Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Jewel told them goodbye and drove back to the clinic, exhausted but grateful. She was grateful that her dad trusted her to do a good job on these calls, that she had the knowledge and ability to help, even if she was slower getting around than she'd been a few years before.
She wasn't useless. She could still do her job and save these animals, bringing a smile to their owners faces and lightening their burdens. After running the tests and trying to work on some computer work, she climbed back into the truck with a groan. Another stop at the Petersons, then she turned toward the Williams' just as the sun was dipping below the horizon.
The Williams' ranch appeared like a warm beacon against the golden late afternoon light. Jewel's truck rolled to a stop, gravel crunching underneath her tires.
"Hey, everyone," she called, stepping inside the house.
Lola was already spread out at the kitchen table, her meticulously organized Halloween planning checklist looking like a military operations map. Maryanne and Holly lounged on the couch, their rare kid-free moment filled with relaxed laughter.
"Want some tea?" Taylor asked, stirring something fragrant on the stove.
Ava was seated at the table, her hip surgery recovery evident in her careful movements. "We're finalizing the barn decoration details," she said. "Pull up a chair."
There was no censure in her voice, and Jewel breathed a sigh of relief. She'd expected a snide comment but hopefully Ava had gotten it all out of her system on Sunday.
"I'm not sure how much I can contribute," Jewel admitted as she sat down next to her. "My strength is pretty low this week."
"Why are you so worn out?" Ava asked.
Not thinking, Jewel accepted the cold sweet tea from Taylor with a smile. "Thanks. This Lyme is kicking my butt with all the pressure changes and colder weather. My joints are already aching, and it's not even winter yet."
Ava frowned and opened her mouth. Jewel froze, realizing what she'd just casually shared. She'd kept it secret from so many people for so long, but somewhere along the way, she'd started to accept these people as her family. The past few months had changed her.
Holly looked up, her yoga instructor persona emerging. "When are you going to come to yoga? We'll help you build flexibility and core strength."
"I don't know," Jewel hesitated. "I keep meaning to, but I have a lot of work on my plate right now."
Holly said firmly, "Your body needs consistent movement. No wonder your strength and joints need some work. What supplements are you using? Essential oils?"
Maryanne laughed and joined them at the table. "Forget that, have you tried edibles or CBD?"
Jewel laughed and shook her head. "I'm working with a specialist who—yes—is into holistic methods. I see him once a month in Dallas. He's actually the reason I wanted to move back home. I'll be alright, guys. I'm already better than I was this time last year."
Ava sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she grumbled, "Well, if that's what it took to get you here, then I'm not going to complain. And you shouldn't either. Complaining begets more complaining, and no one needs that energy around here."
Jewel rolled her eyes, but Holly laughed and came to the table.
Maryanne crossed her arms and looked around the room as if searching for something. "Wait, this isn't Ava. Where's the real Ava? What have you done with her?"
Ava snorted. "Ha ha, very funny. Can we get back to the planning? I'm not able to be as involved this year, and it's making me a little antsy."
Lola snorted under her breath. "Ya think?" Then she cleared her throat and pointed to her list, diving into the details and talking through what each person was going to do. The Halloween planning swirled around her, a welcome distraction from her own challenges, and she lost herself in the fun of it.
She'd not had a really powerful group of women in her life in so long. Her field was dominated by men—both bosses and clients. She was more comfortable around men, but these women had welcomed her with open arms and not a single snide comment among them for the choices she'd made in her past.
Slowly she relaxed, getting to know them better. When Taylor declared dinner ready, she went onto the front porch and rang a bell before coming back inside.
Not long after, the kitchen door swung open, and Bill, Hunter, and Chase walked in, dusty from a day on the ranch. Their boots left a trail of dried mud across the wood floor, and the scent of leather and outdoors filled the room.
Chase immediately gravitated toward Jewel, his movements deliberate and tender. He dipped his head and kissed her cheek, her palm going to cup his cheek as he sank to his haunches by her chair.
He smiled up at her, his hand resting softly on her knee. "Hey, Jewel, fancy seeing you here. Are you helping plan the party?"
She nodded, unable to talk at how naturally he greeted her, treated her.
"Good, that's good. I took the CFA test yesterday and signed the papers on the house today. Gotta wait on the results, but in the meantime, I'm going to move into the house. I can't wait."
His eyes shifted around the table and back to her. "Your glass is empty. Did you drink tea? Do you want water instead?"
She nodded, her throat closed still, and he hopped up and stepped into the kitchen. She watched him, thinking, feeling as the conversation flowed around her. He grabbed a glass from the cabinet, filled it with water, and set it beside her hand. Lola stacked up her papers, and Taylor served dinner on the center of the table.
Chase passed out the plates and napkins, and when he sat beside her, she was already reaching for the bowl of rolls. Chase quietly unfolded her napkin, placing it carefully on her lap, sliding his palm along her thigh.
She sucked in a breath at the contact. Each small gesture felt like a caress, gentle and protective. Jewel's heart fluttered and flipped.
Was this what her dad had meant about needing someone to truly see her? About having a partner who anticipated her needs and waited on her hand and foot? She wasn't some fragile damsel in distress who needed rescuing by the prince. She was strong, independent, and could do her own rescuing. But these quiet attentions from Chase made her feel… cherished.
Her breath caught.
Loved ?
Oh no. This wasn't love, was it?
The thought terrified her, sending a tremor through her body that had nothing to do with her physical weakness and everything to do with the sudden vulnerability pooling in her chest.
"So, about the Halloween party," Lola interrupted, tapping the meticulously organized checklist beside her plate. "We need volunteers for setup."
