Peggy Dulle - Liza Wilcox 04 - Saddle Up Read online

  Go on the attack, that’s the quickest way to diffuse or confuse someone.

  “I came in and nobody was here. The front door was unlocked, so I expected to find someone around. Don’t you have a receptionist? I tried to find a piece of paper to write a note. I didn’t want to rummage around in the exam rooms, so when I found your desk I knew you’d have something to write on.” I picked up a small white notepad from the desktop. “And here it is.”

  The shorter man said, “I’ve got to go, Glen. Thanks for the tour around the rodeo arena. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  The doctor shook hands with the other man and said, “Be careful with that beautiful car on the way out of town, Dean. We’ve got more potholes than a dairy farmer has cows on the road that gets you to the highway.”

  Dean laughed and said, “Make sure you stop by the club when you’re in Vegas again.”

  The doctor nodded and the man tipped his head to me and left.

  Doc Sanders turned his attention back to me and signaled, with his hands, for me to get out from behind his desk.

  I slid around the desk and sat in one of the leather chairs.

  He hooked his hat on a wooden rack in the corner, sat down behind his desk, and said, “My name is Doc Sanders, what’s yours?”

  I extended my hand which shook a bit since I couldn’t settle my nerves from being caught in his office. “My name is Liza Wilcox.”

  He shook my hand, then glanced at the books in the chair next to me and said, “Are you here for the rodeo?”

  “Yes, I got in this morning.”

  “The rodeo is a lot of fun. It’s my favorite event of the year.”

  I wanted to add that it is the only event in the town, but said, “This is my first one.”

  “Oh you’ll enjoy it.”

  “Thanks.”

  He was making small talk to relax me. What a nice guy.

  “Okay, what can I do for you?”

  The light conversation was over. Now what? I was so busy trying to figure out a way to explain my being in his office I forgot to figure out what to say after that.

  Doc Sanders’ entire demeanor changed. His face and body relaxed. He leaned back in his chair. “It’s okay. Take your time, honey.”

  Oh great! Now he thinks it’s something bad and that I’m embarrassed or scared to tell him.

  “I’m pregnant!” It was the first thing to come to my mind, so it came out of my mouth.

  “Is this something you’re happy about or not?”

  Good question?

  “It’s just a surprise.” I held up my left hand. “I just got engaged and my fiancé and I haven’t even talked about a wedding date. In fact, we both assume it won’t be for years since we live and work in two separate towns. We planned on taking it slow – to take our time to figure out what we would do and where we would live. He’s got a stepson I haven’t even met yet.”

  “Is this something you’re happy about or not?” The doctor repeated his question.

  Huh? Why was he asking that again? I bit my lower lip, definitely a sign I was under stress. Then it hit me. He needed to know if I want to keep the child or not.

  “I’m not overly excited about the idea, but I’m not unhappy either.”

  “Is the child your fiancé’s?”

  I was dumbstruck by that question. Did I look like the kind of woman who had a fiancée and got pregnant by someone else?

  My silence gave him an answer, although not the right one.

  “That’s okay. How are you sure you’re pregnant?”

  “I did one of those at-home pregnancy tests, three days in a row. They all came out positive.”

  “How far along do you think you are?”

  I bit my lower lip again. This was getting too complicated.

  “That’s okay. Do you take any medication on a regular basis?”

  “No, I can’t remember to take anything on a regular basis.” I admitted. Now that was the first truth I had spoken to the man.

  “Well, you will need to get some prenatal vitamins and start taking them right away.” He looked over my head toward his examination rooms.

  Oh crap! I hope he didn’t want me to get on a metal table covered with that white scratchy paper so he could do a full exam. Could he tell I wasn’t pregnant if he did?

  “The grocery store in town doesn’t carry any but I’ve got a bottle I can give you to get you started. But I want you to see your own doctor when you get home.” Doc Sanders stood. “Wait here a minute and I’ll be right back.”

