Chapter 8

The pretty red-headed female doctor entered the waiting room, read from her clipboard, and called out, “McClinden, for Daisy?”

“McClintock, ” Jake corrected her.

She looked up and saw Jake sitting there next to an extremely attractive young woman, surrounded by several empty seats. “Oh, Jake, it’s ... you. It just has the first initial here.”

Jake got up to shake the doctor’s hand. “How you doin’, Liz?”

The doctor frowned and didn’t shake his hand. “Well, first things first. Daisy has Equine Influenza, which is really weird because you told Becky she’d had all her shots. But our records indicate she didn’t receive any of her last round of injections.”

“Aww, shit.” He paused for a moment, “sorry for the language. She must’ve been down on the other ranch when you came by last fall, maybe passed on the highway or something.”

“Whatever,” the doctor continued. “Old Man Gilroy should’ve caught this. He needs to get a database, maybe catch up to the twentieth century.”

Jake thought for a moment. “Aren’t we in the twenty-first century?”

“Exactly. Can you leave her overnight? I want to make sure she’s not going to react poorly to the medication because she’s going to get a heavy dose. You can pick her up first thing in the morning.”

“Yeah ... I guess.”

“Is that a problem?” The doctor leaned to the right and looked directly at Jamie, who was still sitting down. “I’m sure you and your ... ummm... granddaughter ... can find some accommodations in town. Save you four hours of driving time.”

“Cute, Liz,” Jake scowled.

“You used to think so.”

Jamie watched silently. Obviously, Jake and this doctor have some history.

Jake looked at his right boot for a moment, then looked up at Doctor Liz again. “I’ll see you first thing. Six okay?” He gave her a one-armed hug.

She patted his back. “Six is fine, Jake. Have fun tonight. Don’t keep her out too late; it’s a school night, you know.”

Jake winced at the sarcasm and the obvious dig about Jamie’s age. Then he left the veterinarian’s office with Jamie in tow as they headed toward the truck. “So ... I can probably get you home before they close the kitchen.”

“And then what, you get up at 3:30 in the morning to come back here? That doesn’t seem like a very smart idea.”

Jake shrugged. “It’s just ranchin’. Some days are better’n others.”

Jamie stopped walking. “Let’s go over here,” she pointed.

“Huh? Why? We gotta get some gas and get a move on.”

“There’s a nice little Italian restaurant over there and you’re going to take me to it. Unlike you cowboys, I can’t have steak every night! Come on.” She linked her arm in his and began crossing the basically empty street. Jake didn’t seem to have a choice in the matter.

Antonio’s Italian was quaint, the decor surprisingly tasteful for a small town. They waited near the door but didn’t see a hostess, then a waitress came by and said, “Sit anywhere you like.”

They chose a cozy table by the front window and settled in. Finally, a pretty, middle-aged, red-haired server approached them. “Well, look who’s back in town,” she said in a decidedly unfriendly tone. She eyeballed Jake, tapping her pen on her pad, seemingly waiting for an explanation as to his incursion into her space.

“Hi, Bonnie ... I’ve ... ummm ... I’ve got a sick horse, and the Doc is tending to her.”

“And I see you have a new... friend.”

“This is Jamie, and she’s a guest at the ranch.”

“A guest, how nice. I hope you’re enjoying your stay in our little neck of the woods,” she said while giving Jamie a faux smile.

Oh, my God, she’s acting just like the doctor, Jamie thought. “I’m having a good time, I really enjoy it here.”

“Well, that’s wonderful, dear.” Jake was nervously fidgeting in his seat while silently praying that she wouldn’t say anything else to Jamie. Fortunately, she moved things along. “So, can I get you started with some drinks or maybe an appetizer?”

Jake finished perusing the menu. “We’d like to start with the Autumn Fritto Misto and maybe a bottle of red?”

“We have a beautiful Chianti that’s on special this evening.” Then, she cut her eyes at Jamie. “Of course, I’ll have to see some ID, dear.”

“Bonnie...” Jake growled. “Is that really necess–”

“What? I’ll get in trouble for serving alcohol to a middle-school girl.”

Jamie’s face turned a dark shade of red as she dug her ID out of her little clutch purse and handed it to... Bonnie.

She exaggeratingly scratched the piece of plastic with her fingernail, making a very obvious reference to its authenticity. “Twenty-four, really?”

“Yes, I’m 24,” Jamie whispered. She’d better not say one fucking thing about it being a school night.

“Well, Jake, it’s so good to see you moving on and finding new... friends ... to pal around with. What are you, now? Let’s see, your birthday was in November, that was your sixtieth, right?”

“Is this going to be a problem?” Jake asked. “Because we can go to Maxie’s–”

“Relax, Grandpa, just pulling your chain. I’ll get your wine and the Misto, and it was so nice to meet you... dear.” Bonnie sashayed off to another table, her hips swishing more than Jamie thought necessary.

Jamie looked at Jake, who was intently studying the menu. “Jake, I can’t help but notice ... there seems to be a string of broken-hearted redheads all over town.”

Jake embarrassingly looked up and shrugged his shoulders. “There aren’t many single guys around.”

“Hmmm. I got the feeling if we walked over to that clothing store, some red-headed clerk named Sylvia would throw a shoe at you, and maybe at me too.”

Jake looked across the street at the clothing store. “Naw,” he said laconically, winking at her. “They’re closed. Sylvia’s gone home. But let’s not go to the feed store, okay? Ow!”

Jamie playfully kicked his leg under the table, then stuck her tongue out at him. “Okay, mister, we’ll change the subject if you like. It seems your face has been lying to me.”

Jake cocked his head to one side as he considered his response. “I hate when it does that. But ... ummm ... what exactly did it lie about?”

“Your face is telling everyone you’re 48, maybe 49. No way are you 60 years old.”

“Oh, that.”

“Yeah, that.”

“Well, I identify as 42, if that makes you feel better.” She laughed, not knowing how else to respond. “All told, the years have been kind considering ... my youth. I guess I was pretty wild in my younger years ... drugs, alcohol, all that.”

“But not anymore, right?”

He laughed and then looked seriously into her eyes. “The strongest thing I drink now is Coors and ... ummm ... I guess, Chianti.”

“And no drugs, correct?”

“No, not in 30 years.”

“Okay, good.”

“So, you don’t have a problem with my age?”

“Well, Bonnie referred to you as Grandpa, is that true?”

He laughed. “No, it’s not. I’ve been married twice, but no children ... so ... no grandchildren either.”