Two days later, dressed in his old suit, Alec surveyed the clinic’s main room. Morning light filtered through the picture window. Outside, his newly hung sign swayed in the wind. Everything about the clinic, both inside and out, was ready for business. Tension pooled in his gut and tightened his shoulders as he leveled one of the photographs hanging on the wall. This was it—his day of reckoning. He would either fail or succeed from here.
He blew out a long breath and glanced at the clock sitting atop the counter. It was nine o’clock. Time to open. Crossing the room, he twisted the placard he’d made and hung on the door from Closed to Open.
Not surprisingly, there wasn’t a crowd lined up on the sidewalk in front of the clinic, eagerly waiting to rush inside. Still, he couldn’t shake the moment of disappointment that no one likely knew it was opening day.
The thought had barely finished passing through his head when he spotted a figure through the plated glass of the door. Could this be his first client? Hope mixed with his uneasiness as the door swung open. Would he remember everything he’d learned in school? Instead of a stranger, though, Isobel stepped inside, a covered plate in her hand. His regret that she wasn’t here for his veterinary help disappeared almost at once. Especially when she smiled fully at him.
“Seeing as today is your grand opening...” She waved her free hand at the sign on the door. “I thought I’d bring over something for you and your first customers to eat.” Pulling the napkin off the plate, she lifted it for him to see the muffins sitting there.
Alec didn’t know which to thank her for first—that she’d remembered he was opening the clinic today or for the muffins that were filling the room with a mouthwatering aroma. “They smell delicious. Thank you.”
“My pleasure. It’s another business trick I learned.” She held out the plate to him so he could take a muffin, then she set the remainder on the counter. “The smell of something homemade usually draws curious customers, regardless of what the business is.”
He took a bite, shutting his eyes for a moment as he relished the taste. “These are amazing, Isobel. You sure you don’t want to be a baker, too?”
“I’d rather make dresses,” she said matter-of-factly. But Alec could tell from her pink cheeks and shining eyes that she appreciated the compliment.
As he finished eating, she slowly circled the clinic, her hands tucked behind her back. “What do you think?” he asked when she reached the front of the room again.
“It all looks clean, tidy, new...” Isobel paused, her lips twitching at the corners. “And though I never thought I’d say this about an animal clinic, it even has an appealing, rustic style to it.”
Alec grinned. Her approval meant nearly as much to him as her coming over and bringing him muffins. “I hope others think so, too.”
“Given time, they will.” She moved to the door. “I’d better get back to the dress shop now.”
“Thanks for coming by, Isobel. And for the muffins.”
She offered him another smile. “You gave me the perfect excuse to duck out for a few minutes.”
“Rough morning already?”
Isobel laughed lightly and shook her head as Alec accompanied her outside. “No, not exactly. My assistant, Stella, went on another buggy ride with her would-be suitor last night and that’s all she can talk about.”
“Ah. Sounds as if she really likes this fellow.”
With a nod, she stopped on the sidewalk in front of her shop. “She does like him, a lot. But last month, it was a different young man who claimed her affections. Three months before that, it was another one altogether.”
“So she can’t make up her mind.” A flash of sympathy shot through him for the girl’s castoff suitors. Unfortunately, he could relate, though more often than not Alec hadn’t spent more than a few hours or days with a girl before she decided someone else was more to her liking.
Isobel shrugged. “I guess not. She’s still quite young, but I’m concerned if she doesn’t choose soon, her parents may choose for her. They certainly don’t want her to end up like—” She cut off her words as she threw him a flustered look.
“Like?” he prompted.
Ignoring the question, she lifted her chin and smiled. It appeared a bit forced, though. “Enough about Stella’s romances. I hope things go well for you today, Alec.”
“Me, too. Thank you again.”
She waved, then slipped into the dress shop. Still puzzled about the sudden change in her demeanor, he retraced his steps to the clinic.
What had Isobel stopped herself from saying? The way she was acting almost made him think she’d meant to say Stella’s parents didn’t want their daughter ending up like Isobel. But that made no sense to him. Who wouldn’t want their child to be like her? Isobel was clever, witty, beautiful, kind and ran a successful business as a young woman on her own.
The plate of muffins and their tantalizing smell greeted him as he reentered the clinic’s waiting room. It would be a shame to let the baked goods grow cold as he waited for his first customer to come by. He decided to eat another.
