The Cowgirl and the Country M.D.
Autor:in
Catherine Mann
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15
HarlequinPrologue
Goodbyes were hard the first time. But having to say farewell to the same people repeatedly? Agony.
And after losing both her parents within months of each other, Eliza Hubbard was beyond ready for joy.
She shifted her ancient truck into Park and reached for her insulated tumbler, draining the last of her fourth cup of coffee. Sugar had pooled in the bottom, the final gulp sending a much-needed bonus boost of energy surging through her system. It had been a long time since her pumpkin-nut muffin on the run after a morning of mucking out stables before this little road trip to her hometown of Chattanooga.
But she’d made it. And she was that much closer to turning the last page on this chapter of her life. With luck, she would be back in Moonlight Ridge at a reasonable hour.
Exhaling hard, she made fast work of gathering up her leather bag that rested on top of the finalized probate paperwork from her parents’ small estate. She was too young to be burying her parents, especially to be handling it all on her own, but she’d been a late-in-life baby and their only child.
Once she finished this trip to clear up her parents’ estate, she could move forward. She could put down roots of her own with her new position of stable manager at the Top Dog Dude Ranch. Her dream job. She’d taken the position earlier this year after her parents passed, eager to put the sad memories behind her. But the trips back and forth between Chattanooga and Moonlight Ridge, Tennessee, had been draining.
Thank goodness this was her last stop on her final trip—dropping off a gift to the rehab center. The place had been such a godsend for her parents in maximizing their mobility in their final years. Her dad had been refusing to participate in his PT, until the day the facility had incorporated a therapy dog into the practice.
From that moment on, her father had been all in, a spark of joy lighting his eyes for the first time since he’d started using a walker. The end of his life had been markedly better because of meeting Ozzie, the beautifully gifted golden retriever, and for that Eliza was immeasurably grateful.
Throwing open the door of her pickup truck, the hinges giving a rusty screech, she clutched the gift closer—a bag of homemade dog treats for Ozzie. Her worn boots hitting pavement crunched scattered leaves, the breeze crisp with the kiss of colder weather to come that would call for far more than her jean jacket. She was enjoying the fall weather, but she knew she’d enjoy winter just as much when it came. She loved the outdoors. All seasons, each magnificent in its own way when viewed from the back of a horse.
Her city days were over for good.
She made fast tracks across the parking lot, ready to be back on the road, confident in the skills of the Realtor here who would sell her parents’ quaint home where she’d spent most of her life. Even if they got a good price on the house, there wouldn’t be much profit after the medical bills were paid, but she only had herself to support, and her new job as stable manager would more than meet her needs. The position even came with an apartment over the barn. Small victories in a year of major losses.
As the automatic doors slid open at the clinic, a wave of memories swept over her. Just as quickly, she pushed them aside. Tried her best to not let her mind catch on the wall-to-ceiling brick fireplace, where her parents had sung Christmas carols with the rest of the patients. Tried her best to put one foot in front of the other on the bright white tiles. She waved to the receptionist behind the sleek semicircular desk. Jade was the heartbeat of this place after working here for decades.
“Eliza, oh my goodness,” the receptionist called as she wheeled back her chair and rushed out to wrap her in a hug. “I’m so glad you made it here before my shift ended. I would have stayed longer, though, to say goodbye.”
“Aw, I’m so glad to see you, too.” She hugged her back hard, Jade’s badge digging in. “But please don’t let me keep you from work.”
The reception area was packed, as always, with patients ranging from children with crutches to senior citizens with canes and wheelchairs. So many times, she’d sat with her parents at their favorite spot—the gray leatherette sofa by the window—her gaze turned outward toward the mountains, her ears filled with the sound of phones ringing and the crinkle of lozenges being unwrapped.
Stepping back, Jade stuffed her hands into the pockets of her scrubs—butterfly patterned today. “We’re at a lull. No worries. And Ozzie will want to see you. He’s your biggest fan.”
As if on cue, furry yellow dog paws hooked over the half door separating the waiting area from the reception desk. And there was Ozzie peeking over, his golden tail sweeping back and forth. His handler—an occupational therapist in puppy-paw scrubs—was making notes in a file. He smiled quickly. “Hello there, Eliza. Ozzie’s on a break. Feel free to give him an ear scratch.”
A lump swelled in her throat. Animals like Ozzie were part of why she’d pursed a degree in equine therapy. Eliza reached over to fluff his curly ears. “I already miss all of you so much. I’ll be back for more visits.” Was she trying to convince them or herself? Hadn’t she just been musing on the fact that she was about to be done with city life permanently? “I’m only a few hours away.”
The Top Dog Dude Ranch was not far outside of Gatlinburg.
“Honey, this job is your big chance. You were the most devoted daughter I’ve ever seen—and that’s saying a lot.” Jade nodded toward the packed waiting room. “You did everything you could for your parents while they were with us, but now that they’re gone, it’s time to look after yourself, not eat up all your free time coming all the way out here just to pay these old bones a visit. Maybe I’ll take a much-needed vacation and come visit you instead.”
