Page 36 of Unyielding (Poplar Springs #3)

THIRTY-SIX

DECLAN

“ D amn it!”

It was the third time I had typed the dosing instructions into the form for my client only to find that the minute I moved to the next column, everything I’d entered disappeared.

If I could just calm down, I might be able to figure out what I was doing wrong but I was way too worked up for that to happen.

It was like everything I touched went to shit.

I glanced down at Ford, who had his head planted on my knee.

“Everything except you, right, buddy? You still love me.”

The dog pushed closer and tilted his head to the side, as if he understood that I could use a little extra TLC. I reached down and stroked Ford’s shoulders, wishing that someone could do the same for me. It had been a long couple of days.

Even though she and I hadn’t had a formal conversation about what had gone down with Shannon, Becca, and Sunshine, I could tell Ruth had heard about it—and that she wasn’t pleased.

She was more reserved than usual, less likely to fix me a cup of coffee or make small talk at the end of the day.

Nothing had been said, but it didn’t have to be.

I kept hoping that maybe Ruth would understand that it was a misjudgment on my part and not an indication of my true nature, but she’d already warned me that I’d made too many mistakes already.

I knew that the odds were stacked up against me.

Only now that the job seemed truly out of reach did I realize how much I’d been counting on it.

I’d failed to come up with a plan B. I had no idea what would come next for me if Ruth didn’t sell me the business.

My mother’s confused face flashed through my mind.

I felt like I needed to be in Poplar Springs, for her, to help her navigate whatever the future held, but how could I do that if I couldn’t take over the only existing practice in town that was for sale?

I couldn’t afford to start from scratch.

Even if I could source some equipment used, I would be taking a risk with those purchases with no options for refunds.

Plus there was the fact that word traveled fast around the ranches and if folks were leery of having me as their vet, it would be difficult to build my practice, especially since Julia Lett was around as another option.

My shoulders slumped as I leaned back in my chair. What the hell was I going to do?

“Dr. Morris, do you have a minute?” Ruth asked, standing in the doorway.

She only used my title when something was wrong, like a mother who called her son by his full name when she was angry.

“Hi, Dr. Wilcox. Yes, of course I do.”

I sat up straighter and turned to face the other chair in the room as she sat down. Ford padded over to her and snuffled along the pockets of her lab coat.

“You probably know that I heard about the kerfuffle with that mare Shannon Cafferty wanted to buy.”

I nodded. “Yes, I assumed it would get back to you.”

“Not a good situation, eh? Now, I know you well enough to know you’d never do anything to hurt the Caffertys or their business, which is why the news about what happened is such a shock.”

“You’re right,” I began in earnest. “It was never my intention to hurt the Caffertys.” I explained as best I could about the conversation with Becca.

The truth didn’t exactly cover me in glory, but I knew that it wasn’t nearly as stark as Becca had made it seem when she’d been taunting Shannon in front of the other ranchers.

I could only hope that it would be enough to soften Ruth’s outlook.

When I finished my explanation, I looked over to see her reaction…

and my heart sank when she just looked sad and resigned.

“I understand that your intentions were good,” she said at last, “but loose lips sink ranches, Dr. Morris. All that Walter and the two Bobs and the rest of the ranchers know now is that you talk.”

I hung my head.

“Talk is what led to the great fence war of 1982 between the Bradley family and the Rickerts. Someone said too much and the next thing we knew, both families were scrambling to buy up every last fence post and slat in Colorado. It does no good to have that sort of tension around here. And on top of that, we can’t have people losing faith in their veterinarian.

Remember how I said you’re so much more than just a doc?

Well, that means you need to keep the ranchers’ confidences like you’re a preacher in a confessional.

And you broke that rule when you let Becca wheedle that information out of you. ”

“Isn’t there anything I can do to explain it to everyone? To try to win their trust back? I hate that people think poorly of me.”

“Oh, not everyone around here has a problem with you,” she scoffed.

“You still have quite a few fans—including Becca, I’m sure.

But the folks that matter most, the squeaky wheels…

well, they’re the ones who don’t quite know what to make of you.

They like your doctoring just fine, but they don’t like the chatter. ”

I sighed and closed my eyes. “That’s not who I am.”

Ruth reached out and grasped my shoulder. “I know that, Declan. But you only get one shot around here, and you sort of blew it. Three times, to be exact.”

I almost laughed at Ruth’s lack of tact. It still threw me that she could be so plain-spoken with me while still managing to keep it professional with all of her clients.

“I like you, Declan. A lot. I was pulling for you. But at the end of the day, I answer to the people in this community, and they’ve spoken. I’m so sorry, Dr. Morris, but I can’t sell the practice to you. I hope you understand.”

Her eyes were soft and full of compassion, and even though I was gutted by what she’d said, I knew she was right.

“Well, I’m sure you know that I’m disappointed,” I said as the sadness I’d been burying since the fight with Shannon threatened to overtake me. “I was looking forward to continuing your legacy. Everything you’ve built.”

“I’m sorry too. You’re a fine doctor, and a better man.

And truth be told, I can’t wait to be done with this godawful popularity contest I’m running.

I’m tired of bringing new faces in. I’m tired of having to start over each time, teaching them how I run things.

I’m just tired, period, and I want to be done. ”

She wasn’t blaming me outright, but the subtext of what she meant was obvious.

“I wish I could’ve been the one to help you make that happen, Dr. Wilcox.”

“Yeah, I do too.” She looked around the office, then placed her hand on her knees to push herself into a standing position. “We’ll ride this out until the end of the month and then we’ll be done. Sound okay with you?”

I nodded. I didn’t have a choice.

“What’s on the schedule for tomorrow?”

I flipped through the open tabs on my laptop screen until I found the calendar. “Full day. Oh, uh… it looks like Shannon Cafferty’s new foal is scheduled for a checkup. Do you want to take that one?”

I didn’t feel ready to face her again, even in professional circumstances.

“Why don’t you do it? Since you’re finishing up here, might as well say goodbye to the sweet little baby you brought into the world.” She paused. “And I bet Shannon would appreciate hearing about your future plans straight from you, all things considered.”

I had to wonder what “things” she might be referring to. Besides the obvious. I didn’t think Ruth knew that Shannon and I were in a relationship. Had been. Had been in a relationship.

“Sure, okay.” I glanced back at the calendar.

It was jam-packed, but I didn’t want Ruth out in the field treating patients, not while I was still on the payroll.

“Hey, I can handle everything on the docket on my own tomorrow. You can take it easy. Maybe just stick around the office and catch up on paperwork, okay?”

Ruth gave me a half smile. “You’re not making this firing situation easy, you know that?”

I managed a smile back at her. “Until the end of the month, I’m here to help, no matter what.”

Too bad it wouldn’t be enough.