When thirty minutes had ticked by and the door still remained shut, Alec began pacing the room, his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze on the floor. He had little but his thoughts for company, so he found himself reviewing the odd turn in his conversation with Isobel. What had she not wanted to admit to him?
A stray notion had him snapping his chin up as he ground to a stop. Stella’s parents were probably not worried about their daughter emulating Isobel’s fine qualities. But what about her being on her own and unmarried? That might concern them, especially if they saw Stella’s indecisiveness over suitors leading her straight down a similar path.
Irritation flooded him as Alec began pacing again. Who were Stella’s parents to judge Isobel? She might not be as young as her assistant, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t still marry. Any man would be fortunate to have Isobel as his wife. Then again, the more Alec thought about it, the more he realized he hadn’t seen a man sitting beside her in church or frequenting her shop during the week he’d been here.
So Isobel didn’t have a beau or a husband at present. It didn’t mean anything, and certainly wasn’t cause for worry from Stella’s parents. Maybe the lack of a suitor was Isobel’s choice. If it wasn’t, though, then the bachelors of Sheridan had clearly been struck with some sort of malady when it came to identifying an eligible, amazing woman. And as a doctor, he found that more than a little concerning.
Isobel couldn’t believe what she’d nearly confessed aloud to Alec earlier. That Stella’s parents feared their daughter would end up a spinster just like her. Her high-heeled shoes tapped out her agitation against the sidewalk, her cheeks burning with a fresh blush that the late morning breeze couldn’t fully cool. While she guessed Alec may have already surmised that she didn’t have a beau, she didn’t need to draw attention to that fact, either.
After her near blunder, she’d found it difficult to concentrate. She kept seeing the curiosity in Alec’s expression when she hadn’t finished her thought. Or the enraptured way he’d eaten her muffin. Or the blatant pleasure in his blue-gray eyes when she’d entered his clinic.
It didn’t help that the bright spring sunshine had been teasing her from outside the shop window. When one of her scheduled clients failed to show, Isobel had jumped at the chance to stretch her legs. Unfortunately, the stroll down to the mercantile to purchase buttons hadn’t proven to be the cure-all Isobel had hoped. Her thoughts were still too focused on Alec for her liking, and it hadn’t helped that the buttons she needed were for his new suit.
“Miss Glasen!” a wobbly voice intoned from up ahead.
Isobel lifted her gaze from the sidewalk to find her absent client, Mrs. Mildred Stone, pacing the sidewalk in front of the dress shop. “Mrs. Stone. Have you been waiting long? I didn’t think you were still coming.”
“Oh, it’s horrible. Just horrible.” The widow clutched her precious lap dog to her amble bosom and hefted a sigh. “Something’s wrong with my dear Frances. That’s why I wasn’t here on time.”
Eyeing the dog warily, Isobel paused in front of the shop door, but she didn’t open it. If the dog was truly ill, she would not allow it entrance, no matter how much Mrs. Stone doted on the animal. “What’s wrong with her?”
“The poor thing is limping. I fear she’s injured or broken her paw.” As she lifted the ailing limb, Frances gave a low whine. “See? She’s never like this.”
It wasn’t hard to read the distress in the eyes of both dog and owner. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Stone. Would you like to reschedule?”
“Not especially, but I suppose I must. I don’t know that I can concentrate on ordering spring gowns until I know what ails my Frances.” The woman laid her cheek against the dog’s furry head.
Isobel glanced past her to the clinic, an idea forming. A way to help Mrs. Stone, Frances and Sheridan’s new veterinarian. She might even be able to help redeem herself from her earlier embarrassment with Alec.
“I know someone who can help.”
The woman’s face showed a mixture of doubt and hopefulness. “Who?”
“The building next to mine was recently purchased by a veterinarian, and his clinic opened this morning.”
Mrs. Stone looked at her askance. “I won’t hand Frances over to some disreputable horse doctor. A man like that is no better than an ill-mannered farm hand.”
Isobel nearly chuckled until she realized the older woman wasn’t jesting. Was Alec aware of what others thought of his profession? Most likely. She’d experienced her own share of skepticism when she’d first opened her shop and had had to work hard to establish herself as a credible maker of dresses.
