Chapter 12
T oday had been busier than most days Seth spent with his father.
Before heading into town to let Chester whittle with Delbert at the general store, Seth had driven out to the stockyards on the south edge of Hollister.
The buildings there were a patchwork of corrugated metal and weathered wood but well constructed and solid.
The air was thick with the scent of hay, manure, and diesel from passing livestock trailers.
Dr. Kate Wells ran her veterinary practice in a converted barn at the far end of the lot.
Seth hadn’t expected to know the vet, but when he stepped into the office, he froze in the doorway.
Kate Johnson, now Wells, he assumed, looked up from her desk and blinked in astonishment. “Oh my God. Seth?”
He laughed, just as shocked. “What in the hell are you doing in Hollister?”
She pushed up from behind her desk and rounded it without hesitation, wrapping him in a hug. “I could ask you the same thing. I thought you were stationed in Germany. Last I heard, you were at Ramstein.”
“I was. Didn’t know you were from South Dakota.”
“I said Colorado, right?” She laughed, pulling away.
“You did.”
“Well, my dad’s from here. Hollister born and raised. You remember Lawrence Johnson?”
“I do. He was in my class.” Seth blinked. “Wait. You’re Lawrence’s sister?”
Kate nodded, grinning. “Sure am.”
“Of all the things in the world,” Seth said, shaking his head. “Small world. Blessing said to say hello.”
“Oh, you’ve met her. She’s …”
“Unusual,” Seth supplied.
“She has the sight,” Kate said. It was a challenge for him to doubt it. He didn’t.
He nodded. “Probably. ”
Chester, seated off to the side with Gomer at his feet, raised a brow. “Thought we were here to get the dog checked, not flirt with the vet.”
Seth rolled his eyes. “Kate, do you know my father, Chester Hansen?”
Kate extended her hand with a warm smile. “Mr. Hansen, we haven’t officially met, but I’m Tegan Wells’ wife.”
Chester stood, took her hand, and gave it a brief shake. “Here to get the dog’s paw looked after. My fault he got it cut.”
“Oh, is that so?” Kate bent down and offered Gomer her hand. “Hello there. You look familiar.” She looked up at Seth. “Is this Gomer?”
“Sure is. A little gray around the muzzle, and he’s stiff with arthritis.
I have a sixty-day supply of meds, but I need to make sure we’re on the best routine.
Here’s the list of what he’s on.” He pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket.
“When they retired him, I made a trip back east to get him. I have a soft spot for this dog.”
Gomer offered his paw instinctively when Kate extended her hand, taking the medication sheet with the other before she chuckled and ruffled the scruff behind his ears.
“Well, I have a soft spot for him, too. ”
Seth crouched beside her. “He cut his paw in the pasture almost two weeks ago, now. It was healing just fine, then I noticed some swelling. It’s hot to the touch, and the salve I’ve been using isn’t helping.”
He pulled a small jar from his pocket and handed it to Kate. She studied the label, then stood. “That’s a good general solution, but we may need to need to go with a full antibiotic. Let’s get him up on the table and take a closer look.”
It took only a few minutes to examine Gomer’s paw. Kate cleaned the wound, applied a more potent antibiotic ointment, and wrapped the paw securely.
“I’ll send the prescription refill over to the pharmacy in Belle,” she said as she finished the wrap.
“I have a couple of days’ worth I can give you until you can get to Belle.
You’ll want to watch for swelling, but this should take care of it.
As far as the arthritis meds, they’re what I would prescribe.
Keep him active, but no running or jumping.
Anything hard on his joints will make him hurt more.
I’d like to take x-rays sometime soon to get a baseline.
Maybe you could stop in one day next week. ”
“Thanks. We’ll do that.”
Kate smiled. “It was great seeing you, Seth. We’ll have to get you out to the house for dinner sometime. You do remember Tegan, right? ”
“I vaguely remember him. I was a lot older than you guys.”
She rolled her eyes. “Older by what, five years?”
Seth laughed. “Yeah, but when you’re a senior, the freshmen seem a world away.” He scratched Gomer behind the ears and stood. “Thanks again, Kate.”
“Anytime.” She looked at him, a little more seriously this time. “Seth, do you have a minute?”
“Sure. Dad, can you take Gomer to the truck? Time to go see Delbert.”
Chester nodded and stood slowly, taking Gomer’s leash. Seth watched them, the image of loyalty and quiet dignity framed by the open stockyard door and the endless sky beyond.
Chester grumbled as he shuffled down the hallway, Gomer glued to his side like they’d been partners for life. “I’m not disabled,” Chester muttered. “Delbert’s dumber than a box of rocks.”
