Good Guys Love Dogs (10 page)

stop just short of the light from
the porch. Colby reached

into the back seat for her bag, then
said, “Wel , thank you

for the ride. And for waiting around
for me. I'm real y

sorry about the mud.

“No problem. I
actual y learned a few things tonight. If

you need any help getting your
truck—

“Oh, no. Thanks.
I'l get a tow truck out there

tomorrow. You've already gone way
beyond the cal of duty

for someone duped by the local
matchmakers.

Ian smiled, and Colby noticed that
he had a memorable

one. The kind that reaches the eyes
and transforms them.

They studied each other for a second
too long, saying

nothing in a moment of unexpected
awareness. Colby

looked away first, climbing out of
the car and ducking back

to say, “Well,
thanks again. Good night.

“Good night, he
said, then waved and drove away.

Colby watched his tail ights
disappear down the street,

surprised to find herself sorry that
the evening had ended.

90

13

an had been on the phone with Curtis
Morgan for a

Iful two hours on Saturday morning
when the other

man finally said, “Wel
, that should bring you up to date

on the past few days, anyway.

“Thanks, Curtis.
Sounds like things are pretty crazy

around there.

“Are they ever
any other way? Curtis asked, a smile in

his voice. “I
stil can't believe you walked away from al this.

Aren't you missing this place?

“It's only til
the end of the school year, Ian said,

strangely unable to say that he
missed it. So far, he didn't at

al . But then he'd been overdue for
a vacation. He'd be

missing it before long.

“A year must seem
like forever in a place like that. Not

a whole lot going on, I'l bet. Not
when you're used to the

life you led here.

“It's different,
that's for sure.

“You deserve a
father-of-the-year award for what

you're doing.

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INGLATH COOPER

Ian disagreed with his friend.
Judging from his success

with Luke so far, that was the last
thing he would qualify for.

The two of them talked on for a
while longer before Ian

hung up.

Even though he'd taken official
leave, he felt obligated

to keep himself apprised of what was
going on. He turned

his attention to the computer
screen, checking stock prices.

He glanced out the window to the
side of his desk.

The huge old maple tree had begun to
absorb the tint of fall.

The view here won hands down. A lot
more peaceful, too.

For now, at least, he would let
himself enjoy that. Soon

enough, he'd be back in the city
where the trees were rare

and the noise omnipresent.

He glanced at his watch as the sun
stretched ful tilt across

the room. Nearly noon. Rachel would
arrive any minute.

The trip had been planned since
before he'd moved here,

but he almost wished she weren't
coming now. Why was

that when he hadn't seen her in
three weeks?

Ian turned his chair toward the
window again and

thought about Colby Williams. No
doubt she'd considered

him a first-class buffoon last
night. He couldn't have

looked any more convincing as an
outsider had he been

trying for an Academy Award.

After he'd dropped her off, he'd
driven home,

wondering why he never got around to
telling her about

his engagement. Some part of him had
been intrigued by

her. And he had enjoyed himself more
than he had in a long

time.

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GOOD GUYS LOVE DOGS

The doorbel rang, interrupting his
thoughts. Ian left

his study and went out into the
front hal . Rachel stood on

the porch, dressed in black pants
and a red silk blouse,

looking as out of place in the
countryside as a polar bear in

Arizona.

“Ian. She stepped
forward and put her arms around

his neck. “I've
missed you.

She pressed her lips against his and
kissed him with

intent. He placed his hands on her
waist and pul ed her to

him, seeking a connection that would
put him back on track.

Her perfume smel ed familiar, as did
the feel of her, and he

told himself he had done the right
thing in asking her to

marry him. Rachel was part of his
real life, the life he'd

created here just temporary. Rachel
represented al the things

he would go back to when the year
ended. And go back, he

would.

93

14

olby spent Saturday morning at the
clinic. Things

Cwere busy, and she didn't see her
last patient until

after two o'clock that afternoon.
She'd cal ed Granger's

Tow Service and asked them to pick
up her truck and take

it to the shop to have the starter
repaired. They'd done so,

and someone dropped it back off
shortly after noon.

On Sunday, she and Lena went to
church, a weekly ritual.

Growing up, Colby had been part of
the youth group of

Keeling Creek First Baptist, going
on retreats to other

churches and summer bus trips to
Busch Gardens in

Wil iamsburg. Now, Lena did those
same things in the kind

of smal , close-knit church where
everyone knew everyone

else, and a sense of family existed
among the members.

They sat in the second row with
Colby's parents, both

of whom were actively involved in
the church's social life,

organizing such events as summer
Bible school and monthly

breakfasts in the fel owship hal
where the men cooked for

the women. They were good people
with strong roots in the

community, wel liked and respected.
The only rough points

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GOOD GUYS LOVE DOGS

in her relationship with them had
come when she'd tried to

get through school with Lena. They
wanted to help, and out

of guilt or pride, she had been
determined to do as much as

she could on her own. They had let
her flounder even

though, as a parent herself, she
knew it hurt them to do so.

After the services, she lingered at
the door with her

mother while her father and Lena
chatted with the preacher.

The sight of her purple-haired
daughter nestled in the crook

of her grandfather's arm warmed
Colby inside, and at the

same time, brought forth a surge of
regret for the closeness

with Lena she seemed to have lost.

“Things aren't
any better with you two, I take it?

Emma Wil iams asked, placing a
sympathetic hand on

Colby's arm.

