Hill Country Reunion

by Myra Johnson

  With only a couple of days between his last day at his former practice and coming to Juniper Bluff, Tripp hadn’t had much time to settle in. Robert Ingram had made arrangements for Tripp to stay at a place outside of town called Serenity Hills Guest Ranch. One of their staff cabins was currently vacant, and for a bachelor like Tripp, the single bedroom, small living area and kitchenette would serve him just fine until either the owners kicked him out or he found a place closer to the clinic.

  As he waited for his to-go order at the supermarket deli, another advantage of living so far out of town occurred to him: a much smaller likelihood of accidentally running into Diana. Despite what Robert had hinted about the possibility of their getting back together, Tripp figured he’d long ago blown his chances.

  Anyway, hadn’t he pretty much convinced himself marriage and family weren’t for him? Something much more ominous than hunger pangs could be blamed for the rumblings in his abdomen. Sure, the Crohn’s might be well controlled most of the time, but flare-ups were inevitable. And how, in good conscience, could Tripp ever risk passing on this possibly genetic and sometimes excruciatingly painful disease to any children in his future?

  * * *

  Business at the doughnut shop generally slowed as lunchtime approached, which meant Diana could turn things over to Kimberly and get away for a while. Still shaken by the unexpected encounter with Tripp, she needed a break before her runaway emotions got the best of her—and before her nosy assistant had a chance to pepper her with more questions.

  Figuring her parents would be too busy helping Aunt Jennie move in to think about lunch, she filled a small white bag with her great-aunt’s favorite doughnuts, then texted her mom with an offer to run by the supermarket deli and pick up sandwiches.

  At the supermarket, a line of customers waited at the deli counter, so she picked up a sandwich menu and joined the queue.

  While she studied the menu, someone paused beside her. “I hear the ham-and-Swiss is really good.”

  The page nearly fell from her hand. “Tripp.”

  “Yep, it’s still me.” His lopsided grin made her stomach dip. He held up a bulging deli bag. “Guess great minds think alike.”

  Or not. Diana forced a smile. “Just moved in and you’re already discovering all the popular eateries in Juniper Bluff. When you’re ready to try Mexican, I recommend Casa Luis.”

  An odd look crossed Tripp’s face. “Thanks, I’ll keep it in mind.”

  “Oh, I forgot. You’re on some kind of health kick these days.”

  “You could say so.” Tripp glanced away. “Well, don’t let me keep you. Have a good afternoon, Diana.”

  “Yeah, you, too.” The line moved, and Diana took a giant step forward. She was so ready to end this conversation.

  “Diana?”

  She winced, then turned and met Tripp’s steady gaze. “Yes?”

  “I just wanted to say how good it is to see you again. Your own business and everything—that’s...really great. I’m happy for you.”

  At the pensive look in his eyes, the corner of her heart that had been frozen all these years melted a tiny bit. “Thanks. I’m glad to know you’re doing well, too. I hope you’ll be very happy in Juniper Bluff.”

  “I think I will be. The slower pace is already a welcome change.”

  “Funny,” Diana mused with a twist to her lips, “I didn’t think anything could lure you from your big-city lifestyle.”

  Tripp shrugged. “Maybe that was true...once.”

  “Well, I guess a lot can change in twelve years.”

  “Yeah, a lot can change.” The words came out on a sigh. After a moment’s pause, he offered a parting smile and strode away.

  Lost in trying to figure out what this new Tripp Willoughby was all about, Diana jumped when the deli clerk called her name. “Oh, hi, Stan. Yes, I’d like two Reubens, an egg salad on whole wheat and a ham-and-Swiss on rye, light on the mustard.”

  She added a gallon of fresh-brewed iced tea to her order, then selected a large bag of chips. Fifteen minutes later, she was on her way to the assisted-living center.

  By the time she arrived, she’d regained a semblance of composure. At the reception desk she asked for directions to Aunt Jennie’s quarters, then followed the signs to apartment 18C. The door stood open, and her great-aunt beamed from the opposite end of a small dinette.

  Aunt Jennie stretched out her arms. “Come around here and give me a big ol’ hug!”

