The Heart of the Rodeo

by Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue

  Blake shook her head at the irritated woman. “I need some air,” she said, going out the front door and onto the porch. She sat down in her rocking chair and pulled out the pack of cigarettes that she had taken off the table and took a cigarette out of the package. Blake lit the small tobacco vessel, feeling the anxiety and irritation leaving her body immediately. She closed her eyes and leaned back, listening to the birds as they chirped in the trees and the quiet creak of her chair as it rolled back and forth over the porch.

  Just as she had begun to clear her head and enjoy her piece, Blake heard footsteps approaching the front door. “Not again,” she thought to herself. This woman was beginning to become a nuisance. Blake kept her eyes closed, hoping that the other woman would walk past her or possibly just walk away if she didn’t pay any attention to her.

  “What are you doing?” she heard Jane’s voice inquire in a scolding tone.

  “Leave me alone,” Blake replied.

  “Fine, I’ll leave you alone,” Jane told her in a taunting voice.

  Blake opened her eyes and looked at the other woman, wondering what she meant with her tone. “Good,” she said, watching to see if Jane was going to leave, but the other woman just stood there. “I thought you were going to leave me alone,” Blake told her.

  “If that’s what you want,” Jane replied. “But just so you know, that means that I will be calling the hospital and telling them that you aren’t cooperating with our care plan.”

  “Don’t do that,” Blake said. “I don’t need any more issues. I already can’t use my leg.”

  “Then, you need to work with me,” Jane said. “I understand that you need space at some point, but you need to do what is best for your health.”

  “Fine,” Blake gave in. “Now, will you go away?”

  “Yeah,” Jane told her, taking the cigarette out of her mouth and putting it out on the porch. “Another thing, you can’t be smoking if you are trying to heal. It slows the process. Now, give me that pack of cigarettes in your hand.”

  “I didn’t sign up to be bossed around,” Blake said, giving the woman a hard look.

  “No, but you did sign up as my patient, and smoking isn’t something that is going to help me help you,” Jane responded.

  Blake could feel the anger build in her chest as she looked at the other woman stand there with her hands on her hips. “You know what,” Blake said. “I don’t need this. I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone. I was fine on my own, and I will be fine on my own. I’m not going to have you tell me what I can and can’t do.”

  “The only thing that I have told you not to do at this point is smoke,” Jane told her. “And that is part of my job.”

  “So, now I need a babysitter, huh?” Blake retorted. “You think that I can’t take care of myself?”

  “I didn’t say that,” Jane said. “But right now, you need help, so let me help you, or I can contact the hospital, and they can find a way to help you.”

  “Fine,” Blake replied, handing her the pack of cigarettes. “Now, please leave me alone.”

  “Alright,” Jane said, walking away. “But you better get some dinner at some point.”

  Blake waited for the woman to walk away and pulled out a tin of chewing tobacco that she had stored on the window sill. She might have to deal with this woman for now, but in the meantime, she wasn’t going to let her control her life.

  Chapter Five

  Jane had just gotten done cooking dinner for Blake and herself and was now trying to dish up a couple of plates so that they could enjoy something warm in their stomachs after a long day. She had waited to see if Blake was going to come in on her own, but with no avail the other woman sat on the porch the whole time. She didn’t even come in to use the facilities. Jane put the two plates of steaming spaghetti on the dining room table with her homemade salad and garlic bread. She had managed to scrap together what she could from the other woman’s kitchen and garden, and after about an hour or more of work, she was tired and ready to replenish her energy with a full meal.

  Jane washed her hands, drying them off on a dish towel that she found dangling from the stove and walked towards the front door to alert the other woman of the aromatic meal. Opening the door, she looked over to where Blake’s rocking chair was and noticed that the other woman had fallen asleep. She didn’t know too much about these parts, and she wasn’t sure that it was safe for her to leave her unattended. Jane walked over to a snoring Blake and lightly touched her shoulder, trying to wake her up. Blake stirred, but she didn’t wake up. “Blake,” Jane whispered. “It’s time for dinner.”

  Blake’s groggy eyes opened, and she blinked a couple of times. “What time is it?” she asked Jane, looking around.

  “It’s dinner time,” Jane replied. “Now, come on in. I’m sure that you could use something warm in your stomach.”

  Blake groaned, but she got up, following Jane inside. She walked into the dining room and picked up a plate, trailing her way into the living room and turning on the television. “Thanks,” she said, sitting down on the couch.

  Jane looked at the other woman and shook her head. “I thought that you were going to come in here and eat with me.”

  “Oh,” Blake said, shuffling to get up. “I was going to see if the rest of the rodeo was being broadcasted on the local television. Since I can’t be there, I’d at least like to see who won the events.”

  “Fine,” Jane said, sitting alone in the dining room. She was irritated at the woman’s lack of manners, but she knew that the rodeo meant a lot to her. That’s what got her in the position that she was in, in the first place. Jane said thanks for her food and scooped up a warm pile of noodles and sauce, feeling the hot food immediately travel down to her empty stomach. She had been so busy with her day that she had forgotten to eat, and this meal made her feel more than content. Jane worked through the spaghetti and salad, finding herself done with her dinner in a record time.

