The Splendor of Ordinary Days Read Online Free Page B

The Splendor of Ordinary Days
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you.”
    Karen looked down sheepishly. “I left right afterward. It just, I don’t know. It just felt sort of odd when it was over, like everyone was staring at me.”
    â€œI’m sure they were. What you did was rather heroic. . . . Pretty big news for a place like Watervalley. Matter of fact, you just missed Luther Whitmore, editor of the local newspaper. I bet he’d like to interview you.”
    A cringe twisted her face as she inhaled through clenched teeth, making a slight hissing sound. “Are you talking about the fellow in the black suit I just saw in the parking lot?”
    â€œSounds right.”
    â€œGee, I thought he was a mortician. Just as well I missed him. Anyway, I don’t much care for the spotlight.”
    â€œYeah, that was Luther, all right. He’s not exactly Mr. Sunshine. But I’m sure the paper will want to do a write-up about having a new vet in town. I don’t think you will be able to avoid the spotlight completely.”
    She nodded. “I’m okay with that. How’s the fellow from the ballpark doing?”
    â€œToy McAnders. He’s good. We took him to Regional Hospital. He’ll come home tomorrow.”
    I studied her for a moment and decided to pry further. “So, how long have you been in town?”
    â€œI actually just arrived yesterday morning. I’m staying over at the B and B till my stuff arrives.” She fell silent, seemingly unsure of what to say next. I spoke again in an accommodating voice.
    â€œI have to admit, Karen, I’m a little curious. I’m guessing vet school didn’t teach you how to do an emergency cricothy­rotomy?”
    She shrugged. “Hardly. I was in the military for fifteen years. Army medic. I went to veterinary school after I got out. I graduated this spring.”
    â€œWell, that explains a lot.” This news came as no big surprise. With her ramrod posture, crisp speech, and reserved manner, everything about Karen Davidson reflected the enamel of military service. I gauged her to be in her late thirties and, while she was a pleasant, modestly attractive woman, her short haircut and minimal, if any, makeup telegraphed that she was either uninterested or unpracticed in accentuating her feminine side. She was polite and plain and seemed content to remain so.
    â€œWell, I have a ­lethargic ­but ­lovable male golden retriever who will be excited to know that you’ve arrived in town.”
    â€œWhat’s his name?” There was a notable lift in her voice.
    â€œRhett. He’s an adopted stray. But he’s turned out to be quite a character.”
    â€œThey’re great hunting dogs, you know.”
    â€œI’m sure that’s true for the breed in general, but I’m not so sure Rhett could get vicious with a bird or a rabbit. He’d probably just ­trash-­talk it a little and let it go at that.”
    â€œWell,” she said warmly, “I look forward to meeting him.”
    â€œSo, I take it you’ve introduced yourself around town some. Have you been by the Farmers’ Co-op?”
    â€œYeah, I, um, I went by there earlier today and met a few of the guys. They were, well, polite.”
    The trepidation in her answer was obvious. “I take it you have some reservations about how that went?”
    She paused and scrutinized me for a moment, as if weighing what level of confidence she wanted to engage with me. “It was okay. I think they weren’t sure what to make of a woman my size taking on ­half-­ton cows and pulling calves. Nobody said anything, but I could read it in their eyes.”
    â€œThey can be a little ­tight-­lipped at first, but they’re good people. Just give it some time.”
    Karen smiled faintly. “I hope so. The cat and dog business will probably pay the light bill, but it will take a fair amount of ­large-­animal practice to cover rent and food. Eating may

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