Fragile Hearts (Poplar Falls Book 4)

by Amber Kelly

  “You need a car,” I tell Elle something she already knows as she gets into the Mustang with us.

  “Why? Between you, Sonia, and Walker, I have a ride everywhere I want to go, and I don’t have to worry about pumping gas or paying insurance.”

  I hear a snicker from the back and look at Beau in the rearview mirror.

  “What’s so funny?” I ask him.

  “She got you there,” he says.

  “Well, I won’t be here much longer. You’ll be down one chauffeur in a couple of months,” I tell her.

  “Don’t leave us, Auntie Bells,” Beau pleads.

  “Oh, Beau, I won’t be far. Just a few hours’ drive away. I promise I’ll come see you and Faith every chance I get.”

  “But you can stay here, like Miss Sophie did. All you have to do is get Mr. Braxton to build you your own house,” he helpfully informs me.

  “Is that all?”

  “Yep.” He nods.

  “I’ll have to talk to him about that, then.”

  “He’ll do it for you because you are nice and pretty, like Miss Sophie. He likes nice, pretty girls,” he tells us.

  “What man doesn’t?” Elle mumbles under her breath.

  When we pull up to Walker’s shack, the driveway is packed with vehicles.

  “I didn’t know he had a full house this evening,” I say as I park next to Payne’s truck.

  “Yeah, he’s recruiting all the help he can get. He’s so anxious to get it finished,” she tells me as I pick Beau up out of the back and stand him on his feet.

  An old hound dog comes around the house, barking.

  “Hush, Woof. It’s just me,” Elle calls to him, and he stands and waits as Beau scurries to him.

  “Hey, Woof,” he says as he scratches the dog behind the ears.

  The two of them mosey around the side of the house, and we follow.

  The back is full of activity. Pop—Sophie’s grandfather—and Jefferson are standing at an old saw table, cutting what looks like well-worn wood. Braxton and Payne are up on scaffolding, trimming the roof, and Walker and Silas are carrying two large iron rails from the back of Walk’s pickup to the front opening of the massive barn.

  “Wow, you weren’t kidding. He is literally turning a barn into a house,” I say in awe.

  “Isn’t it cool as shit?” she asks as she beams up at it. “Come on. I’ll show you the inside,” she says, and I follow her up to the front of the construction.

  “Hey, babe,” she says as she smacks Walker on the ass when we pass him.

  “Hey now. I’m not a piece of meat, woman,” he says in mock offense.

  She stops, turns, and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

  “That’s more like it.”

  “What about you, Bells? Give me some sugar,” he says as he leans his cheek to me.

  “Eww,” I say as I push him away.

  “I’ll give you sugar, Walker,” Beau says as he stomps up beside us.

  “You save your sugar for the ladies, little man. Give me some skin,” Walker tells him as he extends his hand out.

  Beau grins and slaps it as hard as he can.

  I put my hand to Beau’s back and lead him into the barn with Elle and me, so he doesn’t get in the way of any of the adults’ work.

  “Whoa, look at that!” Beau says as we step inside.

  He runs to the right and looks into the room with an open door.

  “This place is amazing, Elle, even better than you described it,” I marvel as I take in the massive space.

  Pop Lancaster and Jefferson carry in the reclaimed wood door they created and attach it to the track above one of the rows of stalls that lines the far wall. Each stall has a bed inside.

  “I can’t believe they are so far along.” I’m amazed at the progress they’ve made in a few short months.

  “Braxton and Walker are on a mission to get it finished before Sophie delivers,” she says.

  “When are you planning to move in?”

  “I plan to move in next year, after the wedding. Walker could move on in if he wanted to, but he swears he’s happy in the shack until we can move in together.”

  “I’m surprised you’re waiting. I’d want to move right in.”

  She shrugs. “I don’t know. I know it sounds old-fashioned, but on my wedding day, I want to be carried over the threshold into our new home as man and wife. Besides, it will probably take that long to get all the final touches and the decorating done, and I don’t want to move in until it all comes together.”

