Hill Country Reunion

Then Tripp was the one left behind, since the old trail horse was content to plod along at a snail’s pace. Just when he thought things were relaxing between him and Diana, she’d shut him down. Was there any hope at all they could come through this as friends?

Was he crazy to hope for more?

Chapter Three

Returning to the barn after the ride, Tripp clipped Tex to the cross ties at the far end of the barn aisle and loosened the saddle cinch.

Seth moved down the line to check on the campers, then stopped next to Tripp. “So you and Diana know each other?”

“Small world, huh?” Tripp managed a quick laugh. “She and my sister were college roomies.” It was the truth. Just not all of it.

Hiking a brow, Seth tipped back his Stetson. “Yeah, that totally explains why you two are walking on eggshells around each other.”

“This goes in the tack room, right?” Tripp hefted the heavy saddle off Tex’s back.

“I’ll take care of it.” With a nod toward the barn door, Seth cast Tripp a knowing grin. “She’s limping a bit after that fall, so I’m sure she’d appreciate some help with her horse.”

Shoulders slumping, Tripp handed over the saddle. The sooner he and Diana could put this awkward phase behind them, the better. Squinting against the afternoon sun, he traipsed out of the barn, hauled in a deep breath and headed for Diana’s trailer.

She’d just gotten the horse loaded and grimaced as she stepped off the ramp, clearly favoring her bruised hip.

Tripp hurried over. “Here, let me give you a hand.”

“That’s okay, I’ve got it.” Turning, she bent to lift the ramp, then groaned beneath the weight.

“Sure you do.” Ignoring her refusal, Tripp donated his muscles to the cause. Together they hoisted the ramp into position and secured the latches.

Diana stepped back, dusting off her hands. “Thanks. Again.”

“My pleasure.” Tripp shifted his stance. “Look, Di—”

“I prefer Diana, if you don’t mind.”

“Sorry. Diana.” She wasn’t about to make this any easier. “It’s pretty clear my being here is making you uncomfortable, and I just wanted to say I’m sorry. If I’d known you were still in Juniper Bluff—”

“What? You’d have turned down Doc Ingram’s partnership?” Her withering stare made him flinch. “Yes, this is a small town, but it’s plenty big for both of us.”

He bristled. “I’m trying to apologize. We were having a nice conversation for a few minutes there on the trail, and I was hoping—”

“That we could be friends? Let bygones be bygones?” Diana brushed past him and marched around to the driver’s side of the pickup. “Sure, Tripp,” she called over her shoulder. “Don’t even think twice about it. It’s all in the past.”

Catching up, Tripp blocked her from opening the door. “First of all, quit finishing my sentences for me. Second, I get it. I hurt you, and I’ll regret it to my dying day. Third, yes, I would like it very much if we could start over as friends.” He let out a long, slow sigh and hoped his desperate half smile would win her over. “Please.”

Her throat shifted. She crossed her arms. “You’re right,” she murmured, “and I’m sorry. I don’t like this tension between us any better than you do.”

“Thank you.” A part of him really, really wanted to take her in his arms for a hug, but he figured that might be pushing things. Besides, he was afraid once he held her again, he’d never be able to let go.

She didn’t give him the chance anyway. After tossing her hat across to the other seat, she jumped in behind the steering wheel. “Need to get going. See you around.”

“Yeah.” Tripp stepped back as she yanked the door closed. “See you around.”

* * *

Diana could not leave Serenity Hills quickly enough. And there was nothing the least bit serene about her departure. She could see Tripp sincerely felt bad about barging back into her life. But friendship, after she’d thought they were on the verge of making a lifetime commitment? The fact that it still hurt so much only proved the depth of the feelings she once had for him.

Once? All right, still. Every man she’d dated since had the misfortune of being held to the standard set by Tripp Willoughby. Either the guy wasn’t funny, smart, kind or romantic enough, or if he happened to meet all those criteria, there remained the chance he’d dump Diana just like Tripp had. It was a lose-lose proposition any way she looked at it.

Arriving at her dad’s ranch, she returned Mona to the pasture, then backed the horse trailer into its spot next to the garage. Before she could get it unhitched, her dad came out to help.

“Have a good time?” he asked.

“It was fun—until Mona spooked and I hit the ground.”

