“That’s bad luck, but those PVS vets are great.” Mark waggled his eyebrows. “Is there one who’s extra helpful?”
Callie shoved him with her shoulder and grinned. “What did you hear?”
He shrugged and kicked at imaginary debris with the toe of his boot. “This and that. Small town, you know.”
Callie crossed her arms and squinted at him. “As revealing as always, Mark.”
“Please, give me something to take home to Trace. She ordered me to find out what you were up to.”
Callie grinned. “I’m attracted to Lauren Cornish, but she’s difficult to understand. Sometimes she’s interested in me and other times not. Not like I have time for that kind of thing anyway.”
He tilted his head. “I heard she deserted her family in Ontario. Kids and all.”
“She has a child? A partner? She said something about a daughter the other day, but I thought it was hypothetical.”
“She has two kids.”
Callie frowned. “Two? And she left them?”
“Maybe she’s not so interesting anymore? You wouldn’t want her to bail on you and Becky.”
That was true, but it felt so judgmental. And if they stayed just friends, then her past didn’t matter. “I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt. I hope there’ll be more to her story.”
“The couple of times she was at our place she appeared to be a good person. We can’t picture her abandoning kids. She’s great with ours and teaches them something about animals each time she’s there. Amanda has decided to be a veterinarian.”
In his tender tone Callie heard pride and affection for his family. “Lauren seems nervous sometimes when she’s near Becky. Like she’s not sure how to act around her.”
“Nervous near Becky or near you?” Mark nudged Callie with an elbow. “Do you make the vet nervous?”
“You’re full of jokes today.”
Mark hooked his thumbs under imaginary suspenders and strutted. “Yup, I’m a funny guy.”
Callie swallowed and blurted her thoughts before she could lose her nerve. “I kissed her.” She had also coaxed Lauren into her bed, but that was more than Mark needed to know.
Mark quit his goofy walk. “You what?”
Callie hid her face in her hands. “I lured her into my house for breakfast and kissed her.”
“Way to go, Callie. She’s been to your place so often she must be almost part of the family now.”
Callie playfully punched Mark in the shoulder. “You’ve reached your quota, man. No more jokes.”
“Trace and I are hoping for the best for you, but please, be careful. Maybe you should learn more about her, you know?”
Callie nodded. “I wouldn’t become involved with a woman who abandoned her children. Couples break up, but you always care for your kids. If she just walked away, that’s something I couldn’t handle.”
They fell silent for a few minutes while they straightened Doug’s workbench and tools. “Weren’t you dating a woman you met in the city? You brought her for a barbecue once,” Mark said.
“She loathed the farm, and the smell nauseated her. She asked me why I didn’t sell and live somewhere clean.”
“What did you say?”
Callie frowned. “Poplarcreek is my home. It’s a hard life, sure, but I love it here. This farm’s also Becky’s inheritance and I have a responsibility to guard it for her.”
“Guard it from Kruger.” Mark frowned and locked eyes with Callie. “Heinz pulled some shit and bugged Doug to sell, but Doug refused. Watch out for that family. They don’t give up.”
“What did they do?”
“Once Doug left to visit his sons and their families. He left me in charge. I got off the school bus one day and there’s this big van in the yard. Surveyors. These two guys said Poplarcreek was for sale and they were told to take measurements.”
“Heinz?”
“You bet. Heinz told Doug that it was a misunderstanding and that the men had come to the wrong farm.”
“Liar.”
“Absolutely.”
“That explains the report I got this morning. Poplarcreek all marked out on a neat map and a purchase offer stuck in the middle.”
“Man never quits. If you ever want me to talk to him I will. Heinz doesn’t scare me.”
“Thanks, Mark, but he’s my problem and I have a plan.” Callie considered telling him about the cattle theft and drug smuggling, but it wouldn’t do to drag Mark and his family into the drama unless it was absolutely necessary. She’d let the police decide that one. “I’m always looking over my shoulder for Heinz.” And now Kyle. She had told Becky never to go anywhere with the Krugers or ever get into their vehicles ever again. They were dangerous and to be avoided. Becky seemed to finally understand, and while Callie didn’t want to scare her, Becky needed to be afraid of that family. “I’ll protect Poplarcreek.”
