“Barbara?”
“The widow he's been video chatting with for months.” She said it like I should know this already. “He didn't mention her?”
“No.”
Why would he? I never make small talk during appointments.
“Well, he's smitten. It's adorable.” She glanced toward the barn door where the goat had escaped. “So I'm in charge now. You're stuck with me instead.”
Stuck with her.I grabbed my bag from where it had landed near the tack room. “Great.” The word came out sharper than I intended.
Her smile flickered. “Buddy's in the first stall. I assume you know what you're doing?”
“It's an annual checkup. I've done a few.”
“Right. Of course.” She crossed her arms. “Do you need anything? Water? Help? A personality?”
I looked at her. She looked back, chin lifted.
Fair enough.
“I'm good.”
“All right. Well, I'll be chasing goats.” She turned on her heel. “That seems to be my life now.”
Her boots thumped across the barn floor as she left. I stood there for a moment, staring after her.
What just happened?
Buddy snorted as I opened the gate, bumping my shoulder with his nose.
“I'm an idiot,” I told Buddy quietly, running my hands down his front legs. “Complete mess.”
He shifted his weight, patient.
“She tackled me and I made it weird. That's a talent, right? Making normal situations awkward?” I moved to his hind legs, checking for heat or swelling. “Should've just said hello like a normal person. But no, I had to?—”
Buddy huffed a breath.
“Whatever.” I straightened, running my hands along his back. “I don't have time for small talk anyway. Too much to do.”
She's a client. That's all.
I crouched down, working my way through the rest of the exam.
“You're good. Joints look great for eighteen. Walt's been taking good care of you.”
I pulled out my notes, scribbling observations I'd forget otherwise. Heart rate normal. No lameness. Teeth showed expected wear but nothing concerning.
A high-pitched squeal cut through the barn's quiet.
I froze, pen hovering over my notes.
“Oh myGod!” Rosie's voice carried from outside, bright with delight. “Where did you come from? Look at you! You're so cute!”
Oh no.The puppy. I'd left it in the truck.
It needed calm and quiet. Rosie didn't strike me as either of those things.
