Barb was the last one to arrive at the diner the next time The Pancake Club met. She nodded at Sami who was busy serving a group of tourists, but looked up when the bell tinkled over the front door. Barb thought she recognized a couple of the Saddle Up guests.
“Your usual?” Sami called across the room to her over the hum of voices and clatter of plates and silverware.
“Yeah, thanks Sami. That’d be great,” Barb called back, and gave the waitress a thumbs-up.
“So, what do you think of the new vet, Barb?” Chad asked when she sat down at the table.
“I think he’s nice,” Jennifer piped up. “And not bad-looking either.” She smiled.
“Well I don’t know about that, Jen—”Chad laughed—“but he seems nice enough.”
“I agree with Jennifer,” Tessa piped up from the chair next to Dolan’s. “He is a hunk... But not as sexy as you, honey,” she amended and kissed her fiancé’s cheek as she patted his knee. Dolan’s face flamed, probably waiting for the teasing remarks from the rest of them. And normally Barb would have been the first, but she felt a sudden yearning for someone of her own. Her friends might think she was content with her life, and she was—usually—but sometimes she wondered if she’d ever have a loving relationship like her parents shared. And lately, it seemed as though all her friends were settling down. First, Dolan found Tessa, and then Chad found Kristin—well maybe Kristin found him—and Jennifer and Mike got back together. Pretty soon, she’d be the only one left of their singles group, and she sure didn’t want to be a fifth wheel at these morning gatherings. She sighed.
****
Dirk’s first week went by quickly, as he got to know his new town and customers. Thursday he went out on a call to the Mercy Ridge Stables, owned by the Grangers, Chad’s folk’s, to treat one of their riding horses for a stone bruise, and afterward they invited him in for a beer. Since it was his last call of the day, and he’d probably sweated off any liquid left in his body, he gratefully accepted.
Somehow—well okay, he’d casually brought her name up—the conversation got around to Barb. Chad and his parents had known her and her folks all her life, they told him.
“It was just the saddest thing, that poor youngster,” Marge Granger said. “Bobbie Jo and Cy tried for years to have a child. Why, I remember when they got married, Bobbie Jo told me they planned to have a whole passel of kids. When Barb finally arrived, Bobbi Jo found she couldn’t have any more children. It put a lot of pressure on that girl to be the boy her dad wanted and a girly-girl for her mom.” Marge shook her head.
“Yeah, and then Cy died when she was a teenager, and Barb and Bobbi Jo have run the whole ranch themselves ever since,” Cal chimed in.
Dirk looked at Chad. “So, since you and Barb went to school together and everything, were you two ever...close?” he asked.
“Sure, we’ve been friends forever...Oh, you mean...No, not that way. I dated a lot—a few—women before Kristin, but never Barb. She’s too much like a sister.” He smiled at his fiancée.
She smiled. “I know about your past, hon.”
“Is she seeing someone now?” Dirk asked casually—he hoped—while Chad seemed distracted by Kristin’s answer.
“Nah, she’s too picky. Besides, there aren’t too many available guys our age in town...until you came along.” Chad laughed.
Dirk could feel his face flame. He looked down at his watch to hide his discomfort. “Oh, wow, look at the time.” He stood up. Thanks for the beer and the conversation,” he said and amid protests from the Grangers, skedaddled out of their kitchen.
But as he climbed into the vet truck, he realized Chad followed him out. “Say, Doc, have you ever ridden a horse, you being from Seattle and all?”
Was this some kind of test for the new guy?
“No, I haven’t,” he admitted.
“Barb’s been riding since before she could walk,” Chad told him.
Uh-huh. So? Oh...
“Why don’t you come over this weekend? I’ll take you out for a trail ride. But we’ll do a little practice in the arena first. What do ya say?”
“Thanks, Chad. I’d appreciate it.”
Chad punched his arm lightly and winked. “Good answer.” Then he stepped back from the truck. “See ya Saturday.” He turned around and walked back to the house.
––––––––
By the following week, Dirk felt good about his first riding lesson that weekend, and the relaxing trail ride that followed. Chad was a great teacher and a great guy. He didn’t make Dirk feel uncomfortable at his lack of riding knowledge. He just encouraged Dirk when he did something right. Chad even said that Dirk seemed to be a natural athlete. Dirk modestly admitted to playing a little tennis and some golf. When Chad asked if he minded Kristin riding along with them on the trail ride, Dirk didn’t feel at all embarrassed to have her see him ride. The three of them exchanged a lot of good-natured banter. He didn’t even mind too much that Chad evidently discussed with his fiancée Dirk’s attraction to Barb. She said she’d put in a good word for him. That made Dirk feel as though he was back in junior high school.
Kristin must have seen the look on his face. She laughed and said, “Don’t worry, Dirk. I won’t say anything to embarrass you. I’ll be subtle.”
Uh-huh.
Dirk drove home afterward feeling as though he’d made some good friends. He just hoped that wouldn’t change. Now maybe he should make a visit to the Saddle Up and check on his patient.
****
Barb walked out of the barn, hot, dusty and more than a little tired after a training session with one of the young horses. She put up a hand to shade her eyes from the glare of the sun. A bright light from the sun’s rays bounced off the mirror of a vehicle and she looked over to see the vet truck parked in the driveway. She knew Doc and Mrs. Nick left town in their motor home the weekend before, so it had to be Dirk. She felt disgusted with herself for the quick burst of pleasure that ran through her. She didn’t have time for a man. She was too busy at work and at home. Still, she was a woman.
She turned around and walked back inside, following the sound of men’s voices at the other end of the aisle. She’d better see what was up. Barb didn’t trust Jack after the last fiasco. What really bugged her was that Mr. Taylor didn’t seem to feel the same way. He’d known her since...well, forever. Was it that good ’ol boys network? Or did he just not want to face that the man he’d hired to help wasn’t any good? Whatever, Barb determined to stay alert. She popped in when she was supposed to be off work, and explained that she just wanted to check on Ruffles. That way, she figured Jack would never know when she might show up. However, she wasn’t getting much sleep.