Page 22 of Love Me Again

Josie reached out, touched the horse on the flank, let her hand slide over the large animal’s body. “Aren’t you pretty, Bodine.” The horse knickered in appreciation.

Josie set down her bag, ignored the way memories pressed in at the edges, and focused on the horse.

So many things eased inside of her, examining the horse just like she’d been trained to do—by Dad, by her degree. She did love animals. She did love the job and following in her father’s footsteps.

He’d been so proud and told her she had the right touch to be a vet.

While she’d agreed, she’d always wanted… She sighed a little. She hadn’t wanted to follow the rodeo around. Not for Boone. Not for Dad. But she had.

Now she could grow some roots if she wanted to. She only needed to pick the spot. Make the investment.

And without both those men in her life it felt less like the answer and more like some kind of cosmic punishment.

Still, the job of examining the horse brought her a strange bubble of peace. Particularly when she didn’t find anything concerning.

“I don’t think it’s anything serious,” Josie said when she was finished with the exam. “I think the weight loss is a product of the cold and just getting a little older. I’d recommend changing to a senior feed. Keep watching her weight on that and go from there.”

“But she’s only fifteen. We usually don’t have to start doing that until they’re closer to twenty.”

“I’m sure you know this, but every horse is different.”

Molly wrinkled her nose. “I do, but…” Molly slung her arm around the horse’s neck. “Aw, she’s my baby.”

Josie smiled in spite of herself. “And she’ll keep being your baby for a while. Change the feed, see if that helps after a few weeks. If not, bring in a licensed vet for another exam.”

“Thanks, Josie. That does really ease my mind.”

“No problem.” Josie put her instruments away and both her and Molly stepped out of the stall and then out of the stable.

“You should come eat dinner with us,” Molly said casually as they walked for the UTV.

Josie stopped walking.

Molly did too, turned to face her. “I know you don’t want to see Boone, but… There’s going to be like ten people at the dinner table. You won’t even have to look at him if you don’t want to. You can just talk to me.”

It was so nice. And Josie yearned for company. Not her own thoughts. Not her own grief. Not this dogged, aching loneliness. But… “I don’t think it’s a very good idea to get to know everybody when, once the roads are clear, I’ll be long gone.”

Molly sighed, but she didn’t mount another argument. “All right. You know how to drive one of these things?” She gestured to the UTV.

“Well, yeah, but…”

“Take it. I’ve got some more work to do here and then I’ll walk up to the house.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I…”

“Go on. That way you don’t feel trapped out there. And if you change your mind about dinner, you’ve got a way to come up. It’s usually on the table by 5:30. You’re welcome. I promise you that.”

“Well, okay. Thanks.” It would be nice to have a vehicle. Then, if she figured out her next steps, she could head up to her truck and get the heck out of here without anyone knowing.

Josie got on the UTV. She drove it back to the cabin. Then she sat there in the cold and the snow and considered…escape.

If she grabbed her stuff, she could drive up to her truck. And just leave.

She really needed to leave. She wasn’t sure why that panicked thought suddenly drove her. Something to do with that dinner invite and wanting to take it.

She ran inside, grabbed her meager belongings, then rushed right back out. She threw the bag into the UTV, then started for the house. Deb had said her truck was up here. She only had to get in, get out.

She didn’t need clear roads, did she? Sure, her tires were balding and one of her snow chains was broken, but she could get out of here on one snow-chained tire. Probably.