“Uh-oh. You okay?”

“I’ll live.” Stooped over the trailer hitch, she could pretend her hip was the only thing bothering her.

When they’d moved the trailer tongue onto a cinder block, she thanked her dad and forestalled more questions by saying she needed to get home and change before going over to see Aunt Jennie. She just hoped to have her emotions a little more under control by then.

An hour later, with freshly washed, finger-combed hair and wearing a clean pair of jeans with a purple peasant top, Diana tapped on the door of her great-aunt’s tiny apartment. A soft “Coming, dear” and shuffling feet preceded the click of the doorknob. The door swung open, and Aunt Jennie welcomed Diana with a cheery smile and a warm hug.

Diana stepped into the cozy sitting room. Her great-aunt’s plush blue recliner and favorite antique end table added a homey touch. “Looks like Mom and Dad got you all settled. It’s a lovely apartment.”

“Yes, it’s quite comfortable, and the people here are as nice as can be.” Aunt Jennie sighed as she eased into the recliner. “Only one thing could make it better.”

“I know—you miss Ginger. Tell you what,” Diana said as she plopped onto the love seat. “One day this week I’ll take you over to my house and you can hug on my critters.”

“Oh, that would be wonderful.” A bright smile lit Aunt Jennie’s face. “Do you still have all three of those spoiled-rotten cats? And the rabbit, too?”

“Sure do. Plus a stray parakeet I found fluttering around the bird feeder last spring. He’s made himself right at home, and he knows how to show those cats who’s boss.”

As Diana described her menagerie, she itched to get rolling with her plans for a therapy pets program. Not only would it make Aunt Jennie’s transition a little easier, but pet visits could bring a spark of life and laughter to the other residents, as well.

* * *

The next morning, Diana awoke to a blaring clock radio and an overweight gray-striped tabby sitting on her chest. She slapped the off button on the radio while shoving the cat to one side. “Okay, okay, Tiger, I’m awake.”

Midnight and Lucinda, the tomcat’s partners in crime, paced across Diana’s feet, all apparently near starvation, if their plaintive mews could be believed.

The hardest part of owning a doughnut shop? The 4:00 a.m. wake-up call. And Diana had stayed up entirely too late last night downloading information and application forms for starting a therapy pets program. Tossing back the covers, she stumbled to the bathroom and splashed water on her face, then saw to her pets before sitting down to her own breakfast.

By 4:50 she was out the door. At the shop, she helped Kimberly start batches of doughnuts, muffins, scones and apple fritters, then set up the coffeemakers. At one minute before six, she flipped the Closed sign to Open and unlocked the door.

After the early-morning rush ended, she helped Kimberly get more pastries in the oven, then made herself a café mocha latte and carried it to her office. Logging in to her email account, she hoped to have a response from the therapy pet organization she’d contacted about sponsoring a chapter in Juniper Bluff.

And she did. Agnes Kraus, a representative from Visiting Pet Pals, asked Diana to call at her earliest convenience. Adrenaline pumping, she dialed the number immediately.

“Yes, Diana, it’s good to hear from you,” Mrs. Kraus said. “We’re delighted you want to launch a program in Juniper Bluff.” Papers rustled. “I’m looking at your application right now. I see you want to focus on dog owners initially. How are you doing with potential volunteers?”

Diana chewed her lip. “No commitments yet, but I have some acquaintances in mind. I was planning to get going on that over the next few days.”

“You do understand each dog must have basic obedience certification? Plus, we require a minimum of eight sign-ups before I can make the trip to evaluate the animals and conduct a training session specific to therapy pets.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Diana said, quickly jotting reminders. “I have your list of requirements right here in front of me. Once I have my volunteers, how soon could we be evaluated?”

Mrs. Kraus paused, the sound of clicking computer keys filling the silence. “My fall schedule is filling up, so the earliest date would be the second Saturday of November. That would give you about six weeks to get your team together.”

Diana clicked open her own calendar and counted off the weeks. She’d hoped to hold the first official pet visit at the assisted-living center as a surprise for Aunt Jennie’s birthday, a few days before Thanksgiving. It just might be doable—provided she could come up with eight qualified dog owners.

“Pencil me in,” she told Mrs. Kraus. “I’ll do everything possible to be ready by then.”

