Hi dear reader,
I thought it would be fun to read my latest release on my blog. Check out My Cowboy of Convenience below. If you enjoy it, it is for sale and available through the library.
Chapter One
Erin
“You need to do something. This isn’t healthy,” she said.
“I know. I’m just having a hard time getting myself out of this…this rut.” I waved my hand in the air.
It hit a pile of overdue bills, scattering them across the table. Mom picked them up and flipped through them quickly. She stacked them neatly on top of one another, placing them to the side. When she glanced around the apartment, my cheeks heated with embarrassment. Dirty dishes sat in the sink. Laundry piled on every surface. My dog Clifford, a standard Longhair Dachshund, laid on the unmade bed.
“Erin, honey, your father and I are worried about you. You haven’t left your apartment since February. You’re not eating well, and your friends have been calling about you.” Her hand reached over and patted mine.
I snorted. “Some friends.”
She ignored that comment. “How about the money situation? Have you decided to go back to work?” She glanced at the bills.
I sighed, raising the mug of hot chocolate to my lips. Chocolate and peppermint with a swirl of marshmallow fluff made the way I liked it. I sipped the drink. My gaze following the water rivulets down the window.
“I’m not going back,” I said.
“And what are you going to do instead?” Mom sipped from her drink.
I pushed the chair back and went to my desk in the corner. A manila envelope perched on the top of a mountain of paper. I slid my fingers over it before clutching it to my chest and carried it back over to the table.
“I have a job offer.” I handed her the manila envelope.
Her eyebrows raised. She lowered the reading glasses from the top of her head to the bridge of her nose as she opened the envelope. Several thick sheets of paper sat inside with a folded newspaper.
“They called and offered me the job before sending the packet.” I wrapped my fingers around the mug.
“I see.” Her eyes scanned the official looking letter, she flipped through the contract behind it, and pulled out the newspaper. “Where in the world is this?”
A small smile pulled at my lips. “Outside of San Antonio, Texas.”
Her mouth opened and closed. She pursed her lips, setting the envelope and its contents to the side. She watched me as tears filled the corners of her eyes.
“Are you sure that this is what you want? It’s a long way from Iowa and your family. If things go bad, you can’t come home for the weekend,” she said.
“I don’t know, yet. I can’t stay here, though. Especially with all that happened.” I sighed. February seemed like ages ago, but the betrayal stung. My heart broke every time I thought about being stood up at my wedding.
The Sunnydale Times marched in dark letters across the top of the newsletter. The front-page article sported a picture of high school students shooting basketballs.
“It’s only temporary?”
I nodded and crossed my fingers under the table. I hated lying to my mom. “Yes, just a way for me to clear my head.” If I had it my way, I would never come back to my hometown, my old job, and the people that hurt me.
“Alright, if you must. We will miss you.”
I placed my hand over hers. “I’ll miss you and Dad, too.”
“Don’t forget your brother and the kids.”
“Of course. It might give you the chance to pull Dad away from the farm for a vacation.”
A dreamy look passed through her eyes. “Only, if you end up staying down there for any length of time.”
“I’m not promising anything, Mom. But I feel like I’ve lost myself and I need a change.” With everything that happened, I decided I needed to branch out and try new things. This was the first step. A new job in a new town with new people. It was going to be the start of my new, exciting life.
“Honey, we want the best for you and if you think this is it…well, we support you.”
“Thanks, Mom. That means a lot.”
#####
A few days later, my old Buick rumbled past the city limit sign for Sunnydale. It read: Population 2000, but someone blacked out the last zero and wrote a two under it.
“Did you see that Clifford? They have two thousand and two people. I guess, I bring the tally up to two thousand and three.” I laughed.
Clifford opened one eye, rolled it toward me, and went back to sleep.
“According to the GPS. I only have a couple of more blocks to go before I get there.”
The Buick crept forward, passing a factory with cars parked out front. I stopped at a four way stop sign with a flashing red light. A cute coffee shop and gas station/automotive shop sat at opposite corners. The GPS told me to continue straight on highway Four for a few blocks.
“There it is!”
A wooden sign read Sunnydale Veterinary Clinic in faded black letters. A low squat tan building sat behind a large gravel lot. Cattle pens peaked out from behind the building. A couple of trailers were parked to the side and a horse jogged in the round pen while several people watched it.
