The Colton Farmer’s Market was in full swing on Saturday morning. Spring arrived with a bright blue cloudless sky and warm air scented with hyacinth. People were happy to be out and about mingling in the park. Some were there to shop, and others were out looking for an opportunity to catch up with friends and gossip. Jasmine watched the scene play out from the table she set up with flyers for a free spay and neuter clinic she planned for next month. Several students from the veterinary assistant program at the trade school in Greenwood had volunteered to help with the event. Jasmine hoped it would bring in new clients and get the word out in the community about the clinic.
The park buzzed with activity as people wandered through tables filled with fresh produce, flowers, and crafts. There was a line at the booth where Opal, Pearl, and Ruby, the three sisters known as the Jewels, sold cordials and syrups.
Ruby waved at her and called out, “Don’t you worry, honey. I put aside a bottle of elderberry syrup for you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Ruby,” Jasmine shouted back.
Jacob was pushing his son, Dante, in his stroller with his wife, Mae, at his side, headed in her direction. Their progress was slow, as everyone wanted to shake Mae’s hand or ask a question. The community appreciated and respected their mayor, and there was no doubt in Jasmine’s mind that Mae would serve another term as mayor.
When they finally reached her table, Mae pulled Jasmine into a hug.
“I just got the most amazing yarn the other day. I’ve been waiting forever for it to get here,” Mae exclaimed. “And the colors.” Mae swooned, putting her hand over her heart. “I need you to help me decide what I’m going to make with it at knitting club on Tuesday.”
“It didn’t take forever,” Jacob said, chuckling. “It was just two weeks.”
Mae came over and stepped between Jacob and the stroller. She put her hand on his cheek and said in a low, sexy voice, “Two weeks can seem like forever when you’re waiting for something you really want.”
Jacob growled low in his throat and captured Mae’s lips in a searing kiss.
“Watch out, you two. That’s how babies get made,” someone in the crowd called out with a laugh.
Jacob let his wife go. The two exchanged a look that touched Jasmine’s heart. No one she’d ever been with looked at her that way. She thought about the video chat with Rhett the night before. There were moments when she thought she caught a look of… interest or heat in his eyes. It was hard to tell. Or maybe she didn’t want to be wrong and end up disappointed.
“Who is making you smile and blush like that?” Jacob asked.
Jasmine suddenly became very interested in straightening the flyers on her table.
“Nothing,” she said.
Mae elbowed her husband in the ribs. “Stop it. You’re embarrassing her.”
“Well, I’m not the one who started it,” Jacob shot back with a heated look in his eyes.
Jasmine felt a slight pinch of jealousy that surprised her. Romance wasn’t on her list of reasons why she had wanted to move to Colton, but dating again was part of her recovery from past disappointments.
Mae opened her mouth to argue and stopped when Dante started to cry.
“Hey, little man. What’s wrong?” Mae crooned, taking him out of the stroller.
“Is it his diaper? Is he hungry? What’s wrong?” Jacob instantly went on high alert.
Mae’s father, Joseph Colton, came toward them with his arms outstretched. “Nothing’s wrong that his grandpa can’t fix.”
He took Dante from Mae’s arms, and the baby quieted, snuggling into his grandpa’s chest.
Jacob looked at Joseph in awe. “I don’t know how he does it. Every damn time.”
Joseph laughed. “I’m not giving away any of my grandpa’s secrets.”
“Dad, have you met Jasmine Owens yet?” Mae asked.
Joseph held out his free hand and shook Jasmine’s. “Welcome to Colton. I’ve been meaning to come by and say hello. It’s been at least twenty years since we’ve had a vet in this community. We’re happy to have you here.”
“Thank you,” Jasmine said.
“You two enjoy the market. I’ll take care of Dante for a while,” Joseph said to Jacob and Mae.
“Thanks, Dad,” Mae said, giving her father a peck on the cheek.
Joseph waved, heading through the park, holding his grandson with one arm and pushing the stroller with the other.
