky with that,” Allyssa agreed as she drove carefully, maneuvering the Jeep and trailer back onto the highway. She had really enjoyed making friends with the 4-H moms and their kids. The rescue had turned into a godsend on several levels. She still occasionally missed the quiet, but the kids were always amusing. “We can’t forget the Halloween trick or treating and plans for the Christmas caroling.”

  “Oh, the kids haven’t forgotten, believe me,” Gretchen put in. “We have all the pictures from last year to put into their 4-H books and projects. Are you going to be able to make the fair next month?” She glanced at Allyssa’s rounding stomach. Even though Allyssa hadn’t said she was pregnant, they all knew. It was common gossip that both the doctor and her wife were pregnant at the same time. Many wondered how that had happened and who the daddy was. Fortunately, no one had been rude enough to ask.

  “Well, it will be a close thing then, but we’ll try to make the fair. I liked it last year,” she admitted. “We’ll just waddle along,” she teased. She was still deluding herself that no one knew she was pregnant and assumed they thought she was referring to Fey.

  The two mothers began to relate ‘mom’ stories as Allyssa liked to call them, telling her things that she wouldn’t learn any other way. It wasn’t like she had anyone to show her these things, and it alleviated her worries about being able to cope with a baby, much less the two they were expecting. She’d calmed down about that to a degree but mostly because it seemed so far off. It wasn’t like she could ask her own mother or sister as she hadn’t yet told them she was pregnant again.

  The ride back from Pendleton didn’t seem to take much time at all. The women chatted the whole way, and soon enough, they were pulling up in front of the barn where the moms and the kids helped unload the pallets into the barn. Allyssa was able to manage carrying her groceries into the house and was pleased when she found how quickly they emptied the trailer, so she could put it away. The extra pallets were put behind the barn. There were a million and one uses for them available to those with imagination, and the wood itself was valuable.

  Allyssa soon waved her friends on their way, checks for the sacks they needed for their own animals tucked safely in her pocket. By buying in bulk she got a heavy discount, and she was also happy to help her friends get a discount without having to buy entire pallet loads.

  “Hello. Herriot Veterinary Services. How may I help you?” she answered the phone because Renee was off that afternoon.

  “I’d like to book a
time for your discounted clinic?” an older woman’s voice came over the line. Allyssa smiled when she recognized the voice from her shopping trip into Pendleton.

  “Yes, ma’am. We have a few slots left.” That was because they’d had a couple of cancellations. “Do you need shots or...?”

  Her guess that the voice belonged to the woman from their shopping trip was further confirmed when she mentioned her cat. “My cat, Tabby needs to be fixed.”

  “Would Sunday at three p.m. work for you?” Allyssa asked, glancing at the calendar she had set up specifically for the clinic.

  “Do you have any appointments on Friday or Saturday?” she asked, sounding aggrieved.

  “No, ma’am. I’m sorry, those slots are all filled up.” She double checked and confirmed both her and Renee’s handwriting filled all the available spots on those days.

  “Is there only the one doctor?”

  “No, ma’am. We have two vets and two interns doing the work.” They’d worked out that Jeremy would handle only small animal cases and Fey would work with both large and small animals. Fey’s interns would assist both vets and Allyssa would help where she could.

  “Oh, and those two days are full?” she sounded hopeful.

  “Yes, ma’am. These clinics fill up quickly,” she explained kindly, knowing the hours weren’t always the best for their schedules.

  “Okay, I guess I’ll take that Sunday appointment then.”

  “Please do not feed Tabby on Sunday. She can’t even have water as we need her tummy to be empty before we anesthetize her.”

  “Won’t she be parched?”

  “Probably, but if there is anything in her stomach it can cause problems. Besides, we will be giving her an IV with fluids, so she won’t get dehydrated,” she explained. “Can I get your name?” She wrote down the woman’s name, the cat’s name, and what treatment the cat was coming for. “Are Tabby’s shots all up to date?” she asked, attempting to sell more products and services in the subtle way she had trained Renee to do. The services may all be discounted that day, but future appointments would not be. She obtained all the necessary information from the woman before ringing off, but she wasn’t as lucky with the next phone call.