  She could feel her body growing tired, and she knew that she had a big day ahead of her. She was due in the office first thing in the morning, and she would be able to meet her staff and start booking appointments. Jane cleaned up her dishes and walked out of the dining room and to the stairway that led to her room. Jane could hear Blake’s voice hooting and hollering in the living room as she picked up the luggage that she had left by stairs and walked up to the hallway filled with rooms. Jane shook her head, thinking about how stubborn the other woman was. She had a lot of work on her hands, trying to help Blake out, and she knew that Blake wasn’t going to make it easy on her.

  Jane opened the first door on the right and let herself in. The room was quaint. It had a small double bed, a dresser, a closet, and a small television. She put her suitcase on the bed and sat down. Normally, on a day like this, she would go out with Cam and relax, but since she didn’t know too much about this town, she wasn’t sure where to look for entertainment. Jane sighed, pulling her cell phone out of her pocket. She could at least see what her friend was up to. At least she knew Cam would be out enjoying herself. Jane dialed Cam’s number and listened to the ringing until she heard a click. “Hello,” Jane said into the receiver.

  “How are you doing, Janie?” Cam replied.

  “Not too good,” Jane said, getting up to close the door. “It’s already been a long day.”

  “Not liking the new client?” Cam inquired.

  “I don’t know,” Jane told her. “She’s really stubborn and doesn’t want to listen to my advice.”

  “Welcome to the medical field,” Cam laughed. “She won’t be the only one like that. Try to take it with a grain of salt.”

  “I know,” Jane said. “I guess you are right. I’ve dealt with other clients like her before, but somehow, she is different. She just gets to me, you know?”

  “No, I don’t know, Cam replied. “Are you sure that what you are dealing with is irritation and not attraction? It has been a while for you hasn’t it? And you know what they say, sometim
es, the person that aggravates you the most, is the one that you feel closest to.”

  “I am not attracted to her,” Jane protested. “I mean, she is cute, and she does have pretty eyes, but she just gets on my nerves. I could never be with someone like that.”

  Cam laughed. “Whatever you say, Dr. Steibold. Anyhow, I was just about to go out, can I call you back later?”

  “Yes,” Jane responded. “I just needed to blow off some steam.”

  “Well, relax,” Cam said. “You start your new job tomorrow, and that will certainly take your mind off of things. I’m sure that you have a lot to do there. You are the only doctor in the office after all.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” Jane said. “I need to focus on why I came here.”

  “It’ll get better, Janie,” Cam said. “Now, I have to go, or I’m going to miss my ride.”

  “Alright, bye,” Jane said, hanging up the phone. Cam was right. She needed to relax. It was only her first day helping out Blake, and she had a lot to think about with the opening of her office in town. Jane set her suitcase on the floor and walked across the room to turn out the main light. She switched on a small lamp on her nightstand, plugged her phone in, and laid down. She needed to get some sleep. Tomorrow was a different day, and she had a lot to do.

  Chapter Six

  Blake woke up from a long sleep, listening as her new house guest wandered around the house, getting ready for work. Blake was ready to get up, but she knew that it would be better to wait until the other woman made her way out of the house. She wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet while Jane was at work. She wasn’t used to living with another person, and the last twenty-four hours had been a reminder of how nice it was to enjoy her peace and quiet and make her own decisions.

  Blake listened as the other woman’s footsteps headed down the stairs. She listened harder and let out a silent cheer when she heard the noise that she was waiting for, the rattle of the screen door as it shut behind Jane. Blake positioned herself carefully on the bed, lifting herself up with her arms and looked around for the crutches that she had laid against the night stand by her bed. She picked up the two aids, working to maintain her balance as she guided her body off of the bed. Her body was sore, but her mind wasn’t going to let her sit still for too much longer, and she knew that she needed to find something to do with her day.

  Normally, she would be going to work at the local store, but since her accident, her boss had told her to take some time off. She had thought about going in anyway, but Walter worked there with her, and she knew that he wouldn’t put up with her stubborn behavior. Blake moved herself down the hallway and slowly down the stairs. The task is more difficult than she thought that it would be, but she made it work. Blake could smell the aroma of coffee permeating through the kitchen, and she hobbled over to the coffee pot to find a half of a pot still steaming. Jane had turned off the simple machine, but the temperature told Blake that the other woman hadn’t made it too long ago, and she was grateful that there was one less thing that she had to do.

  Blake opened the cupboard and looked through the number of coffee cups for hers. She always used the same cup, a brown, porcelain mug that her grandfather had given her years ago. She worked on holding herself up with her good leg and the crutches, wobbling a little as she filtered through the number of mugs, but she couldn’t find hers. Blake sat back on her crutches, trying to give her arms and leg a break while she tried to remember if she had taken her mug out and used it the night before. She let out a breath, tired already and looked around the kitchen. Her eyes scanned the counters and landed on a familiar shape that was sitting in the sink. Blake looked over and saw that it was her coffee cup, and the steaming liquid that was still sitting inside of it told her that Jane had been the last person to use it.

