Page 148 of Buckin' Around

Within the next breath, I’m drowning in a deluge of memories associated with those words. My heart aching and arms empty, I willfully let sleep drag me under.

“Missy is doing fine, Mr. O’Brien.” I stroke the small dog’s back as she shakes on the silver table of examination room three.

“If you say so,” he says, waving a hand. The small dog shrinks against me. “Ah, you young ones think you know every damn thing there is to know. Why do I bother?”

“All her vitals were normal. The scan on her belly was also normal. It’s possibly the cold and miserable days.”

He scoops the scared pup off the table and marches out the door with a wobble.

I can’t figure out if he’s just a drunk, cranky old man or something worse.

Good luck, Missy.

Adjusting the stethoscope around my neck, I turn back to the computer and write up my notes. Suze has handed off the easier, straightforward cases to me, but I still report back at the end of every shift, and I don’t want to be skimpy on the notes.

Hell will freeze over before I lose a paying job I have worked years for.

A knock comes at the door.

My heart spikes, head whipping up as wishful thinking clashes with my daydreams and I imagine Spence standing in the doorway. Leaning on it, of course.

It’s been ninety-four days . . .

Suze steps inside and sinks onto one of the blue plastic chairs on the opposite side of the examination table.

“I hear old Curtis O’Brien voicing his opinion on the newest vet in town out there.” She leans over and shuts the door with a hand. “Take no notice of him. It’s basically trial by fire with him and his lot of animals. Something the last intern couldn’t hack.”

I frown, hitting save before I turn back around.

“How often does he come in?”

“Couple times a week. If you ask me, he’s lonely. His wife passed five years ago, and his visits became clockwork. Sorry to palm him off on you, but John’s had enough of the old bugger.”

“Ah, I see. Maybe he needs a hobby?”

“He has that, down at the Smuggler. Just ask your brother.”

I chuckle. “He’s in good hands, then.”

“Look, Riley, I just wanted to tell you that you’re doing so great. This last three months of having you here have been wonderful. I know you’ve been settling back in after a year away. That must have been tough, on all of you. Please know we appreciate you so much, despite old man O’Brien’s ranting.”

“It’s fine. Honestly, I needed the distraction.”

The words are out before I can stop them.

“Oh, I see, leave something behind in the great land of the wild and free?”

I roll my eyes at her before my brain can catch up with my etiquette.

Suze gives me a soft, knowing smile. “Oh honey, some things are meant to last forever, and some things are only meant to be memories that last.”

My smile fades as my throat closes over.

How much I wish the first one was true.

Suze rises from the chair. “Either way, we are all very happy you came to us when you did, so that counts for something, right?”

“Yeah, it does.”