“Really? The first class?”
“Yes, sir.” Roland beamed. “The School for Veterinary Medicine started in 1885, and we were the first class to graduate.”
“That’s wonderful,” Mrs. Sheridan exclaimed. “I’m glad I baked a cake today. This young man returning home is truly cause for celebration.”
Everyone chuckled.
“Nellie Sheridan,” AJ blurted. “You bake a cake for every occasion, big or small.”
Mrs. Sheridan’s face reddened. “I suppose I do,” she admitted, laughing.
Over dinner, Roland talked further about school and Violet listened intently. He’d never shared any of this with her or their father during visits home. Had he not wanted to appear bragging about attending such a prestigious school? She wasn’t jealous of his learning, but she supposed he didn’t know that. And she’d noticed Faith was hanging on every word. Violet hated the injustice that her friend couldn’t have attended veterinarian school, like her brother had.
“I’m so happy for you. Father saved for years so you could attend that school,” she said, meeting her brother’s eyes. “Everything worked out in the end. And now you’re our new vet.”
“Thanks, sis. I appreciate that.” Her brother smiled broadly, perhaps needing to hear those words from her.
“Goodness, Roland, all this learning about diseases and treatments and operations. I doubt you would fail to help any patient brought to you.” Violet raised her glass. “May I propose a toast to my brother, Doctor Roland Campbell, Veterinarian.”
“Hear, hear!” AJ exclaimed, meeting Roland’s eyes. “The entire town couldn’t be more proud of you, son.”
“Thank you, sir,” Roland whispered, appearing emotional. He regaled them with the tale of his first patient to lighten the serious mood.
“I wish Father could have been here…” Violet whispered.
Simon reached for her hand under the table and gazed heavenward before meeting her eyes. “Your father is nearby. He’s right here with us.”
Violet met his eyes. “He must be so happy. And…”
“Proud of both of you,” Simon whispered. “And so am I.”
Violet’s breath caught, seeing the love in his eyes. Simon truly loved her. As much as she loved him. Why hadn’t either of them admitted it? Maybe someday. She must thank Faith on the way home, for insisting she come tonight. What would her brother have thought if she hadn’t bothered to accept Simon’s invitation? Her brother had wanted their reunion to be a surprise, and she understood that now. Graduating from the veterinary school represented a huge milestone in his life. And now he’d set up his own practice. Some things were meant to be.
Was a future between Simon and herself one of them?
Only time would tell.
Chapter 16
Violet jumped a foot when a hand touched her shoulder. She whirled around and then smiled at the fellow standing beside her in the Milestone General Store. “Roland Campbell, you nearly frightened the daylights out of me.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Roland removed the spool of thread from her hand and led her toward the door. “Saw you through the window and I’ve come to fetch my sister.”
“I’m waiting for Ray to collect my order,” she protested, attempting to dig in her heels.
Roland shook his head. “We’ll be back in plenty of time before the store closes. Come on,” he said, tugging her down the aisle and out the front door.
“Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see.” Roland set out down the sidewalk heading north.
A few minutes later, Roland stuck the key in the clinic door and paused to look into his sister’s eyes. “I felt bad, ruining your plans to meet me at the stagecoach. And you missed out on seeing my expression when Simon showed me the clinic for the first time.”
“I’ve forgiven Simon.”
“Have you forgiven me, though?” Roland winked at her. “Today, I hope to make up for that.”
He opened the door and guided her inside.
The moment Violet entered, she gasped. “Roland! This is amazing!”
Violet gazed at the rows of floor-to-ceiling shelving, every available spot filled with all manner of bottles of potions and boxes and packages of items required for animal doctoring. The cash register stood on the long counter littered with journals for recordkeeping and marking down appointments for each day. A large metal box lay open beside the leather books, filled with square patient cards to record what care had been provided each animal brought to him. Three white doctoring coats hung on hooks by the far doorway leading to the surgical area.