“This must be it. What do you think, Clifford?”
He lifted his head a few inches off the seat and blew out a woof. His lips flapped before he laid his head back down.
“Yep, I think that this will work for us too.”
I parked my car off to the side of the building in line with a couple other cars and a veterinary truck. My cell phone rested in the cup holder and I reached for it. I dialed my parents’ number back in Iowa.
My mom picked up on the second ring.
“Hey, Mom. I made it.”
“Is it a nice town?” Worry in her voice came through the line.
“I just arrived and haven’t checked it out, yet. But they have a coffee shop.”
She laughed. “You should fit in…. are you sure this what you want? You are so far from home, and we can’t help you easily.”
“Yes, Mom. I need to get away and find myself after all that happened.”
“I just miss my little girl.”
“I’ll miss you too.” A tear rolled down my cheek. I wiped it away. Now was not the time for tears. “Mom, I should go meet my new boss and team.”
“Call me tonight.”
“Will do,” I promised.
“Have a great first day.” Her voice broke up when she disconnected.
I rubbed Clifford’s silky ears. He cracked an eye at me.
“Yep, I can do this.”
I pulled down the rear-view mirror, applied a new layer of mascara, and swiped on some lip gloss.
“Time to meet the new boss. Do you want to come with me or sleep here?”
He stuffed his nose further under his tail.
“I’ll crack the windows for you. Be good, buddy.” I ran my hand down his soft fur.
The warm April air floated around me as I exited the car. I shed my jacket and left it on the backseat. My boots crunched over the gravel as I crossed the parking lot. The open sign hung crookedly on the front door.
I pushed open the glass door to the lobby of the veterinary clinic. The tiles gleamed and the scent of disinfectant lingered in the air. A man sat with a Golden Retriever on the bench flipping through a hunting and fishing magazine.
A tall thin woman sat behind the counter. Glasses perched on her nose as she typed on the ancient computer. The computer whirled softly in the quiet of the room. She glanced up at me as the door slid closed behind me with a click.
“I’ll be right with you, sweetie.” She printed off a couple of sheets of paper. “Alright, Mr. Peters, here are the surgery consent forms. I need your signature and a good phone number to reach you. Also, you need to initial consent for bloodwork, IV catheter, microchip, and vaccines.” She placed the papers on the counter.
The man approached and scanned the paper. He palmed the pen and scrawled his signature.
“Perfect.” The woman gathered the sheets up, lined up the edges, and stapled them in the corner. She slid it onto a clipboard. “Alright, I’ll take Abby on back. She will be ready to go home any time after four o’clock.”
The man bent over and ruffled his dog’s ears. The Golden Retriever licked his hand and thumped her tail on the floor before following the woman into the back of the vet office. He watched his dog leave before exiting the clinic.
I wandered around the waiting room. Diplomas and awards hung on the walls. Pictures of the staff and their pets graced one wall. The other one held a giant corkboard, filled with pictures of pets and people. A shelf full of collars and dog food sat in the corner.
After a few minutes, the woman appeared. She replaced the clipboard in a stack with others and then leaned her elbows on the counter.
“How can I help you?” Her Texan accent lightly tinged the words.
“I’m Erin Murphy.” I extended my hand to hers and shook it. “Dr. Hansen offered me a job as a veterinarian.”
The blank look on her face dissolved into a wide smile. “Why, dear, we didn’t expect you until at least this afternoon! He’ll be so pleased.” She turned to go and hesitated. “Did you do drive through the night?”
“Something like that.” I stopped at a hotel last night, but I couldn’t sleep. Much to Clifford’s disgust. I thought I might as well drive if I was going to lay awake all night, so that is what we did. Stifling a yawn, it was going to catch up to me, but the sooner I left Iowa behind the better.
“Don’t worry. We won’t be too hard on you today.” She bustled out of the room.
Dr. Hansen appeared through the doorway followed by the woman and two other staff members. A broad smile creased his weather worn face. He shook my hand.
“We are so glad you decided to join us, Dr. Murphy. Most everyone in these parts call me Doc. You can too.”
“I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be an adventure.”
