Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
K athy laughed as they walked into the diner for breakfast. Last night had been everything she’d hoped it would be … Well, after the skunk incident. Barry had told her he loved her. She was proof a person could float while her feet were still on the ground.
Corrie smiled at them when they walked in the door. Barry’s mom and Ciera took turns working Saturday morning. Kathy walked over to her and hugged her. “Thank you for dinner last night. It was amazing. Will you teach me how to make that sauce?”
“Absolutely. It’s so easy,” Corrie said and then hugged Barry. “What are you two doing here?”
“Breakfast,” Barry said and pointed to her. “She thinks yogurt is breakfast food.”
“It is,” she said at the same time as Corrie .
Barry groaned. “May I have two ham biscuits and a caramel roll?”
“You got it.” Corrie looked at her.
“I had yogurt. Just coffee for me.” Kathy laughed when Barry pulled her toward a booth. She waved at Edna, who was sitting alone in her booth. The woman smiled at her in return. Doc Macy and Ken Zorn were at the counter, and she nodded to them as they passed. Father Murphey and Reverend Campbell were in another booth. Kathy felt her face redden as the memories of last night and this morning replayed in her mind. Hopefully, neither of the holy men was a mind reader.
Barry pulled her into the booth after him, and she snuggled close to his side. “What do you have to do at the ranch?” Barry was taking her out to the Hollister ranch with him that morning. He’d said he had a few chores he couldn’t put off, but afterward, they’d be free to spend the day together.
“I need to clean Buddy’s stall, work with him a bit, and feed him. Then, I have a couple of daily chores to do. I could call Ryan and ask that someone else do them, but …”
“Your work is your work,” she finished. “Dad instilled that in me early. You do what you say you’re going to do, whether or not anyone is watching.”
“The Marine Corps called it integrity.” Barry shrugged and sat back as Corrie brought the plate of food, coffee cups, and an insulated coffee urn to their table. “Jose called it being a good person. ”
“That he did,” Corrie said as she put the food down. “Which you are.” She smiled at Barry. “Where’s Honey?”
“We left her with Mitzi. They’re both in trouble. They found a skunk and cornered it last night.”
That turned Ken from the counter. “You have some of that de-skunk solution, right? We’ve got a couple of extra bottles if you need some.”
“I had three bottles at the house. The dogs and Barry used the majority of it.” Kathy poured herself a cup of coffee and added a touch of cream and sugar to it.
“You got sprayed?” Ken made a face.
“No. I made the mistake of picking up the dogs to get them out of the bushes.” He shook his head. “I swear I still smell it.” Barry took her coffee cup and took a sip while Kathy rolled her eyes and made another cup.
“You will for weeks, even though no one else will,” Ken acknowledged.
Doc Macy chuckled. “That solution is a godsend. I remember when Gen wouldn’t let me in the diner for a solid week.”
“It wasn’t so much Gen as the rest of the town. You got sprayed by not one but two of those devils.” Ken laughed at the vet.
“Well, at least Kate has to deal with the small animals now,” Doc Macy said as Kate Wells walked into the diner with her husband, Tegan.
Kathy waved them over. “Did I just hear my name taken in vain?” Kate asked as she waved at Edna and headed to the booth where Kathy and Barry sat.
“Never,” Doc Macy said. “We were talking skunk stink and small animals.”
Tegan slid into the booth after Kate and spoke to Doc Macy, “You know they make a great solution for that now. Really does take the smell away. It’s amazing.”
Barry nodded. “I found out last night.”
Tegan laughed. “Honey get into a situation?”
“And Mitzi,” Kathy admitted. “Barry pulled them away from the skunk, so he got contact stink.”
Corrie was at the table to take their order and bring more coffee cups. Kate ordered for both her and Tegan. Kathy grew up with Tegan and knew he was painfully shy around some women, so seeing Kate make his life a bit easier was something special. After they gave their order, Kate asked the diner, “Everyone’s coming next Saturday night, right?”
“What’s Saturday?” Barry leaned over and asked as the rest of the diner started talking, answering Kate.
Kathy leaned into him. “They’re throwing a reception. They got married in a small ceremony, only family, so they’ve been planning a big party for the town.”
Barry raised his eyebrows. “The town expects a party when someone gets married?”
Kathy smiled. “Usually. Some people have potlucks, and some go all out. It depends on the people.” Some couldn’t afford it, so potlucks had become popular, but recently, there seemed to be more money in the little town.
Kate turned back to them. “You’re coming, right? You have to; you were my first client, after all.”
Barry glanced down at her. “Sure, I’ll check in with the Hollisters, but as long as we’re covered at the ranch, I don’t see why not. Right?”
“I’m free for the entire summer. Do you need help?” She knew Tegan better than she knew Kate, but all the times she’d visited with Kate, she seemed down to earth and friendly.
Her eyes got wide, and she smiled. “Yes and no.” She laughed. “I’ve talked to Gen and the ladies here. We’ve got the food taken care of, but I don’t have a clue about decorations.”