  When he left, I finally sighed in relief. That had been too close. It would have been better to wait for Tom or Dad. I needed the doctor distracted so I could go through his office and files not make up something.

  He returned a few seconds later with two bottles, one clearly labeled Prenatal Vitamins, and the other was just a plain medicine bottle.

  “Is your fiancé coming up for the rodeo, too?” The doctor asked when he sat down behind his desk.

  “Yes, he should be here tonight.”

  “Are you planning on telling him right away that you’re pregnant?”

  I bit my lower lip. “I’m not sure.”

  Doc Sanders poured the vitamins into the plain bottle. “This will give you a few days to decide what you’re going to do and say to him.”

  When he handed me the bottle, I put it into my purse and took out my wallet. “How much do I owe you?”

  “Nothing, my dear. All we did was talk and the vitamins are from my sample stock. Just remember no alcohol or smoking while you’re pregnant.”

  No chance of that, since I didn’t do either. It was time to leave.

  I stood and extended my hand. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” He shook my hand, then came around the desk. “Will I see you at the Cowgirl Event tomorrow?”

  “I don’t know. What is it?”

  “It’s a luncheon and fundraiser for our school. It’s after the parade and before the rodeo gets started. There will be booths at the event that feature cowgirl attire, jewelry and décor items for sale. Then you’ll be hand-served a steak lunch complete with corn-on-the cob, baked potato with all the trimmings, garlic bread and green salad. You’ll have fifty cowboys, some local but most from the rodeo circuit at your beck and call. They even got the specialty act from the rodeo as entertainment.”

  “What act?”

  “This year the clown has trained dogs that do all sorts of tricks.”

  “Clown?”

  “Sure, there is always a clown at a rodeo. He’s there to be a distraction to the bucking bulls. You’re not one of those peoples who is afraid of clowns, are you?”

  I thought about my first adventure with the psycho clowns, but said, “No.”

  “Great. I’ll be there as well.”

  “You’ll be serving?”

  Doc Sanders laughed. “No, I’m not young enough to be a server but I’m escorting the mayor to the event. I’ll probably be the only guy in the place not holding a tray.”

  “Ridgedale’s mayor is a woman?” I asked, although I knew the answer. The more information I could gather on the town and its people, the better.

  “Absolutely. Priscilla Banner has been our mayor for the last ten years. She’s donating all the meat for the fundraiser and another local woman, Sheryl Ann, is doing the cooking.”

  “I’m staying at Sheryl Ann’s house,” I said.

  “Really?” The doctor looked confused, then clarity showed on his face. “That’s right, she opens up that big old house of hers to boarders during the rodeo. You’re lucky because she’s the best cook in town. She’s usually my receptionist, but took today off to get her house in order for her weekend guests.”

  I glanced at my watch. It was after five and dinner was at six.

  He saw me check my watch and said, “And she’s prompt. If you’re late for dinner, those cowboys staying at her place will eat your portion. Remember you’re in your first trimester and food may not s
et right with you, especially in the morning. Crackers are good for that, so if you feel nauseated, get some at the grocery store.”

  Doc Sanders opened the front door for me and as I left I said, “Thanks again.”

  “No problem, Miss Wilcox. You take care of yourself and the baby, okay?”

  I nodded, turned and left. On the way back to the house, my phone rang. It showed Tom’s number.

  “Hi, Tom.”

  “Hi, honey.”

  “How are the domestic issues with Davis and Doreen?”

  “I think they’re finally settled down. I sent him over to the house to pick up a few things and he’s going to stay at my place while I’m gone. That way he can take care of Duke and give Doreen some personal space and time.”

  “That’s a great idea. Every woman needs some time alone to think without having a man under her feet.”

  “Well, I just hope she’s not there so he can slip in and out without running into her. She’s supposed to be getting her hair done so he should be clear to just run in and then get back here. I loaned him my truck, so as soon as he gets back I’ll be on my way up to Ridgedale.”