He laughed. “It certainly will be. This here is my wife/receptionist/office manager, Patty.” He motioned to the tall thin woman. “And Louisa and Connie are our veterinary technicians.”
Louisa was younger of the two and clearly excited about working. Connie looked a decade younger than Doc and Patty. Lifelines and experience tempered her expression.
“Alright, ladies. We’ve got to get back to work. Surgeries need to be prepped and the horse outside needs to be brought in for its treatments,” he said to Connie and Louisa.
Turning to me, he said, “I’m not expecting you to work today. Patty found a duplex for you to rent so she will take you to see it. Spend the day settling in and tomorrow we will go over everything here. Now I have a dog spay to see to.” He pecked his wife on the cheek. “Enjoy Sunnydale, Erin. We are happy to have you.”
Patty beamed at me. “Let me finish a few things. Once they start surgery, I can leave to take you around town. One of the girls can answer the phone for a couple of hours. I’ll give you a brief tour before we head out.”
“Perfect.”
I sat down on the bench to wait. I pulled out my cell phone, intending to start in on the Agatha Christie mystery I downloaded from the library’s e-book catalog. Turning on the screen, the alert for new text messages flashed. I clicked on it. Dad, Mom, and my brother all wished me well. It brought a smile to my face. The last message on the screen drew a frown when my finger hovered over it. It was from Millie, my ex-best friend.
Should I read it or not? What could she possibly have to say to me after the last couple of months?
Instead, I closed the text message app and opened my e-reader app to begin the mystery. I was about twenty-five percent through the book when Patty appeared in front of me.
“Ready for the tour?”
“Can’t wait.” I slipped my phone into my back pocket and stood up.
“It’s not much but it we are proud of it. The clinic serves us and the community well.”
I followed her through the reception area to the examination rooms to the treatment area to the kennels. We stopped in at the surgery suite to make small talk with Connie and Doc. Then, Patty showed me around the large animal area. Four horse stalls lined one side of the building. There was an examination area and a chute system to work cattle on the other side.
“What do you think?”
“It’s very nice.” And it was. Everything was clean and tidy. Not a speck of hair, straw, or manure could be found.
Patty beamed. “We were worried you’d find it a little country.”
I laughed. “The little town where I’m from is a little country. I’m used to it.”
“Now, let’s go look at that duplex I found for you.”
#####
A couple of hours later, I signed a lease for half of a duplex a few blocks off Main Street. Clifford claimed the sunspot in front of the sliding glass doors to the backyard. I unpacked my suitcases and the few belongings I brought with me. Placing my hands on my hips, I surveyed the tiny living space.
“Well, Clifford, I think my next step would be to get some furniture. But, I need to make some money first.”
He rolled over on to his back and wagged his tail.
I scratched his belly. “I’m going to check out that cute coffee shop. Will you be good here by yourself?”
He flopped his tail and rolled to his side, closing his eyes. His fur glistened in the sun. Within a few moments, soft snores came from him.
“You’re a good boy,” I whispered to him before straightening up. I grabbed my laptop and shoulder bag to walk the few blocks to the coffee shop. The sign above the door read Coffee and Cakes.
“How cute,” I murmured to myself.
I pushed open the door. The scent of coffee and fresh baked muffins filled the air. One person sat in the corner scribbling on a notebook. A woman with her hair in blue spikes wiped down the counter. Classic country music played in the background. She glanced up at me.
“What can I get you?” A thick southern accent accented the words. Specials filled the blackboard behind her in a multitude of colors.
“I’ll take a raspberry muffin and a chi latte.”
“Great choice. The muffins were a hit today. Eating here or to go.”
It was quiet in the coffee shop. A sign with the wi-fi password caught my eye. “Here.”
“Are you passing through or new to town?” She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. Her hands moved deftly at the machine, filling the stainless-steel tumbler with froth.
“I’m new. Just moved in this morning.”
“Oh, really. Why here?” She transferred the latte to a mug.
“Job.” I shrugged.
She raised an eyebrow as she set the mug on the counter in front of me.
“Doc Hansen gave me a job at the vet clinic.”
“He’s a sweetie. Him and Patty come in once a week for a coffee date.”
“They seem like it.” I dug in my bag for the few dollars and change rolling around in the bottom of it.
