Still, Louis’s kind eyes settle and ground me. At least I won’t be spending the next thirty days working for someone who’s difficult to deal with.
“Let’s head to the back,” Louis says, motioning for me to follow. “I’ll show you around the clinic and the spaces where you’ll be working.”
I fall in step behind him as he takes me through the small building, pointing out the exam rooms, the supply closets, and the office space. It’s modest, sure, much smaller than the place I came from, but there’s a charm to it—a personality. And as muchas I hate to admit it, it already feels like it could grow on me.
“Being the only clinic in the town for the past forty years means I’ve had to be flexible. I originally thought I’d focus mostly on food animals—the ones the ranches that make up Lonestar Junction’s economy have—and equine, but when local families started bringing me their pets, I had to expand. And then when families started getting exotic animals as pets, well, I had to adapt again. Now I see a little bit of everything, so you’ll need to be prepared for that as well if you want to work here by my side.”
I smile and nod because I figured as much. There are typically two types of veterinarians who I encountered in school: those who loved their niche specialty and stuck within those limits, like Chadwick, who swore he’d never work with anything but exotic animals, and those who want to do a little bit of everything, who appreciate the differences in animals and enjoy the challenge of treating and meeting new species, like me.
“Will that be a problem?” he asks, turning his head slightly as we move into another one of the examination rooms.
“Not at all. I’ve done internships with every type of veterinarian, including mobile stints, and truly enjoyed it all. I’ve yet to meet an animal that I don’t like.”
He smiles and nods. “Great. I think we’ll get along just fine then. The pay isn’t going to be as good as it was in Houston since I’m used to going at it alone. I can only offer you $4,000 for the month you’re here, but at the end of the thirty days, if we mutually agree that this is a good fit, we’ll negotiate a price, and I’ll sell you my business so that I can retire happily on my home here in town. Then there’s no limit to how much you'll make if you want to put the work into the clinic. Does that sound like a deal?”
I nod and smile, relieved that he’s willing to give me a shot. Sure, I might be feeling a little crazy for agreeing to this, walking away from a six-figure salary in Houston and into unknown earning potential, but the place I found for rent in town charges only $300a month and my new roommate who Shawna helped hook me up with said her work schedule keeps her busy enough that she’ll hardly be around. It feels like a good set-up with minimal risk and a potentially high reward for sticking it out.
“Great, now help me out with this new baby lamb we got in the back, and then let’s grab some lunch. It’s Sunday, so we’re open for emergency calls only. I’d like to take you out to get to know my new employee a little bit better,” he says with a smile.
An hour later, Louis takes me to a local diner famous for its fried food and beer, though he sticks to drinking only water, and I follow his lead. Over the clatter of plates and the hum of casual conversation, he opens up about his life. He tells me he’s been sober for the past decade, ever since he lost his wife. He reminisces about his younger days in Lonestar Junction, back when the options for entertainment were limited to chasing women or chasing a buzz. Instead, he threw himself into drinking and working with animals as a way to stay distracted and it became an addiction he later regretted.
“It wasn’t the best choice,” he admits, a touch of sadness weighing down his words. “I wasn’t much of a father during those early years. My son deserved better than what I gave him.”
His son, Hardin Montgomery, is a topic he lingers on with a mix of pride and remorse. Hardin has recently returned to Lonestar Junction to take on a position as an internist at the town’s shiny new hospital. Louis describes him as“thirty years young, strong minded, and handsome as a whip,”and before I know it, he’s somehow roped me into agreeing to a blind date with him.
I’d hesitated at first—dating wasn’t exactly part of the plan for my thirty-day stay here. The last thing I want is to start forming connections if this is only temporary. But at the same time, I figure a date could help pass the time and maybe even convince Louis that I’m serious about managing his clinic. He needs to know I’ll honor the business he’s built and the legacy he’s leaving behind as he eases into retirement.
After lunch, we head back to the clinic to tackle some housekeeping—cleaning out a few exam rooms, setting up my tax paperwork, and getting everything ready for my first week of work. By the time I’m done, the sun’s dipping low on the horizon, casting the town in a golden glow. I make my way to Shawna and Ryder’s house, ready to stop for the day and call it a night.
“You’re here!” Shawna squeals, flinging open the front door and wrapping her arms tightly around my neck the second I knock.
“I am,” I laugh. “Though I’m still in shock that I’ve been hired. Doc Montgomery decided to take me on under a thirty-day trial period to see if I’m a good fit at the clinic before he decides if he’ll sell it.”
“I can’t believe you did it. You really left Houston.” She shakes her head with a wide smile.
“What kind of sister would I be if I didn’t burn my entire life to ashes just so that I could be on babysitting duty once my niece or nephew is born? You can Ryder are going to need date nights, you know?”
She smiles broadly, clearly thrilled about the pregnancy and her sister moving next door to her. It all feels a little surreal to me still, but the truth is that I needed this change. I needed to do something so shocking that didn’t make much sense to break out of the routine I’ve fallen into in Houston. One where I’m not really living, stuck in the past.
“I set up the guestroom for you to stay in tonight, but I want you to know that I talked to Ryder, and you can stay longer than just tonight. We want you to stay here the whole time you’re in town, and even longer if you wish. I want you to be close by.”
I shake my head. “Look, that’s really nice of you, but I’m not living with you for the next thirty days. The woman with the home nearby agreed to rent to me for the next month and if I need to extend it, I can.”
“Ugh, but we don’t really know her…” my sister’s voice trails off.
“She seems nice. Plus, she’s working as a nanny full time for a family in San Angelo and is rarely around. It’ll be good for me to meet someone new and make some friends while I’m living here. Especially if it’s permanent,” I smile.
She pulls me in for another hug. “Honestly, I never thought you’d actually leave Houston, but I’m so glad you did. This is going to be great for you, Teagan, and Mr. Montgomery would be crazy not to sell you his business at the end of this month.”
I just hope she’s right, because without that, I don’t have a backup plan.
Cheers to new beginnings and jumping in headfirst.
Chapter 19 – Teagan
One week later…
“Good morning!” I call out as I step into the kitchen of the cozy little rancher I’ll be calling home for the next thirty days. It’s nothing fancy—just two bedrooms, one bathroom, a small kitchen, and a living room—but it’s more than enough for me. Sharing close quarters with a perfect stranger might not be ideal, but the rent is cheap, and I don’t plan on being around much anyway. Most of my time will be spent proving myself to Doc.
