“I don’t think I can eat another bite,” Alec declared, pushing his plate forward to indicate he was finished.
He’d willingly accepted two helpings of Vienna McCall’s stew and four of her biscuits. It was little wonder the HC Bar, the dude ranch she and West owned, was proving to be a success—on the merit of the meals alone. The food was better than anything Alec had tasted in a long time and certainly trumped the simple Sunday supper he would’ve made for himself on the stove in his home above the clinic. Even more than the delicious fare, it was the people seated around the table that had made the meal so enjoyable.
“I’ve got a question, Mr. Alec,” Vienna’s daughter Harriet said, smiling at him from where she sat perched on West’s knee. The blonde little girl might not be West’s flesh and blood, but Alec didn’t think any father and daughter could be closer than these two.
He bent forward, leaning his elbows on the table. “What’s your question, Hattie?”
She glanced up at West, who nodded encouragement. “Daddy says you can do tricks.”
“I do know a few,” he said, exchanging a smile with West.
After the challenge of the last few days, both with preparing the clinic for opening and his last heated exchange with Isobel, Alec had been more than happy to accept a dinner invitation from the McCalls. It had also given him a chance to drive the horse and buggy he’d purchased for making house calls and would store at the livery stable.
“Would you like to see a trick?” He’d often entertained his nephews with tricks, before and after family dinners whenever he was visiting home.
Hattie gave a vigorous nod, her green eyes bright.
“Mind if I borrow three of these leftover biscuits?” he asked Vienna.
She shook her head. “I was going to insist you take them with you anyway.”
“Perfect.” He withdrew three biscuits from the basket in the middle of the table. “All right, Miss Hattie. Watch closely.”
Alec tossed the first biscuit in the air, followed quickly by the second, then he was juggling all three. He kept them moving around and around for a few seconds before he caught them in his hands. “Ta-dah.”
“That’s really good, Mr. Alec.” Hattie applauded him, her expression full of admiration and enjoyment. “You’re a great juggler.”
Pleased, he gave her a slight bow and set the biscuits on the table. If only he could as easily win over the townsfolk with his veterinary practice. Maybe he should have gone into juggling, instead.
“Will you come back and juggle for us after my baby brother’s born?”
Alec looked from her to Vienna, who was now blushing. “I’d love to. And congratulations to all of you.”
“Thank you,” Vienna said quietly. “We still have six months to go before the baby arrives.” When she glanced at West, the shyness dropped from her face. The two of them shared a smile, a gesture that held nothing but tenderness and joy.
A splinter of jealousy cut through Alec. He wanted to find a woman who would look at him like that. A woman who wanted a family as much as Alec did. He couldn’t wait to entertain his own children with dinner tricks.
“You feel like it’s a boy?” He directed the question to Vienna.
Still blushing, she laughed and gave a shrug. “Who knows?”
“You might be right about having a brother, Hattie girl,” West said, grinning at her. “And what are we going to name the baby if it’s a boy?”
She pressed her forehead to his. “Lawrence.”
Alec nodded with understanding. “Your father’s name.” Lawrence McCall had passed away last year, but not before he and West had reconciled with each other. Unlike Alec’s family, West’s hadn’t condoned his decision to leave his wealthy life back East and embrace the life of a cowboy. It had pained Alec to see his best friend, a man as hardworking and skilled with horses as anyone, unrecognized by his own family for his talents.
Or was some of that pain an echo of his own? His father and mother had certainly championed his decision to go to veterinary school and work far from home, but Alec still hadn’t felt that those things measured up to his brother’s success.
“I think Lawrence is a fine name,” Alec said, returning to the conversation.
West reached out to take Vienna’s hand in his own. “If it’s a girl, though, we want to name her Maggy, since she’s largely the reason Vienna and I were reunited.”
“Also a great name.” He smiled at the couple.
At the wedding last year, Alec had met the McCalls’ friends and former employers Maggy Kent and her husband Edward. He’d liked them both immediately. Edward was one of the area’s most successful horse ranchers, and Maggy, in addition to helping with the ranch and being a mother, ran a small detective agency.
