Chapter Five
“Are you sure the little dog is going to be okay?”
If Matt had answered that question once since he arrived at his sister’s home, he would have repeated his answer a half dozen times.
“Jilliebean, the dog has a broken leg, but Doc Adams did a great job, and he expects the animal to be fine once he mends. But what we need to talk about is what happened today before the dog got hurt.”
“Is the lady real mad at me? I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.
I thought Pumpkin would get hit by a car if he ran into the road.
I didn’t see a car and then when I did, it was at the same time Pumpkin ran off to the side of the road and then the car went into the ditch and all. I’m really, really sorry, Dad.”
“First of all, the lady has a name…Ally Jones. And she has a mild concussion and some bruises and cuts. But she should be okay in a few days. So, it could have all been a lot worse, beginning with you. If she hadn’t swerved when she did, then you would have been seriously hurt…
if not worse. But she did her best to avoid you.
Instead, she went into that ditch. Her car is a mess.
Her dog is at the vet’s after surgery on its leg. And you took ten years off my life.”
“And don’t forget to mention the many more gray hairs there are now, either,” his sister added as she sat the glass of milk on the table in front of Jillie. She grinned at her brother who answered with a frown.
“As I was saying, action and reaction, both have their consequences. Everyone survived…this time. And she knows you are sorry. And she was worried about you and even that kitten. And why does it have a name now? I thought we agreed you were finding it a home. And not ours.” He eyed his daughter who was intent on the food on her plate.
“Is that not the deal we made?” Matt was persistent when he felt there was something else going on to be dealt with.
“Yes, but he’s so scared after what happened and all, Dad.
” She looked up with that combination of sadness yet hopefulness in those huge eyes that she could use as one of her greatest bargaining chips where he was concerned.
“And I did call my friends, and their parents all said no. So, he’s an orphan and everyone needs a safe place to call home, you always say that.
Well, a poor lost kitten is the same, isn’t it? ”
“I think we have the makings of another persuasive politician in the family. She’s a chip off the block of her favorite aunt.”
“And on that note,” Matt said, standing up from the table. “It’s time to get home and get ready for another day of school. Get your backpack, Jilliebean.”
“And you should check the calendar, brother dear,” his sister interjected.
“This is Friday. Please don’t drop your daughter off at school tomorrow.
Because I won’t be here to pick her up. We have a cattle auction tomorrow.
And we’re also going to have to plan for things when this little one decides to make its arrival into this family.
” She highlighted her words by a caressing rub over the extended belly of a pregnant woman in her last trimester.
Matt shook his head. “It’s been a long day so thanks for the reminder…both. And yes, I am working on after-school care for Jillie.”
“I told you that I can walk to the library and stay there until it’s time for you to pick me up,” Jillie responded. “I’m a big girl, Dad. Not a child.”
He gave her a long look…in silence. She tugged on the straps of the backpack and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “He just treats me like a baby.”
Tori patted the arm around her shoulders in commiseration with her niece, but the smile was sent to her brother. “I have news for you, my sweet girl, you will be a child to your father until you are a grandmother yourself and then some.”
“Can we stop by the hospital?” Jillie spoke up a few minutes later as they passed the courthouse and waited at the red light to make the left turn toward their house on the edge of town.
“Hospital? Are you ill?” Matt cast a quick glance at his daughter.
“No, I’m not. I just think it would be a good thing to check on Miss Jones—and I could also apologize to her.”
“That is an admirable thought, my daughter. But I’m sure she needs her rest so she can hurry and mend and get back on her way to wherever she’s going.”
“I thought I heard you tell Aunt Tori that she said she was coming here to Destiny’s River for some special reason. Does she have family here or anyone she knows? She could be lonely if she doesn’t.”
“Forget being a politician,” Matt replied. “You have a memory for arguing a subject… Being a lawyer might be better for you. But no, we are not disturbing her this evening.” He noted the crestfallen look that replaced the smile of hope from a few moments before.
“What we can do, is stop by the vet’s and check on the dog. That might mean a lot to her.”
Jillie’s smile was huge. “That’s a great idea.”
“Your old dad has those once in a while.”
They took a quick detour a block down and pulled up at the vet’s office a few minutes later.
They had late hours two days a week and this was one of those.
One of the aides came out and then led the way back to where rows of cages with patients of the fur variety were visible.
Some were more boisterous and vocal than others.
But they were shown to an end cage that had an occupant with a bandaged leg, which had clearly been shaved of all fur, and an ugly metal pin protruded from either side of the ankle bone.
The eyes were huge and melancholy as the animal lifted its small head with its protective cone in place.
“He looks so sad,” Jillie whispered, bending down to see the dog better as it did not move from its place against the corner back wall. “Hello, little guy. I’m Jillie. I’m a friend.”
There was a measured silence. Then a small movement of the end of its tail allowed for a brief lift before it returned to lie quietly.
“Is he okay?”
“That is the most movement the little guy has shown this afternoon,” the tall, white-coated man observed walking up to join them in front of the cage. “He must like your voice, Jillie.”
“Is he doing okay?” Matt looked at the man over his daughter’s head and then thought better of his timing. Jillie didn’t need to hear anything other than good news now that she had seen the little animal.