  Diana dropped the deli and doughnut bags onto the table, then scooped the petite ninety-two-year-old into a gentle but enthusiastic embrace. “I’m so glad you’re finally here!”

  Aunt Jennie patted Diana’s cheek as she knelt on the carpet beside her chair. In a conspiratorial whisper, she asked, “Did you remember my favorite doughnuts?”

  “Right here.” Diana slid the smallest bag closer. Rising, she swept her gaze around the room. “Oh, good, you brought some of your own things to make it feel more like home.”

  “Yes, but it was very sad leaving my comfy little house and garden.” The elderly woman’s lips turned down with remorse. “Even harder to give up my sweet little Ginger-dog.”

  “I know, and I’m so sorry.” Diana had known Aunt Jennie wouldn’t be allowed to bring her lovable corgi to the new apartment. Aunt Jennie’s next-door neighbor Mrs. Doudtman had taken Ginger, saying she’d be a great playmate for her two shelties.

  “She’ll adjust, honey, just like I will.” Aunt Jennie patted Diana’s arm.

  Her great-aunt might be putting up a brave front, but the wistful look in her eyes every time she mentioned Ginger’s name brought a lump to Diana’s throat. She’d have offered to keep Ginger herself, but she already shared her two-bedroom cottage with three cats, a lop-eared rabbit and a parakeet. Besides, her tiny backyard wasn’t fenced, so a dog was out of the question. Ginger was too prissy to last long as a farm dog, which meant Diana’s parents weren’t able to take her, either.

  But Diana did have an idea she hoped to implement soon. She’d begun investigating programs where volunteers brought pets to visit shut-ins, and if things worked out, she planned to establish a group right here in Juniper Bluff.

  Thinking about pets brought to mind an unexpected complication. Unless Diana wanted to drive the extra miles to a veterinary clinic in a neighboring town, anytime her menagerie needed health care, she’d have no choice but to make an appointment with Tripp.

  Chapter Two

  Nothing like fresh country air to sweep away the mental cobwebs. A plate of scrambled eggs and toast in one hand, a glass of almond milk in the other, Tripp eased into a red retro-style metal lawn chair and propped one bare foot on the porch rail. He couldn’t ask for a more relaxing start to a Sunday morning.

  For now, at least, it remained quiet. Not long after he’d arrived to start moving in on Friday, Serenity Hills Guest Ranch was invaded by a vanload of excited kids. Tripp’s landlord, Seth Austin, had apologized for not giving him a heads-up about Camp Serenity, a program the ranch participated in for disadvantaged children. Turned out this was one of their camping weekends.

  The clop-clop of horses’ hooves drew Tripp’s attention to the tree-shaded lane. Moments later Seth Austin ambled into view with his towheaded young son, Joseph, each of them leading a horse.

  “Mornin’.” While his son continued on, Seth halted in front of Tripp’s cabin. “Getting settled in okay?”

  Tripp swallowed a bite of toast before replying. “Close. Got a few more things to unpack.”

  “Any problems, feel free to holler.” Seth patted his horse’s neck. “Just taking horses out to pasture. Didn’t mean to disturb you.”

  “Not at all. I grew up in the city, but my grandparents used to have horses. Nice being around them again.”

  “Anytime you’re up for a trail ride, I’m happy to oblige. In fact,” Seth said wit
h a nod behind him toward the barn, “we’ll be taking several campers out for one more ride this afternoon before they head back to San Antonio. You’re welcome to come along.”

  “Thanks, I’ll think about it.”

  “Oh, and my wife and kids are going into town for Sunday school and church this morning. Christina would be happy to introduce you around.”

  Tripp chewed his lip. Juniper Bluff was a small town. How likely was it that Diana went to the same church? Nope, not quite ready to risk running into her again. “Maybe next time, after I get a little more organized.”

  “Sure thing.” Seth clucked to his horse and continued along the lane. “Let me know if you’re interested in that trail ride.”

  “I will. Thanks.”

