Page 29 of Jack Raider

Tony thinks I will take care of his animals because we have been friends since first grade. I had to put a stop to it right now. I walked outside and looked at the bull. It looked as if Tony was wiping his eyes. Tony wanted to be a large animal vet, but had no money to finish school. He loved animals as much as I did. Now, at twenty-eight, he collected rescue animals.

“What do you think is wrong with him?” I asked, looking at the bull. He did look like he wasn’t doing all that great. I turnedand looked at Tony. His hair was in his eyes, and it looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

“Have you had any sleep?” I pushed his hair off his face. I knew I would be helping him with his bull.

“I don’t know why he doesn’t eat; I have to force him to drink water. I think something is wrong with his stomach. I could do this myself if I could get the equipment to work on my animals. They won’t let me get anything because I don’t have a license to buy anything. I hate asking you, but Doc Shimdt said it would be a couple thousand dollars or more.”

“Do you think he needs an enema?”

“That’s what I was thinking, he has to have his insides cleaned out. If you explain everything to me, I can do it myself. This is something I haven’t done before.”

“It’s messy, take him around the back I’ll take care of Allison’s turtle and be right there.”

“What’s wrong with her turtle? Is it the same one she had when we were in school?”

“No, this is like the tenth one,” I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped. “Her turtles keep getting away, and she loses them.”

“Gets away or runs away,” Tony smirked.

I turned and glanced back at him, and we both laughed. “We’re awful,” I said.

“She paints every inch of them. That paint isn’t good for them.”

When I turned around, Jack stood beside his truck, watching us.

“I don’t want to intrude,” he said.

“Jack, it’s so good to see you. You aren’t intruding.” I walked over and kissed him; he was my boyfriend, and I could kiss him whenever I wanted. It had been two weeks since I last saw him. “This is my friend Tony. He has a problem with his bull. I have totake care of a turtle. Why don’t you walk around back with Tony? I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Jenny grinned when she saw me. “I see you couldn’t say no to him either.”

“No, I couldn’t. He loves his animals.”

“I love him,” Jenny said.

I had already passed her when what she said sank into my head. I stopped and looked at her. “Did you say you love Tony?”

“Yes, he said, when he’s able to make a living for a family, he will ask me out.”

“Does he know how you feel?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t told him anything. Sometimes I’ll be mowing my lawn, and he’ll come over and finish mowing it. I only mow it when he’s around,” Jenny explained.

“Jenny, I’m so happy for you. Tony is perfect for you.”

“I’ll be an old lady before Tony realizes that. I don’t need him to make a lot of money. I’ve thought about walking to his house with only my housecoat on.”

“Jenny!” I squeaked. “If only he could finish veterinary school. I’ll think of something,” I said, thinking of ways Tony could finish college. Maybe I’ll come up with a fake scholarship for Tony to win, so he can finish college. “Let’s take care of this turtle before Allison comes to pick him up,” I said.

Jenny giggled.

When Allison arrived, I tried telling her about the paint on her turtle. “Allison, don’t paint turtles anymore; it’s bad for them.”

“Are you sure? I’ve been doing it for years.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“I’ll find some safe paint. I promise not to paint anymore until I find safe paint. How’s that?” She agreed.

---