She handed me the muffin and latte. “It’s on the house. Welcome to Sunnydale.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at her. She seemed friendly. Maybe moving here wasn’t such a crazy idea after all.
I carried my order to a table away from the only other customer. Setting everything down, I opened my laptop. It started up in a flash. The screen saver popped up as a generic photo of a woods. It replaced the photo of me and my ex-best friend hugging each other after graduating veterinary school.
“Erin, time to find some used furniture in your budget,” I muttered to myself.
I had a little bit of money left from what my parents gave me to move and start over. It was enough to cover a futon and a dresser for my bedroom. Not great, but it would do until I got on my feet, paid off some debt, and could afford real furniture. I scrolled through some online postings of used furniture for sale and sent a couple of messages. One person responded right away, saying they could bring both items over this afternoon if I paid in cash.
I checked my email. Nothing new there. Then, I logged on to my online chess account. I played for thirty minutes, playing multiple games at once. It wasn’t the same as playing in person, but it kept me in practice. I sipped the chi latte and ate the raspberry muffin.
A shadow fell over the table, blocking the late morning light from the window. The woman from the other table stood, grinning down at me.
“Viola Ann said that you were new in town.” Her blue eyes danced. “And that Doc hired you to work at the vet clinic.”
“Yep.” News traveled fast in Sunnydale.
She placed her hand on her hip, bracing the notebook against her side. “About time he found a lady vet to work for him.”
My brow furrowed. “Lady vet?”
“You are a veterinarian, right?” She cocked her head to the side. Her blond hair swinging forward.
“Yes…” I hesitated. How much do I say to someone I just met.
She leaned in and lowered her voice. “Between you and me he’s been looking for help for a long time. The last person he hired was a man. Not that that is bad. But he fell in love with a daughter of a client.” She flipped her blonde hair behind her shoulders. “Well rumor is that she broke his heart. He left and Doc has been shorthanded ever since.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, I’m Katie. Katie Kisment. My family has been using Doc forever. You’ll probably meet the rest of them before long. My fiancé manages one of my brothers’ ranches.” She wiggled her left hand at me, showing off a tasteful engagement ring. “I’ll make sure he requests you the next time he needs something.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I shrugged. “Works for me.”
She laughed. “I think we will get along great. Well, I better go. Nice to meet you, new lady doc.” She beamed at me and left the coffee shop.
“How could she possibly know that we are going to get along? I said like nine words to her,” I muttered to myself.
The knight on my screen jumped to where my rook sat, capturing it. I frowned at the laptop. I hadn’t thought my opponent would move their knight.
The proprietor, who must be Viola Ann, approached my table with two steaming cups. She set them down, sinking into the seat next to me. There wasn’t anyone else in the place.
“Mind if I sit down?”
“No, I think you already did.”
Her lips pulled up. “That’s true.”
She slid one mug toward me and sipped from the other one.
I closed my laptop with a click and accepted the mug. “I didn’t catch your name. I’m Erin Murphy.”
“Viola Ann Barrett. It’s nice to meet another transplant.”
I took a cautious taste of the hot latte. “You’re not from around here.”
“Oh, dear, no. Can’t you tell by my accent?”
“It’s southern, that’s all.”
“You northern folks are funny. I’m from Georgia. I moved here last fall.”
“Why?”
“Long story for another day, but it will be nice to know someone else not from around here.”
We talked for a while about Sunnydale, the people in it, and fun things to do in the area. She avoided all mentions of her past and I avoided mine. She lived on the other half of the duplex from me and ran the coffee shop to make ends meet. We planned to meet up for drinks later in the week when the factory bell tolled.
“Well, I better get back to the counter. Lunch is my second busiest time of the day.”
I glanced at my phone. It was 11:30AM. It was time to pick up the furniture, settle into my new place, and take a nap. Who knew what tomorrow would bring?
#####
I found myself in front of Doc Hansen’s desk before the first light of the next morning. Coffee percolated in the small machine on the counter. Books filled the shelves and paper strewn about his desk. The contract lay between us.
“The last piece of business is this clause here.” He flipped to the second to last page. “No employee of Sunnydale Veterinary Clinic shall become romantically involved with a current client of Sunnydale Veterinary Clinic.” He peered through his glasses at the page as he read. “If such relationship develops, said person’s employment will be terminated. All benefits and paid-time-off will be paid out to that day. Any questions?”