Mark grinned and gave her a one-armed hug around the shoulders. “I’m picturing your girl carrying on the family tradition of running Poplarcreek.”
“Every chance she gets, Becky is in the barn with the animals. The trick is getting her to sit still long enough for homework. I was thinking of trying heavy duty tape.” Callie helped Mark carry his tools to his truck. “Thanks for your help today. I haven’t broken anything else, so today is a good day. Would you like lunch before you go?”
“Thanks, but if I head home now, I can join Trace and the baby for lunch.”
Of course. He had people waiting for him. She tried not to let it get to her that her house was empty at the moment. After Mark left, Callie tidied the drive shed and put the rest of the tools away. Doug was a precise man, and every tool had its place. He never left trash on the floor and he always cleaned up any oil he spilled. She made sure to carry on that legacy.
While Callie cleaned, she reviewed her conversation with Mark. He was a reliable friend. Not a gossip. He had told her what he heard to be helpful. She liked Lauren and Becky liked Lauren. She refused to believe that Lauren had backed off because of the Krugers. Lauren had already proven that they didn’t scare her. There had to be something more.
Callie frowned. She and Lauren had chatted a few times, but those meetings sometimes left Callie disappointed because she had revealed more than Lauren. Lauren could write her biography while she had nothing. She’d learned about Lauren’s children from Mark.
Maybe Lauren had trust issues and was quiet to keep her private life private? But it was unnatural and unhealthy to be so closed off. Maybe Lauren needed somebody to talk to, to confide in? Callie would be that good friend because she cared and because Lauren had helped her so much. Callie nodded in determination. Lauren needed to open up and now was the time to coax her.
After lunch, Callie called PVS and caught Lauren between appointments. “Will you come to Poplarcreek for lunch one day? We need to talk.”
“You’re right, we do. There’s something I want to tell you. I’m off this Wednesday and I’m headed to the city. Like to join me?”
She’d expected Lauren to turn her down flat, and the invitation was a nice surprise. She’d have two days to work out a plan to get Lauren to open up. “I’d love to come. I’ll be ready by nine, but I need to be home by four to meet Becky’s bus. If that messes up your plans, we can meet another time.”
“Four is fine with me. In this weather, I avoid driving after dark. Hey, I’m planning to get sushi for lunch.”
That sounded like a treat after so many basic home cooked meals, which was all she had time for since Martha left. “I love sushi. Ate it every week when I lived on the coast.”
“On the way home, I promised to stop at a friend’s place, to check on her horse. That okay with you?”
“As long as I’m home by four.”
“It’s a deal. My next appointment’s here. See you at nine. Thanks, Callie.”
“Bye, Lauren.” Callie shook her head, unable to decipher what had just happened. Three days ago, Lauren wouldn’t ev
en accept lunch, and now she was inviting her for a road trip. Maybe Lauren had changed her mind? She did say she had something to tell her. Maybe Lauren would open up about her past? She’d sounded friendly, but her tone was firm, like there was an important reason to meet. Good for her. Good for them.
Chapter Twenty
Callie leaned against the wall by her front window and watched for Lauren’s truck. She blew on the glass and drew a heart in the moisture her breath left. It was minus thirty degrees Celsius outside, but the breeze had brushed the road clear of snow and the sun was shining. She felt her own mood start to lift. She was excited, like a little kid. The last time she’d been to Saskatoon had been a week after Valentine’s Day when she and Rachel had run into Lauren at the Rainbow Club. It had been twenty-five days since she’d danced with Lauren, and six days since she’d kissed her. But who was counting?
At nine a.m. exactly, Lauren drove into Poplarcreek. Callie pulled on her coat, jogged to the truck, and climbed in. “Hi, Lauren. Beautiful day.”
Lauren smiled. “Incredible.”