“Oh, I do! Stephanie Johnson, Zeke’s wife, is a decoration queen. She’s also Declan’s sister, and she had the first event at the community center. She saves all the decorations that are left or donated. Do you want me to talk to her about what she has? I can stop by your office and let you know what she has. I’d be happy to head up the decoration crew. I know Edna and the girls would help, right?” Kathy dipped to her right and looked directly at Edna.
The woman’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry, Kathy. I wasn’t listening. What are you talking about?”
“Decorating the community center for Kate and Tegan. I volunteered to help and said you and the girls would probably be up to join me. ”
Edna scooted out of the booth and made her way over. “Sure. Sure. We could do it on Friday, and, Kate, you could look at it after you get done seeing your patients. I think Steph has a wide assortment of decorations.”
“That’s what I said. I was going to go over there on Monday and ask her what she had. Do you want to come, too?”
“Well, Kate and I can after we have our Monday coffee and gossip meeting.” Edna smiled.
“It's the absolute best way to start the week.” Kate returned Edna’s smile. “I wouldn’t miss it. I don’t schedule anyone first thing on Monday. Kathy, why don’t you come for coffee with us and then talk to Stephanie at the same time?”
“Perfect. What time?” Kathy sipped her coffee and leaned into Barry when he put his arm around her shoulders. The support and warmth of his body felt so perfect. She smiled up at him and was gifted with a genuine smile in return. It was a rare thing, and she cherished it.
“We normally meet early. Is seven too early for you?” Kate asked.
Kathy tore her attention away from the man she loved. “No, not at all. I usually wake up at five so I can get a workout in before getting ready for school. I try to keep that schedule during the summer, so it isn’t such a shock when school starts again.”
“That’s perfect.” Kate released a big sigh and leaned against the booth. “Thank you so much for offering to help.”
Edna waved the thanks away. “Keeps us busy. Speaking of which, here come the ladies. We have a few things to juggle in our weekly schedule, so we better get after it. I’ll talk with you later.” She made her way back to her booth as Corrie brought Tegan and Kate’s food.
“I adore these rolls,” Kate said as Corrie put a caramel roll in front of her.
“I do, too, but I limit my intake to one a month.” Kathy laughed. “I do yoga and run a two-mile route every morning, but I’d have to run three times that distance to stay in my size if I ate any more.”
“Right?” Kate agreed. “If it weren’t for the menagerie at the ranch we care for, I’d have to stop visiting the café.”
“Menagerie?” Barry asked before he took a drink of his coffee.
Tegan turned a bit red. “I have a tendency to adopt animals,” he mumbled behind his coffee cup.
Kathy knew how shy Tegan was, so she looked at Kate. “Adopt?”
“Well, actually, he buys the animals no one else wants and gives them a home. They live their best life and, in turn, enrich our lives.” Kate leaned over and kissed Tegan’s cheek, which turned his cheeks the color of a cooked lobster.
The bells on the door tinkled, and Kathy looked over, meeting the very hostile stare of old Chester Hansen. She smiled at him and turned her attention back to the conversation at the table.
She heard Ken greet Chester and the old man mumbled something.
Ken stood up. “Chester, I’d appreciate it if you kept those types of comments to yourself.”
The old man straightened his spine. “It’s a free country. I can say what I want.”
Ken hitched his fingers in his gun belt. “Not when what you say is false.”
Chester pointed at their table. “Can’t prove that. Just like you won’t look hard enough to prove that bastard didn’t do the killing. You ain’t much of a sheriff.” Kathy felt Barry stiffen behind her.
“Chester!” Edna spoke sharply from her booth.
The old man turned on her. “What, you old clucking hen? All the crime in this here place is a direct result of that man coming to town. He’s the one who did all the damage, and he’s the one who killed that drifter.”
Kathy realized Barry was pushing her out of the booth, and she struggled to try to keep him seated. It didn’t work. She was on her feet, and Barry was standing behind her. She turned and put her hands on his chest. “No, Barry, he’s just a bitter old man with nothing better to do than make up stories.”
Tegan was out of the booth and stood in front of Barry. “She’s right. Let it go.”
Barry’s chest heaved, hard and heavy under her hands. “ I haven’t done anything wrong,” he snarled from a clenched jaw. His hands formed fists, and he leaned forward.
Tegan moved her out of the way and braced himself against Barry, saying “Listen to me. Everyone around here knows that. This guy is trying to provoke you.”
The old man snorted. “Now, look at that. He has you all snookered. Even polluting the local women with his poison. Kathy will never have a life now. She’s damaged goods.”
Barry lurched forward, but Tegan stopped him … somehow. She could feel the emotion coming off Barry, and it wasn’t the type she’d experienced the previous night. The rage contained in his body was palpable. Barry pointed at Chester. “You take that back, you son of a bitch. You can slander me, but don’t you ever speak a bad word about Kathy again. Do you hear me?” Barry strained against Tegan’s bracing hold.
Ken started moving Chester out of the diner. The old man ripped his arm out of Ken’s reach. “Or what? Are you going to kill me, too?”
A loud clap turned every head. Corrie had two sheet trays in her hands. “Chester Hansen, this diner holds the right to refuse to serve anyone. We refuse the right to serve you. You are not welcome here. Don’t come back.”
