Bonus Kisses - Freya Barker Page 0,21
bowels in the past two weeks. While I examine the dog, however, she maneuvers her way back to what I’m sure is the real reason of her visit today. “I couldn’t help but notice that sister of hers at the funeral. Natasha?” She makes a clucking sound as she shakes her head. “Good Lord, she looks a fright, doesn’t she? So different from your lovely Veronica.” She emits more disapproving sounds to broadcast her dislike. “Poor Sarah and Ed, they must be beside themselves having to bury their precious daughter. I can’t imagine their shock when the other one showed up.”
Malicious old biddy. At first I try to ignore her, but I can’t stand by and have her feed what I assume is already a thriving, small-town gossip mill.
“Mrs. Myers,” I snap sternly, lifting Charlton and setting him on the floor. “Not that it’s any of your business, but Natasha has been here for weeks already. Her sister wanted her by her side in her final days, and she’s been a lifesaver helping out with the children. I don’t want to hear you speak ill of her.”
She looks shocked, pressing her hand against her chest. “Of course. I would never…” she huffs before tilting her head to the side before she continues, “it’s just…”
“Mrs. Myers, I’m sorry to cut you short, but my next appointment is waiting. Your dog is fine. Any change in diet always takes a bit of adjustment, I’m sure his bowels will settle down soon enough.” I reach around her and pull the door open, revealing Lisa.
“I was about to let you know your next appointment is here,” she announces, bulging her eyes at me.
“Send them in, please. Mrs. Myers is just leaving.”
Lisa, hearing the tension in my voice, takes the older woman by the arm and guides her firmly down the hall.
Appointments keep me busy the rest of the morning and every single one starts with condolences. By the time noon comes around, I need some air. Maybe I’ll pop home and check on things there. See how Taz is doing now the kids are back at school.
I tell myself it’s out of concern for her.
“I’m going to grab some lunch.”
Lisa is at the reception desk, the phone at her ear, and holding a finger up. “Hang on, he just finished his last appointment.” She winces, shooting a silent apology with her eyes. “He can be there in ten.”
“Where am I going?” I ask when she hangs up.
“Van Duren’s farm. He found that new calf in a ditch, tangled up in barbed wire some idiot left out in the field. He says some of it has embedded deep.”
A few choice expletives escape me as I quickly collect what I need and rush out to my truck.
It’s not that these things never happen—they do—but that bull calf is special. Jeff Van Duren has a lot riding on that animal. It’s the only calf left since two of his pregnant cows lost their calves earlier this year.
One of his hands is waiting at the gate when I drive up.
“They’re on the far side, northwest corner, just left of those trees,” he says, pointing, when I roll down the window.
“Can I drive the truck out there?”
“Yeah, stick to the trail along the fence line.”
It’s not looking good. By the time I reach Jeff he’s standing on the edge of the gully looking down, hands clasped behind his neck.
“Careful.” He grabs my arm when I try to make my way down to the animal. “Every time I get close, dang thing struggles and hurts hisself more.”
“Can’t help him if I can’t get to him,” I point out.
“Ain’t you got a dart gun?”
“That’s not gonna work, Jeff. I have a better chance of keeping him calm if I can get my hands on him. Grab me that burlap sack from the back of the truck.”
It takes me a while to ease my way down to the calf, but I’m finally able to drop the burlap over his head.
“Bring my bag,” I call up, trying to get a grip on the animal without getting myself hurt. “Gonna need you to cut the wires while I hold him down.”
Halfway down the slope, Jeff loses his footing and starts sliding, startling the terrified calf.
Taz
The house is so quiet.
I’ve tried to stay busy, ever since Rafe and the kids left this morning, but the silence is starting to get to me.
With the last load of laundry in the dryer, the house clean, and dinner