  While Tripp finished breakfast, the nickering of horses, birdcalls from the treetops and the scent of cedar in the air lulled him into the deepest sense of relaxation he’d felt since before he started veterinary school. Man, did he need this! After a couple of debilitating flare-ups within the last several months, his doctor had warned him that if he didn’t significantly reduce his stress level, keeping the Crohn’s under control would be next to impossible.

  From beyond the trees came the sounds of doors banging and children’s laughter. The campers must be up and about. Tripp took the commotion as his cue to go inside.

  As he set his breakfast dishes in the sink, his cell phone rang. The display showed his little sister, Brooke’s name and number. “Hey, sis.”

  “Hey, yourself. All moved in yet?” Much more a morning person than Tripp would ever be, she sounded way too perky for 6 a.m. California time.

  “Getting there. How’s it going with Mom?”

  Brooke’s long sigh drained all the lightness from her tone. “Not so good, Tripp. She’s trying hard to be positive, but the dialysis routine is wearing her down.”

  Tripp sank into the nearest chair and massaged his eye sockets. Fighting kidney disease for the past few years, their mom seemed closer than ever to losing the battle. “How’s Dad handling it?”

  “He’s struggling. Yesterday I caught him behind the garage crying his eyes out.”

  The image of his father breaking down brought a catch to Tripp’s throat. “I’m glad they moved out there with you, but I feel bad I can’t be of more help.” As the only family member who’d tested close enough to be a potential match for kidney donation, he felt even worse. The Crohn’s made him ineligible. “Maybe I should have transferred to a vet clinic near you in Los Angeles instead of staying here in Texas.”

  “No, Tripp, you’d hate it here. I would never have relocated to LA if not for Jeff—and then right when I thought the jerk was about to propose—” A gulp left the rest of her statement unspoken. “Tripp, I’m sorry. Our situations were totally different.”

  “It’s okay. I get it.” But he could have done without the reminder of how he’d ended things with Diana. Best to change the subject. “You still like your job, right?”

  “Definitely.” A smile had returned to her voice. “Getting promoted to accounts manager for an advertising firm has been my dream since college. So whenever I start fixating on...other things...I remind myself of the story of Joseph in the Bible where he tells his brothers, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.’” Her tone softened. “You need to believe that, too.”

  “Yeah, most days I try.” The thing was, Tripp had never wanted to hurt Diana, not in a million years. His Crohn’s diagnosis had hit him hard, though, and he felt he had to come to grips with it on his own before even considering bringing that kind of baggage into a relationship. During those difficult early months of two steps forward, one step back, as he learned to live with the disease, he’d convinced himself he’d done Diana a kindness by letting her go.

  “Hey, bro, I really called to find out how you’re doing. Do you like the new clinic?”

  “Nice people, a lot less stress. I think it’ll be a good fit.” Except for one tiny detail. “Uh, Brooke?” Back to the subject he didn’t seem able to avoid. “Did you happen to remember Juniper Bluff is where Diana Matthews is from?”

  “Diana—oh, wow! It’s been so long I’d forgotten.” A concerned pause hung between them. “Does she still live there? Have you seen her?”

  “Yes, and yes. She runs her own bakery and coffee shop, Diana’s Donuts. My new partner took me there for coffee yesterday.”

  “Yikes. Was it ridiculously awkward?”

  “You could say so.” Their second encounter at the supermarket deli hadn’t been much easier.

  “Maybe this is your chance to clear the air. I still can’t believe you never told her why you ended things. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to keep your secret?”

  “I know. It wasn’t fair.” He plowed his fingers through his hair. “But she’s got her own life now. After all this time, what if telling her the truth only hurts her more?”

  “Or...what if it gives you two a chance to fall in love all over again?”

  Tripp hadn’t so much as hinted that Diana was still single, and now he wasn’t about to. Seemed like the perfect time to end the call, before his sister went any more hopelessly romantic on him. “How about you tend to your own love life and let me tend to mine.” Dismal as it was. “Bye, sis. Give Mom and Dad hugs for me.”