“Your dad could be the poster child for proud grandpas.” Jasmine laughed.
“You should see her mother,” Jacob said. “How are things going with Rebel?”
Jacob knelt down and patted his leg. Rebel lifted his head and yawned, slowly getting up from where he’d been napping under the table.
“Have you heard from Rhett?” Jacob asked.
“He’s been calling to check in on Rebel.” Jasmine offered no more details. Jacob was just as overprotective as her big brother, and the last thing she wanted was an interrogation into her personal life.
“Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help,” Mae said.
“Thanks, I will.”
Mae threaded her hand through Jacob’s arm and led him over to the next booth. Jasmine blew out a sigh of relief and a silent thanks to Mae for leading Jacob away. Rebel trotted back to her side and sat down, resting his head on her thigh. Jasmine ran her hands through his soft fur. Yes, she found Rhett attractive. They’d continued to talk after the first video chat, quickly slipping into a routine where Rhett called every night. Even though he said it was to check in on Rebel, they continued to talk long after he said hello to his faithful friend. Nightly phone calls from Rhett quickly became her favorite part of her day. It didn’t matter what subject they talked about; it was just about spending time together, even if it was through a screen.
One vendor who sold flowers came over to her table, carrying a gigantic bouquet of tulips in shades of pink and white. “Excuse me, Dr. Owens?”
“Yes.”
The vendor held the bouquet out to her. “These are for you.”
Jasmine looked down at the flowers and then around the park.
“I… thank you. These are lovely.”
The vendor smiled with a wave and walked back to her stand.
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed with a text message.
I hope you are having a good day at the farmer’s market. I wish I could be there to give you these in person. Thank you for taking care of Rebel for me.
Jasmine didn’t know how long she’d been sitting there, clutching her bouquet and grinning at her phone, before someone cleared their throat, bringing her back to reality.
She looked up to find her brother standing at her table, his hands resting on the duty rig around his waist. The sunlight glinted off the gold braid around his hat and his badge. He was looking at her with a raised eyebrow.
He pointed at the flowers. “You want to tell me where those are from and what has put that goofy smile on your face?”
“Absolutely not. It’s none of your business.”
They stared each other down for a minute before her brother sighed. “All right. But you know I’ll find out eventually.”
“We agreed to respect each other’s privacy when I moved here, remember? Just because you’re the sheriff, Isiah, doesn’t mean you need to know everything that’s going on.”
“Maybe not, but with my little sister, you can’t blame me if I’m a little overprotective.”
Rebel chose that moment to lift his head and look at Isiah, giving him a little snort.
Isiah laughed. “Maybe you don’t need my help. Looks like you have a guardian to keep you safe.”
In the time she’d spent with Rebel, Jasmine had seen no trace of aggression, but her instincts told her that if she was in any danger, those protective instincts would come out in full force.
She stroked Rebel’s head. “He’s a good companion. Rhett has him trained so well. I’m really impressed.”
“Does this mean you might consider an upgrade?”
“Daisy was a sweetheart.”
Isiah made a face and shuddered. “Yuck. That snake was so creepy.”
“Quit being so dramatic. She got out of her enclosure one time, and you’ve never forgiven her for it.”
“That’s because I found her in my bed!” Isiah exclaimed.
Jasmine covered her mouth, trying unsuccessfully to suppress the laughter that always came with the memory of Isiah running through the house screaming like a little girl. She did her best to school her expression while her brother glared at her.
The lapel mic on Isiah’s shoulder crackled to life. He wagged his finger at her. “One of these days, I’m going to get you back.”
Isiah jogged toward his cruiser parked in front of town hall. They might tease each other and have an occasional argument, but they were close, and Jasmine was happy to have family close by. It was different from living back home, with her parents constantly checking in and hovering. They did it because they cared, and Jasmine was grateful for all the support they gave her while she got back on her feet again after a tough start in her career in veterinary medicine. Her brother worried about her, too, but he respected her boundaries—at least most of the time.