  “How long will it take you to get here?”

  “I’m thinking a little over two hours, so I’ll eat on the road. Don’t wait for me. Are there any local cafés where you can get dinner?”

  “I had lunch at the café. They make a great cheeseburger.”

  Tom laughed. “I know how you feel about meat, honey, but is there anyplace else? You don’t want to have another hamburger, do you?”

  “Excuse me?” I said.

  “Oh, that’s right. You’re the woman who can eat the same meal three times in a row just to finish it.”

  “Very true,” I said, then remembered about the inn. “Hey, I forgot to tell you. We’re not staying at the inn.”

  “Why not?”

  “Computer snafu with my reservation.”

  “So where are we staying?”

  “A local woman has opened up her home into a boarding house, so we have a room there.”

  “I’m going to be staying in a house with a bunch of other people?” Tom’s tone sounded not too happy.

  “Yes, but I hear she’s the best cook in town.”

  Tom ignored my comment and asked, “Will I be sharing a bathroom with other people too?”

  “Yes, but it was either this or we’d have to stay out of town and I didn’t want to do that.”

  “Your dad’s not staying at the boarding house, too, is he?” Tom asked tentatively.

  “Nope.”

  “That’s good. How is the investigation going?”

  “I’ll tell you all about it when you get here. I’ve got to hurry or I’ll miss dinner.”

  “I never want to come between you and food, honey. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

  “I can’t wait for both!”

  I put the phone in my purse and walked to Sheryl Ann’s house.

  The truck with the huge tires was gone, but it had been replaced by four other trucks ranging from several years old to one so new it didn’t even have plates yet. As I came through the front door, two things hit me at once. The living room was full of voices. It sounded like a boy’s frat house. They were laughing and yelling at each other. And an aroma of meat, spices and fresh bread filled the air.

  When I came into the room, it fell silent. They all stood, nodded at me and smiled. Two had been lounging on the couch and the others were scattered around the room, either sitting on chairs or standing. They were five good looking young men, all tall, muscular, tanned and polite. If this group put out a calendar, I would buy more than one copy. All wore blue jeans, t-shirts with various rodeo logos on them, and boots.

  “Howdy ma’am,” said a young man with jet black hair, dark brown eyes, and a dimple right in the middle of his chin. He had been sitting on one of the overstuffed chairs. “Would you like to sit down?”

  “No thank you. I’m going to go up and freshen up for dinner. My name is Liza.”

  “Mine’s Jody, and that’s Buck, Jackson, Shelton, and Barry.” He pointed to the other young men in the room who, as they were introduced, nodded at me.

  “I’m glad to meet you all.”

  Just then Sheryl Ann came into the room. “Dinner is going to be ready in ten minutes. All of you go wash up. I won’t have grimy hands at my table.”

  The group nodded and hustled out of the room and up the stairs, whizzing by me like a tornado.

  After they were gone I said, “Well, I’ve never seen a room clear out this fast.”

  Sheryl Ann laughed. “They’re hungry. You’d best wash up too, and get to the table quick. These boys will devour everything I’ve cooked in a matter of minutes.”

  “I’m on my way.” I turned and started up the stairs. I was met with a moving wall of young men tramping down.

  As soon as they saw me, they stopped and moved aside, letting me pass easily up the middle.

  In my room, I put my purse and books on the dresser, then washed up quickly and headed down to the table. I was hungry, too, and these boys hadn’t seen how much I can eat.

  When I came into the dining room, four of the five stood. Buck elbowed Barry and whispered, “Stand when a lady comes into the room, boy.”

  Buck was blonde and blue-eyed and couldn’t be much older than Barry who was a carbon copy. Maybe brothers?

  Barry jumped up and said, “Sorry, ma’am.”

  “Sit, please,” I told him. “And the next one who calls me ma’am and not Liza, I’m going to throw something at.”

