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“So even if therewaslocal feeling against the Maxwell family, you didn’t have a choice.”
“We wouldn’t have brought in just anyone.” Marge reached out to lay a hand on Jolie’s arm. “The committee thought you were ideal. You have the right background, and you have family in the area.” She hesitated. “It’s none of my business, but I’d guess you haven’t been in close touch with people here for a while.”
An understatement, at best. Her closest childhood friend, Gwen, now practiced medicine in Billings, but they hadn’t seen each other since high-school graduation.
“Walking Stones Ranch is a good thirty miles away. Thea, Cassie, and I were home-schooled until high school, so we didn’t get to know people in town very well. Then I went straight to college after graduation. The town has grown, changed during the sixteen years I’ve been away. I haven’t seen many familiar faces.”
“Well, don’t you worry. Things will work out just fine.” Marge lifted a wrist and glanced at her watch, then bustled toward the door. “I’ve got to get back to school for a teachers’ meeting,” she said briskly over her shoulder. “Call me if you have any concerns.”
As if calling you would mean getting a straight answer.Jolie stared after her in bemusement, then picked up the broom and began sweeping again.
Calling the ranch had been futile, too. She’d phoned twice, left messages on the machine, but spring calving always kept everyone busy night and day, and no one had returned her calls.
Some homecoming.
Back in Los Angeles, she’d dreamed about the close sense of community that existed in small towns. The feeling of belonging. Everything that had been missing from her life for years.
Though she hadn’t realized it until Wendell Hill died early last December.
He’d been a patient of hers. Crowds of concerned friends and relatives had maintained a constant vigil at his bedside throughout his last three weeks.
Though nearly destitute, he’d been deeply loved. Watching the outpouring of affection and concern for him, she’d realized that few people in her life would even notice if she disappeared.
So far, things hadn’t changed much.
She was back in Garrett Bluff, and her most significant conversations had been with a ten-year-old boy and a llama.
She surveyed the waiting room, imagining it filled with children and moms, and the elderly stooped over their canes. She wistfully remembered Thea’s beautiful wedding to Deputy Sheriff Rafe Rafferty. A perfect couple—deeply in love. What more could anyone ever ask for?
She’d shed tears of joy for her sister that day. And later, when she’d headed back to California alone, perhaps even a few for herself.Foolish dreams, useless wishes,she’d reminded herself firmly. Marriage and family weren’t in her own future.
But whatever was missing in her personal life, her profession provided a deep sense of satisfaction. She would make a positive difference in the lives of people in Garrett Bluff.
And that would just have to be enough.
CHAPTER TWO
ANNIE DAWSON GLAREDat her younger brother. If desperate, heartfelt wishes meant anything, she would be back in their old neighborhood instead of this stupid town. And Charlie would have turned into a frog years ago.
“Come on, Charlie!”
Instead of cooperating, helping her escape, he plopped down on a bench in front of the elementary school. “Just ’cause you’re fourteen doesn’t mean you’re the boss. Dad said to wait here.”
“He’ll see us on the sidewalk downtown,” she hissed, grabbing his arm. “Come on!”
“Ow!”
The crowd standing around in front of the middle school across the street seemed to turn around as one and look straight at her. One of the taller boys snickered.
Annie wished she could beam herself to any other spot on the whole planet.
Today had been their first day of school. She’d never wanted to move.
Starting school at the end of March was like moving to another world, where people spoke a different language and had bonded together against any aliens who might turn up. Like her.
The humiliation of all the stares and whispers in every class had been bad enough.
Tripping as she walked out at the end of the day, dropping her books at the feet of the three most gorgeous boys in school, had been a hundred times worse.
