Page 9 of The Sheriff's Mistletoe Bride
Doc Adams nodded with a knowing smile.“Teddy is a tough little guy.He should mend just fine after some rest and quiet.I think he’s probably missing his owner and is unsure of his surroundings.”
“He’s lonely and afraid,” Jillie said, laying a slim finger between the two bars closest to her.“Hi, Teddy.That’s a nice name.I think we can be friends.I’m sorry you got hurt.I’ll come visit you here until you get out.Okay?”
“He’d like that.He’s been just lying there with no interest in anything until now.He’s perking up having you here.”The vet smiled at Jillie as the dog edged closer to allow his nose to touch the soft stroking of her finger between the bars.
Matt noted the beaming smile on his daughter’s face.His daughter had had a way with animals even at an earlier age.And that often caused him to be the mean dad who would draw the line with a never-ending stream of animals of one sort or another coming through their front door with her pleading gaze and then tears when he had to put his foot down.Such as the three-legged goat that had followed her home according to her story, or the possum who made itself at home on the back porch…along with her help of a box with his old shirts adorning the inside as bedding for the animal.Luckily, both creatures had moved on to better homes…one at a petting zoo and another to a sanctuary in the next county for wild animals.
He was grateful that this dog had an owner and a place to go home after release.Or did he?That question popped up in his brain.Jillie could also have a future as a mind reader.
“And if he needs a place to stay until his owner gets better, he can stay with us, can’t he, Dad?”
“Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen.Don’t go getting ahead of yourself, Jillie.”
“May I come visit tomorrow?”Jillie turned that doe-eyed look on the vet next and Matt felt relief.
“That would be fine.”The vet grinned.
“Let’s let the doctor get home and we need to do the same.Say good night to your friend.”
“Good night, Teddy.I’ll be here tomorrow to visit again.You be good and hurry and get well.”
The sun had set, and the town square had quieted.There were the usual patrons parked at the downtown eateries: the café and the pizzeria.And farther down, the parking lot in front of the local cinema was filling up.Other cars were heading out to the restaurant and dance hall along the river for nicer dining and then dancing after.Or there were those who headed in the opposite direction to the bowling and arcade building on the opposite side of downtown.Destiny’s River was settling into the early autumn evening.A few weeks until Thanksgiving and then the Christmas festivities would take over.
Matt had to admit that he felt a pride inside to be part of such a beautiful small town nestled at the entrance to the Hill Country region of Texas, with its tall hills, ice-cold clear spring-fed rivers and lakes, and deep canyons and tranquil grass-covered meadows.The people were an added plus.They welcomed strangers and made them feel part of the town, no matter where they came from.He was forever grateful that his eldest sister had set out to find a place for them all to call home many years ago as they all aged out of the foster system.She had a dream to find such a place and she didn’t rest until she had made it come true.Three of the four Parker siblings had made their way to call Destiny’s River home.The hope was that, eventually, the final sibling—his brother—would leave his rambling ways behind and make it unanimous.Until then, he would do his part as sheriff of the county to see that such a good community maintained what made it special.
They arrived home and Jillie hurried ahead of him to make sure the new kitten, Pumpkin, was still in its sleeping box in the utility room.The moment the kitten saw her, its meows began, and naturally, Jillie had to pick it up and cradle it.
“Jillie…” Matt began but his daughter was ahead of him.
“I know, Dad.But he’s still getting used to things and I’ll calm him down and then bring him back to his box.He’s just a scared baby.”And the child and kitten cradled in her arms were disappearing up the stairs to her room before Matt uttered another word.
And another battle lost even before he’d said a word.Matt shook his head.His sister had been right when she mentioned the gray hairs he kept finding.And ninety percent were the result of being the father of a daughter like Jillie.He had to admit it was times like these and others that he missed not having the support in the house of another sane adult.It was times he wished he might find someone who would be the mother figure that his daughter deserved.But no such person had crossed his path to date.Maybe he was being too picky?That had been mentioned a time or two or three by his two sisters.Even by his daughter.Everyone in town seemed to have placed their two cents worth on the subject over the years.He took a cold drink from the refrigerator and popped the lid.He sank down in his easy chair and settled back, replaying the long day’s events.
Ally Jones.New York City, New York.She was a long way from home.But somehow, seeing a couple of the boxes that his deputy had stacked inside their storeroom waiting for her to take off their hands, he noted items one wouldn’t normally find on just a vacation-type trip.Some pots and pans, a couple dishes, linens, blanket, even a pillow.He hadn’t looked any further.There wasn’t any real reason for him to do so.But it had stayed in his mind.And there was another box that his deputy had brought to his attention.And that had also stuck in his questioning brain.It was hand-carved, with an inlaid engraved plate on the top surrounded by carved roses.The workmanship was beautiful.It clearly held cremains.A mother?That was interesting also.One didn’t usually take trips with their loved one’s remains.Still, there was no law against it.
All in all, he shouldn’t be giving the woman in the hospital another thought.She was the doctor’s responsibility, not his.Still…there wassomething.But then his attention was caught by a movement next to his feet and his mind jumped to it.A bright-eyed bit of orange fur was looking up at him.He shook his head and called out in his loud ‘parent’ voice: “Jillie Anne Parker!”
Chapter Six
“Jillie Parker…what areyou doing here?Seeing a friend?”The nurse looked up from the screen in front of her and greeted the girl with a welcoming smile.
“Sort of,” Jillie responded with a slight smile and a larger amount of nerves.“It’s Miss Jones and my dad was here yesterday because she was in an accident and…”
“Miss Jones is in 326, just three doors down that hall on the right,” the nurse spoke up with a nod of her head in the correct direction.“She just had her lunch so she should be awake, and you can go right on in.Those are pretty flowers you brought.”
Jillian increased her grip on the stems of the flowers wrapped in their pink tissue paper and thanked the woman.She walked with steps that slowed as she got closer to the door.Taking a deep breath, she gave a tentative knock on the door.She didn’t have to wait long as a soft voice called out, “Come in.”
Jillian pushed open the door and stepped inside, then paused just across the threshold.
“Hello, I was expecting a nurse.Are you in the wrong room?”Poor thing, Ally thought as she noted the nervous smile and wide eyes.The child was expecting someone she knew to be in the room, and she must look a fright with her bruised head and bandage.
“No ma’am,” the child responded with a faint voice and shake of her head.Then Ally noted that she squared her small shoulders a bit and made tentative steps closer to the bed.“My name is Jillie Parker, and I wanted to come by and bring you flowers.And I know Teddy—and I wanted to let you know that he misses you very much, but I promised him I would visit him and now you and let you know he is okay and all.”She finally paused and drew in a breath.
“Well, thank you, Miss Jillie.And thank you for the pretty flowers.I like pink and you are the very first to bring me flowers.I’ve never had a bouquet before.And thank you so much for visiting Teddy.I was so worried about him.But how did you know to visit him or about me?”
“My dad.”The voice was minus the nerves, and she warmed to the subject.“My dad let me go see Teddy and I can visit him each day until you get better.And you really never had any flowers before?”The bouquet was handed over to Ally.“Not even from a boyfriend or anyone?”
Ally shook her head and found it very easy to smile at the child.“Nope.No boyfriend or anyone.You are the first and that makes them very special.But who is your dad?A doctor?”