Callie relished the quick full-body scan Lauren gave her when she climbed in. She’d put her hair up in her favorite 1950s style and wore a little makeup. She spent all her time in farm clothes, and it was nice to dress up and spend time on her makeup, especially when her efforts were so appreciated. She straightened the front of her dressy coat. She’d had it for years, but it was still in decent shape, and besides, it was blue and Martha promised it made her eyes pop.
As Lauren pulled away from the farm, a painful awkwardness floated between them. Callie struggled for something to say. There was a ton of serious conversation to have, but she didn’t want to jump in right away. Right now, she wanted to enjoy the company of an attractive woman and have a pleasant adult conversation. She settled on a discussion of the weather, which when you depended on agricultural for a living, wasn’t a throwaway conversation, but an item of extreme importance.
“I’m hoping for a milder winter this year,” Callie said. “Last winter there was late snow and a cold snap in April. Some farmers lost a third of their new calves still in the pasture. We didn’t lose any. Our cows brought their calves into the lean-to barn when the temperature dropped and before the snow was too deep for the calves to walk.”
“Lucky. Animals are smart that way.”
Callie adored Lauren’s easy smile. Lauren slouched in her seat, the muscles of her shoulders relaxed. Lauren’s hand rested on her knee as she steered with two fingers and whistled a tune Callie couldn’t decipher. Callie itched to brush a hand down her soft cheek and smooth away the last of the Lauren’s stress.
Lauren glanced at her expectantly and she realized she’d missed something. “Hmm?”
“I asked what you’d like to do today in the big city?”
Callie straightened in her seat. “Imagine us thinking Saskatoon is big. It’s only two hundred and twenty thousand. Surrey is more than twice that. How big is Toronto?”
“The GTA, Greater Toronto Area, is over five and a half million. Too big for me. I prefer living in a town the size of Thresherton and having a city within an easy drive if I need a change or a little space.”
“Space. I get that. In Saskatoon everybody doesn’t know all my business. I’m looking forward to a little anonymity.”
“So, what would you like to do today?”
“I always have errands. You?”
“I often wander through one of the malls. My real motivation for the trip is the sushi. The Thresherton Diner is okay, but I’m tired of sandwiches, lasagna, and burgers. The only other restaurants serve pizza or fried chicken.”
“Do you cook for yourself?”
“Not well and not often. I buy frozen dinners. The organic kind from the market, and I eat a lot of tuna.” Her expression turned sad. “Not much point in cooking when it’s just you.”
It was still too soon to delve into serious topics. “So, sushi’s a treat. The mall’s a good idea. I need new winter boots. I wear men’s boots in the barn, but I can’t find nice leather boots, in a women’s size eleven in Thresherton. Apparently, there aren’t a lot of women with big feet in our town.” That was okay because she didn’t have the money to spend on new boots. It was fun to look though. The boots she was wearing were out of fashion, but as long as they were dry, she’d be wearing them.
Lauren laughed. “Anything else? New clothes?”
“I have enough dressy clothes, and everything else I buy at the farm store.”
“Do you own many dressy clothes?” Lauren asked.
“I have a few nice dresses and slacks. I don’t go to the club often. That night at the rainbow club was my first night out in months, but you looked comfortable there.” It wasn’t subtle, but it worked.
“I did? Val dragged me. I don’t go out often either.”
They spent the morning roaming the mall and shopping for dress boots. Callie didn’t find boots to buy, but Lauren purchased a pair of low-heeled black leather boots for herself.
Callie winked. “Nice boots. Very sexy.”
As they walked, Callie linked her arm through Lauren’s. Lauren’s arm muscles tensed for a second and then relaxed. Callie relished the feel of Lauren so close. “Do we have time for the children’s clothing store? I didn’t plan to drag you there, but Becky’s growing faster than I can buy new clothes for her.” She always found money to spend on Becky. Her daughter came first.
“No problem. I understand. Even a nine-year-old is conscious of their appearance.”
Callie glanced at Lauren and waited for her to elaborate. She wasn’t sure how to broach the subject of Lauren’s children. How did you bring up something like that without it feeling intrusive?