She pulled out her phone again and posed for a selfie with the flowers and sent it to Rhett with a message thanking him.
A family approached her table, asking for advice on what breed of dogs would be best for their five-year-old with allergies who had been desperately begging his parents for a puppy. Jasmine was happy to help and spent the next hour talking about the differences between a poodle and a Portuguese water dog and other breeds that were hypoallergenic. Other people came by, asking about her practice and picking up flyers for the spay and neuter clinic. A couple of farmers who were vendors at the market came by and were happy to discover that her clinic was a mixed practice that worked with both small animals and some large breeds. Of course, as a vet in a rural area, she would always help whatever animal was in need.
The park began to clear out, and vendors were closing down their stalls when Ms. Ruby, the youngest Jewel sister, approached her table with a small bottle filled with dark purple liquid.
“Here you go, honey,” Ms. Ruby said.
Jasmine reached for her tote bag. “How much do I owe you?”
Ms. Ruby waved her off. “Not a thing.”
“You have to let me give you something, Ms. Ruby.”
Ms. Ruby tapped her lips. “How about you let me dig through your yarn stash? I’m looking for some small bits for a scrap scarf.”
Jasmine held her hand up. “Deal.”
“Any chance I can get you to make one of those scarves for me?” a low, gravelly voice asked.
Ms. Ruby’s head whipped around, and her eyes widened. Robert Ellis touched the brim of his Biloxi Shuckers hat.
Jasmine met the older man on her first visit to Colton. Jasmine instantly liked Uncle Robert, as her brother and his friends called him. He’d introduced himself as Uncle Robert when they met and explained that was what the “young” folks called him. He was a kind man who had returned to his hometown after leaving whatever government agency he’d been working for. Some folks said he was in the FBI; some thought he’d been in the foreign service. Her brother said it was the CIA. Isiah called him a man with “resources and secrets.” And it was obvious Isiah held him in high regard.
“Ruby.” He turned to Jasmine. “Dr. Owens. Looked like traffic at your booth was good today.”
“It was. How was your day at the market?”
Uncle Robert glanced toward the bed of his vintage pickup truck, which was filled with empty crates. “Yup, I sold out of just about everything.” He set the basket of vegetables on her table.
“I divided up what was left between you and Doc Colton. We’ve gotta take care of the folks that take care of us and our animals.”
The basket he’d brought overflowed with greens, spring lettuce, sweet potatoes, and a few other vegetables.
“It’s early yet, but there’ll be cucumbers in a few more weeks.”
The minute Jasmine stood up, Rebel did the same, staying at her side as she went to give Uncle Robert a hug.
“Thank you,” she said.
The kindness and support she’d received from the community since she moved to Colton touched her deeply and reaffirmed she’d made the right decision to make Colton her home.
Uncle Robert looked at Ms. Ruby. “About that scarf? How much do you charge?”
Ms. Ruby stared at him for a minute before she answered in a soft, shaking voice, “I think it’s too late for me to make anything for you.” She cleared her throat. “Besides, spring is here. You don’t need a scarf.”
“That might be true, but maybe I want one anyway,” Uncle Robert said.
The way he said it made Ms. Ruby’s eyes grow wide.
“Ruby, we’re fixin’ to close up,” Ms. Ruby’s sister, Opal, called from their booth.
“Bye, honey,” Ms. Ruby said to Jasmine.
With one more glance at Uncle Robert, she walked away. Uncle Robert dropped his chin to his chest with a sigh. “I’m an old fool,” he muttered to himself.
“For what it’s worth, I thought it was a good line,” Jasmine said.
Uncle Robert gave her a wry smile. “I might be a little rusty in the flirting department.”
“You and me both.”
He pointed to the bouquet on her table. “Looks like whatever it is you’re doing is working.”
She could feel the heat in her cheeks.
Uncle Robert patted her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to tease.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s new, and I don’t really know if… it’s new,” she repeated.
