Chapter Three Ashley #2
You know your clients and all their animals, but more than anything, it’s the kindness and appreciation you get from them for just doing your job.
Besides, life is interesting with the variety of animals I work with.
I don’t think I could take being stuck in a big-city vet clinic where all you see are spoiled dogs, cats, birds, and the occasional reptile.
To be honest, I’m thankful I’ve never had to deal with a snake on my own, only when I was in college, and even then there were other vets there to help or at least watch out.
Snakes are not really a small-town type of pet because there are enough of them in the wild, which I do my best to avoid.
Give me a large smelly pig over dealing with a venomous snake any day.
I turn my attention back to Mr. James. “Good to hear. I’m guessing that bale of sweet-smelling hay on the back of your truck is a little treat for her.”
Mr. James lifts up a small clear bag off his seat and gives me a big grin. “That, and a few juicy apples that Mabel at the grocery store kept aside for me before they got thrown out.”
Both of us are laughing now.
“Well, she’s one spoiled horse today. You have a good day and give her a nose rub for me. I’ll stop by later in the week and check in.”
He gives my hand another pat before I pull back off the truck. I give him a wave and head inside to grab my morning cup of tea from Tiff.
“Well, don’t you have a little pep in your step this morning.
Want to share what has you smiling like that?
” Tiff looks up from the coffee machine where she’s busy making a couple of cups for the customers standing waiting to the side.
They must be travelers passing through. We might not be a huge tourist destination, but we do have campgrounds about forty minutes out of town at the base of some small mountains, usually attracting hiking enthusiasts.
It’s like a pit stop on their way to the bigger mountains or on their way back, a nice spot to enjoy that mountain air before heading home.
Shaking my head at her, I take my spot on my favorite stool and pick up the local paper that is sitting folded in half on the counter.
So much of our life has become electronic, but Abbey Falls still manages to keep a local newspaper in production once a week.
It’s mainly just human interest, local town gossip, with a crossword, the kids’ joke section and coloring competition, as well as a recipe of the week, and of course what the town council has been up to.
Occasionally, a proper newsworthy article is published and that becomes the talk of the town for weeks.
My aim is to never make it into the newspaper.
The bell over the door clangs as the couple leaves, and as soon as it’s just the two of us, Tiff starts talking fast.
“Before anyone else comes in, I have the tea.” She’s almost running around the counter to get closer to me.
“Yes, lots of tea,” I reply, waving my hand at the copious jars with tea leaf blends in them.
“No, not that tea, the gossip tea. Keep up, woman.” She gives me a playful smack on the arm.
“So, your hottie new neighbor from the bar, his name is Jake Davis, a builder, and he’s thirty-nine years old.
And most importantly he’s single and living with Betty for the next year to help her out.
He’s one of her grandsons, which you already worked out on that first day. ”
I roll my eyes at her. “Christ, how did you find all that out? No, wait, actually don’t tell me. I don’t want to know if you saw it in the tea leaves or by looking at the moon.”
“You can mock me all you like, but one day you will be sitting here thanking me and apologizing that I was right. I told you he was coming and, hey presto, in walks the new guy in town, who conveniently lives next door to you, and has a dimple. Coincidence? I think not.” She taps my nose with her finger and heads back around the counter to start brewing my tea.
“Even if I did believe in your woo-woo powers, there’s no way it’s this guy.
He’s an asshole. You saw the way he acted in Grizzly’s on Friday night.
You can strike him out. I doubt I could even spend more than five minutes in a room with him.
” Folding the newspaper back in half, I cross my arms across my chest and place them on the top of the counter.
Tiffany smiles and says, “Mhmm, you might think that now, but just you wait. What I saw on Friday night was like fireworks exploding. It was magical.” She looks like she’s about to break into a full-on happy dance.
With her hippy-looking long flowery dress flowing around her ankles, her long wavy brown hair, and, of course, a flower tucked behind her ear.
This woman is so carefree and happy in her life that she loves to spend time trying to find that same happiness for me.
“Oh, there was an explosion of annoyance. That was all you saw.” I wrap my hands around my teacup that she’s just placed down in front of me.