“Roland, oh my word, Father and Mama would have been so proud of you,” she whispered.
Roland nodded and she caught a glimpse of a few tears glistening in his eyes.
She touched his arm. “I need to apologize for ever questioning your decision to return to school last spring. You made the right choice. Completing your schooling was the correct thing to do.”
“Thank you for saying it. I know at the time you could have throttled me, but I couldn’t comprehend any other alternative.” Roland opened the door leading to the surgical room. A calico cat raced into the room and jumped onto the front counter.
“Where did you come from?” Violet blurted, smiling.
“Showed up a couple days after I arrived. The little dickens just moved in and decided she’s my cat.” Roland grinned. “Spotty has made short work of the mice in here, and she’ll provide a distraction for folks waiting nervously while I doctor their own pets. I reckon she’ll earn her keep.”
Violet petted the cat, running her hand down her silky length. “She’s so pretty. What will you do if she has kittens?”
“Become a grandfather?” Roland teased. “Give them away to good homes. Maybe keep one for company for Spotty.”
“Well, I certainly didn’t expect to find a cat here. But I never dreamed how remarkable this clinic would become, either.” Violet hugged her brother and then wandered around the clinic waiting area. “You’ve worked so hard for this. You deserve every bit of happiness that being a vet brings you.”
Roland chuckled. “This clinic is exactly what I envisioned all those late nights in Ohio, studying into the wee hours until my eyes were so tired they nearly fell out of my head. Working toward perfecting my lab work and doing my very best at the surgeries.”
“All your hard work paid off,” Violet said, summarizing for him.
“I’ve definitely found my purpose in life. And it was all possible because of you.”
“Me!” Violet stared at her brother.
“Yes, you. Violet, you helped Father and the ranch hands keep the ranch going. Then when Pa passed, you refused to sell the Triple C. You wouldn’t give up. You managed to keep Pa’s dream alive, on your own.” Roland waved his hand. “None of this would ever have happened, if I’d been forced to forgo my own dreams and stay home to run the ranch.”
“I believed I’d inherited Father’s dream, along with the ranch. We both loved that land more than anything. Father bequeathed the ranch to both of us. He would have expected one of us to carry on his legacy. And he knew you’d never give up your plans to become a vet. So, that left me,” Violet reasoned.
“You’re right. He knew a woman couldn’t own land, on her own. But with my name on the land as well, there wouldn’t be any reason why you couldn’t run the ranch, exactly as he’d intended. And if you married, he would have hoped your husband would help, too.”
“He probably reckoned you’d do your animal doctoring from the ranch, but this clinic is simply amazing,” Violet gushed.
“And I wanted you to be the first person to see it, now that I’ve gotten everything set up.” Roland scratched his head. “Only one thing missing.”
“Missing?” she exclaimed, gazing from one area of the room to another. “What could possibly be missing?”
Roland stood hands on hips. “Patients. Only doctored Mrs. Landers’ tomcat so
far.”
Violet chuckled. “I’m certain folks will be banging the door down soon enough.”
“I certainly hope so. I’ve got the bank loan to repay, rent due every month.” Roland grinned from ear to ear. “It’s so much responsibility, but I’m ready for the challenge, sis. This is what I trained so hard for.”
Violet wrapped her arms around his middle. “I have every faith in you that you’ll be nothing but a success. And every person in Milestone and area is delighted you’re here and trained to tend their critters.”
“Speaking of which, I’d best walk you back to the store before someone comes to fetch Doc Campbell for whatever reason.” Roland stepped out of his sister’s embrace and opened the door.
Violet gazed around the room one last time. “Thank you for showing me your new business first. It means a lot to me.” She laughed as she stepped outside. “Well, second. Spotty put her seal of approval on it before me.”
Roland chuckled. “She’s actually great company. I’ve asked her opinion on a few things. Doesn’t have much to say, but she’s never argued with any of my decisions, so I can’t complain.”
Violet hugged her brother. “No need to walk me to the store. You must have something else more important that needs doing.”
