Chapter 17 #2
“And there’s a program right here in Three Rivers you can do mostly online,” Elaine said.
“You have to go to Amarillo once a month, for a week of in-person classes, and at the end you’ll do an internship.
They partner with several farms and ranches locally, too, and then you just have to pass a test.”
Hailey turned the page, where Elaine had outlined the difference between a veterinary technician and a veterinary technologist. “Now, if you wanted to go longer,” Elaine added.
“Or if you find you really love it, you could continue on and do Veterinary Technology. That’s a full Bachelor’s degree, and you usually get supervisory roles, or do lab work, or work in research.
And of course there are specializations—surgery, anesthesia, emergency and critical care—but only if you want to pursue one. ”
Elaine told herself to stop talking; everything she’d said was outlined in bullet points on the first sheet, with supplementary documentation after that. Hailey seemed to be reading every word, so Elaine lifted her coffee cup to her lips to give her friend time to absorb it.
They’d discussed a lot of service professions over the past few weeks, but when “veterinary technician” came up in Elaine’s search, the idea had felt like the exact right fit.
Hailey looked up, her blue eyes still wide and filled with wonder.
“It’s a service profession,” Elaine said. “It’s just serving animals and not people.”
“I like animals more than people anyway,” Hailey said.
Elaine giggled. Hailey relaxed and seemed to come back to herself. She looked at the paperwork again, flipping to the first page. “I gotta say, Elaine, this seems like something I’d enjoy.”
“Doesn’t it?” Elaine asked. “I mean, it feels good, right?”
“Yeah.” Hailey glanced up. “And only two years? Are you sure that’s right?”
“Yeah. It’s a two-year associate’s degree,” Elaine said. “And like I said, you can stay right here in Three Rivers. Amarillo State has a distance-education program—as long as you can get there for a week every month.”
“Well, I can move to Amarillo, too,” Hailey said.
“Yeah, you can.”
“I’d love to get off the ranch,” she murmured.
“One of their partner branches is Three Rivers,” Elaine said.
“Really?”
“Yep. They just got a new veterinarian out there, but Conrad knows everyone in town, and I’ve got an in with Libby, so I’m sure we can get you placed there when you’re ready for your internship.
But I can’t make that a promise. Remember, there are no guarantees.
Only connections we pray will come through for us. ”
“I know,” Hailey said.
“I’m sure you’ll look through this more,” Elaine said. “But I included a packet for scholarship programs. I looked up several you qualify for based on age, gender, and previous education.”
“No one’s going to give me any money,” Hailey said.
“Your parents’ income is not your income,” Elaine reminded her. “And if you feel like this is the right fit, then The Walker Foundation for Women has funds to cover tuition.”
Hailey’s gaze snapped back to Elaine. “I am not going to let you pay for my degree.”
“I won’t be paying for your degree,” Elaine said smoothly. “The Walker Foundation is the business. I am Elaine Walker, a mere woman.”
“You’re a superhero,” Hailey said with a laugh. She looked down again. “A veterinary technician. Yes, I think this is a good fit for me.”
“I think so too,” Elaine said. “You can specialize in large animals, small-animal pets, ranch animals, farm animals—even zoo animals.”
Hailey giggled. “Zoo animals?”
“Oh, yeah. I watched a video about a guy doing his internship with camels and elephants.”
“Wow.”
“Now, he was a DVM student,” Elaine said. “But they need technicians, too. It’s a wide-open job field, especially here in the Panhandle. If you want to stay close to your parents, friends, and siblings, there are lots of opportunities.”
“Let me guess…You know who owns both veterinary clinics in town.”
“Yes, I do.” Elaine leaned back in her chair and folded her arms. “And I’m not ashamed of it.”
Hailey laughed, then closed the folder. “Thank you, Elaine. I’m going to look at this more and see what I need to do to apply.”
“Their online programs start in either the summer or the fall,” Elaine said.
“That gives you plenty of time to find an apartment and move to Amarillo if you’d like—which I can help with.
