Page 26 of Texas Daze (Texas Montgomery Mavericks)

She walked away wearing what she knew was an overly broad grin. Her parents had left her in charge but she knew that Grisham still had questions about her decision. He felt that with his years of experience, he should be making decisions like tagging the calves. No matter that this was a small victory, she couldn’t help but bepleased.

Now her next major decision was to call Eli and thank him or just send a text. The only problem with that plan was she didn’t have his cell phone number. He’d always called from theclinic.

Or maybe she should actually write a thank-you note. That’s what her mother, and her grandmother, would have done. She hadn’t written a thank-you note since college graduation and wasn’t sure sherememberedhow.

Since it was almost noon and she had already been pulled from her job, she headed for the house for a quick sandwich. As she neared, she saw a white, insulated box sitting by the front door. Picking up the pace, she hurried on the porch, stopped andsmiled.

Eli struckagain.

In the kitchen, she cut the box’s tape and lifted a cold bottle of 2006 Dom Perignon champagne andanote.

Congratulations on the new filly. She’s a beauty. Here’s to the Duchess ofBoone.

Eli

Her cheeks ached from her responding wide smile. Now shehadto call him and thank him. A written note would take too long. Plus, she really needed to call him while she still had thenerve.

The receptionist at Riverside answered, “Riverside Orthopedics. May Ihelpyou?”

“Yes. This is Marti Jenkins. I’d like to speak to Dr. Booneplease.”

“I’ll put you through hisnurse.”

Music played through the receiver for a couple of minutes before a female voice said, “This isDebbie.”

“Hi, Debbie. This is Marti Jenkins. I’d like to speak with Dr.Boone.”

“Can you tell me the problem? If this is a medical related call, I’ll need to pull your medicalrecord.”

Marti felt the flush to her cheeks. “No, no. This is apersonalcall.”

“I’m happy to take a message. Dr. Boone is with patients and doesn’t like to be disturbed unless it’s an emergency. Is this anemergency?”

Embarrassed beyond words, Marti wanted to hide in her closet. Of course Eli didn’t take personal calls while seeing patients. What was she thinking? She wasn’t, and that was the problem. He’d probably be upset that she’d even called the office. What doctor wanted all his staff to know his personalbusiness?

“No, no emergency. I’ll talk with himlater.”

“Allright.”

Marti pushed the end button, dropped her head on the table and waited for the earth to open and swallow her. That sounded like the best way out of the horrifying situation. One date and she was calling him at the office? Argh. This wasn’t her. She should have left him a message at his house. Of course, she didn’t have that numbereither.

A written thank-you note then. She’d even drive into town to mail it and it would for sure get to him overnight.

The rest of her afternoon was eaten away with writing the note (at least ten different versions until she got the wordingjustright). She knew she’d lose whatever afternoon was left by driving the almost hour into town and anotherhourback.

Grisham sent a long list of needed supplies, so she ended up spending a couple of hours at the feed and grain store, which was soothing to her humiliated soul. There was something about the aroma of hay and animal foods and other unidentified scents that always lifted her mood. She’d dilly-dallied around the store for over an hour but how could she not stop and play with the baby chicks andrabbits?

Running into Zack Marshall at the store also helped. A consummate flirt, his insistence of escorting her around the store all the while telling her how great she looked, which was, of course, a total lie. Her hair was stuffed under a cap and her jeans were long past needing to bereplaced.

But then he brought up last Saturday evening and how fabulous she’d looked at the gala. She started to remind him that he’d been there with her best friend, but this was Zack. He meant nothing by this. Flirting was like breathing to him. Neither took any thought or effort onhispart.

By the time she started the drive home, she was feeling much better. So what. She called Eli at his office. Big deal. His nurse probably told him that she’d called. No biggie. If he called tonight, she could thank him for his thoughtful gifts. If he didn’t, he didn’t. It wasn’t like she’d be carrying her phone with her all evening justincase.

In her bedroom at close to midnight, she plugged her dying phone into the charger. She hadn’t been waiting for him to call. That was for sure. She always carried her phone. But she did go to bed with conflicted emotions. A little disappointed he hadn’t called and a little relieved he hadn’t called. She wasn’t sure which one was moreprominent.

Friday morning opened with a loud boom. Windows rattled with the thunder. Marti wiggled down into the covers to listen to the rain slashing against the house. Really, did the horses need clean hay and food today? Luckily, she’d drawn the short straw for those jobs today. Barn duty all day. Pedro and Grisham were scheduled to rewire the lower pasture. In this rain, that would be impossible, not that Grisham would admit it. She needed to be at the barn first to reworktoday’sjobs.

Chuckling, she tossed the bedcovers off and staggered to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. She might have horse duty today, but she didn’t have to have the same breathasone.

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