"Last time Carol remembered who I was, she asked if that nice girl you married still came around. I told her yeah, she checks on the horses." She looked back at the pasture. "Didn't have the heart to tell her the rest."
"Joan—"
She waved a hand. "I'm seventy-four. I can say what I want." She looked back at the pasture. "Your mother loved that girl. Still does, probably, on the days she remembers."
A truck turned onto the driveway. White, with Millbrook Veterinary Care on the side.
My hands went still on the chair.
Joan glanced at the truck, then at me. Something that might've been amusement flickered across her face. "Right on time."
Elena's truck pulled up beside my patrol car. She cut the engine, grabbed her bag from the passenger seat, then looked up and saw me sitting there on the porch.
She froze for just a second.
"Matt," she said, climbing the steps. "Hi."
"Hey."
"Deputy Reeves is here on official business," Joan said, standing. "Diane Morris thinks I'm dead."
Elena's mouth twitched. "Are you?"
"Not yet." Joan headed toward the barn. "Come on, I'll show you the foal. Poor thing is doing better, but I want you to check that leg again."
She headed toward the barn. Elena hesitated, glancing at me.
"Wellness check," I said with a shrug. "False alarm."
"Right." She shifted her bag. "How've you been?"
"Good. You?"
"Busy. Clinic's booked solid through the end of the year."
"That's great."
"Yeah."
We stood there. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, exactly. It was just… guarded.
"How's your mom doing?" Elena asked quietly.
"Okay. Some good days, some hard ones."
"I'm glad she has you here."
I didn't know what to say to that.
"I should go," she said, nodding toward the barn. "Don't want to keep Joan waiting."
"Yeah. Of course."
She started down the steps, then stopped and turned back.
"Take care of yourself, Matt."
"You too," I said.