I know the student housing options, and a little bit about the assistance programs. You probably won’t qualify since you’re single without kids, but I can still talk to Belinda in Amarillo. ”
Hailey nodded, and her eyes looked brighter when she glanced up again. “Thank you so much for this, really,” she said. “I’ve been so lost.”
“Oh, I know you have, sweetie. But you’re not the only one. We’re all wandering a little bit.”
Hailey sniffled and nodded. “You’re right. You just seem so good at what you’re doing—like you’ve been doing it forever.”
“Finally, my obsession with the internet is paying off,” Elaine said, smiling. “And making a phone call doesn’t scare me, which puts me ahead of about ninety percent of people.”
She really felt like she was making a difference, and Elaine needed that so badly. “It helps that I’m asking for people I genuinely care about, and not myself. That helps me fight for women like you.”
“I really, really appreciate it,” Hailey said. “I’m going to look at all this and see what it takes to apply.”
“I put some of the financial packets and options in the back,” Elaine said. “For the foundation’s funding, outside scholarships, and Amarillo State, too. You might talk to your momma and daddy and see what they say. They might be happy to help.”
“Yes, I’m sure they would,” Hailey said. “Though, my daddy loves having me home.” She smiled with a wry twist. “It’ll kill him for me to be an hour away, because from Shiloh Ridge, it’s really two hours.”
“I heard y’all had a back road to get you to Amarillo faster,” Elaine said.
“Oh, if that’s common knowledge, my uncles are not going to be happy.
” Hailey laughed again, and it did Elaine’s heart good to hear it.
Only six weeks ago, she’d come in downtrodden and miserable, and Elaine loved watching women change their lives.
She loved the tiny role she could play to help them do it.
Hailey stood. “All right, I’ve got to get over to the store. I’m on stationery today.”
Elaine’s whole soul lit up. “If you see any new notebooks, pull one out for me.”
“You got it.”
Elaine rounded the desk and hugged Hailey. “Let’s do lunch again soon. I had so much fun last time.”
“Me too,” Hailey said. “Is it okay if I invite Nellie?”
“Absolutely. She’s awesome, and she always makes me laugh.”
“She has a certain zest for life, doesn’t she?” Hailey collected her purse and tucked the pink folder under her arm. “Thanks again, Elaine. I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Yeah. Text me when you apply, because I can email the academic advisor at Amarillo State and let her know.”
“Okay.” Hailey waved and walked out, taking some of the good energy with her.
Elaine sighed, but her heart refused to be anything but happy. Her phone pinged over on the desk—the tone she’d assigned to her brothers. All three shared the sound, so she knew it was one of them, but she didn’t know who until she looked.
Right now, it was Easton. Marta wants to go on a road trip to San Antonio. Do you think that’s weird and too soon, or is this normal?
Elaine was used to answering dating questions for her brothers—she’d been doing it for over a decade—but she paused to consider his question. Are you going alone? You and her?
Yeah, he said. Unless you and Austin want to come.
Oh, honey, you can’t invite me and Austin without talking to Marta first.
It’s for a Beanie and Bros concert.
Elaine scoffed. She’d never willingly attend that concert, though it was Easton’s favorite band—and apparently Marta’s too.
I mean, I’m sure we can go if you need a chaperone, she said. But I don’t think it’s weird for couples—serious couples, East—to take a road trip together. You might learn a lot about her—like if you can stand being in the car with her for more than a couple of hours. She grinned and sent the text.
Okay, he said back.
And that was classic Easton. She’d send paragraphs, and he’d respond with, okay. Conrad and Austin did it too, and Elaine once again reminded herself that men and women were not the same, and that his okay was his validation of the things she’d told him.
For a brief moment, she considered getting back on Two Cents and navigating to the dating arm of the recommendation app. Then she flipped over her phone.
“Nope,” she told herself aloud. “You need to figure out a job opportunity for Naomi, and you only have a few days to do it.”
With that, she turned back to her computer, determined to stay boyfriend-free for a little while longer.