No wonder Alec seemed so determined to succeed with his clinic. He’d need that same gumption Isobel had to win over the likes of Mrs. Stone. And, as his friend, Isobel would do what she could to help him.
“I hadn’t heard that about veterinarians.” Isobel straightened her shoulders. “But I can personally vouch for Doctor Russell’s character and the quality of his establishment.” She couldn’t speak regarding his skills, but knowing Alec, they were likely as top-notch as he wanted his clinic to be.
Frances whined again, her brown eyes peering sadly up at her mistress. “Well, I don’t suppose it would hurt to have him just look at my dog.”
“I don’t think so, either.” Isobel gave her a reassuring smile. “Why don’t I accompany you next door and introduce you and Frances to the doctor?”
The older woman hesitated another moment, then nodded. “If it might help Frances, I’ll do it.”
Isobel led them the short distance between her building and Alec’s. Pushing open the door, she spotted him sitting on one of the wooden benches. His elbows were braced against his knees, his chin lowered. Even without him saying a word, she could tell from his demeanor that he’d had no other visitors all morning.
“Doctor Russell,” she called out cheerfully. She discreetly blocked Mrs. Stone from seeing inside.
Alec jumped up. “Isobel? What brings you—”
“I would like you to meet Mrs. Stone.” She moved aside so the older woman could enter the clinic. “And her dog, Frances.”
With a quick smile, he hurried toward them. “What a beautiful cocker spaniel, Mrs. Stone.” He ruffled Frances’ ears. The dog wagged its tail a moment, then offered a mournful bark. “Is she hurt?”
“I believe so.” Mrs. Stone glanced around the room, seeming to take its measure.
Isobel could tell from Alec’s stiffened posture that he was also holding his breath as they waited to see if the woman approved of him and the clinic.
“I’m hoping you might be able to help her,” Mrs. Stone finally said with no trace of her earlier suspicion in her voice.
The relief on Alec’s face matched that winding through Isobel. Then he schooled the emotion behind a serious but kind expression. “What seems to be the trouble with Frances?”
Mrs. Stone described the dog’s odd behavior as Alec ran a hand over the animal’s head and spine. When he reached her left front leg, the dog whimpered.
“Would you mind taking a seat, Mrs. Stone?” He indicated one of the benches before removing his suit coat and rolling up his shirtsleeves. “You can still hold Frances, but I’d like to get a better look at that paw of hers.”
Isobel had planned to deliver the woman and her dog into Alec’s capable hands and then return to her shop. Stella was surely wondering what had taken her so long. But she couldn’t walk away from the scene unfolding before her. Even dressed in his dark gray suit, Alec looked every bit the skilled, caring doctor as he knelt before the seated Mrs. Stone to examine her dog.
“I think I know what the trouble is,” he announced after a long moment as he sat back on his heels. “Frances has a thorn caught in her paw.”
Mrs. Stone gave the dog’s head a consoling pat. “Can you remove it?”
“Quite easily, and free of charge, too.” He stood. “I’ll even tie a bandage around the paw to help it stay clean.”
The older woman beamed at Alec. “Oh how wonderful. That’s just wonderful, doctor.”
“Let me get a pair of tweezers,” he said, stepping toward the counter.
Isobel decided it was a good time to exit. “I’ll leave you and Frances in the doctor’s care, Mrs. Stone. When you’re finished here, come over to the dress shop. You can let me know then if you’d like to reschedule your dress appointment or not.”
“Will do, Miss Glasen. Thank you.”
She moved to the door, but before letting herself out, she hazarded a final glance at Alec. Her reward was a smile that set her heart thumping in a way she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.
Leaving the clinic behind, Isobel walked halfway past the dress shop before she realized her mistake. She was as lost in thought as she’d been before her errand, but now she no longer felt embarrassed. Alec’s smile had held more than gratitude. Without words, he’d seemed to convey that he didn’t judge or pity her.
Was Alec really unaware of the reason his brother had ended things with her? She hoped so. Because she liked motivating that smile of his and she hoped to do so again—very soon.
Alec returned the wave Mrs. Stone gave him as she headed next door to the dress shop, a smile on her lined face and her bandaged dog cuddled in her arms. He couldn’t help smiling himself as he slipped back inside the clinic and shut the door. His first client! Albeit one he hadn’t felt right about charging. Still, he hoped his time and care with Frances would prompt the dog’s owner to share her positive experience with others.