  That’s our Elle, always the rule follower. Even in high school. While Sonia and I were rebelling and misbehaving, she was the steadfast one, constantly trying to keep us in check. Though we managed to drag her into a few of our schemes from time to time.

  “Can this one be my room?” Beau asks as he rolls open the door Jefferson just finished hanging.

  “It sure can. I’ll even have Walker put your name on the door,” Elle offers.

  “Cool!”

  We make our way out to the patio on the back of the house, which already has a big L-shaped outdoor sofa surrounding a rock firepit. We sit and can hear the nearby stream trickling behind the trees. We chat and wait for the fellas to finish their work for the day.

  Once they are done, Walker comes and squats down beside Elle.

  “You finished?”

  “For the day, yes.”

  “I’ll go grab us some towels and a cooler,” she says before walking to the shack.

  Beau and Woof come running up.

  “Hey, little man. You ready to go play in some wet water?” Walker asks him.

  Beau gives him a funny look.

  “Did you just say, ‘wet water’?” I ask.

  “Yep.”

  “You’re a dipshit.”

  Elle walks up.

  “Woman, your friend is calling me names again.”

  “What did you call him, Bells?”

  “A dipshit.”

  She purses her lips and thinks for a moment. Then, she shrugs. “I’ll allow it.”

  Beau snickers.

  “Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side,” Walker says as he picks Beau up and tosses him over his shoulder.

  Woof starts barking up at him.

  “You too, dog. You’re both traitors.”

  Walker leads us to his pier, and he takes Elle, Beau, and me out on his granddaddy’s old fishing boat. We spend the rest of the evening out on the “wet water.”

  Brandt

  I drive Mom into Denver to catch her flight to Portland.

  “There are leftovers in the freezer. I labeled them all and left instructions on how long to heat them. There should be enough to get you through the first week. After that, you’ll have to stop and get takeout,” she says as I pull her bag from the back of my vehicle.

  “Don’t worry. I promise I won’t starve. I can feed myself, you know,” I tell her as I kiss her cheek.

  “Lou-Lou’s special food is in the refrigerator in the bottom drawer. I give her a small bowl twice a day. First thing when we get up in the morning and then again around five. She’s not used to being alone at night, so she may want to sleep in your room. Just pull her bed in and she’ll curl up on it. If she gets too anxious, you can call and I’ll talk to her over the phone and try to soothe her.”

  “Vet here, remember? I think I can handle your pup’s needs,” I mutter.

  “That reminds me, Bellamy will be at the clinic first thing Monday morning. I already went over your schedule with her, and she has my number, so she can call me with any questions.” She ignores me and continues to fret over her instructions.

  “Mom, we’ll be fine. It’s for two weeks. Nothing is going to fall apart in two weeks. Not me and not the clinic. Just go and enjoy Debbie and the kids,” I try to reassure her.

  She hugs me tight. “I will, son. I’ll miss you though.”

  “I’ll miss you too, Mom.”

  Once I see her safely into the terminal, I hea
d back home. Home. Poplar Falls is finally starting to feel like home. That is something I never thought would happen when we landed here.

  Today, a new tractor is being delivered, so I can start clearing my land, and I have a general contractor coming out at two o’clock to give me a quote on the renovations I have planned for the house. Once the house is complete, I’ll start the landscaping.

  Since it was built in the 1800s, I was able to go to the Poplar Falls Historical Society office, which is basically a room the size of a large closet off the library downtown, and I had them look up the original blueprints of the house. My goal is to restore it to its former glory but with a few modern upgrades, if at all possible.

  I’m not handy myself per se. My father was a businessman, and he taught me a lot about finance and business but not my way around a hammer and chain saw. However, I would love to learn as much as possible and do what work I can with my own two hands. I just need someone with the patience to show me as they go, but the yard I can do. I worked endlessly on ours back in Portland. I was in a non-verbal battle of wills against one of the retired gentlemen down the street on who would have the best manicured lawn. He won, but I gave it my all, and I enjoyed getting my hands in the dirt.

