Page 15 of Tom's Chance
“The mule?”
“Yes. Well, when we got over to Broken, he was watching me, and I don’t know if it was his expression, or him personally, but I felt like a bug under a microscope as he watched me. I don’t know what happened, but all of a sudden he’s yelling at me for treating Maxine with some ointment and putting the hood over her head. He started questioning who I thought I was to undermine his authority when it came to the animals, and all I said was that I was also a DVM, and licensed in the state of Colorado. He didn’t seem to believe me. He pissed me off, and I went back to work on Misty. Lloyd was there when Tom was yelling at me. I could handle that, but once we arrived at the other ranch, he questioned my abilities in front of the rancher. I don’t know if he actually did, but I felt belittled and degraded in front of this rancher. If I want to build my business as being a farrier and a vet, I don’t need the local guy belittling me in front of the area ranchers.”
“You’re right, you don’t need that. I never thoughtTom would do something like that. He doesn’t seem like the type.” Duane finished cleaning up from their lunch and as he tossed the sponge into the sink, he leaned his hips against the counter to stare at her.
“What?”
“I know I shouldn’t speak out of turn, but I think I might know what propelled him to react to you like he did.”
“How do you know?”
“That’s just it, I don’t know, but I do know that a day or two before your interaction with him, he had a very, very rough couple of days.”
“That’s doesn’t give him an excuse to misalign my ability as a veterinarian.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t.” Duane scrubbed his face and shook his head. “Do you want me to tell you what happened?”
“No. I’m not being mean, but it would feel like you’re making excuses for him. I like you Duane, I really, really do, and I’m glad you and Mom are dating and have a great relationship. In the coming weeks, months, years, I know I’ll come to you for advice. However, I don’t want to resent you if you tell me what Tom’s problem is as an excuse to blow off how he treated me.”
“I understand, and good for you. Just know this, though.”
“What’s that?”
Duane deadpanned his next statement. “I knowhow to get rid of the body.” He never even cracked a smile when she looked at him in shock and chuckled. But she did swallow hard.
“That might be something I’ll need to know in the future.”
“Just give me a call.” He walked over and held out his arms to her and because it felt right, she stepped into them and received his hug. It felt good to feel protected and she sighed heavily, but it didn’t last long. She stepped back with a thank you, then Duane left saying he had to get back to work, and Lorissa went out to finish cleaning the last bit that needed to be done.
Later that night, Lorissa sat around the fire looking at all her friends, and though she wasn’t lonely, she felt alone that everyone seemed to be paired together. On a sigh, she looked up when someone drove in and smiled when she saw Duane’s face light up at seeing her mother arriving home. That was what she wanted in a relationship, a man whose entire world lit up when he saw the love of his life return home. On a sigh, she watched the couple and looked up in time to see Cole Mercury staring at her Nana. She exchanged looks with Erin, and they only grinned at one another when it seemed like Cole was hitting on Lois.
“Interesting,” she said under her breath, and kept quiet as she watched the older couple.
CHAPTER 7
The next morning,Lorissa was enjoying her first cup of coffee of the day, contemplating what she would make for her breakfast when she looked up and saw her mother, Duane, and Nana standing there. She frowned at them and asked hesitantly, “What?”
“French toast for breakfast?” Lois asked as she immediately started getting out the ingredients while Laurie started pouring coffee for everyone. Lorissa remained silent until they had moved to the table in the breakfast nook to eat. After piling the toasted bread, bacon, and eggs on her plate, she refused to take a bite until she asked,
“What’s up?”
Laurie sighed heavily, and shook her head. “I don’t want to ruin the meal, but I thought I should tell you what happened when I was back east.”
“I like that you didn’t say you were back home.”
“This is my home now.”
“What happened with the sperm donor?” Lorissa shrugged at her mother’s look, and started eating.
“The depositions had to stop for the time being.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know how to say this.”
“Mom, I don’t give a rat’s ass about Peter Stanton. I have never, ever considered him as my father. From an early age, ever since I knew what it meant, in my head I always referred to him as the sperm donor. When I was older and knew you wouldn’t yell at me, I vocalized it. There is absolutely no love lost between the two of us, and especially not his egg donor.”
Laurie looked at her daughter in shock, then started to giggle. “Okay then.” She smiled as she took a couple bites of food.