He really had Isobel to thank for Mrs. Stone coming into the clinic. And he’d thank her the first chance he got. Being cooperative business owners was proving to be far better and more helpful than being rivals.
Whistling to himself, Alec selected another muffin to eat. He didn’t want to leave the clinic on his first day, even to grab lunch. What if another customer came by in his absence?
The early afternoon stretched painfully by, though, and no one else dropped in. Alec itched for something more to do, besides polishing off nearly all of Isobel’s muffins, pacing the floor and reading a copy of the newspaper. His earlier excitement at treating the little cocker spaniel waned with the time.
When he’d finished reading all of the news stories, he moved to the advertisements and announcements. One about the upcoming May Day festival caught his eye. In addition to a town picnic and a band performance, the festivities would include a Ride for a Bride. Alec had heard of such a race, in which a young lady rode away on her horse toward a predetermined location while the hopeful grooms chased her. The first young man to reach the girl won her as his bride. More often than not, the town preacher married the couple right then and there.
“Not my kind of thing,” he said, shaking his head in amusement. Sounded like a foolhardy risk to him. What if the girl didn’t like the young man who won? What if she’d been hoping for another victor?
The notice didn’t say which of Sheridan’s young ladies would be participating, but there was still a week to go until the festival. The other parts of the event sounded fun to him. Maybe he’d attend and not just for the pleasant entertainment. It might be a good venue to introduce himself to the local ranchers and farmers who would be there.
He’d just folded the paper and set it aside, when the door to the clinic clattered open. “Are you the doctor?” a matronly woman asked, her hand gripping that of the boy beside her. When Alec didn’t respond right away, she gave the room a frantic perusal. “The sign outside says you’re a doctor.”
“I am.” Alec stood and moved quickly toward the door. What sort of livestock or animal emergency had her so upset? “How can I help you?”
Palpable relief replaced the tension in her expression. “I’m afraid my son has broken his nose. He and some boys were tossing a ball around after school, and well, you can see he was hit.”
Sure enough, the kid held a red-stained handkerchief to his face. Disappointment cut through Alec at the woman’s misguided perception of his doctoring skills, though he did feel badly for the boy. He’d had a similar experience playing ball with Whit once. And his nose had been broken as a result.
“I’m a doctor, ma’am, but I run a veterinary clinic.”
The woman lifted her eyebrows in confusion. “A what?”
“I doctor livestock and other animals.”
She glanced down at her son, her brow crinkled with hesitation. “I see.”
“If you want, I could still take a look at his nose,” he offered. “If it’s broken, though, you’re going to want to see the...other...doctor in town.”
Her face brightened. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
Alec turned to the boy. “I’m Doctor Russell. What’s your name?”
“Willy,” the kid said, though the name came out slightly muffled from the hanky.
Nodding, Alec crouched down to eye level. “Can I look at your nose, Willy?” The boy looked from him to the woman.
“It’s all right, son. Let the man have a look.”
Willy lowered the handkerchief. Gently, Alec felt along the boy’s nose before sitting back. “Good news. It isn’t broken.”
“Oh, I’m so glad,” the mother exclaimed. Even Willy looked relieved before he pressed the cloth to his nose again.
“Looks like you already know what to do.” Alec gave the boy a smile and stood. “Keep that cloth against your nose until the bleeding stops. And be sure to tilt your chin up as best you can.” He pantomimed the action and Willy did the same. “You’ve got it.”
Looking to the woman, he added, “Holding something cold against his nose will help the swelling go down. He’ll likely have a bruise, but no broken bones to worry about.”
“Thank you, Doctor Russell.” The mother smiled fully at him.
He crossed to the counter and grabbed the last muffin from the plate. “You’re welcome. And because you’ve been quite brave, Willy, here’s a muffin to take home with you.”
“That’s kind of you.” The woman jiggled her son’s hand. “What do you say, Willy?”
Willy pushed aside part of the hanky with his wrist, revealing a smile. “Thank you.”
“Glad to be of help.”
The pair departed, leaving Alec alone again. He was grateful he’d been able to help the boy. On the other hand, he’d been hoping for a chance to demonstrate his veterinary skills.