“Hattie, why don’t you help me with the dishes,” Vienna said as she stood, “so Daddy and Mr. Alec can visit before he has to head back to town?”
The little girl wrinkled her nose, which had Alec chuckling, but she obediently climbed to her feet. “All right, Mommy.”
“Thank you for the exceptional meal, Vienna.” He pushed back his chair to stand.
She gave him a genuine smile. “You’re welcome, Alec. Anytime you tire of cooking for yourself, you can come by.”
“I appreciate that.”
West led the way from the kitchen to the parlor. “How goes everything with starting your clinic?” he asked as he knelt before the hearth to start a fire.
“It’s had its challenges,” Alec admitted as he took a seat in one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace.
His best friend shot him a look over his shoulder. “Not going so well?”
“I’m close to opening the doors, but that’s not the part I’m concerned about.”
“What are you concerned about, then?”
Alec frowned as he sat back in the chair. “People’s perceptions, mostly. I know what a good majority of folks think about horse doctors. We’re either seen as dishonest and of low reputation or no smarter than the average farmer. Man has been tending to his animals for hundreds of years, so why call in a veterinarian?”
“I get that’s what they may think, but it’s only because they don’t know how much they need your help.” West finished making the fire and sat in the other chair. “There were times as foreman, working on Edward’s ranch, I’d wished you were around to help identify some of the more complicated horse ailments. We usually tried our own remedies or called in a regular doctor, but they couldn’t always figure out what was best for the animal.”
The compliment cheered Alec but only for a moment. “Apparently it’s not just my practice people might not find favorable, either. I guess I wear the wrong clothes for a doctor, too.” He glanced down at his worn shirt as Isobel’s words repeated through his mind.
West laughed until he seemed to realize Alec wasn’t joining in. “Who thinks that about your clothes?”
“Do you remember me telling you that Whit was once engaged to someone else before he and Jocelyn married?”
His best friend drummed the chair arm with his fingers, his expression thoughtful. “I believe so. But how does that apply to you dressing like a doctor or not?”
“Whit was engaged to Isobel Glasen for a while before he broke it off.”
Resting his foot on his other knee, West watched the fire. “Glasen? Is she related to the shipping Glasens?”
“Yes, Robert Glasen was her father. He passed away when Isobel was about fifteen. Fortunately, he left enough money for her and her mother to survive on.” Alec tried to recall other details about Isobel. “Her mother died the year before Isobel met Whit. After their failed engagement, she left Pittsburgh and headed here to live near her aunt and uncle. She owns the dress shop next door to my clinic.”
West threw him a surprised look. “Wait. Isobel Glasen lives in Sheridan?”
“Of course, she made my wedding dress,” Vienna said, coming into the room with her daughter. “She’s an exceptional seamstress. Miss Glasen makes all of Maggy’s dresses.”
Hattie circled the chairs to give West a hug and kiss. “Night, Daddy. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Hattie girl.” He kissed her blond head. “Sleep well.”
The little girl turned to face Alec and presented her hand like a grownup. “Nice to see you, Mr. Alec. Thank you for the trick.”
“My pleasure, Hattie.” Smiling, he shook her outstretched hand. “By the way, I’m hoping you get a little brother, too,” he whispered loudly.
Hattie giggled as her mother led her from the room. The moment the pair disappeared down the hall, West resumed their conversation. “So let’s see if I have this right. Isobel Glasen, who was once engaged to Whit, has a dress shop in Sheridan, which happens to be next door to your clinic.”
“That’s correct,” Alec said with a grim nod.
“Is she the one who mentioned your clothes?”
Alec wagged his finger at him. “Also correct.”
“It makes sense.” West smirked when Alec threw him a disparaging look. “Well, she is a maker of dresses, so fashion and clothes is likely something she notices.”
Leaning forward, Alec studied the rug. “That isn’t all she commented on. She’s also worried about me running a smelly, noisy, unstylish establishment.”