“Not a thing,” he argued.
Just then a rider galloped down Main Street, reining his lathered horse to a halt in front of them.
“Doc Campbell, we need you at the Bar L. One of our mares is in a terrible way. Frothing at the mouth. Not certain what her problem is,” the fellow explained in a rush of words.
Roland nodded. “I’ll grab my bag and come right away.”
“I’m leaving this horse at the livery. Renting another to make the return trip.”
“Tell Billy to saddle my mare, as well. I’ll meet you over at the livery in a few minutes.”
The ranch hand nodded, reined his horse around, and headed off.
“You go ahead. I’ll be fine.” Violet waved her brother back into his clinic. “Take care and I’ll talk to you after Sunday services.”
“Thanks, Violet. Keep well and say hello to Faith for me.” Roland kissed her cheek and then leapt up the steps two at a time back into the clinic.
Violet shook her head. Her brother loved doctoring animals. No doubt about it. And she suspected he might be developing feelings for her ranch hand, as well.
Chapter 17
Violet gazed into the distance where shorthorn and Hereford cattle grazed for as far as she could see. She couldn’t be more pleased with herself for managing her small herd, with only Faith’s help to rely on. The calves thrived and the cattle were slowly recovering from the dire condition she’d discovered the herd in last March.
She glanced upward; the sun high in the sky. “Must be noon, Moe.”
The dog barked at hearing his name.
“Time to stop for a bite to eat.” Faith rode close by and smiled at the dog, leaping in circles and barking incessantly.
“Moe, quiet or you’ll frighten the cattle.” Violet reined her horse toward the creek and dismounted.
“This spot is perfect.” Faith dug her lunch out of her saddlebag and grabbed her canteen, following Violet’s lead.
The two of them settled a couple feet apart on a patch of dry grass and tucked into their sandwiches. Soon, with their hunger sated and their thirst quenched, they lay on their backs and gazed at the clouds, intent on relaxing for a short rest before returning their attention to the herd.
Violet sighed. “Bringing the pistols and a rifle today proved a wise decision.”
“We’ve seen two coyotes already.” Faith nodded. “Those poor critters must be starving, prowling that close to the herd.”
“Poor critters, my foot. They’d kill one of my calves in a heartbeat. We must remain vigil or we could face a disaster.”
“That’s true.” Faith rolled onto her side. “A warning shot should frighten them off if they venture too close.”
“But that would mean the cattle would scatter. So, only if necessary.” Violet yawned and closed her eyes. “What I wouldn’t give for a short nap.”
“Sleep for a while and I’ll watch the herd,” Faith offered. “I’ll wake you in a half hour or so.”
“Truly?” Violet glanced at her friend. “Don’t let me sleep too long.”
“I won’t.” Faith sat up and pulled her knees to her chest. “You work so hard, ensuring everything is completed and the needs of the herd are met. You’re up at dawn and work on your ledgers until late at night. Take a few moments for yourself.”
“All right.” Violet yawned and rolled over on her side, resting her head on her folded arm, her cheek on her hand. “Wake me in a little while. We’ve still got a busy day ahead of us.”
Moe sat at her side, panting in the noon heat. She must ensure he drank from the creek before they returned to work. That sentiment was her last conscious thought before drifting off to sleep.
* * *
A deafening scream jolted Violet awake. What the heck?
“Moe! No, Moe! Stop!”
Violet clambered to her feet, groggy from sleep. “What’s going on?”
“Moe’s tangling with a coyote,” Faith called.
Violet glanced about attempting to spot her dog. And then she saw him in the distance, a blur of black and white fur, all teeth and fury, either attacking a coyote or being attacked. She couldn’t ascertain which of them had initiated the encounter.
“Moe, come here,” she called, grabbing her rifle from the scabbard on her saddle.