“I’d love to see you, and I’ll make sure they roll out the red carpet for you. As a matter of fact, I have some of the newly printed brochures for the ranch.” She fished inside her bag, juggling the dog treats, and found the tri-folded flyer.
Jade plucked one from her hand and read aloud from the first page, “Welcome to Moonlight Ridge, Tennessee—home to the Top Dog Dude Ranch, renowned for family-friendly rustic retreats that heal broken hearts. Some say it’s the majestic mountain vistas. Others vow there’s magic in the hot springs. All agree, there’s something special about the four-legged creatures at Top Dog Dude Ranch that give guests a ‘new leash on love.’” Jade looked up. “Love? For real?”
Eliza nodded, still stroking Ozzie’s ears. “From what I’ve experienced so far? Absolutely. You should have seen the spring wedding extravaganza right after I started working there. So romantic. And this fall, we have all sorts of innovative renovations in the works for family getaways, including accommodations for guests with special needs.”
The occupational therapist, a.k.a. Ozzie’s handler, popped his head up from the files. “Do you have extra copies of those flyers? I have patients who would probably be interested.”
“Of course. Thank you,” Eliza said, reaching into her bag again. She pulled out the stack of flyers and placed them on the counter.
Ozzie’s nose twitched toward her bag just as the door swept open, inviting in a blast of air along with a man holding a shrieking toddler girl on his hip, her foot in a cast. A young boy trailed behind the pair, his hand gripping the man’s jacket.
The girl was screaming, and the boy was tugging the coat so hard it fell down the man’s shoulder.
“Mavis, honey, calm down,” the man said, dipping his head toward the girl, snow covering his knit hat. He reached his free hand back for the boy. “Come on, kiddo. We won’t be here long, and then we can get a Happy Meal. With nuggets and a toy. Double fries.”
Jade reached out. “Dr. Barnett, can I help you with these precious ones?”
The man held up a hand. “Nope. I’ve got it under control.”
Sure didn’t seem that way from where Eliza was standing.
In spite of herself, she couldn’t look away from the train wreck. But neither could most of the patients in the waiting room, as Eliza’s discreet peek around the room showed. Some made a big deal out of focusing on anything other than the man struggling to control his kids, but most were openly staring.
Little Mavis swept her wrist under her nose. “No apples? Okay?”
The man secured his hold on her. “Yes, you can skip the apples.”
Jade angled her head toward Eliza, whispering, “Dr. Barnett’s a widower. Then his only child died, leaving him the guardian of those two. You wouldn’t know it from how he’s struggling right now, but he’s a very capable man—a country doctor with a thriving practice.”
A grandfather?
Eliza’s gaze swung back to the broad-shouldered man with the strong jaw. He sure didn’t look like any grandpa she’d ever met.
Maybe that was a sign of her own age—her fortieth birthday slipping past her while she’d put everything on hold. Her heart squeezed in her chest. She felt for the guy, understood the strong tug of duty when it came to loved ones.
“That’s really sad.” Swallowing the lump in her throat, Eliza passed over the bag of treats. “These are for Ozzie. Made fresh by one of the owners of the ranch. Peanut butter pup cakes. I know Ozzie’s a big fan of peanut butter.”
At the sound of his name, the golden swung his head toward them, his ears perking up. His tail wagged back and forth, fanning fast, stirring a breeze.
Sending the brochures flying off the ledge.
Jade scrambled forward, trying to snag them out of midair. The occupational therapist cued Ozzie to sit before his tail could stir up a tornado.
The stack of papers fluttered, then slapped the ground, fanning outward.
Eliza knelt fast. Only to hit her head on...
The grandpa’s head as he leaned down to help her, the thunk softened slightly by his thick knit hat.
“Sorry about that,” he said, his voice low and gravelly.
His electric blue eyes held hers. They were so striking that she almost didn’t notice the lines of tension crinkling the corners, the smudges of exhaustion underneath.
“Are you okay?” she asked, referring to more than the knock on the head. Knowing she wouldn’t get an answer but unable to stop herself from asking the question.
“Some time with an ice pack and I’ll be fine. Thanks.” He scooped up a flyer.
“Doggie,” Mavis chirped, her tears stopping as she reached for the brochure.
The man shot a panicked look Eliza’s way. Likely afraid of launching another tantrum if the flyer was taken way.
Eliza smiled. “It’s okay. She can keep it. There are plenty more.” For good measure, she passed an extra flyer to Mavis, tapping the image of the border collie mix on the front. “That’s Loki.”
“Loki doggie,” Mavis repeated before taking the brochure in her fist.
The man’s blue eyes darkened with gratitude as he mouthed the words Thank you.
A smile twitched his lips, crinkling up those vibrant eyes framed by dark hair with hints of silver. Somehow, the suggestion of silver made the man’s eyes seem even more blue.
Nodding, she resisted the urge to linger. People like this were the reason she loved her job and the Top Dog Dude Ranch’s mission: helping the wounded hearts.
And she wasn’t interested in losing hers.