  Yesterday I dropped a small fortune on tools at the hardware store and then proceeded to spend the next few hours watching YouTube videos on how to demo a kitchen and how to lay new hardwood floors. They made it look so easy. How hard can it be?

  Bellamy

  I arrive early for my first day of work at the clinic. I wasn’t exactly sure how to dress, so I decided on a pair of wide-leg soft-gray linen dress pants, an off-the-shoulder white drop blouse with a darker gray satin ribbon across the top, and a pair of pencil-strap black stilettos. I let my hair fall in beach waves and did my makeup for the first time this summer. I assess my reflection in the glass door before I enter, and I like the look. As much as I enjoy the laid-back, natural lifestyle on the ranch, every woman loves a reason to get gussied up from time to time.

  The bell above the door chimes as I enter the front office.

  I drop my purse behind the sleek black desk and head down the hallway to start the coffeepot.

  As I turn the corner to the small break room, a door opens. Dr. Haralson steps out in my path, and we collide.

  “Whoa,” he says as he clutches my bare shoulder to steady me as I lose my balance.

  “Sorry,” I offer. “I guess I’m out of practice, walking in heels.”

  He looks down at my feet and then slowly raises his gaze back up my body.

  “You look very nice,” he chokes out.

  “I bet I smell better than I did, covered in horse afterbirth too,” I tease.

  He leans in and inhales deeply.

  “So much better,” he agrees.

  When he lets me go, I walk into the break room, and he follows with Lou-Lou on his heels.

  “Is there anything you need me to do at the moment? I was about to start the coffee and then take a look at the schedule for today.”

  “Could you call out to Rustic Peak and ask Braxton if we can reschedule my visit this afternoon for some time next week? I have a load of lumber being dropped off at my house, and I’d like to be there, if at all possible,” he says as he opens the cabinet above the sink and hands me a bag of ground coffee.

  I wrinkle my nose at the offered sack.

  “What?” he asks.

  “You drink that stuff?”

  He looks down at the bag in his hand, confused. “Yes.”

  “Gross. I’ll pop into Dallas’s shop and grab us a couple of to-go cups, and then at lunch, I’ll walk down to the market and get some quality coffee to brew for tomorrow.”

  “Seriously? You can make this for me and get something else for yourself, if you’d like,” he says as he tries to hand it over.

  “No way. You’re not drinking that either. Now, go to your office and do whatever you need to get ready for the day, and I’ll be back before we open.”

  I shoo him toward the door, and he shakes his head like I’m crazy.

  “All right, I know better than to argue with a woman.” He gives in.

  “Smart man,” I call after him.

  I hear a yap and look down to see Lou-Lou watching me with anticipation.

  “Come on, girl, let’s go for a walk and get Doc some decent java to kick-start his day.”

  When we make it over to Bountiful Harvest, Doreen is sitting at a table, chatting with Dottie, who is icing cupcakes behind the counter.

  “Good morning, ladies,” I greet as Lou-Lou noses past me and bounces over to sit in front of the counter awaiting one of the treats Dottie always keeps for the fur babies that come in with her customers.

  “Bellamy, don’t you look spiffy this morning?” Doreen says, and I do a turn.

  “Why, thank you, ma’am,” I say while doing a little curtsy.

  “What’s the occasion?” she asks.

  “I’m filling in for Miss Elaine over at the vet clinic for a couple of weeks while she visits with her grandchildren. I just wanted to look professional,” I explain.

  She gives me a conspiratorial look. “That Dr. Brandt isn’t hard on the eyes, is he?”

  “He sure isn’t, but this is a strictly professional relationship,” I say pointedly.

  “You never know. Love grows in unexpected places,” she says more to herself than to me.

  “No, I do know. According to Elle, Doc prefers his single status, and I’m not going to be here much longer anyway. Hopefully.”

  “I’m not so sure Brandt prefers it as much as he is trapped in it,” she says cryptically. “And the quickest way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans, young lady.”

