Page 111 of Nashville Cowboy
“I have to work today,” Eve said to no one in particular.
Both her mother and Mima glanced at her and Eve noticed when they shared a look between them.
There was an awkward pause in conversation and then Daisy spoke up. “Me too.”
Eve would check up on Holly, then drive out an hour to the Wilson cattle ranch for a recheck on the breeched calf she’d brought into the world a few months ago. She’d offer to help Annabeth with any small-animal checkups or emergencies. Offer to be on call seven days a week. She really needed to throw herself into her job. All this would keep her busy. Work was what she needed. More and more work. Maybe more animals would get sick. Wait, no. Oh Lord! What waswrongwith her? She may have winced.
“Eve, honey, are you okay?” her mother asked. “You didn’t eat much.”
“I’m not hungry,” she said and rose. “And I have to get ready for work. After I take Thimble for a ride.”
But even Thimble couldn’t help her this morning. Oh, she was patient and kind and she listened as usual. She didn’t even mind when Eve wet her mane with tears.
“I love him so much, but I won’t lose myself to him again. And that’s what he wants. Face it, he could have any woman he wants, and any one of them will likely give up everything for him. And I could, too, I know I could. But with what I’ve been through, and how hard I worked for this life, he should understand why Ican’t.”
Later, Holly passed her checkup with flying colors and Mr. Mansfield smiled and thanked her for caring enough to make him see the error of his ways. Work went swiftly and efficiently. It was something she could count on every day of her life. Routine. The expected. Animals needed vaccines, they needed checkups, and required medication at times. Some horses were prone to colic. Some pigs got the swine flu. Smaller breeds had their own issues with allergies, ear infections, and overbites.
In the afternoon, after her rounds, Eve helped Annabeth with a large golden retriever named Shadow that had been hit by a car in a hit and run. Eve’s thoughts went to Winston and the way Jackson always let him in the house when it was too cold.
“Who would do this?” Eve asked Annabeth as she helped review the X-rays. “No one in Stone Ridge couldpossiblydo this to an animal.”
“I think you overestimate the residents here.” Annabeth squinted at the X-ray.
“Maybe it was someone passing through town.”
“Uh-huh. Well, he’s lucky. Nothing broken. He’s so thick.”
They both turned to look at Shadow, who still had a smile on his face. Just emerging from his mild sedative, he happily wagged his tail.
“Who’s a good boy?” they both said at once.
After they let Shadow go home with his grateful owner, Eve turned to Annabeth. “I’ve been thinking that I should be on call seven days a week. We don’t need to split coverage anymore.”
Annabeth’s jaw dropped. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Why would yousaythat?”
“First, I can’t get you to take a vacation for years. You finally did because of the wedding. But Eve, this is a partnership. You give some, and I give some. It would make me feel awful to have you cover all the time.”
Right. Wonder what she would have said if she’d instead told her that she was leaving their practice for two years. Eve let out a nervous laugh to cover the fact that she now wanted to burst into tears. In a true partnership, every person gave up a little something to make it work.
“You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. Thank you for being a great partner.”
“But Iamgoing to go on vacation next month. There’s an Indie music festival in Austin and I’m going for the entire week. You’re welcome to cover for me then.”
“Awesome. Consider it done.”
At the end of the day Eve drove home to the ranch to make a welcome home supper for Sadie and Lincoln.
When Eve walked in the front door, Daisy was already decorating the entryway with flashy banners that read, “Welcome Home.”
“Your mom left,” Daisy said. “Said to call her later.”
“Thanks.” Eve got busy immediately. She peppered and salted the pot roast and put it in the pan. She washed and chopped vegetables. Boiled potatoes. Started the cake.
“Eve,” Mima said from behind.
Eve jumped. “Lawd, don’t scare me like that.”