She couldn’t risk hitting her dog, so a warning shot into the air would have to suffice. She pulled the trigger and a shot exploded from the gun. The battle between dog and predator continued without so much as a moment’s pause or hesitation. The cattle shuffled and several scattered as she’d predicted. That couldn’t be helped for now.
“Moe, come here,” she commanded the dog. Again to no avail.
Faith rode up to her. “The coyote shot out of the brush and attacked one of the calves. Moe bounded toward it and leapt on its back, saving the calf which joined its mother. Moe and the coyote have been locked in battle ever since, neither one giving in to the other.”
“I don’t know what to do.” Violet mounted up and headed toward the two animals snarling and biting and attempting to kill each other. “I’ve never seen Moe so intent on a fight.”
“He’s simply doing his job,” Faith reasoned.
“But which of them will be declared the victor? I can’t lose Moe. We’ve had him since he was a puppy.” Violet’s voice caught.
“Then we’ll stop the fight, somehow.” Faith raced toward the animals, riding alongside Violet.
When the coyote spotted them approaching, it headed toward the brush. Violet fired her pistol and was rewarded by a yip from the varmint.
“Tend to Moe. I’ll follow the coyote and ensure it’s dead,” Faith offered, pistol raised and reining her horse toward the bushes.
Violet kicked her feet out of the stirrups and jumped out of the saddle, hitting the ground on the run. She raced toward Moe, lying on the grass in a pool of blood. His fur was matted and his eyes tightly closed and she feared the worst.
“Oh, Moe, my poor boy,” she whispered.
Hearing his name, the dog opened his eyes and attempted to raise his head. A plaintive cry of pain escaped the animal as he lay motionless on the ground. “Don’t move. Let me think what to do,” she whispered and patted the dog’s head. “Look what that beast did to you.” Several wounds oozed blood and one ear had almost been torn off. Violet’s heart hurt seeing her beloved animal in this condition. She couldn’t imagine his pain.
A shot rang out coming from near the brush.
“At least, Faith got him,” Violet muttered, knowing that one small victory would be little consolation if she lost her faithful dog.
A moment later, Faith returned to her side and dismounted. “Got him. But Moe needs a vet.”
&n
bsp; Violet met her eyes. “You’re right. And we have one in town.”
A smile crept onto Faith’s face. “That we do. And he’s an excellent doctor. Mount up and I’ll hand Moe up to you.”
“It’s almost an hour’s ride by buggy. At least a half hour riding full out. I won’t be able to rush or the jolting will pain Moe too much.”
“Get Moe there as soon as you can.” Faith hefted Moe into her arms and handed the dog up to her. “It’s his best chance.”
“Watch the herd and keep a gun handy at all times,” Violet instructed her ranch hand. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. But if dusk closes in, head back to the house and wait to hear from me.”
Faith nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep watch on things here. Get Moe to town. Roland will fix him up.”
Violet balanced her beloved pet in her lap, turned her mare and headed in the direction of town. She glanced at Moe who’d slipped into unconsciousness, but his chest continued to rise and fall evidencing he remained alive and breathing.
Please let him live until I reach town.
She dug her heels into the horse’s sides, knowing Moe wouldn’t feel the pain from riding hard. With any luck she’d get him to her brother in time.
Violet’s entire trip to town passed in a blur of prayer mixed with tears. Fury at the animal who’d done this mixed with understanding for a critter simply intent on survival. She finally arrived outside her brother’s clinic. While determining how she’d dismount with a forty-pound dog in her arms, she called, “Roland! Help me!”
A few seconds later, the door to the clinic flew open and her brother appeared on the sidewalk. Taking in the scene, he raced toward her. “What happened?”
“Moe tangled with a coyote. Lost a lot of blood. He hasn’t regained consciousness since we left the herd.” Violet sat with the animal in her lap, tears pouring down her cheeks. “Please save him. Please, Roland.”
“I’ll do my best.” Her brother carefully took the dog from her and walked into the clinic.
Inherit A Dream (Sons Of A Gun Book 4) Page 10