Alec let himself through the door to the apothecary and set about rearranging his tools and medicine bottles. He decided to keep the clinic open a little later, on the off chance someone came by around suppertime. Finally, the gnawing hunger in his stomach couldn’t be ignored. He moved to the door and flipped the sign from Open to Closed.
As he crossed the room, his gaze went to the photograph of his family on the wall. Would his father or Whit have been more successful on their first day of a new business? Probably.
Discouragement settled heavily on his shoulders as he exited the clinic through the back door. Though he’d done little physical labor that day, he still felt tired, his steps heavy on the outside staircase to his apartment.
Was he fooling himself to think he could accomplish all that his father had asked of him? The stakes were higher now. If his business failed, he would not only lose his father’s respect and his right to the other half of his inheritance, but Alec would also lose the half he’d invested to start his clinic.
“You look rather glum for someone who just opened their clinic.”
Alec glanced across the way to find Isobel standing on her stairs, outside her apartment door. “I can’t say it’s what I hoped it would be,” he admitted. “But I appreciate you bringing Mrs. Stone over.”
“You’re welcome.” The warm smile she shot his way helped to push back his disappointment. “She loves that dog of hers and was quite worried.” Isobel lowered her chin, her gaze on the ground below. “You were very kind to both of them.”
Leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, he did his best to hide the smile her compliment provoked. “Are you saying I might have what it takes to run a clean, quiet, stylish and caring clinic?”
“Perhaps I am,” she said with a chuckle as she looked at him again. “I think you convinced Mrs. Stone of that.”
He blew out his breath. “Too bad she was the only one.”
“You didn’t have any other customers?” Alec appreciated how mildly surprised she sounded.
He bent forward and rested his forearms on the railing. “Not if you don’t count the boy with a bloody nose whose mother thought I was a people doctor. However, I’m happy to report her son does not have a broken nose.”
“Oh, dear.” Isobel shook her head. “I’m sorry, Alec.”
Hearing her call him by his Christian name sent a flicker of remembered pleasure through him. She’d once called him Alec, and perhaps her doing so now meant they were indeed becoming friends again.
“I guess I expected more people to stop by.”
She curled her hands around her railing, her expression compassionate. “It isn’t easy to open a business and even harder when it seems no one knows or cares about what you hope to accomplish.”
“Exactly. Did you feel that way in the beginning?” Even though she nodded, he still couldn’t imagine the successful Isobel Glasen having no customers coming into her shop or doubts about her business. Although he had sensed some insecurity about creating her own dress designs. “What about your first day? Did you have any clients?”
When she smiled, it was soft and filled with wistfulness. “Aunt Jo came, of course, and she’d persuaded two of her friends to join her. Unfortunately, that was it.”
“Really?” Was she telling him the truth or downplaying her experience to spare his ego?
She gave a decisive nod. “I mean it. I was certain when I went to bed that night that the shop would be a complete failure and I’d wasted my inheritance to open it.”
“I won’t say I can’t relate to that,” he murmured as he straightened.
Isobel brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes. “Be that as it may, I soon discovered that’s the way most businesses begin. It takes time for people to see that they need or want what you’re offering. And it takes more time to grow and establish a regular clientele, too.”
Her words floated across the evening air. Alec breathed them in, feeling them settle inside him. The reassurance she offered rekindled his hope.
“Thank you, again, for your help today, Isobel.”
She stepped back from the railing. “My pleasure. You’ll get there with your clinic and with having more customers. I know you will.”
“How come you sound so confident?” he half-teased. “After all, if what you say proves true, I’ll be seeing far more animals than I did today. And they’ll be right next door to your fancy dress shop.”
The impish look she gave him before she turned to unlock her door had his mouth twitching at the corners. “I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily confident. I am optimistic, though. And I’ve seen your stubborn side.” She glanced at him when he laughed. “Besides, I’m still holding out hope that my customers will find your place every bit as fancy as mine. At least as far as animal clinics go.”
“Ah.” He nodded with amusement. “Now that would be a success.”
Isobel smiled once more. “See you tomorrow, Alec.”
“See you tomorrow,” he echoed.
He let himself inside his apartment and turned on the electric lights. He felt far less morose than he had earlier. Isobel’s perception and encouragement had given him much needed insight into an otherwise disappointing day. He might have only had one client so far, but he also had Isobel as his advocate. And that felt as satisfying and significant as a full clinic surely would.