Kate chuckled as she opened the door for them. Seth followed, grinning at his father’s theatrics.
“But he’s your best friend,” she pointed out with a teasing smile.
Chester sighed dramatically. “Says a hell of a lot about me, doesn’t it?”
Seth laughed. “Yeah, Dad, it does. It says you’re one hell of a guy. ”
Chester snorted and kept walking, the dog matching his step. It was as if the dog had always belonged to the man.
Seth waited until they were out of earshot, then moved to a nearby window. He watched until his father opened the correct truck door, helped Gomer inside, and settled in to wait. The sight calmed him just a little.
“I have to stay where I can see him,” he said, still looking out the window. “He’s got Alzheimer’s. Sometimes he gets confused.”
Kate sighed softly beside him. “I’m sorry to hear that. I know it’s gotta be hard on you.”
Seth shrugged. “It’s harder on him. What did you need?”
“Do you still have your security clearance?”
“Yeah, I should for at least another six months. They just renewed it before I got out.”
“What level?”
“Top secret. Why?”
Kate gave a small nod. “Well, I know there’s a position for a kennel master here in Hollister.”
Seth’s brow furrowed. “Excuse me? What are you talking about?”
“Have you heard anything about the Marshall Ranch? ”
He offered a cautious nod. “Enough to not ask what you’re talking about and not admit knowing about it.”
“Right,” she said, smiling. “Anyway, Mr. Marshall is looking to start a kennel. Some of the work happening at the ranch and elsewhere could really benefit from dogs trained in tracking and explosive detection.”
“That right?”
Kate nodded. “I’ll make a call tonight, but don’t be surprised if Mr. Marshall reaches out.”
“I’m not sure I can take anything on right now.” He nodded back toward the truck. “I’m my dad’s full-time caregiver. It’s only going to get more time-consuming.”
Kate rested a hand on his back. “I understand. But this town … It’s one hell of a community. You don’t have to do it alone. If you need help, just ask.”
Seth smiled and shook her hand again. “Kate, it was good seeing you. I honestly had no idea you were from Hollister.”
“Only during the summers.” She laughed. “I lived with my mom in Colorado growing up.”
Seth nodded. “And I worked out at the ranch every summer. Rarely came into town. That’s probably why we never crossed paths. ”
“Well, we’ll fix that now. I’ll talk to Tegan and give you a call. Your number’s in Gomer’s file. I’ll shoot you a text if I hear anything from Mr. Marshall.”
“Sounds good. But as I said, I’m not sure I can commit to anything.”
“Just listen to what he has to say. That’s all. It won’t hurt.”
“That’s true.” Seth turned back to the window. “I’ve gotta go. Chester’s getting out of the truck.”
“Take care, Seth.”
It took a little coaxing, but Seth managed to get his father back into the truck.
He reminded him that they were headed to sit with Delbert at the general store.
That whittling bench had become Chester’s sanctuary.
As soon as he had a piece of wood in his hand and Delbert beside him, it was as if the fog in his mind lifted just a little.
With his father settled and Gomer lying in the shade under the bench, Seth made his way across Main Street to Allison’s bakery.
He was looking forward to a few quiet minutes, and maybe a few smiles, with the woman who’d slowly begun to occupy his thoughts during the quiet late at night.
Hell, who was he fooling? He wanted to kiss the woman until neither of them could breathe.
She made his blood run so hot that cold showers were no longer helping.
Yeah, they hadn’t made the next move, but God help him, he wanted to, and the way she reacted to him, he could tell she wanted him, too.
He smiled to himself. He’d figure out a way to have some quality alone time with her.
Somehow, some way, he wanted more than the fantastic conversations, stolen looks, flirtatious innuendos, and cold showers.
He hadn’t made it to the front door before an older man stepped into his path.
“Seth Hansen?”
Seth blinked, his mind jerked back from his less than moral thoughts. “Yes, sir.”
The man extended a hand. “Frank Marshall. Wondering if I could bend your ear for a minute.”
Seth shook his hand. “Of course.”
Frank nodded toward the truck. “Sometime when you’re not busy. Maybe Monday? One o’clock? Over at the diner? We can get a table away from everyone and talk.”
“I’d like that, sir. I just spoke with Kate Johnson, excuse me, Wells, and she mentioned the situation.”
“Then I’d like to give you the facts and get your thoughts.”
Seth nodded. “Yes, sir. I can do that. I’ll see you at one on Monday, but only if my dad is doing okay that day. He controls my schedule.”