Page 32 of 15 Summers Later

“Right state, wrong city. I believe his name is Austin.”

He sighed. “Right. Dallas was a few years ago, right?”

She didn’t remember all the names, but it wouldn’t surprise her.

While they both dated widely, the main difference between them was that Nicole was hoping to find lasting love with one of them while Madi only wanted a nice, temporary guy who was fun and charming and, most important, didn’t treat her like all the local guys did. Like she was some kind of fragile figurine who would crumble into dust if someone touched her.

“Are you coming to my mom’s place for dinner tomorrow?” he asked. “I was supposed to ask you yesterday and I forgot.”

“It’s on my calendar. I was planning on it.”

The big Sunday dinner was one of the highlights of her month. Tilly was an amazing cook and the meal was always wonderful. The company was even better. She and Leona weren’t the only strays Tilly invited. There was usually a revolving door of friends or relatives, both local and from out of town.

“I don’t know Leona’s plans for sure, though,” Madi said. “Ava is with her now, so who knows?”

He sent her a sideways look across the cab of the pickup truck. “Ava has an open invitation from my mom. Your grandmother can bring her along if she wants to.”

She gave him a polite smile, fighting the urge to cross her arms across her chest and sulk like his young niece did if the marshmallow she was roasting fell into the fire.

“That’s fine. Tilly can certainly invite anyone she wants to. Just as I can choose with whom I want to spend my Sunday afternoon.”

“Are you saying that if Ava goes, you won’t?”

She remained stubbornly silent and he gave her another sideways look.

“Don’t ask my mom to choose between you and your sister. That’s not fair. She loves you both.”

She glowered at him, annoyed that he once more seemed to treat her like a pesky little sister.

“Tilly doesn’t have to choose between us. If Ava is going, I will choose for everyone by skipping it.”

He frowned. “You’re being unreasonable, Mad. If your sister plans to enjoy an extended visit with Leona here in Emerald Creek, chances are good you will have to spend time in the same room with her at some point. You can’t avoid her all summer.”

“I can sure as hell try,” she muttered.

He opened his mouth to respond but closed it again as they pulled into the driveway of Lancaster Sheep Farms, a low-slung house surrounded by barns and silos.

Paul Lancaster trotted out to greet them, wearing his traditional denim overalls and plaid shirt, rolled up at the sleeves. In his late seventies, Paul was a hardworking farmer, who along with one of his sons, ran a herd of around five hundred sheep.

He was meticulous and fussy and preferred to have vaccines administered by the veterinarian rather than do it himself or have his workers handle it, like most producers did.

He greeted Luke with a handshake but only gave Madi a stiff, rather cool nod, something dark crossing his expression so quickly, she wondered if she had imagined it.

Odd. She and Paul usually had a cordial relationship. He was friendly with her grandmother and always seemed comfortable enough with her as well.

“We’re ready for you, Doc. Glad you could make time for us. We’re about to take the herd up to our summer grazing allotment. We’ve got our herders in place and the trucks are coming this afternoon.”

She knew he moved his sheep to the mountains during the summer and that transporting them was always a big production.

“Good thing you remembered your lambs need vaccinating before they take off for the hills,” Luke said mildly.

“In the old days, your dad used to call me when it was time for the boosters.”

Luke’s jaw tightened for a brief instant. How difficult it must be for him to constantly be compared to his father. Yes, the previous Dr. Gentry had been a wonderful veterinarian, from all she had heard of the man, but Luke was amazing, too. He shouldn’t have to constantly prove himself to the people of Emerald Creek.

“Yes, I checked on that after you called yesterday. According to our records, we mailed a reminder postcard three weeks ago that it was time to schedule, but they can be easy to miss. I’ll make a note in your chart to have the office staff give you a call next year.”

“Thank you. Appreciate that.”

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