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.
91
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.
92
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
94
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.
96
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?
98
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.