  Later, as he arranged socks and T-shirts in the chest of drawers, his hand grazed the small velveteen box he’d never been able to part with, its contents an ever-present reminder of what he’d given up. He opened the lid for one more longing look at the classically elegant diamond ring nestled inside, while his sister’s parting words played through his mind. What if he and Diana really could find their way back to each other?

  And how many more regrets would he carry through life if he didn’t try?

  * * *

  Closing the shop after the early Sunday morning coffee-and-doughnuts rush, Diana almost decided to skip church. Why risk running into Tripp again in case he tagged along with Doc Ingram?

  But the past was the past, and she was a big girl now. Anyway, Juniper Bluff was too small a town to avoid Tripp for long—seeing him twice in the same day had proven as much—and she refused to rearrange her life on his account.

  Even so, when Doc Ingram and his wife arrived without Tripp in tow, Diana relaxed slightly. She offered a friendly nod but couldn’t help wondering how much Tripp had revealed about their shared history.

  Leaving the sanctuary after worship, Diana spotted Christina Austin, pregnant with twins and already showing. Her service dog, Gracie, stood faithfully at her side. The gentle golden retriever, who helped Christina deal with the aftereffects of the traumatic brain injury she’d suffered in a car accident a few years ago, reminded Diana yet again how an animal’s love and devotion could make a positive difference in someone’s life.

  She ambled over to say hello. “Hey, lady, how are things at the ranch?”

  Christina turned with a cheery smile. She held the hand of her seven-year-old stepdaughter, Eva. “It’s another Camp Serenity weekend. Need I say more?”

  “Ah. That explains your handsome hubby’s absence. Did Joseph stay home, too?”

  “No, he’s around here somewhere.” Christina’s glance swept the crowded foyer. “He had a question about his pony for Doc Ingram.”

  Eva looped one arm around Gracie’s neck. “I have a pony now, too,” she told Diana. “Her name’s Candy.”

  “Wow, that’s great!” Diana knelt to tweak Eva’s pale yellow curls. “Can I come see her sometime?”

  “Sure. We’re gonna do a trail ride with the campers after lunch. Wanna come with us?”

  Diana hadn’t had much time lately to take her own horse out on the trail, and the weather today would be perfect. She pushed to her feet. “What time are y’all heading out?”

  “They’ll saddle up around one thirty,
” Christina replied. “Seth can always use an extra hand to keep those energetic campers in line.” She patted her pregnant belly. “And I’m not much help these days, especially if it involves getting on a horse.”

  “It does sound fun.” Diana checked her watch. She could easily grab a bite for lunch, run out to her parents’ ranch to load Mona in the horse trailer and make it out to Serenity Hills in time for the ride. “Okay, count me in.”

  By one o’clock she’d stowed her saddle and other gear in the tack compartment of her dad’s one-horse trailer, already hitched to his pickup. Mona, her copper penny bay mare, looked eager for a change of scenery and pranced into the trailer with her head held high.

  “Hope you settle down before we get there,” Diana said as she clipped the trailer tie to Mona’s halter. “I don’t need any extra drama this weekend.” Seeing Tripp Willoughby walk into her doughnut shop yesterday was about all the drama she could handle for the next, oh, fifty years or so.

  At Serenity Hills, Seth Austin and his stable hands already had several horses saddled and tied to the corral fence. Waving to him as she passed, Diana pulled into a parking area next to the barn.

  As she stepped around to the rear of the horse trailer, Seth ambled over and offered a friendly hug. “Christina said you’d probably join us. Need some help with Mona?”

  “I’m fine.” Diana grinned toward the camp counselors struggling to buckle riding helmets onto the heads of several rambunctious campers. “Anyway, looks like you’ve got your hands full over there.”

  “That’s the truth. Two more hours and we’ll have peace and quiet again.” Seth exaggerated a look of fatigue, but Diana knew how much he enjoyed the arrangement he and his grandparents, Bryan and Marie Peterson, had made with the San Antonio–based philanthropic organization that sponsored Camp Serenity. Besides saving the family from having to sell the guest ranch, the camp provided fun and adventure for kids who might otherwise never have the chance to get out of the city, much less to learn about horses and riding.