She’d just hung up when Kimberly tapped on the door. “Diana, you might want to see this.”

Diana pushed back her chair and stood. “Please don’t tell me the oven conked out again.”

“No, the oven’s working like a champ. It’s...something else.” Kimberly led the way out to the alley and over to the Dumpster. She pointed into the shadows. “See back there by the wall?”

Muted whimpers wrenched Diana’s heart moments before she glimpsed the scrawny mother cat and four newborn kittens nestled inside a crumbling cardboard box. “Oh, dear, you poor things!”

“We can’t leave them back there,” Kimberly said. “This is trash pickup day. They could be crushed.”

Diana edged away, afraid of frightening the cat into running off somewhere even less safe. “Can you keep an eye on things while I run over to the supermarket for some cat food? Maybe I can lure her out and then...” She shrugged. “I’ll figure out something.”

Half an hour later, Tiger’s favorite Shrimp-and-Salmon Delight had the mama cat’s nose working overtime. Within five minutes, Diana had made a new friend. While mama dined, Diana and Kimberly transferred the kittens from their dingy hiding place into a sturdier, towel-lined crate. The mama cat climbed in with her kittens, and Diana carried them to her office.

When she checked on them later, snuggled in their box next to the filing cabinet and emitting soft, rumbling purrs, she realized she was already growing attached.

Kimberly peeked in. “How’s the little family?”

Diana leaned down to scratch the mama cat behind the ears. “Fine for now, but they can’t stay here, and there’s no way I can take them home with me.” She looked hopefully at her assistant. “Any chance—”

“Uh-uh, no way!” Kimberly held up both hands. “Olivia despises cats.”

“Yeah, I forgot.” The little dachshund definitely was not cat-friendly.

“Doc Ingram’s new partner seems really nice. Maybe he could help find them a home.”

Diana’s lips flattened. She’d already let that idea zip right on past. Too bad it was the only one that made sense. Juniper Bluff wasn’t big enough to have its own animal shelter—the nearest one was over in Fredericksburg—and even so, Diana had no confidence they could find a home for a scrawny mother cat with kittens.

“Okay, Ms. Matthews, no more stalling.” Pulling a side chair closer, Kimberly plopped down directly in front of Diana. “What are you not telling me about our handsome new small-animal vet?”

Breath catching in her throat, Diana tipped forward, head in her hands. She was so not ready to relive the worst day of her life.

Kimberly set her hand on Diana’s shoulder. “Honey, tell me! Did that guy hurt you somehow?”

Heaving a sigh, Diana straightened. “If effectively ripping out my heart, stomping on it with combat boots and dousing it in hydrochloric acid counts, then yes, he hurt me really, really bad.”

Kimberly’s mouth fell open. “When? How?”

Steeling herself, Diana gave her assistant a condensed version of the facts—how her college apartment mate Brooke Willoughby had invited her along on a weekend visit home to Austin. There, she met Brooke’s older brother, Tripp, a veterinary student at Texas A&M. The attraction was immediate, and the more time they spent together, the deeper in love Diana had fallen.

Until the phone call that ended it all. Tripp had caught her between classes—called her cell phone, of all things! The jerk didn’t even have the nerve to break it to her in person.

I’m sorry, Di, but...I need to cancel our plans for this weekend.

Tripp, I’m on my way to an economics test. Can I call you back in an hour?

He’d paused too long, a warning in itself. I need to say this now. About us. This... A pained swallow. It’s just not working.

Not working? Her heart had turned stone-cold with dread. What are you telling me?

I think we need to slow down a bit, maybe take a break. I’m under a lot of pressure with my vet studies and...other things. It’s...complicated.

“I thought he cared for me the same way,” Diana said, brushing a tear from her cheek. “But I guess I was wrong.”

Kimberly scowled. “He really used the ‘it’s complicated’ line? Next time he comes in, I will personally lace his coffee with Tabasco sauce.”

Something between a laugh and a sob burst from Diana’s throat. “Hold that thought. I may still need his help finding homes for these kittens.”

“Are you sure? Because if a guy had treated me like that, I’d have trouble being in the same county with him, let alone the same room.”

