by Abby Deuel
Mandy’s attention wandered back to the book in her hands. Mandy had come to be an expert at seeing the brighter side of any landscape. A few rivers here and there and some trees, and she could be happy during a relief vet stint. Driving in the countryside, Mandy had seen many old wooden pole barns and stands of elder trees. She didn’t know as much about the trees in this area as she would like. She could go to the library to find a book about the trees to learn something while she was stationed in the Midwest. She had also seen an old-fashioned bridge up the road that looked like a great spot from which to jump into the river. She would be long gone by the time it was swimming weather, if all went according to her plans.
Mandy put aside the book with the page earmarked for the local nature park. She pulled out the outfit she was altering for Lyle’s Halloween costume. It fit nearly perfectly; she just had to perfect the wings. It wouldn’t take long. Mandy always made Lyle a costume for Halloween. Mandy was a little shy and Lyle was the ice breaker everywhere she went. As such, Mandy tried to bring some holiday cheer to every clinic she worked at using Lyle as her conduit. A little snack of some cottage cheese and cucumbers on a tortilla served as a snack to get the energy she needed for sewing.
Before long it was time to walk to town. She had every intention of leaving Lyle in the RV. Lyle, on the other hand, wasn’t planning to miss out on the fun. She sat by the door, ready to be harnessed for the walk.
“Fair enough, you can come,” Mandy said to Lyle.
It was a nice walk through town. Halloween decorations were hung from every light post and every window. It seemed like there were additional decorations from the ones she saw yesterday. They were clearly die-hard fans of the holiday here. The businesses had standard decorations including pumpkins, straw bales, witch silhouettes, gourds, and ghosts. Some had even gone a step further with motion-sensing interactive displays. They even decorated the rails around the grain silos with Fall decorations. She passed one shop window and a witch jumped out of a cauldron at her. Mandy jumped. She hated scary Halloween things. Although she encouraged holiday enthusiasm, it was a little-known fact that she was completely terrified of Halloween pranks, particularly spiders. Haunted houses were the worst for her.
She recovered from her spook with the help of Lyle’s kind licking and carried on through town toward the glow of the Inn. Entering, Mandy found a quiet booth. Lyle took her spot under the table and sat quietly. Lyle had been by Mandy’s side through so many relief positions that she knew the drill in a new place. If she behaved, the towns often conceded that wherever Mandy went, Lyle was sure to follow. The chief was sitting at the counter and said hello. The owner of the Inn, Merv, was about to ask Mandy about the dog when Gerry chimed in.
“Don’t worry about the dog. That’s Lyle but she’s a girl. She’s named after Lyle Lovett, so she’s bound to fit in.”
“If you say so, Gerry,” said Merv, as he helped another customer. Merv was a tough old man, with yellowed teeth, evidence of the ever-present pipe dangling from his chapped lips. His smile, though used infrequently, was as warm as they come. For some reason, he always had a bit of stubble on his face, which showed that if he had hair on his head anymore, it would be a speckled grey and red mane.
“Nice to see you again, Mandy,” said Gerry.
“Same to you,” said Mandy.
“Are you dining alone?”
“No, Gillian is on her way with a few of her friends.”
“I see. Hope your first day went well.”
“Yes, thanks.”
Gillian arrived with a few people behind her. One of them was a middle-aged woman with chubby cheeks and the sort of plumpness that made you believe that she was capable of cooking some really welcoming stews. Her convivial eyes gave the impression that she had a heart of gold. She chortled softly to herself when she sat down among friends. Beside her was Rhonda, a tall red-headed woman with a definite Southwestern fashion sense. She looked like she’d walked straight out of a Sante Fe boutique, with a squash blossom necklace, a layered denim skirt, a paisley shirt with pearlized buttons, tall brown leather cowboy boots with red detailing, and a concha belt outlining her perfectly thin waistline.