West’s laughter filled the warming air. “Again, it—”
“If you say it makes sense one more time,” Alec countered, “I’m going to find Vienna right now and tell her every embarrassing moment of yours that I either heard about or witnessed. And you know there’s some really good ones.”
The smile didn’t fully ease from his best friend’s face, but West did hold his hands up in surrender. “Sorry. You and I both know you’re not going to run a smelly, noisy practice, Alec. So why should Isobel’s opinions matter to you?”
It was a fair question, though Alec needed a long moment to mull over the answer. Were his past feelings for Isobel making him give her views greater weight than he needed to? He figured that might be partially true. But that wasn’t the main reason her ill opinion of his business and clothes bothered him.
“Her opinions matter because she has the same knack for business as Whit does.” Alec ran his hands through his hair, the old feelings of inferiority creeping back in as he voiced his thoughts. “She set up her own shop by herself and it appears she’s been quite successful at it. You should see the steady stream of customers she has. What if I’m not like them, West? What if this venture fails? Not only will I lose the other half of my inheritance, but I’ll lose my parents’ respect and my one chance to prove I’m as good as Whit.”
West didn’t reply right away, for which Alec was grateful. It meant his best friend was considering his words and wasn’t going to throw out some platitude about Alec being good enough or not having any reason for concern.
“I get the fear of trying something you’ve never done before, even when you want it badly.” West glanced around the room. “Starting this dude ranch didn’t come without difficulty. There was even a time Vienna and I weren’t sure we’d even have guests. But you can’t compare the start to the end result, Alec. It wasn’t so long ago that Whit and Isobel were starting off, too, with no guarantee of success. Just a desire to try and a hope that things would eventually prove profitable.”
Alec stared at the flickering flames as he contemplated West’s reminder. “You’re right. Whit and Isobel, and even you and Vienna had to start somewhere, even without promises of success. But is there more I should be doing?” He rested his elbows on his knees and studied his hands. “I have the skills to doctor animals, but I’m not sure if that’s enough to really get my practice going. Or to push back on people’s misconceptions about veterinary medicine.”
“Asking questions is helpful,” West said, twisting in his seat to face Alec. “I certainly had a lot of them before starting this dude ranch. That’s only half of the benefit of asking, though. The other half is being open to the advice you’re given.”
He didn’t need West to explain what he meant. After straightening, Alec leaned his head against the chairback. “You’re suggesting I listen to what Isobel said.”
“And from the pained look on your face I can tell how thrilled you are about that.”
The remark drew a partial smile from Alec. Talking things out with his best friend had been the right thing to do. Right now he felt less apprehensive about the future than he had the past few days.
“All I’m really saying,” West continued, “is that if you respect Isobel’s business prowess, then I think it’s worth your time to consider her suggestions. Even if they seem unimportant to you.”
Alec slowly nodded. “I can do that.”
Isobel’s suggestions about his clothes or having a “stylish” clinic did seem unimportant and irrelevant to him. However, he respected what she’d accomplished with her business. So maybe there was something to her advice, as unsolicited as it had been, and Alec intended to find out.
A knock at the shop’s main door drew Isobel’s attention from her task of tidying up in preparation for heading up to her apartment by way of the outside staircase at the back of her building. Another day of sewing and consulting with customers was behind her. Instead of feeling tired yet satisfied, though, she felt on edge.
Her frustrating conversation with Alec two days earlier, followed by her disastrous attempt to provide the Maverlys with her own designs, wouldn’t leave Isobel’s thoughts and had sapped her of her usual energy for dressmaking. Even attending Sunday services the day before hadn’t rejuvenated her as she’d hoped. Though that likely had more to do with seeing Alec among the church members in attendance.
Today, Stella had expressed concern that Isobel didn’t seem herself. But she didn’t want to recount Alec’s words to her assistant or her failure to convince someone to use her own designs. Instead, Isobel cited the need for a more restful night’s sleep, which was true. Ever since Alec had shown up in town, she hadn’t slept well.
The person at the door knocked again. Was it a customer ignoring the Closed sign? Isobel peeked out the door’s small window and found Joanna Clawson, her aunt, standing there.