  “Darn woman,” Blake muttered, irritated that the other woman hadn’t been decent enough to ask if she could use her special mug. Blake pulled out another cup and laid it on the counter. She filled it with the warm liquid from the coffee pot and wandered over to the refrigerator to get the milk out, so she could top off her cup. Blake made it to the counter, added her milk, hobbled back to the refrigerator to put the milk back, and went back to her cup. By the time she made it back to her cup, she was tired again, and she stood there, shaking her head.

  Blake was used to being able to get around without it taking up all of her energy, and since breaking her leg, it seemed like things that should be easy were difficult and took up most of her strength. She was angry and frustrated that she wasn’t stronger. She didn’t like to feel helpless or weak, and she wasn’t used to feeling so tired all of the time. Blake stood at the counter, sipping on her warm beverage and knowing that even though she wanted to sit down, there was no way that she was going to make it with the cup into the living room. She finished her cup and groaned, knowing that she was going to need to sit for a minute. There were so many things that she wanted to do, and at this point, she wasn’t sure how much she would be able to get done before Jane got home and began to dictate her activities.

  Chapter Seven

  Jane walked through the small-town market and to the small door, where a physician’s sign hung over the door. She was nervous as this was the first time that she was going to be running a place on her own, but she had worked most of her life to get where she was today. Jane walked to the small door and smiled as she saw her reflection in the door’s glass. This was it. This was the make it or break it moment. Jane went to unlock the front door, but she found that it was already open. She twisted the knob and wandered inside, wondering who could have beat her to the office.

  “Hi, you must be Dr. Steibold,” a voice said as soon as she entered the small lobby.

  Jane looked over and saw a woman about her age sitting in a desk in the corner of the brightly lit room. “Hello, who are you?” Jane asked.

  “My name is Darla,” the woman smiled. “I am the receptionist. Our billing clerk is in the back. Her name is Suzanne. Besides that, the only staff that you will need to be advised of are the interns that come every once in a while to help out.”

  “That seems like a small staff,” Jane commented, looking around. The office was clean and nicely decorated, but it was smaller than she was used to, and she was going to have to check out the equipment that the town had to make sure that she had what she needed.

  “It is, but we don’t usually get too many appointments unless it’s the beginning of the school year or a popular time for sporting events,” Darla replied. “The small number of employees helps keep funds in the office so that we can stay open during slow seasons.”

  “How is rent handled?” Jane asked, curious on how a physician’s office could even stay open when it clearly had times where it lacked patients.

  “The town pays taxes to keep us open,” Darla said. “It’s easier than making people drive an hour or so to town to go to the doctor when they have an emergency, and we haven’t had a doctor in town for a month or two, so I’m sure people will be glad you are here. There’s nothing scarier than having to take a sick child or injured elderly person an hour away to get treated.”

  “I can understand that,” Jane said, still looking around. “I’m sorry if I was late. I had thought that the office hours said that we were open at 7:30.”

  “We are,” Darla told her. “I just like to get a head start on the day. I like to get here and organize everything and check the answering machine in case there were any overnight callers. I walk to work, so the earlier that I get here, the quieter the walk is, and in the morning, Melville is beautiful.”

  “You’re right about that,” Jane said. “I walked here myself, and this town is beautiful in the morning. I definitely wouldn’t be able to enjoy such tranquility in the city.”

  “Where are you from?” Darla asked, twirling a pencil with her fingers.

  “Hasting Falls,” Jane said. “It’s a lot different from here.”

  “Yeah, sometimes I drive up there during t
he weekends,” Darla said. “That is a big city.”

  “It’s all that I’ve really known for the last couple of years,” Jane said. “I guess moving here will be an adventure for me.”

  “Melville’s an adventure alright,” Darla said. “It might seem like a quiet little town, but there are a lot of events that go on here, and sometimes, its hard to keep track of.”

  “Well that eases my mind a little,” Jane told her. “I wasn’t sure if I would know what to do with myself here. In the city, I went out dancing and out to dinners. I even went to the sporting events once in a while, so I wasn’t sure what Melville would have to offer.”

  “Oh,” Darla said. “Melville has a lot of things. We have rodeos, fairs, line dancing, hiking groups, football games, bonfires, and more. It just depends on the season.”

  “Good to know,” Jane said. “I’m looking forward to learning more.”

  “Hello,” a loud voice sounded from the hall way. “I didn’t hear you walk in.”

  Jane looked towards the hallway and saw a blonde woman approach. She was a little older than Darla and Jane but only by a couple of years, and she looked very serious about her position. “Hello,” Jane said, walking towards her to extend a hand.

  “Hello,” the woman repeated. “I’m Suzanne. I expect that you are probably Dr. Steibold.”

  “Yes,” Jane answered. “I just got to town yesterday.”

  “Where are you staying?” Suzanne inquired.

  “Blake Young’s place,” Jane replied.

  “She is so sweet,” Darla said. “Even after all that she’s been through, she’s willing to put up a stranger in need.”

  “Sweet?” Jane asked, surprised that, that was the word used to describe the temperamental woman that she had dealt with only hours before.