Callie paired tops and pants she knew Becky would like and then became playfully indecisive about her other choices, until Lauren stepped in and helped her guess sizes and create options. Callie knew how to shop for Becky but hoped this shopping trip would coax Lauren into finally opening up about her children.
“You have a real eye for this, Lauren. Becky will love the clothes you picked out for her. The sizes look perfect.”
Lauren winked. “You’ve discovered my hidden talent. Personal shopper for the preteen. Will the jeans suit her? I don’t know her well, but at Becky’s age I would’ve loved them.”
“She’ll love the metal studs. They’re cool and a little dangerous. Thanks for talking me out of the skirt. It would’ve looked cute on her, but the last dress I bought for her collected dust in her closet for a year until I let her give it away.”
“You know best, but from what I’ve seen, Becky’s style isn’t dresses and skirts.”
Callie waited, but Lauren didn’t elaborate. So much for the perfect opening to talk about her kids. She’d get her to talk later.
At half past one, with shopping and errands finished, they arrived at the sushi restaurant. They gorged themselves on fresh sashimi and sushi, discovering they both preferred the spicy rolls.
Lauren popped a spicy salmon roll in her mouth. “We should just order spicy rolls next time and skip the rest.”
Callie cocked her head and smiled at Lauren.
“I don’t want—I mean…Callie’s a great name. Is it your first name? Is it short for another name? A nickname? Or is it a complete name? Are you named after a movie star?”
It was painful to watch Lauren’s discomfort, and Callie rescued her. “It’s short for Catherine Leigh. Catherine and Leigh are my grandmothers. My mother’s also Catherine but goes by Cathy. Lauren’s a classy name. Is it a family name?”
“I’m also named after a grandmother. I don’t mind the name Lauren, but I wish it had better nicknames like Callie. Laur is harsh. I tried Ren for a while when I was younger and trying to be tough.”
Callie snorted and then said, “Sorry.”
Lauren shrugged. “Yeah, Ren and the tough act didn’t last long. I know another woman called Lauren whose friends called her Elle. Most people call me Lauren or
L.C.”
“Why Elle?”
“For the letter L in Lauren.” Lauren grimaced. “I bet that was the longest answer to the shortest question you’ve ever asked?”
Callie just laughed. It was good that Lauren was opening up a little. Maybe she could push a little now. “How did you end up in Saskatchewan?”
“I was looking for a complete change and wanted out of Toronto. I answered an advertisement for a mixed animal practitioner in Saskatchewan. As soon as Ian and Fiona hired me, I packed my trailer and moved to Thresherton.”
“Do you like it here?”
“Great job, awesome people, and nice summers, but last winter the first snow arrived on September seventeenth. I remember because it was my parents’ wedding anniversary. I was ready to flee back to Ontario where everyone was still wearing shorts.”
“It snows only a little in Surrey, but it can be cold, sometimes below zero. It rains all winter. I like the snow better.”
Lauren leaned forward and shuddered. “The worst eye-opener was Halloween last year. It was on a Saturday and I drove into Saskatoon to do my shopping. I was home by four p.m. and ready for the kids, but none showed up.”
Callie smiled, anticipating Lauren’s next words. Lauren was interesting and alluring in the green shirt and loose jeans. Callie enjoyed the grin and sparkle in Lauren’s eyes, but how did they end up talking about the weather again? Was it going to take a crowbar to pry Lauren’s story out of her?
“The next day at work I begged everyone to eat the candy I had left before I ate it myself. I asked Val why no kids came to my door.” Lauren’s demeanor was wide-eyed and innocent. “She told me the kids went out after lunch trick-or-treating because it’s too cold to let them outside after dark. Who trick-or-treats at one in the afternoon?”
“Welcome to Saskatchewan, eh?”
Lauren laughed and ducked her head when the other diners focused on them. Her whole face and even her ears reddened.
Callie cupped Lauren’s warm cheeks. “You need to quit blushing or you’ll catch your hair on fire,” she whispered.
“You’re lucky you don’t blush.”
Veterinary Partner Page 16