“Hi ,Mandy. This is Ginny,” pointing at the plump woman with the rosy red cheeks, “and this is Rhonda,” she said, introducing the red-head.
“Hi, Gillian. Nice to meet you, Rhonda and Ginny. Have a seat,” said Mandy.
“So, how are you finding it here?” asked Rhonda.
“I am impressed with how friendly everyone is here,” said Mandy.
“What was that?” said Rhonda. She looked down to find out what the wet sensation was that she had just felt on her shin only to see a very happy Border collie under the table.
“Sorry, that’s my dog, Lyle. She greets everyone with a lick in one place or another. Be happy you got it on your leg and not your face!” said Mandy.
“I love dogs. I breed dachshunds. I have twenty-three now. I also run a little shelter at my house for transient dogs. I help them find homes. It keeps me busy when I am not doing the accounting for the town’s people. I’m sure we will cross paths soon as I have just mated one of my girls and I always come in for an early x-ray to check for numbers and overall health. I also have a few due any day now. My husband says that I only work to support my dog hording, and I can’t help but think he’s right! I would never admit that to him though,” said Rhonda.
“Dachshunds, huh? They are one of my favorites,” said Mandy.
“Me too. My favorite is a Dachshund puppy. Anna and I, bless her heart, spent many a night sharing cups of tea and waiting for one of my girls to deliver her litter.” The mention of Anna brought a sudden solemnness to the group. Changing the subject, “Hey, are you coming to the Halloween Hoedown? You can come with me if you want. I always bring my famous pumpkin scones. This year I am entering in the bake-off with a new cake recipe. The whole town goes so it’s the perfect setting to get acquainted with everyone,” said Rhonda.
“I might have to come and check that out,” said Mandy.
“So, Mandy, do you have a significant other?” asked Ginny.
Blushing, Mandy replied, “not really. I am pretty much just taking life as it comes. It’s just Lyle and me in our RV.” Mandy had a habit of blushing a lot. It was one of the qualities people found so endearing about her. Even though she was confident professionally, the slightest personal conversation would cause her cheeks to glow with red.
“Wow, an RV. My parents have one of those. I never thought of someone younger than them having one,” said Ginny.
“I find it suits me perfectly. I can come and go as I please. I often just drive off into the sunset on a weekend to go camping or get some peace and quiet,” said Mandy.
“Not a bad idea. I bet it would be nice to get away from things for a bit. My life is always crazy. I have two very active kids who seem to always be up to something. You’ll meet them at the Halloween Hoedown. But don’t you want to settle down?” asked Ginny.
“The thought has crossed my mind. I have just never found the right place,” said Mandy. She thought of how she would stay up with Anna all hours of the night, discussing their perfect future. Anna always knew she would return to the Midwest to service the small rural community in which she had grown up. Her parents had been older when they had her. Her family unit was not very large so Anna had learned to fill any gaps by immersing herself in the town that she grew up adoring. The feeling was mutual. Nothing catches the attention of a town like a young person going away to college and returning with a profession to offer the people of the town. Mandy, on the other hand, wanted to see the country while admiring Anna’s grounded attitude. Mandy imagined somewhere she could have a little piece of land and run some goats or sheep.
Merv came over to collect the orders, extracting Mandy from her thoughts. At the Inn, menus aren’t offered. With hardly any tourists, the locals practically grow up knowing the dishes available. There’s always a special of the d
ay, which most people select. Merv likes to please people so if there’s a special request, he’s up for the challenge.
“What’s the special tonight?” asked Gillian.
“Pot roast with all the fixin’s,” Merv beamed. He took pride in offering fresh, wholesome, home-cooked meals. The residents of Crestview could all be said to be regulars at the Inn since the food was so wonderful. Merv and his wife made it feel like going over to one’s grandparents’ house for dinner. Plus, it was a good spot to catch up on any local happenings.
“Yes, please,” everyone chimed. Mandy was pretty hungry and some Midwestern fare sounded perfect. Once they ordered their drinks, Merv retreated to the kitchen.
