Page 8 of Big Bad Mate

Jenni smiles at me. “I know, Iris. I’ve been your friend for a long time. It’s okay; everyone wants to be recognized for what they do.”

“That’s not why,” I say defensively.

She shakes her head. “Okay. Whatever you say.”

“I think we need to chop up some more mice,” I say with a frown.

She waves at me. “On it. Mice duty incoming.”

I watch her go, my mind reeling.

Am I only mad because I feel defensive of someone on my territory?

Or is it something else?

Finally, I’m done for the day. I look up at the clock, noting that I’ve still got plenty of daylight to burn. I came in early because of the wolf, and while Jenni always has the closing shift, I usually stay a little later than I’m supposed to.

Today, though, I need to clear my head.

There’s no better place to do that than out on the trails.

I knock on the office doorframe. “Hey, I’m out.”

“Finally. Go home and sleep. Remind me that you’re human,” Jenni says as she spins in her chair.

“I sleep,” I smile at her. I don’t sleep well, but I do, in fact, sleep.

Sometimes.

Jenni rolls her eyes. “Sure. Don’t bring in any more animals; we’re pretty full.”

I smile back. “No promises.”

“Any fun afternoon plans?”

I smile wider. “I’m going to go for a hike.”

“Okay,” Jenni calls. “Have fun!”

I’ll do that.

I come to work in clothes that can get dirty, and I have my hiking boots in the car. Leaving the clinic, I get in my reliable, if rusted, 4Runner, and head up toward the trail.

As I go, I let my thoughts wander, and I absorb the beauty around me.

I’m so lucky to live here.

My parents had a cabin in the Red Feather Lakes area when I was a kid. I loved coming up here then. It felt like another world, a magical place that was totally different from the dreary brown of Denver.

Everything felt better than my life in Denver. I lived for the summer months when I was a kid. I never wanted to play the whole popularity game or go to the fancy colleges all my peers were aiming for.

I’ve always known that I wanted to live in the mountains.

I had counted down the days until my high school graduation. I got my degree in wildlife biology from University of Colorado Boulder, then a veterinary degree from Colorado State University. As soon as I could, I moved up here and opened the clinic.

It’s part wildlife rehab, part veterinary services. As with most rural businesses, I have to wear a lot of hats.

I’m happy to do it, because it means that I get to live here.

---