She quickly turned the lock and opened the door. “Aunt Jo! Come in, come in.”
“Did you close early or did I linger too long over coffee?” Joanna asked as she slipped inside. Her dark coiled hair showed touches of gray here and there, but it was the only outward sign of aging. Joanna’s striking facial features and figure did much to mask her true age.
Isobel shut the door. “It must have been the latter. I only just closed up.”
“How are you, Issy?”
Moving to the counter, Isobel picked up the two gowns lying there. “I’m a bit tired this evening. What about you?”
“I’m well. And since I was already in town, I couldn’t leave without stopping by.” Joanna pulled down the dress draped over the changing screen and followed Isobel into the back room.
Isobel hung up the three dresses. “I’m glad you did.” She’d wanted to visit Aunt Jo and share everything about Alec, but renting a horse and buggy and driving to their ranch was something she only had time for every other weekend.
“Is something wrong, Issy?” her aunt pressed gently. “You look more than tired. You seem sad.”
The weightiness of all Isobel had experienced the past few days pushed up her throat. The words filled her mouth, begging for release. “I lost my chance at acquiring the building next door.”
“Oh, my dear.” Joanna led Isobel by the hand to the twin armchairs. “I know you were so excited about expanding the shop.”
Isobel nodded stiffly as she took a seat. “I only needed another month, maybe two. But now...” She fiddled with the scissors at her waist, disappointment rising fresh inside her.
“I’m so sorry. When did you find out?”
“A few days ago. That isn’t the worst part, though.” She pulled in a full breath, eager to unburden herself, but before she could speak again, the pounding of a hammer shook the dress shop’s wall.
Isobel frowned. What was Alec doing hammering away at this hour instead of fixing supper in his apartment?
“Has the new owner already taken possession of the building?” Joanna spoke loudly to be heard over the noise next door.
Nodding, Isobel looked from the wall back to her aunt. “He moved in the day I found out I wouldn’t be expanding,” she replied at an equally loud volume.
“So there was no...” The hammering stopped, and the room was suddenly filled with silence. Joanna gave her rueful smile and lowered her voice to normal tones. “There was no warning, then?”
“None. But I decided to go next door and introduce myself. To be neighborly.”
Her aunt tipped her head in a nod of approval. “How were you received?”
“I—”
Bang, bang, bang. Isobel gritted her teeth.
“You what?” Joanna prompted more loudly.
The quiet resumed. Isobel waited for another interruption. When it didn’t come, she continued. “I was well received at first. But you see, the gentleman who’s set up his business next—”
The noise started up again. Exasperated, her head throbbing in time with the blows of the hammer, Isobel stood. “I’m going to see what he’s doing.” She nearly had to shout. “And if he can possibly wait until we’ve finished our conversation.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” her aunt hollered back, her dark eyes twinkling with more amusement than annoyance.
Isobel shook her head. She hadn’t yet told Aunt Jo that the man next door was the younger brother of her former fiancé. “I’ll be right back.”
“I can look through your new dress magazines while I wait.”
Grateful for her aunt’s patience, she hurried through the shop and outside, not bothering to grab her coat. She wouldn’t be long. At the door to the clinic, she rapped her knuckles against the wood. But Alec began hammering again at that same moment, and Isobel doubted he could hear her above the noise.
She hated to barge in, but surely this was a case for desperate times calling for desperate measures. Making a decision, Isobel tried the handle. The door was, thankfully, unlocked. She pushed it open and stepped into the room. Alec stood in front of the wall that abutted her dress shop, hammering a nail into it. A whole series of nails now dotted the wall.
When Alec paused to eye his handiwork, Isobel took the opportunity to cough—noisily. Alec turned to face her, but instead of wariness or annoyance, his blue-gray eyes shone with delighted surprise.
“Isobel.” The smile he gave her stirred a fluttery sensation in her stomach. “What brings you into my clinic this evening?”
For a moment she couldn’t remember. All she could think about was the pleasure his smile inspired and how she much preferred the anticipation in his expression tonight to the irritation she’d last seen there. Then her gaze dropped to the hammer gripped in his strong-looking hand.
