Montana Vet. Ann Roth

at her food. At times like this, she wished she was part of a couple.

      But that would mean dating again, which she hadn’t done since Harvey. Emily’s wayward thoughts homed in on a certain sexy veterinarian. She quickly dismissed that idea. She’d had to resort to arm twisting to get Seth to take the volunteer job in the first place, and she wasn’t about to jeopardize that by going out with the man. If he was even interested. Because if they were to go out and then things between them soured... At any time, he could walk away from the shelter. Besides, between it and her website business, she was way too busy to date.

      Which wasn’t exactly the full truth. The thing was, even though it had been more than fifteen months since Harvey had left, and even though Emily was totally over him, she wasn’t over what he’d done. Bad enough, breaking her heart. He wasn’t the first. But leaving her behind without a backward glance, the same as her father had? She wasn’t about to put herself in that position ever again, and she for sure wasn’t ready to start dating. Besides, the dogs at the shelter depended on her, and that was where her focus needed to be—on providing them with a temporary place to stay and finding them good homes.

      Refusing to be ignored for one more minute, she changed the subject. “I had an unpleasant surprise this week.” That got her mother and Bill’s attention. “You remember Rich Addison, the veterinarian who’s volunteered at the shelter since I opened our doors? He decided to retire.”

      Knowing what that meant, her mother frowned. “What are you going to do?”

      “I think I’ve found a replacement.”

      “Already? That’s great!” Bill looked pensive. “I’ve sold insurance policies to most of the animal docs in town. Who is it?”

      “Actually, he’s new here, having recently moved back from California. His name is Seth Pettit and he works mostly with livestock.”

      “I know Seth.” Bill nodded. “He phoned shortly after he arrived, and I set him up with the insurance he needs.”

      Her mother frowned. “If Dr. Pettit works with livestock, why is he volunteering at the shelter?”

      “He likes to be called by his first name,” Emily said. “His...” She paused. How to explain Taylor? “He’s guardian to a teenage girl who will be doing her community service at The Wagging Tail.”

      “They’re volunteering together.” Bill gave a nod of approval. “I used to do that with Kara.” His daughter from his first marriage, now in her early forties. “It’s a good bonding experience.”

      “They won’t exactly be doing their volunteer work at the same time,” Emily said.

      “Still, it’s nice that they’ll both become familiar with the shelter. They’ll have something to talk about.”

      She hadn’t thought of it that way, but Bill was right.

      They were finishing their dessert when her “dog emergency” pager buzzed. The number of one of the volunteers who rescued abused animals showed on the screen. “I need to check this,” Emily said. “Excuse me.”

      She stepped into the hallway and returned the call. Moments later, she reentered the kitchen. “Sorry to eat and run, but a new dog is coming in tonight, and I have to make some calls.”

      First, to the couple who’d said they wanted the red setter, to make sure they picked him up in the morning, which would free up a slot for the new animal. Then, to Seth Pettit. Tonight she would quarantine the new arrival. Depending on what Seth found when he examined the dog, the animal would either move in with the others or stay in quarantine.

      Chewing a bakery cupcake, her mother nodded.

      “That’s okay, Em,” Bill said. “Between packing and other things, your mother and I have plenty to keep us busy.”

      Once again, they exchanged a private, loving look. Brother.

      Emily kissed and hugged them both. “I’ll miss you two,” she said. “Call and email when you can—and send pictures.”

      “We will,” her mother said. “Good luck with the new vet. And the new dog.”

      Before Emily even reached her car, she’d pulled out her phone.

       Chapter Three

      “Can I come with you to The Wagging Tail today?” Taylor asked Seth over breakfast Friday morning. They were sitting in the nook off the kitchen.

      Since they’d moved here, this was a first. She’d never asked to go on a call, and for a moment, Seth wondered if she was finally accepting him and settling into her new life. Then his natural cynicism kicked in. Did she really want to watch him examine the shelter’s newest dog, or was this a ploy to get out of going to school? Likely the latter.

      “If it wasn’t a school day, you could,” he said, “but I don’t want you missing any classes.”

      His own words took him aback. Damned if he didn’t sound just like Sly had all those years ago, whenever Seth had tried to weasel his way out of going to school.

      Would wonders never cease.

      Taylor’s dirty look told him he’d guessed right. “I hate you and I hate Prosperity!”

      Seth winced, but he’d heard it before, more times than he could count. You’d think he’d be used to that, but every time she used the H word, it stung. He’d be damned if he’d let on how badly. “Look,” he said. “You’ll probably see the dog Monday, when you go to the shelter for orientation.”

      One skinny shoulder lifted, then dropped. She turned away from him and stared out the window that faced the raggedy backyard—who had time for yard work?—and the house behind them. The leaves on the trees scattered around the yard were starting to turn. Seth hadn’t lived through an autumn in Montana for a long time, but he remembered the intense reds and yellows that dressed up the landscape. He also remembered how quickly the weather could turn. Almost as quickly as Taylor’s moods.

      In the tense silence he’d grown used to, he scraped the last of his Wheaties from his bowl and finished his coffee. After he and Taylor had been reunited, he’d tried hard to ease the transition by talking about his own life and asking questions about hers. When that had failed, he’d offered to take her to a movie or a concert of her choice here in Prosperity, or to drive her and any friends she made.

      No luck with that, either. She’d turned him down and tuned him out. Out of sheer desperation, he’d asked her what did she want. She had a ready answer for that. She wanted him to take her back to San Diego, drop her off and let her live her life without him in it. Ouch.

      If only she’d make friends at school. Even one would help. As far as Seth knew, it hadn’t happened. Taylor went to school downcast, and came home with the same dark cloud over her head. They’d been in Prosperity almost a month now, and he still had no idea how to help her adjust. Since she wouldn’t talk to a professional, he could only wait for her to settle in and accept that this was her new life.

      The way things stood right now, he wondered if she ever would.

      “It’s almost time for you to catch the bus,” he said. “I’m not sure when I’ll be home. After I leave The Wagging Tail, I have appointments at two ranches on opposite sides of town. One with a sick bull, and the other with a horse that won’t eat. Call me when you get home this afternoon.”

      Taylor barely nodded.

      Shortly after she trudged to the school bus and boarded—would she ever walk like a carefree teenage girl?—he grabbed his doctor bag, hopped into the pickup and headed for Emily’s.

      The sun was already bright, with the Cascade Mountains in sharp relief against the clear blue sky. Today would be warm, more like summer than fall. That and a couple of paying appointments on the schedule