“I understand. Here, let me help you take that table back to the clinic.”
Jasmine put the leftover flyers in her tote bag while Uncle Robert folded the table legs.
“It’s none of my business, but for what it’s worth, Rhett Colton is a good man. He might be a broken man right now, but that won’t last. He’s gonna be okay,” Uncle Robert said as they walked toward the clinic.
Jasmine smiled as she unlocked the door. She shouldn’t be surprised; Uncle Robert knew it was Rhett. The man had an uncanny way of knowing just about everything that was going on.
“I can take that now,” Jasmine said, taking the table from his hands. “Thanks, and I agree. Rhett is a good man. It’s kind of hard to get to know him when we’re talking through a screen. I wouldn’t mind getting to know him better when he comes back.”
Heat rose in Jasmine’s cheeks when Uncle Robert declared, “If that boy has any sense, he’ll sweep you off your feet the minute he gets home. It’s what I wish I’d done when I came home.”
The tinge of sadness in his voice and the flash of pain in his eyes told their own story.
“Maybe it’s not too late?” she said.
Uncle Robert’s lips tipped up in a half smile. “Maybe.” He knelt and scratched Rebel’s head. He chuckled when the appreciative canine pressed his head against his hand, begging for more.
“You know, I’ve been thinkin’ about getting a dog. Someone to keep me company.”
Jasmine suspected he’d rather spend evenings on the porch with Ms. Ruby instead of a dog, but kept that opinion to herself.
“Let me know if you want to go to the shelter in Greenwood. I’d be happy to come along and help you look.”
“I just might do that.”
Tipping his hat, Uncle Robert said goodbye. Jasmine watched him walk across the park, his hands in his pockets and his shoulders low. Rebel let out a whine and pressed himself against her leg.
“Yeah, I know,” Jasmine said. “Come on, boy. Let’s go for a walk and have some dinner before your dad calls.”
Rebel followed her upstairs, waiting patiently while she put the tulips Rhett had sent to her in a vase. She reached out and ran her finger over one soft petal. Some blooms were the fancy ones that almost looked like roses. The mix of light pink and dark pink blooms, some with delicate stripes and translucent white ones created an enchanting bouquet. Tulips just became her favorite flower.
When they returned from their walk, Jasmine fed Rebel and made a salad with the spring lettuce from Uncle Robert. She curled up on the couch and positioned the flowers where Rhett could see them when he called. Rebel jumped up on the couch next to her at her invitation. Jasmine glanced down at the T-shirt she was wearing and wished she had something that was a little more flattering in her wardrobe, but that would mean owning something more form-fitting, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for that.
Her phone rang, and Rhett’s name flashed on the screen.
“Thank you for the flowers,” she said when his face appeared.
Rhett smiled. “They look beautiful,” he said.
There were dark circles under his eyes, and his face was pinched and drawn.
“Tough day?” she asked.
He sighed. “I had to go over what happened the night they kidnapped Mae again. I hate reliving that night.”
Jasmine wanted to crawl through the screen, wrap Rhett in her arms, and smooth away the lines on his forehead. She reminded herself what happened the last time she tried to take away someone else’s pain and remembered that while she could heal an animal, she couldn’t always save another human being.
His eyes met hers through the screen. “When I come home, I’m going to buy you another bouquet so I can give them to you in person.”
“You’re trying to change the subject.”
“How did I know it wouldn’t work with you?”
His drawl was low with the same quality she’d heard in Uncle Robert’s voice before. A hint of sadness mixed with… longing. But the look in his eyes made her stomach tumble and fall.
“When you get back, we’ll have a lot of time to talk face-to-face.”
“What if…” Rhett paused and leaned closer to the screen. “What if when I get home, I want to do more than talk?”
Jasmine wondered if Rhett somehow knew she’d imagined kissing him. Lately, she’d wondered what it would be like to run her hands over his bare shoulders, what it would feel like to have his arms around her.
Jasmine grinned mischievously. “I… I would be open to talking about that.”