  They all laughed. Buck, Barry, and Jody were seated on one side and Jackson and Shelton on the other. I wasn’t sure which seat to take, the third on one side or the end.

  Jody stood and pulled out the chair on the end so I could sit down.

  “Thanks,” I told him.

  As soon as I sat, they returned to their seats and Sheryl Ann came in carrying a tray of food and a basket covered with a red cloth napkin.

  They all stood, including Barry, and said, “Evening, ma’am.”

  The aroma was fabulous and I was salivating even before she set the food down in the middle of the table. The tray had meatloaf, mashed potatoes, sliced carrots, and brown gravy. I had never seen so much food. There was enough to feed a small army. Sheryl Ann must have plans for the leftovers.

  When Barry tried to grab a dish, Buck slapped his hands. “Grace first.”

  Definitely brothers.

  Sheryl Ann sat at the other end of the table and bowed her head. All of the cowboys followed her lead. I lowered mine, too.

  “Thank you for this food, Lord. Let it nourish our bodies and make us healthy. Keep these cowboys safe as they compete in the rodeo over the next few days.”

  I saw several of the boys nod their heads in agreement to this statement.

  Sheryl Ann continued, “We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  All the boys repeated, “Amen.”

  They all looked anxiously at the food. It was like being at the zoo when the keeper threw a side of beef at the lions.

  Sheryl Ann picked up the tray and served herself some meatloaf and mashed potatoes, covering both with gravy. Then she added the vegetables and uncovered the basket. The smell of fresh baked bread filled the room. My stomach growled but no one seemed to notice. They were all staring at the food. She passed the tray, then basket to Buck. He inhaled the wonderful aroma, but passed them to his brother narrowing his eyes when Barry reached for his fork.

  “Ladies first, bro,” he said, then passed them past his brother to Jody.

  Jody handed the plate to me. I quickly took a few pieces, then wasn’t sure where to send it next.

  “Send it down the other side, Liza. We can wait,” Jody answered my unasked question.

  I gave the tray and basket to Jackson, who nodded without saying anything. Had I actually heard him speak?

  Soon the plates were full and everyone was eating and talking about the com
ing rodeo events. I learned that Buck and Barry were from a small town in Oregon and participated in the steer roping contests. Buck was the heeler and Barry the header. Jody and Shelton were both from Texas and bronc riders, and Jackson rode the bulls. I only learned about Jackson’s event because Jody and Barry had a discussion about the difference between riding a bucking horse versus a bull. They asked Jackson some questions and he answered by nodding or shaking his head. They didn’t discuss where he was from, so I had no clue. If I asked him a direct question, he would smile and someone else would answer.

  When dinner was finished, Sheryl Ann stood and the young men followed her lead.

  “We’ll clean up for you, ma’am,” Jody told her. “It’s the least we can do after such a fine meal.”

  “Thank you, Jody,” Sheryl Ann said, then nodded to me. “You and I can go into the living room.”

  “I can help with the dishes, too.” I stood and picked up a plate.

  “No, let the boys do it. I want to talk to you anyway.”

  I set the plate down and followed Sheryl Ann out of the dining room and into the living room. She sat in the chair and I took the couch.

  I couldn’t be in trouble already, I wondered.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “What are your plans for tomorrow?”

  “See the parade and go to the rodeo.”

  “I need some help with the Cowgirl Luncheon. It’s a fundraiser for our school. After the parade all of the women go to the Saddle Club and get served a fabulous lunch by some of the cowboys that participate in the rodeo.”

  “Doc Sanders was telling me about it. Sure, I’d love to help you. What do you need?”

  “I’m doing all the cooking and I just need someone who can take charge of the servers. Grace Banner was supposed to help me this year but she called earlier today and told me she had to go out of town Saturday morning and won’t be back in time to help.”

  It had to be something very important to keep Grace away from the event. I had seen first hand the way she enjoyed the rodeo cowboys.