“That’s not what his cheeky smile told me as he walked out the door.” She laughs as she grabs the tongs and a paper bag. “Now, what treat are you taking with you today?”
“No, I don’t need one today. I ate breakfast,” I say, trying to bluff my way through, because the more I keep eating her treats, the bigger my hips are going to get.
“Excuse me, an apple in the car on the way here does not count as a full breakfast. You either pick something or I will just put one of each in the bag for you and Adi to share at the clinic.” Her hand is on her hip, and she’s looking at me like my mother would when I was about to get a lecture.
“It was a banana, actually.” The words come out before I have time to stop them, and the look on her face tells me there is no point choosing anymore. I’m getting one of everything, and if I complain, she will turn up at the clinic and force-feed me later.
“Seriously.”
Her huff makes me laugh.
“You love me, just admit it.” I’m trying to make light of the situation.
“Most days, but today it’s still up for consideration.
” She pushes four paper bags at me at the same time the bell over the door signals more customers, and I just smile at her as I lift my cup to take another sip of tea.
I can’t even work out what is in today’s brew, but it’s strong and punchy, and I can feel it perking up my energy and getting me ready for the day.
I finish my tea as quick as I can because I have a lot to do today, and Tiff has been busy the whole time, so as I stand, grabbing my paper bags of treats, I just lean over the counter and say quietly, “The reason I was smiling this morning was because I replied to a job applicant and asked for more information. Bye.” I watch her eyes widen with excitement.
And then as I reach the front door, she calls out to me, “Okay, it’s been decided—I do love you today.”
I smile as I close the door behind me, knowing it will kill her that she can’t ask more questions with a shop full of customers.
Walking to my car, I’m trying to juggle all the bags of treats and my takeout iced tea for later when one bag starts to slip and before I can do anything about it, it’s on its way to the ground. Leaning down to try to grab it, I hear a deep voice at the same time.
“I’ve got it” are his words as our heads hit and I fall backward onto my ass on the sidewalk. The rest of the bags land in my lap and luckily my hand’s still clutching tight to my tea that has barely spilled.
“Lucky save,” Mr. Annoying says as I just glare at him from the ground.
“Good to know that you were more worried about the food than me. Checks out!” I exclaim grumpily and try to get myself back up, which is proving more difficult than it should since both my hands are full of bags and my takeaway cup.
“Let me help you.” He’s showing restraint from cracking up at me in my mess.
“No. I’m fine. I can manage,” I snap back as his hands are wrapping around my biceps and pulling me up before I even have time to attempt to juggle with what is in my hands.
“Mhmm, it looks like it. Sorry about that.”
Looking at the smirk on his face just enrages me.
“You should be. Watch where you’re walking next time.
” I snatch the bag that he caught out of his hand and don’t look back as I walk past him to my car.
Opening the door and loading everything, I then climb in and start it up.
Pulling out of the parking spot, all I can see is him standing there, arms crossed and the most gorgeous smile plastered across his face.
“Don’t smile at me, asshole, it’s not going to make me like you, no matter how hot you are. Ughh,” I mumble to myself as I drive toward the clinic, trying to forget about Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome, because I do not need any other complications in my life. And I’m not letting him ruin my day.
“Morning, Rosie girl, how are you on this fine Wednesday?” I ask, opening her cage to let her out. We keep cages in the back of the clinic for any of the animals who are with us for a few days. It keeps them safe and my clinic clean.
Her tail is wagging, and she rubs her head against my thigh as I give her a big good-morning pat.
“Let’s give you a check over before things get crazy in here today. Because I think you’re nearly ready to leave soon.” Which earns me a happy bark from her.
Rosie passes her checkup with flying colors, and after a quick run around the little yard we have outside, she comes back in and settles herself in her soft bed and looks up at me, watching as I set up for the day. Now all I have to do is find her a new home. The right home.
The rest of the morning goes smoothly, and just as I sit down at my desk to eat a little bit of lunch, Adi sticks her head around the door from the front of the clinic.
“I know you are on lunch . . .”
Closing the wrapper over the sandwich that I haven’t even taken one bite out of yet, I’m already standing.
“It’s fine. What’s wrong?” I ask, walking toward her.