Jewel seized the distraction like a lifeline, her mind grateful to escape the dangerous terrain of her emotions. "I can help with setup," she offered, her voice deliberately bright. "What time should I show up?"
The conversation flowed around her, a welcome current pulling her away from the undertow of her growing feelings. She listened, contributed, laughed—anything to keep from examining the way Chase's knee occasionally brushed against hers under the table.
By the time dinner concluded, the Halloween plans were taking shape, but the energy of planning had drained what little strength Jewel had left. Her head throbbed, muscles aching with a deep, persistent exhaustion.
She couldn't help the small groan that escaped as she pushed back from the table and said her goodbyes.
Chase was instantly attentive. "Let me walk you out," he said, not asking, simply doing.
Outside, the cool evening air felt like a balm against her overheated skin and heightened emotions. Chase's voice was soft, considerate. "I'm having furniture delivered tomorrow."
"All my stuff's still in a storage container," Jewel admitted, wondering how vulnerable that made her sound.
His response was immediate and practical. "Let me know when it'll be delivered to the house, and I'll unload everything. Once we get everything unloaded, we'll know what else we need to buy."
She winced, hoping this didn't drain both their budgets, but she didn't want to bring it up now. She was simply too exhausted. She unlocked the truck as she approached, but Chase's hand on her forearm made her pause before she opened the door.
Chase turned her gently, his hands warm and steady on her arms. "Are you okay? You seemed a bit… distant at dinner."
Jewel swallowed hard. She wasn't ready to unpack the swirling emotions that had been brewing since he'd helped her with her napkin, since he'd kissed her cheek, since he'd been so attentive. She was so tired of pretending she was fine by herself, of hiding her physical struggles and loneliness.
"I'm just… exhausted," she admitted.
His thumb traced a gentle circle on her arm. "When was the last time you rested?"
She laughed, a brittle sound. "Rest? I'm a veterinarian. We don't rest."
"You need to," he said simply. Chase's hand moved from her arm to cup her cheek, his thumb tracing a soft line along her jawbone. The last time she'd slept solidly had been… at the cabin with him Sunday night. She'd tossed and turned for days, plus the overnight shift hadn't helped.
He kissed her forehead and tears pricked her eyes. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him closer, her lips finding his in the ever-darkening night.
The kiss was soft, tender and unlike their previous passionate encounters. Chase's hands remained gentle, cupping her face as if she were made of glass. When they parted, he studied her face, his eyes searching.
"You're pushing too hard," he murmured. "Pushing me away, trying to distract me. Pushing yourself."
She started to protest, but a wave of dizziness made her sway. Chase's muscular arms caught her immediately, supporting her weight.
"Easy," he whispered. "Let me help you."
Jewel wanted to argue, to prove she was strong and independent. But her body betrayed her, muscles trembling with exhaustion. Chase opened her truck door and helped her inside, his movements careful and precise.
"I'm taking you home," he said. It wasn't a question.
Her protest died on her lips as he buckled her seatbelt, then walked around to the driver's side. The familiarity of his care made her ache as she yawned. He started the truck and backed up, her body aching with a bone-deep weariness.
As he drove home, her body ached with a bone-deep weariness. But beneath the fatigue, something else stirred in her heart, something she was afraid to identify as love.
"You still don't have your license, do you?"
His knuckles gripped the steering wheel, but she couldn't see his face in the dark. "Nope," he said softly. "But there's no reason anyone should pull over your truck to find out."
Too tired to argue, she blinked. Then they were parking in the driveway at her dad's. She yawned. "What? That was fast."
He chuckled beside her. "I actually went under the speed limit. You passed out."
She shook her head as he opened the door and got out. She reached for her handle, and he opened the door, gathering her into his arms. He was so strong, and her arms went around his shoulders as he stopped on the front porch.
"Put me down. Dad will worry if you carry me inside."
Chase frowned in the soft light from the windows but did as she asked. "You're going to be alright now? You'll sleep in, take care of yourself? When's your next day off?"
She sighed, gently taking her keys from his hand. "Halloween, where I'm going to help decorate. But I'll talk to Dad and Gemma about coming in late tomorrow."
"Promise?" he asked, growling with his protective streak flaring. It was cute, and she reached up to pat his cheek.
"Promise, but how are you getting home?"
He jerked his head down the street. "Parker lives a short walk from here. I'll crash at his place tonight."
Chase leaned in and kissed her gently, his lips soft against hers, yet so full of promises, it made her ache.
His thumb traced her cheek as he stepped back. "Sleep well, my Jewel."
She watched him walk away, her body heavy with exhaustion but her heart unexpectedly light. When she opened the door, Henry was sitting in his armchair, reading a veterinary journal.
"You look like hell," he said without looking up.
Jewel chuckled and dropped her bag. "Thanks, Dad. Always so supportive."
He set down the journal and studied her. "Chase bring you home?"
"Mm-hmm." She shuffled toward her bedroom. "I'm going to sleep for twelve hours."
"Good," Henry said. "You're no good to anyone if you don't take care of yourself."
"Can you take over for the Petersons? The calves will need another dose of antibiotics in the morning. It's all in their file."
Her dad finally looked up at her, making her pause. "I'll take care of it if you take care of yourself."
She leaned down and kissed his balding head. "Thanks, Dad."
Her body felt like lead, each step a monumental effort as she went down the hall and closed the door to her room.
Her phone buzzed as she collapsed onto her bed. A text from Chase.
Settled?
She typed back. Yep. Goodnight.
Goodnight, my Jewel.
Her last thought before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep was how she might actually be his jewel, a precious piece of his life that was worthy of protecting and…loving.