“So, tell me about this Halloween tradition,” said Mandy.
“Oh my, it is such fun. We have all the best parts of Halloween. Apple bobbing, a Jack-O-Lantern contest, a campfire with marshmallows, a hay-ride, and a bake-off. Quite a few people dress up in a Halloween costumes. We award prizes to the best costumes at the end of the night. Basically, the whole town loves an excuse to get together and let their hair down in one of the busiest times of the year: harvest time. We do something for Thanksgiving and Christmas as well. Halloween is just a way for us all to start getting into the holiday spirit. It is also held at the end of the county fair season. Many of our town’s children are members of FFA or 4H and have shown their animals at other shows. The Hoedown is the chance to show their animals here at home to anyone who couldn’t travel to the other shows. It becomes a family event.”
“Gillian’s right,” said Rhonda. “We take keeping the small town feel pretty seriously around here. Because we are off the beaten path, it’s not really a tourist attraction so town events are just us having fun as a community. You are going to love it! There is a softball game, food vendors, a few rides, and dance at the end of the night.”
“That sounds pretty idyllic. Anna always spoke so highly of Crestview. It’s nice to finally see it in all its glory.” As she spoke, Mandy was pondering whether maybe she should just stick it out here until after Christmas in honor of Anna. She really didn’t have any other plans and it might take that long to get things in order at the clinic.
Merv and his wife came over to the table with what looked like a feast for far more than four people. “Here you go, ladies. Welcome aboard, Mandy. Here’s a little bowl of water for Lilly,” said Merv’s wife, Myrna.
“It’s Lyle, but she’s a girl,” said Gillian.
“Lyle. I like that name even better,” Myrna said.
“Thanks very much. This looks fantastic,” Mandy replied.
Silence ensued as the ladies enjoyed their meals. Pot roast can be a bit of an art and Merv and Myrna certainly had it worked out. The beef came from one of the local cattle farmers and the vegetables were all grown in the garden behind the Inn. After filling up on the main course, the ladies had no room for dessert.
The conversation was mainly chit chat once they had eaten their meals. Everyone was curious about Mandy’s background. It was as if they were probing for ways to keep her happy here so she couldn’t possibly think of leaving.
“Do you have a special hobby or interest?” asked Ginny.
“I suppose it’s similar to what I do for a living but I have always been interested in wildlife rehabilitation,” said Mandy.
“What is that exactly?” asked Rhonda.
“It means that I helped injured and orphaned wildlife get better so they can be released back to the wild. I’ve been doing it on and off since I was a kid. My poor parents had to put up with all kinds of animals lurking in their house. I also had to raise mice to feed to some of the animals. It was a regular food chain,” Mandy explained.
“That is very cool. I bet you have worked with some amazing animals. What kinds have you helped?” asked Ginny.
“Mostly mammals: raccoons, squirrels, opossums. I once got to work with a baby bat. That was neat. I can work with birds, but they often require more of a facility than I have at my disposal. I mainly triage and send them to someone who has the proper facilities.”
“We can certainly make the appropriate housing for your patients. There is plenty of room at the clinic,” Gillian said without hesitation.
“We shall see. I haven’t worked with some of the species you have around here. However, long-term plans are a tad up in the air for me,” Mandy said.
“We can work on that,” said Rhonda. “I never thought I would settle in the Midwest but here I am. Doc Tom and I met when he was at a conference out West. I was a waitress and he was such a gentleman. It was love at first sight. I followed him back here. We still go out West once a year and he claims we will retire there one day. For now, I dress like I still live there and the town has succumbed to my elaborate fashion sense.”
“I just came from out West so I didn’t think you were dressed oddly at all. Now that you mention it, you are a little more dressed up than others I have met,” said Mandy.
“We all have our quirks,” Rhonda said and smiled.