  I sit in the seat beside her. “Don’t go throwing all that wise, old logic and voodoo you do all over me, Aunt Doreen,” I playfully command.

  “No voodoo about it. And if you live long enough, you’ll understand one day when Beau and Faith are stumbling around, trying to find their way. A little nudge in the right direction from Auntie Bells might be just what they need.”

  Hmm … I like the thought of that.

  “Can I get you anything, dear?” Dottie asks as she takes the tray of fresh cupcakes and places it in the clear display case before tossing Lou-Lou a biscuit.

  “Oh, yes, I forgot. Two large coffees with cream, one with two sugars, and toss in a couple of those banana nut muffins, please.”

  I open my purse to grab my wallet just as my phone starts to vibrate.

  I pull it out and read the display to see that the call is coming in from Denver.

  I call to Dottie that I’ll be right back and excuse myself, stepping outside as I answer the call.

  “This is Bellamy Wilson,” I greet the caller.

  “Miss Wilson, this is Cathy with Dr. Singh’s office at the Denver Zoo,” she begins.

  My stomach does a little flip. This is it.

  “It’s nice to speak to you, Cathy. I hope you are having a good morning.”

  “Yes, I am, and I wish I were calling under better circumstances. Dr. Singh wanted me to let you know that, unfortunately, he had to make the difficult decision to go with a different candidate for the animal nutritionist position. He was very impressed by your résumé, and all of your references spoke highly of you, including our own staff that you worked with here at the zoo, but after careful consideration, another applicant has been offered the job.”

  “I see,” I whisper as I try to hold off the sob that is forming in the back of my throat.

  “Bellamy, Dr. Singh wanted me to let you know that you were the other applicant in the running, and you were barely nudged out by someone more qualified. He plans to keep your résumé on file, and if any new positions come open within the department, you will be first in line,” she consoles.

  “Please tell Dr. Singh thank you for me,” I manage to say.

  “I will, and you be patient. I’m sure you’ll be a part of the Denver Zoo family in
the near future.”

  I end the call and stare at the phone in my hand for a long while.

  Dottie sticks her head out of the door and calls to me, “Your coffees are going to get cold, dear.”

  “Oh, of course. I’ll be right there.”

  I compose myself and plant a smile on my face before I go in to claim and pay for my order.

  Then, gather my purchase and Lou-Lou, bid good-bye to the ladies and stroll back to the clinic, lost in my thoughts.

  What do I do now? I didn’t have a plan B.

  Bellamy

  I tried to put my disappointment in the back of my mind and give the day my full attention. The clinic was busy from the moment I flipped the Open sign until an hour past closing. Brandt saw steady patients at the office and made four big-animal house calls in between. Everyone was very patient as they waited for his return, but it was chaotic at best.

  After the last family leaves with their newly neutered pup, I lock the door and begin to close out the computer for the night.

  “Thank you for all the help today, Bellamy. You probably weren’t expecting to be a secretary, babysitter, dog sitter, clinical assistant, and housekeeper, all at once.”

  I look from the screen to Brandt, who is leaning against the doorframe, watching me.

  “It was fine. I like a quick-paced job. Besides, being busy makes the day go faster and keeps me out of my own head,” I tell him.

  He considers me for a moment and nods. “I agree.”

  He turns to head back to his office, and I stop him.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  He looks back at me.

  “Is it always like this? Because if it is, you obviously need some real help. It might be time for Poplar Falls to look into getting a domestic/family-animal vet in addition to a large-animal vet. I know Dr. Sherrill handled it all himself for many years, but the town is growing, and so are the ranches. It might be more than one man can handle before too long.”

  He sighs. “To be honest, I’ve put some feelers out for a vet tech. The practice can afford a decent salary, and there is a lot a technician can do that wouldn’t require my personal attention, which would free me up for house calls quite a bit. They could handle the routine exams and vaccinations while I was out of the office, and they could assist me in surgery, which would make those go quicker. They could even assist me out in the field when needed.