Page 35 of Jack Raider

“Doris,” I said sharply.

“What? I’m just offering sweets.”

Jack smirked. “Peach pie soundsverysatisfying.”

Doris winked and walked off.

I pressed my napkin to my face. “I can’t believe I’m going to have to live here after this.”

“You’re a legend now,” Jack said, sipping his iced tea. “You’re gonna have people lining up for vet visits.‘Give me what you gave that bull,’they’ll say.”

“I’m going to kill you in your sleep.”

“You already almost did—in the shower. I wasone slip awayfrom meeting Jesus.”

I burst out laughing, despite myself.

Right then, I realized something: this was what it felt like to be happy: messy, embarrassed, slightly traumatized, but happy.

We ate, we laughed, and we dodged about fifty sideways glances. When dessert arrived—my favorite peach pie—Jack fed me the first bite with a wicked grin.

“I told you,” he said. “Best Saturday ever.”

I didn’t want Jack to leave. It was Sunday night, and his family was coming to visit him on Fraser Mountain. He had visited them three times, and he loved being with them. I would never ask him to stay with me, knowing how happy he was having a family, that visited.

“I want to tell my family you are the woman I love.”

“You love me?”

“Yes, I love you. Do you think I would allow bull poop to land on me if I didn’t love you?”

“I love you, too,” I said, wiping tears away.

“I’ll leave early in the morning, he said, pulling me back inside.

Later that night, we lay in bed talking about everything and nothing. “Jenny is in love with Tony Thompson. She said he won’t do anything about it because he never finished college.

“Tony went to veterinary college for large animals, but he could no longer afford to go because his dad broke his back. Tony had to work to pay all the bills. I’m thinking of telling him a white lie.”

“What kind of white lie?”

“I’m going to tell him I filled out a paper for him for a full scholarship, and he won.”

“How would you get the money to him?” Jack asked.

“I haven’t gotten that far yet, but it will come to me.”

“Is it alright if I help?”

“I didn’t tell you so you would help.”

“I know that, but I really do want to help. Plus, we can send Tony the scholarship money through a company I own. He will never know who it was from. Besides, I always give scholarships out. Plus I like Tony.”

I can’t let you do that. Tony still has two years before he becomes a vet. How about I pay for the first year, and you can pay for the second year?”

Eloise, I’ll let you pay the other expenses. You can put in clothing expenses for two years, which will be about twenty-five hundred dollars. Pay me after you’ve told Tony he won the scholarship.”

He’s going to be so excited, and Jenny will be so happy. Those two are perfect together. Thank you so much for your generosity.”

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