Page 8 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy

Khalif

I pulled off from Reese’s house after dropping them off.

Remedi agreed to come back to the house and check on Beauty once she gets a shower and grabs her bag.

It’s crazy as fuck that she turned out to be a veterinarian.

I’d never guess what she did for a living.

She looks like a normal, clueless city girl.

Maybe that’s why she was able to ride that bull the way she had.

Ma always told me to never judge a book by its cover ’cause things can be far deeper than they seem. Maybe Remedi’s ass would be different from what I imagined. Either way, I still wasn’t pursuing a romantic relationship with her.

I found it odd how Khali took to her the way she had. Most of the time, she didn’t like people, especially strangers. The way she interacted with Remedi was as if she’d known her for her entire life.

“Remedi is nice,” Khali spoke from the back seat, interrupting my thoughts almost as if she could read my mind or something. I peeked at her through the rearview mirror and rotated my attention back to the road. “Don’t you think so, Daddy?”

“Uh-huh,” was the only response I could muster.

“She’s pretty too.” The corner of her mouth quirked through her reflection. Was my baby in on the bullshit too?

“Okay,” I spoke, trying to end the conversation.

Clearly, Khali didn’t catch on ’cause she replied, “When she comes back, I’m going to show her the rest of the animals.”

“She might not have time for all that. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up.

” That’s another reason why I wasn’t dating at the moment—disappointing Khali wasn’t on the agenda.

Some people can be disheartening as fuck.

I damn sure didn’t want her to get too close to Remedi, knowing that she’s not from here and someday would have to go back home.

“Remedi likes me. I think she’ll make time for me.”

The remainder of the ride home was silent aside from the music playing on the radio.

I pulled back up to the house and saw Dallas pacing the front entrance of the porch.

She had a leaf in her hand. She’s dressed in her yellow overalls with a silk scarf tied over her hair, letting me know that she’d been working.

Dallas stayed on the opposite side of the farm.

She lived on the grounds, but wanted her own privacy, so when we got everything built, I made certain to give her a private driveway.

She has all the privacy she needs, miles away from my house.

I parked the truck, and as soon as she saw it come to a halt, she dashed for it, alerting me that something serious was wrong. Climbing out, I left Khali inside the truck ’til I knew what was going on.

“She’s going to die! She’s going to die!”

Gripping Dallas by the face, I told her, “Breathe and tell me what’s going on.”

She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. Whenever Dallas got nervous, she was a fast talker and overreacted. I needed her to calm down so I’d understand what’s going on.

Opening her eyes, she replied, “Beauty broke the fence and got into the field. Look.”

She lifted the leaf up in the air, and that’s when I noticed it had been bitten. “How much did she eat?”

“Enough to kill her at least.” Dallas’s eyes glossed over. She loved Beauty just as much as Khali.

“That explains it,” I mumbled.

“What?”

“She’s sick. I have a vet coming by to check her out.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? You’d have to tell them why she’s sick.”

My eyes drifted to the back passenger window of the truck. I’m certain Khali is wondering what’s taking so long for me to let her out.

“I can’t just let her die, Dallas. I’ll figure out a lie by the time she gets here.

” If Dr. Moore was still in business, I wouldn’t have an issue calling him out.

He’d handle it, no questions asked. He’s been taking care of all my animals since I first started the farm.

He knew the ins and outs of my business.

He’s really the only person that I trust with them.

Dallas and my eyes connected again. Her brow rose to her hairline. “She?”

“How ’bout you get back to work?” I opened the back door for Khali, and she climbed down out of the truck.

“Hey, Tee Dallas.” She offered Dallas a genuine smile.

Dallas kneeled and pecked her on the temple. “Hey, my baby.” I loved how close Dallas and Khali were. Dallas didn’t have any kids, nor did she wish to have any. She said that Khali was more than enough for her. Dallas is like a mother figure for Khali. They spent a lot of time together.

“My friend Remedi is coming over to see Beauty.”

Dallas eyed me and asked, “As in Remedi from last night, Remedi?”

“Bye, Dallas.” I strolled away from her, not wanting to hear her bullshit.

Dallas has been trying to get me to go on a date for months.

She said that it’s not healthy for me to be locked up in the house the way I’ve been.