“None at all.” The last thing I wanted was a romantic relationship of any kind. No thank you.
He raised his eyebrows, questioning me.
“It’s not a problem at all.” I took a pen from the coffee mug that read the World’s Greatest Grandpa and signed my name on the last page. I set the pen down.
“Welcome aboard, Dr. Murphy. We are excited to have you on the team.” Doc extended his hand across the desk.
We shook hands. He beamed at me for a minute as nerves and anxiety rippled through me. I had done it. I took the next step in my life, ending the chapter of my first job after veterinary school and everything left in Iowa. It was freeing. A smile tugged on my face.
“I’m ready to get to work.” I stood up, feeling like myself for the first time in months.
“Great, I have some cattle to work for one of my big ranches. I’ll have you in the clinic for the next couple of days to learn the ropes around here.” He went to the door and stuck his head out. “Connie! Come here when you have a minute.”
“Sure thing, Doc,” she called back.
“Connie has been here since I opened. Patty and she will help you get acclimated. You’ve been practicing for a while, so you don’t need me to be breathing down your back.”
“Not at all. I can pretty much handle it.”
“I’ll be a phone call away if you need anything. Don’t be afraid to ask. We have things down here that you wouldn’t have seen in Iowa.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Like snakes.”
“Exactly.”
Connie appeared in the doorway a few minutes later in bright pink scrubs. “I’m done with the kennels and cleaning the stall. Your truck is stocked for the appointment at the Kisment Ranch this morning.”
Kisment ranch? The name sounded familiar. Oh yeah, that was the last name of the girl I met yesterday.
“Thank you,” Doc said. “I’ll take Louisa with me. I want you to show Dr. Murphy around the clinic this morning.”
“There isn’t anything on the schedule for her to do,” said Connie
“That’s fine. She can get settled into her office, get acquainted with the clinic, set her surgery packs the way she wants them, and get her vet truck organized.” He grabbed a hat from the where it perched on the edge of some books and placed it on his head. “She also needs to order clinic clothes. Patty can do that. I better go. It’s never good to be late.” He flashed a smile at me and patted Connie on the shoulder as he walked on by.
Connie turned to me. “Did you eat breakfast yet?”
“No, why?” My stomach gave a gurgle that betrayed how hungry I was.
“Let’s go to Susie’s Café and get something. The clinic won’t be open for another hour. No sense sitting here staring at each other.”
“I could use breakfast.” I rubbed my stomach lightly. I just had a glass of milk on my way out the door.
“Great, I’ll text Patty. She’ll probably join us.” She hurried ahead of me with her fingers tapping on her phone.
Connie and I made our way to the front door as Doc left with Louisa in the front seat of his pick-up truck.
“It’s not too busy when he’s out working cattle.”
I nodded.
“There are always walk-in patients you can see.” She locked the door behind us. “At least until, we get you on the schedule. They weren’t sure when you were going to arrive.”
“That’s fine. I’m sure I’ll catch on quick,” I said.
“We’ll take my car.” She unlocked the doors to a silver sporty car. “Parking can be hard to find by Susie’s.”
She was right. Even though it wasn’t yet seven in the morning, the street in front of Susie’s Café was packed with cars and trucks of various shapes and sizes. She squeezed into a spot on a side street, and we walked to the front door. Red and white bunting hung limply against the spotless glass. The bell above the door rang when we walked in. All eyes turned to us, and the conversation died to a whisper.
“Ya’ll, this here is our new vet.” Connie announced. “Dr. Erin Murphy.”
A hot blush spread up my neck and burned my ears under all their gazes. I gave a weak hand wave.
A woman with gray hair under her hair net and a coffee pot in her hand stepped up. Her nametag read Susie, Owner on her chest. “Welcome to Sunnydale. Ya’ll must be hungry. Right this way.”
She led us to a table buried in the back, making coffee cups appear out of nowhere. “Tommy, will you let the ladies have your table?” She asked the young man that sat by himself at a table for four.
He pulled his cowboy hat from his head. “Sure thing, ma’am. Anything for pretty ladies.” He smiled at us. His front teeth were large, and pimples covered his face.