Doc Adams nodded with a knowing smile. “Teddy is a tough little guy. He should mend just fine after some rest and quiet. I think he’s probably missing his owner and is unsure of his surroundings.”
“He’s lonely and afraid,” Jillie said, laying a slim finger between the two bars closest to her. “Hi, Teddy. That’s a nice name. I think we can be friends. I’m sorry you got hurt. I’ll come visit you here until you get out. Okay?”
“He’d like that. He’s been just lying there with no interest in anything until now. He’s perking up having you here.” The vet smiled at Jillie as the dog edged closer to allow his nose to touch the soft stroking of her finger between the bars.
Matt noted the beaming smile on his daughter’s face.
His daughter had had a way with animals even at an earlier age.
And that often caused him to be the mean dad who would draw the line with a never-ending stream of animals of one sort or another coming through their front door with her pleading gaze and then tears when he had to put his foot down.
Such as the three-legged goat that had followed her home according to her story, or the possum who made itself at home on the back porch…
along with her help of a box with his old shirts adorning the inside as bedding for the animal.
Luckily, both creatures had moved on to better homes…
one at a petting zoo and another to a sanctuary in the next county for wild animals.
He was grateful that this dog had an owner and a place to go home after release. Or did he? That question popped up in his brain. Jillie could also have a future as a mind reader.
“And if he needs a place to stay until his owner gets better, he can stay with us, can’t he, Dad?”
“Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Don’t go getting ahead of yourself, Jillie.”
“May I come visit tomorrow?” Jillie turned that doe-eyed look on the vet next and Matt felt relief.
“That would be fine.” The vet grinned.
“Let’s let the doctor get home and we need to do the same. Say good night to your friend.”
“Good night, Teddy. I’ll be here tomorrow to visit again. You be good and hurry and get well.”
The sun had set, and the town square had quieted.
There were the usual patrons parked at the downtown eateries: the café and the pizzeria.
And farther down, the parking lot in front of the local cinema was filling up.
Other cars were heading out to the restaurant and dance hall along the river for nicer dining and then dancing after.
Or there were those who headed in the opposite direction to the bowling and arcade building on the opposite side of downtown.
Destiny’s River was settling into the early autumn evening.
A few weeks until Thanksgiving and then the Christmas festivities would take over.
Matt had to admit that he felt a pride inside to be part of such a beautiful small town nestled at the entrance to the Hill Country region of Texas, with its tall hills, ice-cold clear spring-fed rivers and lakes, and deep canyons and tranquil grass-covered meadows.
The people were an added plus. They welcomed strangers and made them feel part of the town, no matter where they came from.
He was forever grateful that his eldest sister had set out to find a place for them all to call home many years ago as they all aged out of the foster system.
She had a dream to find such a place and she didn’t rest until she had made it come true.
Three of the four Parker siblings had made their way to call Destiny’s River home.
The hope was that, eventually, the final sibling—his brother—would leave his rambling ways behind and make it unanimous.
Until then, he would do his part as sheriff of the county to see that such a good community maintained what made it special.
They arrived home and Jillie hurried ahead of him to make sure the new kitten, Pumpkin, was still in its sleeping box in the utility room. The moment the kitten saw her, its meows began, and naturally, Jillie had to pick it up and cradle it.
“Jillie…” Matt began but his daughter was ahead of him.
“I know, Dad. But he’s still getting used to things and I’ll calm him down and then bring him back to his box. He’s just a scared baby.” And the child and kitten cradled in her arms were disappearing up the stairs to her room before Matt uttered another word.
And another battle lost even before he’d said a word.
Matt shook his head. His sister had been right when she mentioned the gray hairs he kept finding.
And ninety percent were the result of being the father of a daughter like Jillie.
He had to admit it was times like these and others that he missed not having the support in the house of another sane adult.
It was times he wished he might find someone who would be the mother figure that his daughter deserved.
But no such person had crossed his path to date.
Maybe he was being too picky? That had been mentioned a time or two or three by his two sisters.
Even by his daughter. Everyone in town seemed to have placed their two cents worth on the subject over the years.
He took a cold drink from the refrigerator and popped the lid.
He sank down in his easy chair and settled back, replaying the long day’s events.
Ally Jones. New York City, New York. She was a long way from home.
But somehow, seeing a couple of the boxes that his deputy had stacked inside their storeroom waiting for her to take off their hands, he noted items one wouldn’t normally find on just a vacation-type trip.
Some pots and pans, a couple dishes, linens, blanket, even a pillow.
He hadn’t looked any further. There wasn’t any real reason for him to do so.
But it had stayed in his mind. And there was another box that his deputy had brought to his attention.
And that had also stuck in his questioning brain.
It was hand-carved, with an inlaid engraved plate on the top surrounded by carved roses.
The workmanship was beautiful. It clearly held cremains.
A mother? That was interesting also. One didn’t usually take trips with their loved one’s remains. Still, there was no law against it.
All in all, he shouldn’t be giving the woman in the hospital another thought.
She was the doctor’s responsibility, not his.
Still…there was something. But then his attention was caught by a movement next to his feet and his mind jumped to it.
A bright-eyed bit of orange fur was looking up at him.
He shook his head and called out in his loud ‘parent’ voice: “Jillie Anne Parker!”