“You don’t own this place!” the man yelled at her. “I’ll call Senior; he’ll set all of you straight.” The man turned and marched out of the diner .
Ken turned toward them. “Jesus, I’m sorry, Barry. Chester has been getting worse and worse, but I never thought that old coot would do anything like this. The guy has been getting meaner and meaner.”
Kathy watched as Tegan cautiously lessened his hold on Barry. Edna spoke up. “Barry, everyone in this town knows what’s happening isn’t on you. Ken might not be revealing all the details, but we know it isn’t you. You’re welcome here. That old fool isn’t right in the head, and everyone knows it.”
Belinda Pratt, one of Edna’s friends, stood up. “Mr. Barry, I don’t speak much, but I’ve known Chester most of my life. He’s changed these last years. He’s become horribly mean and vicious. It just happens he’s zeroed in on you and Miss Kathy. Please don’t let him take anything away from your happiness. He doesn’t deserve the time of day you’ve already given him. And, Miss Kathy, we’re really happy for you and Mr. Barry. We think you two make a real cute couple.”
Edna crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. Ken walked over to where Tegan was still standing in front of Barry. Kathy put her hand on his arm, and he looked down at her. She stared at him and said clearly. “I know what he said was evil, but you’ve worked so hard. That man doesn’t know either of us. Don’t let him ruin our day or all the work you’ve done.”
“I’ll hit up the judge today and see what I can do to get a handle on the guy. He’s been mean for a while, but this is crossing the line. You can take him to civil court for slander. We have proof it wasn’t you, and everyone in this town knows that.”
Barry put his arm around her, and she wrapped her arm around his waist. He shook his head. “No. It wouldn’t do any good.” Barry sighed heavily and looked at Tegan. “Thank you.”
“I got your back, man. If he said anything like that about Kate, I’d have tried to deck him, too,” Tegan replied.
Barry looked at Ken. “He needs to keep his mouth shut when it comes to Kathy. I won’t stand for it.”
“Understood. As I said, I’m going to see what I can do legally, and then, as a citizen, I’m going to talk to him. What he did here today was unacceptable on every level.”
“It was,” Miss Belinda said from where she still stood, and Edna nodded. Doc Macy dropped a hand on Barry’s shoulder. “Man, getting sprayed by a wild skunk is one thing. Getting blasted by a fellow human when we all know he’s wrong, well, that guy stinks more than the skunk.”
Kathy shook her head. “At least there’s a way to get the skunk smell out of your nose.”
Barry glanced down at her. “Are you ready to go?”
“I am.” She nodded, and Barry turned to his mom. “Thank you for getting him out of here, but you didn’t need to do that for my sake.”
Corrie lifted her shoulders and deflated a little. “I wish I could say it was just for you, but I did it for my sake, too. As everyone’s been saying, he’s gotten mean to the point of being scary. I don’t want to deal with him anymore, and Gen has already told Ciera and me that if he gets ugly, show him the door and tell him not to come back.”
Barry opened his other arm, and Corrie walked over for a hug. “If he comes in here again, let me know.” He held his mom at the same time as he held her, and Kathy had never felt so proud.
“No, you’ll call me or the deputy on call.” Ken shook his head and planted his hands on his hips above his utility belt and duty weapon. “Something has got to be done about him.”
“You could call his son,” Belinda said. “He’s in the service, or that’s where he was going when he left here. His daughter is married and has a passel of kids on the eastern side of the state. I have her number.”
“If you could get that for me, I’d appreciate it, Miss Belinda.” Ken took another deep breath. “I may have Sam make that call. My wife has a better way with words than I do.”
“To the son?” Belinda asked.
“No, to the daughter. She can call her brother, and if he needs more information, he can call me.” Ken picked up his cowboy hat. “I’m going to go over to Sanderson’s store and have a talk with Chester and Delbert, then I’ll call that judge. Miss Belinda, just text me the number when you can.”
Belinda nodded and made her way back to the corner booth. Edna walked up to them. “He was wrong—dead wrong, and we all know it. Sure, when stuff started happening, we looked to the stranger. But you’re not a stranger anymore. You’re part of this community, and we need young, hardworking men like you in this country.” She patted him on the arm that was holding Corrie.
Corrie sniffed a bit and stepped away from Barry. “I have work to do.” She spun. “Who needs fresh coffee?”
There was a smattering of answers, and Kathy turned to look up at Barry. “Are you ready to go to the ranch?”
“Beyond ready.” He stopped and reached for his wallet.
“I got that, Barry,” Doc Macy said. “Edna was right. The town is behind you.”
Barry blinked, and confusion ran across his face. Kathy poked him in the stomach. “Say thank you.”
Barry startled but managed to say, “Ah, thanks, Doc. You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, he does,” Tegan said as he and Kate got back into the booth.
“Why?” Kate asked.
“I don’t know. I just figured it was his time to crack open that vault. He’s rich, you know, being a veterinarian and all that,” Tegan said.
Kate elbowed him in the stomach. “Stop telling our vet secrets.” The lighthearted back and forth caused laughter throughout the diner. Kathy chuckled, too, as Barry nodded at Doc Macy again, and they headed out.