She turned her gaze back to her
mother. “I've tried to

talk to her, but she won't open up.
I keep tel ing myself it

wil blow over.

“More than likely
it wil . You had a rebellious streak of

your own, you know, Emma said with a
smile.

“I remember,
Colby confessed. “I don't think it ever

real y affected my relationship with
you or Daddy.

“No. Thankfully,
it didn't, she admitted. “But all

children are different.

Colby shook her head. “I'm
beginning to wonder if I'm

doing something wrong, if maybe I'm
just not a very good

mom.

“Now you stop
that, dear, her mother admonished

her. “You're a
wonderful mom. You know how proud your

father and I are of you for the way
you've handled things.

95

INGLATH COOPER

“Thank you, Mama,
Colby said, somehow needing to

hear the words today.

She squeezed Colby's shoulder.
“You had to become

responsible at a very young age, she
said, her voice

softening. “And
you didn't take the easy way out. You

made a life for yourself and that
child. I know there were

times when you must have wondered
what it would be like

not to have all that responsibility.
To be free to do as you

wanted.

Colby gave her mother a grateful
smile. “You know I'd

never have done it without you and
Dad.

“Oh, yes, you
would have. I know you wel enough to

be sure of that, she said with pride
in her voice. “Maybe

Lena could spend the afternoon with
us. You go be good

to yourself.

Colby sent a glance at her daughter,
laughing now at

something the pastor had said.
“I'm sure she'd like that.

Her father and Lena waved goodbye to
the preacher and

joined them across the lawn. “What
do you say I treat my

three favorite ladies at Libbie's
for lunch? her father said.

Lena's relaxed demeanor disappeared
behind the sul en

facade she'd been wearing for the
past few weeks. As much

as Colby would have liked to go, it
would be good for Lena

to spend some time alone with her
grandparents. “You

three go on. I've got some things to
do at home, Daddy.

“You sure, honey?

She nodded and smiled her most
convincing smile.

“All right, then.
We'll bring the punkin' home later,

he said, ruffling Lena's hair.

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GOOD GUYS LOVE DOGS

“We'l have her
there by dinner, her mother promised.

“Have a good
time, honey. Colby waved as the three

of them headed to her parents' car.
But Lena didn't answer.

She merely tucked herself closer in
the curve of her

grandfather's arm while Colby
watched them drive away, a

dul ache deep inside her.

BACK AT THE HOUSE, Colby
straightened up, then

put in a load of laundry. She rarely
went to the clinic on

Sunday unless there were dogs or
cats in the hospital, since

the part-time help came in to feed
the animals on the

weekend.

After turning on the washing
machine, she made her

way into the kitchen and stared at
the items lining the

pantry shelves. Macaroni. Tomato
soup. Black olives. Fat-

free cookies.

Critter sidled against the back of
her legs, letting out a

soft meow.

Colby looked down at her and sighed.
“I know. Kind

of lonely around here, isn't it?

Critter answered with another meow.

She reached down and picked her up,
tucking the kitty

under her chin. The cat purred like
a lawn mower. Petey and

Lulu lay under the kitchen table,
looking across at her with

sleepy eyes. “I
guess in a few years, it'l be just the four of

us, huh?

Petey groaned in protest and rolled
over on his back,

his paws in the air.

97

INGLATH COOPER

“I know how you
feel. She considered her own

question for a moment. In the past,
she hadn't allowed

herself to dwell on what things
would be like after Lena

grew up and left home. She'd meant
it when she'd told

Phoebe that she was happy with the
way things were. She

had a full life. She didn't need a
man to make it complete.

But would the house always be this
quiet once Lena

moved away?

She thought about Ian McKinley and
wondered if he

felt the same way about his son
leaving home. But then, a

man like that probably had enough
female companionship

to ensure that he never got lonely.

She was being sil y. Lena wouldn't
be going to col ege

for another two years. A very long
time away.

The phone rang, merciful y diverting
Colby's thoughts.

She picked up the receiver with her
free hand and managed

a hel o as the cat swatted it with
her paw.

“I want al the
details. Every single one, Phoebe

demanded, not bothering with a
greeting.

“You're just now
getting around to it? Colby asked in

mock surprise.

“Frank's mother's
been here. I've barely had time to go

to the bathroom! Well?

“Wel , nothing.
If I were smart, I'd disown you as a

friend.

“You're not stil
mad at me, are you? Phoebe cajoled.

“I should be.

“I'll admit that,
but can't you just give me the down-

low anyway?

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GOOD GUYS LOVE DOGS

“You're
impossible. Colby never stayed upset at

Phoebe for long. Not even in the
fifth grade, when she told

Ricky Peters that Colby stuffed her
bra. “Besides, he's only

going to be here for a year. You
forgot to figure that into your

perfect-for-Colby equation.

“A year! Phoebe
said, disbelieving. “Maybe you could

change his mind, she added,
rallying. “So, what happened

after you left here?

“He watched me
deliver twin calves and then took me

home, she said, leaving out the part
about the mud bath.

Even now, the thought of it made her
smile.

“That's al ?
Phoebe asked, her disappointment

evident.

“That's al , she
said, unwilling to give her friend more

bait than that.

“You've been out
of commission for too long—

Phoebe broke off and shouted her
son's name. “Oh, shoot,

Colby. I'll have to call you back.
Jacob's hanging by his

knees on top of the swing set. Gotta
run.