1
Olivia
“Petey could get used to having a pretty lady vet coming to see him,” Trent Keller teases me. I laugh at the ranch owner. From someone else, it might seem that he’s flirting with me. But not Trent. It’s obvious to anyone that meets him that he’s in love with his fiancée, Lacy. Plus, I’m good friends with the wife-to-be.
“I think he’s getting used to me already. Aren’t you, Petey?” Running my hand over the horse, I look for the health quality of fur and the whites of his eyes for clarity. “Looks like his stomach issues are clearing up. I’d like to give him a few more days on his treatment and then I’ll come back and get a blood sample to screen.”
Trent agrees. “You’re already better than the vet Winters. He was getting too old to keep up with all the ranches around here. You never knew when he’d show up after calling him, he was moving pretty slow. I know you’re still new as the vet in town, but your reputation is already stellar, and that’s saying something in a ranching community.”
“Thanks, Trent. I take my work seriously, so I’m glad to hear that people can see that,” I say.
He nods and sort of laughs.
“What’s so funny?” I ask with my hand on my hip.
He puts up his hands up in surrender quickly. “Nothing bad. I was just agreeing that you take your work seriously. I don’t think you’ve taken a moment to breathe since you got back. Have you gone out for any fun or to just have a drink and unwind?”
“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” I say since I can’t exactly say that I’ve taken any time to unwind. He’s made a good point. In fact, he doesn’t know how good a point he’s just made.
As I pack up my supplies, I try to remember the last time I cut loose enough to even get laid, and if my recollection can be trusted, it’s been more than a year. I moved to Forest Grove when I was a freshman in high school. I never fit in and was happy to leave when I graduated.
I look around the ranch and see the mountains and the road leading to town. I never thought I would come back here, but what I’ve found is that even though I hated it then, I know after being in the big city and living that life that I want the small-town life. This would be a great place to raise kids. I barely resist rolling my eyes. At this rate, I’ll never get married or have kids. I’ve put everything into finishing my degree and residency. Now that I’ve become the vet at Happy Critters, I’ve put one hundred percent into that without taking any time off, not even a night out.
What am I waiting for? I put off relationships and the fun nights out so that I could get top marks in school and get my own veterinary business going. Well, I’m finished with school and internships. I’ve got my business running.
I feel a big smile curve my lips as the realization sinks in that I’ve earned some time for fun. I’ve only got two more stops to make and then I’m off for the night.
Derrick
After a tough day of driving cattle and successfully training Bastian, the three-year-old quarter horse on the job, I’m ready to do a little celebrating. Even though I’m one that keeps to myself mostly, I still know when I need a break. A few beers and a few games of pool is just the opportunity I need.
After getting cleaned up, I go to the Roadside Diner and Bar on the outskirts of town, where I play a game of pool and have a few drinks. “How you doing?” I ask Sheriff Scott Jordan as I walk by his table. He’s not in uniform and seems to be here on a date.
“Good, Derrick. How’s it going out at the ranch?”
“Good. Good. We’ve had to pick up some slack since Jason joined up, but Trent and I have it under control.”
“Carrie, this is…” Scott starts to say.
“Derrick Keller,” she says, interrupting the sheriff. “I know him. He and Bart are good friends.”
Her older brother Bart was a good friend of mine back in high school, and the last I heard he was a detective in Knox. “How’s he been? I haven’t seen him in ages.”
“He’s good. He’s coming to visit soon. I’ll have him come out to the ranch to see you.”
Ordinarily, I turn down offers to visit, but Bart was definitely a good friend to me and my family growing up. “That’d be great. Well, I’ll let you two get back to your dinner.”
After a few niceties and a wave from Carrie, I walk away.
Stepping up to the bar, I take a seat on the stool and order. “Hey, Jared. I’ll take a Miller Lite on draft.” I play a few games of pool with a few of the ranch hands that came in to let loose, but it isn’t long before they leave early. “Be honest. You’re leaving because I’m winning,” I joke with Miguel. He’s one of my most trusted hands and an all-around good guy. He laughs and doesn’t disagree, but I know the truth. He’s got a family, a wife, and kids to see to. The sheriff and Carrie are gone. Looking around, it seems mostly single people are left, reminding me that I don’t have anyone to rush home to, so I’m watching the game as I down another beer.
The front door opens, and a hush seems to go over the few people still left at the Roadside Diner and Bar. When a petite, curvy brunette comes in, I can’t help but notice her. It would be hard not to, seeing as how the few people in the bar seems to quiet down and every head is turned toward her. She’s got the sexiest curves, not a stick figure or bag of sharp bones like I’m used to seeing and easily dismissing.
Maybe it’s the beer I’ve been downing all night, but I don’t think that’s the case. I quit drinking a while ago to sober up for my ride home. But she’s got the kind of looks that make it impossible to look away. She’s like a magnet, and no matter how many times I make myself look away, my gaze returns to the sexy stranger.
Who is she?
2
Olivia
Even though I’ve been back in Forest Grove for a month, this is my first real night out. In my favorite tight jeans, cute V-neck blouse, and cowgirl boots, I’m excited to hang out, maybe watch a game on one of the many televisions and drink a glass of wine. I haven’t relaxed in a long time, and I know it’s time I do.
As I’m walking in, I almost trip on my boots because a really hot-looking cowboy type has locked eyes with me. I catch myself, and I can feel the waves of embarrassment creeping up my face, but I just keep going and sit down at the far end of the bar.
Yum! That guy is hard work built. That is so much sexier than gym built muscle.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asks.
I almost open my mouth and order a white wine, but looking around, I realize that’s just going to be more proof that I’m sort of out of place here. “Beer. Whatever you’ve got on draft is fine.”
He nods his head and has my beer back to me in only a few seconds. I lift the frosty mug and take a big swallow. I can feel the eyes of everyone in the bar area staring at me, and I’m wondering if this is going to be a repeat of high school. Everyone staring at me and no one talking to me. Am I really that weird? Do I stand out that much?