He went back inside, and for lack of anything else to do, he started checking out universities to finish his degree. His interest was in aeronautic electronics, but he didn’t find a program that he liked. Maybe his heart wasn’t in it. The thought of spending the rest of his working life in an office was deeply depressing. Although he had a natural curiosity about nearly everything and was a good student, the classroom had been the means of getting to where he wanted to be, and that was in the sky. He liked the outdoors, playing sports and testing himself physically. All that was at risk now.
He found one of Josh’s books and took it to the porch. Maybe it would keep his mind from the future. And Stephanie Phillips.
* * *
STEPHANIE STARED AT the email from one of the few friends she had from the past. Her ex-husband was getting another divorce. That marriage had lasted two years longer than her own. The friend also said he’d made queries about her whereabouts.
A shiver of apprehension ran through her.
Mark Townsend didn’t like rejection. He had practically destroyed her during their marriage and after the divorce. He had stolen her money, destroyed her reputation, made it impossible to practice in the Northeast. Wherever she went, he found a way of preventing her from being hired.
She’d found the position in Covenant Falls when a close friend from vet school told her of an older veterinarian in Colorado who was looking for someone to take over his practice. He’d inherited his family ranch and wanted to go back to full-time ranching, but didn’t want to leave the community without a vet. He was willing to finance the sale for the right person.
She’d told Dr. Langford about Mark during their initial interview. One of the vet’s daughters had experienced a similar problem, and he had recommended that Stephanie take her mother’s maiden name legally. He’d cleared it through the state board and after working together for six months, he agreed to sell her the practice. He’d also suggested she retain the name of Langford Animal Practice. In today’s electronic world, a dedicated searcher could find her, but she’d hoped Mark’s new marriage would dim his vindictiveness toward her.
Now that his latest marriage was ending, she worried he might come after her again. Or would he concentrate his ire on his newest ex-wife?
How could she have been such a fool to marry him?
Maybe he couldn’t find her. Or if he did, his power wouldn’t be as great in Covenant Falls as it was in Boston. True, she wasn’t a lifetime resident of Covenant Falls, but she was actively involved in search and rescue and was a member of the volunteer fire department. She also volunteered in causes that interested her, especially the community center.
Except for Eve, though, she’d avoided close relationships.
She closed the computer and glanced at her watch. She was running late for Eve’s dinner, although she was glad she had conducted her weekly search. It was best to be prepared.
She regretted letting herself be talked into the dinner. She wasn’t in the mood to be sociable. Especially not after reading the email about Mark.
But she had promised Eve.
She changed into a clean shirt but left on the blue jeans she’d worn all day. Darn if she was going to dress up for Clint Morgan. She did add a touch of lipstick. Just a bit. She brushed her hair and braided it back into a long plait. Ready to go.
Or not.
She almost wished for an emergency, and she felt guilty as hell about that. No! It was just that damned email about Mark. It reminded her of her own helplessness, her own sorry judgment. She hated the reminder.
Stephanie tried to look on the bright side. She would see her horse, Shadow, that she boarded at Eve’s ranch, and Nick and the other two people she liked most in Covenant Falls.
“Stay,” she told the two dogs as she grabbed her car keys.
Sherry whined, sensing she was ready to go. Styrker sat and held out his paw in entreaty. “Sorry, guys,” she said. “You haven’t been invited. There will be enough commotion without you.”
At least she hadn’t been asked to drive Clint to Eve’s house.
Her cell rang. Her heart dropped. She knew. She just knew.
She looked at the name of the caller. Eve.
The phone continued to ring. She could ignore it, but Eve knew she always answered the phone in case it was an emergency. If she didn’t answer, Eve would know why.
She answered. “I’m on the way.”
“Can you run by the cabin and pick up Clint? Josh is anointing steaks with his usual care, and my budget meeting ran late.”
Stephanie sighed. There was no out. Not without making an idiot out of herself. “Okay. I’m leaving now.”
She clicked off and went to the back of the clinic where she kept the van. She pulled up in front of Josh’s cabin several minutes later.
Clint was on the swing on the front porch. He stood when he saw the van and ambled down the steps to the passenger side with only the slightest of limps, though she knew his foot must still hurt. She tried to deny the flutter in her stomach as he approached. He gave her a slow easy smile that would be devastating if she didn’t know better. “Hi,” he said. “I wouldn’t be presumptuous in thinking you’re my ride...?”
“Nope. Afraid not.” Then she realized how that sounded. “Not presumptuous, I mean,” she added halfheartedly.
His smile widened as he opened the door. “I’m happy to see you again, too.”
She had no comeback for that.
“Josh said his house was chaos,” he continued. It was more question than a statement.
“It is,” she said more cheerfully. “It will probably drive you crazy.” She hoped.
“After two wars, nothing drives me crazy.”
“Watch out for the beagle. She’s a kleptomaniac.”
“I have nothing I wouldn’t willingly surrender to a beagle.”
“Don’t sit on Fancy.”
“I appreciate the lesson in etiquette, but who is Fancy and why would I sit on her?”
“Fancy is a small dog, and she sometimes sneaks up on the sofa just when someone is sitting down.”
“I’ll try to sit in a chair.” He looked thoroughly amused. She wanted to slap him.
She decided to take another tack. “You’re not limping.” She realized the moment she said it that it was almost an accusation.
“Well, I still hurt if that’s what you’re wondering. Like the doc said...a couple of days.” He shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”
She was being petty. Ridiculous. He was just a man passing through town. A wounded man. A soldier like Josh. She owed him. The town owed him for his military service. It was the email; it had hit her like a sledgehammer.
She surrendered and described what would confront him at the Manning household. “Braveheart is a shy pit bull. He’ll probably hide from you. Miss Marple is the larcenous beagle. Fancy is the homeliest dog you will ever see, but she thinks she’s beautiful, and Captain Hook is a crotchety three-legged chihuahua who just might take a bite out of your leg.”
“I think I was safer in Afghanistan,” Clint said wryly.
“There’s more,” she said, unable to hide the slightest of smiles. “There’s Josh’s dog, Amos, who’s a very disciplined ex-military dog unless he thinks someone is threatening Josh. There’s also Dizzy, a cat with balance problems. And lord of the house is ten-year-old