“I...uh...wondered if you’d be so good as to keep the noise down.” She waved a hand in the air. “My aunt and I are trying to have a conversation, but the hammering is making it rather difficult.”
Alec’s smile turned sheepish as he, too, glanced down at his hammer. “Oh, sorry about that. I guess these walls are thinner than I thought. I’m actually done, though.” He set his tool on a nearby wooden bench. An array of picture frames sat there, as well.
“What exactly are you doing?” She’d meant to leave, and yet her curiosity over the frames and nails drew her forward a step.
He lifted a framed picture in the air. “I’m giving the clinic some style.”
“Some...” Isobel pressed her lips together in embarrassment as the memory of what she’d accused him of came rushing back. “There’s something I need to say, Alec. To apologize for, actually. I shouldn’t have said what I did the other day.”
Hanging the picture on one of the nails, Alec stepped back. “No, you were right. The place does need some style, some sprucing up.” He moved to the bench again and selected another frame. “Which is what I hope these photographs will accomplish.”
Isobel stared at him in surprise as he hung another frame on the wall. When was the last time a man had taken her ideas or suggestions seriously? Whit and Beau certainly hadn’t. Her father had genuinely listened to her and considered her words, but that had been so long ago. The fact that Alec Russell was willing to heed her words, especially after their less than cordial exchange the other day, left her feeling as cautious as she did pleased.
“What sort of photographs do you have?” she asked, closing the distance between them.
Alec showed her the one in his hands. “This one was taken last year.” Isobel recognized his family, though the young woman and two small boys were unknown to her.
“Is that Whitman’s wife?” She prided herself on sounding cheerful and unaffected. It wasn’t that she didn’t wish Whit happiness, but it still smarted a bit to see evidence that he’d been blessed with what he’d always wanted—marriage and children.
“Yes, that’s Jocelyn. And these two rascals are Harry and Ernest.” He pointed at the boys in turn. “They’re also the best nephews in the world, and this month they’ll be joined by another brother or a sister.”
The pride in his tone was unmistakable and couldn’t help but draw a small smile from Isobel, in spite of the ache she felt at seeing Whit’s family. “What are your other pictures of?”
“That’s one of my favorite horses from my time in North Dakota.” Alec indicated the first photograph he’d hung up, where he stood smiling as he held the bridle of a black horse. “This other is of President Teddy Roosevelt. Of course, he was the vice president when this was taken.”
Isobel looked closer at the picture. It was easy to pick out which of the group was the former vice president. “Very impressive.”
“Other than the one of my family,” he said, hanging the frame alongside the others, “all of them are from the dude ranch in North Dakota.”
Picking up one of the frames off the bench, Isobel studied the picture. A group of men, some young, some older, sat on horseback. She thought she recognized the man on the far left as Alec. “Is this you?” She pointed at the figure.
Alec looked down and nodded.
“Do you miss working there?” She’d noticed his voice held a bit of nostalgia each time he mentioned the ranch.
He took the picture from her and added it to the wall. “I miss it a lot more than I thought I would.”
“How come you left, then?”
Turning, he folded his arms and regarded her, his eyes full of teasing. “Wishing I’d stayed there?”
“No,” she blurted out. He raised his eyebrows in obvious suspicion of her quick answer. “What I mean...” She straightened her shoulders, remembering her mother’s admonition that a lady was honest and humble, especially when owning a wrong. “I felt that way, at first, but I’ve had time to think it over and I believe things will be fine...between us.” Isobel motioned to the pictures that now graced the wall. “It doesn’t hurt that you listened to my advice about giving the place style.”
Alec laughed, and Isobel found she liked being the inspiration behind the deep, elated sound. “Glad you approve. Because there’s one other piece of your advice I’m going to need some help implementing.”
“What is that?”
He plucked at the collar of his wrinkled work shirt. “I’d like to get some new clothes. Maybe even a suit. Something that looks more fitting of a doctor, and I’d be most appreciative if you could help me.”