I don’t think I’m ready to deal with anyone romantically right now.

The thought of me connecting with someone else and then they be taken away from me made me sick to my stomach.

Everyone else just needs to respect my decision.

I entered the house with Khali not too far behind me. “What time is Remedi coming back?”

“Your guess is ’bout good as mine,” I told her and plopped on the couch.

Normally, I would’ve been out there on the farm, doing something, but my mind was stuck on Beauty and trying to figure out exactly how we gon’ get outta this shit.

If that horse died and Khali found out that it’s my fault she did, she’d never forgive me.

I’d bought her Beauty ’cause she and her mama had been discussing getting her a horse before she died, and I thought it would better help her transition into losing her mama.

Losing a parent is something that I couldn’t fathom.

Both of my parents are alive and well. We see them weekly when I drop Khali off at church.

Ma has been trying her best to get me to walk back through the church doors, but I didn’t see myself attending church anytime soon.

“Are you sure she’s coming back?” Khali stepped in front of the television stand and eyed me.

“Baby girl, I don’t have the answer to that question. How ’bout we find a movie to watch and see if she does.”

“Ariel!” she yelled and jumped onto the sofa alongside me.

Ariel was one of her favorite movies to watch.

I remember when the live action first came out, and I had to take her to go see it.

Simone was out of town. I’d tried to get Dallas to do so, but she was busy, and Khali didn’t want to wait ’til another day, so I ended up in the movie theater with all the other moms. They were eyeing the hell out of me as if I was a piece of meat.

Simone thought it was funny as hell when I told her what happened.

That’s one thing I loved ’bout her—she was confident as fuck.

No one on this planet could steal me away from her, and she knew it. I was crazy ’bout that woman.

Khali snuggled next to me and watched the movie.

We got halfway through it when there was a knock at the door.

Grabbing my phone, I pulled up the camera and saw that it was Remedi.

She stood there in these denims and a purple t-shirt with a black duffel in her hand.

As if she knew I was watching her through the camera, she waved and took a step back from the door, looking out into the yard.

“Remedi’s here,” I made known and cut off the television.

Khali wasted no time hopping from the couch and running to the front door.

She pulled it open and stepped out onto the porch.

I exited behind her and said, “Khali, why don’t you run out there and check on Beauty.

We’ll be out there in a lil bit.” Remedi turned and faced me—she’d caught the hint.

“Okay!” Khali ran down off the porch and into the stable.

“What’s going on?” Remedi questioned soon as Khali wasn’t in sight anymore.

“There’s something that I need to tell you ’bout Beauty.”

“What?”

“She ate some narcotics.”

“What kind of narcotics?”

“Does it really matter? Are you able to fix her or no?”

“I don’t know. Let me check her heart rate,” she said and stepped down off the porch. “I don’t understand how you expect me to help her when you won’t even tell me what’s going on with her,” she continued to talk as she entered the stable.

Remedi dropped her duffel inside the stall next to Beauty, who lay there on her side, steadily breathing. Khali stroked her side from behind her. Remedi unzipped her bag, pulled out a stereoscope, and placed it inside her ears before moving to Beauty’s ribs.

All of my faith is in her. She has to save Beauty at all costs. Khali would probably hate me for the rest of her life if she knew that I was the reason her horse died. Losing Khali isn’t an option.

“Her heart sounds fine. I’m going to have to sedate her and flush it out.” Going back into her bag, she pulled out a long ass needle. “Hopefully, she didn’t consume too much of it.” She stuck Beauty with the needle. “Is the vet clinic far from here?”

She gazed back at me over her shoulder. “’Bout fifteen minutes,” I answered.

“I need you to run there and grab something for me so I can flush her out. After the IV drip is done, she should be just fine.” Grabbing a sticky note and pen out of her bag, she jotted something down on it and handed it to me.

“I can stay here with Khali and wait for you to come back if you’d like. ”

I didn’t know this woman from a hole in the wall, and she’s offering to stay here with my daughter.

Granted, I was the one who brought her into our home in the first place.

If something was to happen to Khali in her care, I know where Reese stays.

It’d be her best option to take care of Khali as if she was her own.

“It’s okay, Daddy. I’ll be okay,” Khali spoke as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.