They ate and continued to exchange stories. Mandy wasn’t keen to offer up too many details about her past. She liked to try to get to know the people around her before they knew too much about her. She usually thwarted questions by talking more about Lyle than herself.
“Well, I’m pretty tuckered out after all that baking I’ve been doing,” said Rhonda, yawning. “I might head home and reserve a more lively night to welcome our new friend for another night.”
“It was nice to meet you. I’ll look forward to trying some of that baking. I think I might head on to the RV and catch some shut-eye myself. Gillian sure does keep my schedule full,” said Mandy, darting a smile over to Gillian. The truth was: it was nice to be busy and feel needed for Mandy. She felt like she was fulfilling her friend’s wish of the clinic serving a town, even if it was just temporarily.
“Gosh, you guys are boring!” Ginny said with a wink. “But, I understand. We’ll live it up one of these nights. I should have you all over. I’ll wait till after the Halloween festivities though.”
“Do you want a ride home, Mandy?” asked Gillian.
“No thanks. Lyle and I will have a little stroll.”
“Ok. Don’t forget that you have that McMurphy call first thing in the morning. I put the vaccines you’ll need in that portable cooler in the fridge by the back door. 8:30 am sharp. It’ll take you about 25 minutes to get there. He’s a bull of a guy who doesn’t like starting late so I’d get a hurry on in the morning.”
“Thanks, Gillian. What would I ever do without you?” said Mandy.
“Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?”
“No,” Mandy said as her face blushed from ear to ear. At that, she waltzed out of the Inn with Lyle afoot.
Chapter Five
In the morning, after some oatmeal and a hot cup of coffee or two, Mandy prepared with Lyle to head off to the McMurphy Farm. They had a cow-calf operation in the hills behind the town. Mandy retrieved the vaccines Gillian had packed and wedged them in the backseat of the Jeep. Nothing could be in the front seat because Lyle had long ago established that as her seat. Luckily there weren’t many cars for Lyle to lunge at on these country roads. Gillian had drawn Mandy a map to the farm. Even though there weren’t many roads, it was always tricky to find a farm because you had to know which dirt track to take to get to the yards. Often the landmarks were a shrub or a tree, instead of a standard street sign. Sometimes, Mandy noticed that people called a corner by something that had long since been torn down or that didn’t even resemble its namesake anymore. She remembered a farm back in Montana that was said to be on five mile corner. No one in the whole town could explain what it was five miles from or how that name came about.
She turned off at the double-trunked tree just like the map said. A red-shouldered hawk was perched on the barbed wire fence off to the right. In the distance, Mandy spotted a set of yards and an old Ford pickup. This must be the place, she thought. When she pulled up, she hopped out an
d started to put her overalls and gumboots on. Stan McMurphy was walking to join her at the Jeep. Towering about a foot above Mandy, Stan wore a green John Deere hat that had long since lost its trademark green color. A tuft of thick brown hair stuck out on either side of his head. He had nice big white teeth and wind-chapped red cheeks. His face was framed with crow’s feet around his eyes and smile lines around his mouth.
“Hi there,” Mandy said as she pulled out the lunge lead and tethered Lyle to the bull bar on the front of the Jeep. If Mandy let her off, she would be off rounding up all of the stock on the farm before Mandy even noticed she was gone. Mandy had learned that the hard way. Mandy left a bucket of water and Lyle was already positioned in the shade of the Jeep with a front row view of the upcoming show.
“Hello, you’re not from around here are you?” said Stan as he walked up.
“Not exactly. I’m not really from anywhere. I fill relief vet positions around the country, helping when people want maternity leave or vacations and such. For now, I am here to keep the clinic going until we find a buyer,” said Mandy.
“You look pretty young, are you still in training?” asked Stan.
“No, I’m a full veterinarian and I have been for fourteen years,” said Mandy as she got the vaccinations out of the backseat of the Jeep. She started to prime the gun for the vaccinations. She was used to this discourse. She had inherited the young skin of her father’s side of the family and looked about ten years younger than she was.