“Tommy, we are too old for you,” Connie said.
“It never hurts to try.” He nodded to us and found a seat with boys his own age.
“Gotta watch out for Tommy. In a few years, he’ll be a heartbreaker. I should know.” Susie smiled at us. “He’s my nephew. Lindsay will be right with you.” She merged back into the packed café.
Connie handed me a menu from a stack against the window. “Everything is good here. Fattening but good.”
The café had a long counter that ran the length of one side. Men of all shapes and sizes sat on stools drinking coffee and reading the paper. Susie slipped behind the counter and filled orders on the grill. Bacon sizzled, gravy simmered in a large pot, and the coffee pot beeped. The rest of the room was filled with tables and booths that held two to four people. There were only a couple empty seats. Few women sat amongst the men.
Connie noticed me checking out the crowd. “Most of the cowboys and ranch hands come here to eat breakfast. Except the Kisment ranch, they have a cook, and those boys hardly ever leave the ranch except to come into town on the weekend.”
“Why’s that?”
“The boss man out there runs a tight ship.” She turned back to her menu. “He likes to be up and at them before the sun is up. That’s why Doc had to leave so early.”
A busty blond approached our table. She wore a short denim skirt and a flowing blouse and her blond hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She extracted a note pad from her apron pocket.
“Susie said you’re new to town,” she said around her gum. “I’m Lindsay. What can I get you?”
“I’ll do the cowboy scrambler.” Connie pointed to the item on the menu and then looked to me.
“Umm.” I hadn’t even looked at what the specials were or what they served. My eyes scanned the menu and then swung around the room, trying to see what other people ordered. “What’s good here?”
“We have the best cinnamon rolls.” Lindsay tapped her pencil on the paper. “If you want, I can get Susie to French it.”
“What does that mean?”
“She splits them in half and dips them in an egg mixture and makes them like French toast. It’s to die for.”
My stomach rumbled. “I think that sounds amazing.”
“Coming right up.” Lindsay spun on her heel.
Connie and I made small talk until our order came up. Several cowboys stopped by the table and introduced themselves. Their names and faces became a blur. Patty joined us after our food arrived and ordered coffee.
“It was a long morning with the new rescue horses. Some of them didn’t want to get caught. A couple need their teeth looked at as they didn’t want to eat. And we have a miniature donkey that keeps getting out.” She blew on her coffee. “I could use this today.”
Another couple of cowboys came over to our table and introduced themselves as working for the Lazy B Ranch. I smiled politely and shook their hands. As they left, I blew out a sigh and sunk into the booth.
“I’m never going to remember all of their names.” I cut a forkful of cinnamon roll and scooped up the melting frosting.
“You don’t have to. They’re coming over to check out the new girl in town.” Lindsay stopped by and topped off coffee mugs. “I bet that the bunkhouses will be full of talk tonight.” She grinned.
“Ugh,” I buried my face in my hands.
“It could be worse,” said Patty. “Right now, they are going to be talking about how pretty you are.”
I looked at her through my fingers.
“In a week or so, they’ll be saying what a good job you are doing.” She smiled at me and glanced at the clock on the wall. “I better go and switch over the phones. Doors open in twenty.” She dropped a wad of cash on the table. “Breakfast on me.”
Connie scooped up the last of her eggs. “Is this your first time away from your hometown?”
“Besides veterinary school, yes. The local practice offered me a job right out of school, and I took it.” I blew on the mug of coffee in front of me.
“What made you move down here? It’s far way away from Iowa.” Connie leaned toward me.
I shrugged and swallowed the lump in my throat. I wasn’t going to think about it right now. I wasn’t going to get emotional on my first day. “I needed a change of scenery.”
She studied me for a moment. Her eyes softened. “I hope Sunnydale becomes your new home.”
“I hope so too.”
“We better get going.” She drank the rest of her coffee.
We pushed our plates to the center of the table and left. It was the first day of my new life. Hope, excitement, and nerves danced around me. I couldn’t wait.
Author's Note: What do you think so far? Change is always hard. Can Erin handle it?
If you liked it, you can buy the book from me or all other retailers.
Leave a comment!
Hugs,
Allie
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