Diana thought back to the trail ride yesterday and Tripp’s attempt at an apology. He’d seemed sincere, and really, twelve years had passed. Holding a grudge after all this time certainly didn’t speak well of her as a Christian. Besides, if Tripp had been the right guy for her, wouldn’t God have kept them together somehow? As it was, she’d only hurt herself by letting the fear of having her heart broken again shut down every other relationship she’d had a chance for since then.

Time to put her own words from yesterday into practice and let bygones be bygones. She gathered up her purse and car keys, then hefted the cat box. “The shop’s yours for an hour or two, Kim. I’m headed to the animal clinic.”

Kimberly followed her to the back door, holding it open as Diana stepped into the alley. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Not in the least.”

* * *

On his lunch break at the clinic, Tripp had just set a bowl of chicken-and-rice soup in the microwave when Yolanda peeked in.

“We have a walk-in,” she said. “Stray cat with newborn kittens. Can you take a look?”

“Sure.” His next appointment wasn’t until three o’clock anyway, so plenty of time to warm up his soup later.

Yolanda pointed him to exam room two and handed him a folder. “This client’s a regular—has several pets of her own. If there’s a stray within twenty miles of Juniper Bluff, somehow it finds its way to her.”

“A real animal lover, huh?” Tripp could relate.

Then he read the name on the folder tab, and his heart thudded to the pit of his empty stomach. “Diana?”

“Yes, Diana Matthews. Same gal from Diana’s Donuts.”

“I know.” Oh, boy, did he!

The receptionist hesitated, probably confused by the pained look on Tripp’s face. “You need me to stay, or can I go to lunch?”

“No, go ahead. I’ve got it from here.” Hauling in a breath, he stepped into the exam room. “Hey, Di...ana.”

Her arched brow said she’d caught his near slip of the tongue. “Thanks for working me in. I didn’t have anyplace else I could take these kitties.”

Kitties. Tripp couldn’t help grinning at the tender way she spoke the word. Or the compassionate gleam in her eyes as she stroked the purring mother cat. Laying the folder on the counter, he cast an appraising eye over the scrawny mother cat, a yellow tabby who’d obviously been surviving on her own for a while. The kittens, probably not more than two or three days old, looked healthy enough, but unless their mother got better care so she could feed them, they wouldn’t last long.

“Well?” Diana caressed the mother cat’s ears. “Can you help me with them?”

“First thing we need to do is get the mother started on some vitamins and quality food.” Stethoscope in his ears, Tripp listened to the cat’s heart and lungs, then gently palpated her from neck to tail for any signs of growths or infection. The worst he found was matted fur and a small cut on one shoulder, probably from a fight.

The cat wouldn’t like what he had to do next, but he needed to take her temperature, check for worms and take a blood sample. Turned out she was a lot more cooperative than Sue Ellen Jamison’s Siamese. After setting aside the specimens, Tripp jotted some notes in the file. “The initial results will only take a few minutes. Do you mind waiting?”

“That’s fine.” Diana’s expression remained neutral, but her tone suggested it had taken every ounce of willpower to bring the cats to Tripp.

With a quick smile, he excused himself and slipped down the hall to the lab. When he returned, he found Diana seated on the padded bench with the cat box in her lap.

“You get why I can’t keep you,” she murmured as she tenderly stroked the mother cat. “I would if I could—” Noticing Tripp, she straightened abruptly and cleared her throat. “What did you find?”

“No visible evidence of worms, and no problems I could see from preliminary tests. I’ll have to send samples to our outside lab for a more complete report. That’ll take two or three days.” Tripp came around the exam table and sat down at the other end of the bench. With the tip of one finger, he rubbed a sleeping kitten’s soft, fuzzy belly. “I gather you want help finding homes for these little critters.”

Lips in a twist, Diana nodded. “Guess you’ve seen from my file that I already have a houseful. To borrow a phrase, there’s no more room at the inn.”

“You always had a soft heart for animals. Remember the baby squirrel—”

“It was so tiny.” A tender smile stole across Diana’s face. Just as quickly, it vanished. She cleared her throat. “If you can keep the cat and her babies here, I’ll put up adoption flyers around town. And I’ll cover the vet bill and boarding costs.”

“No problem. Since you’re a regular, I’m sure we can cut you a deal.” Tripp winked. “Or maybe barter vet services for coffee and pastries?”

Diana’s eyebrows shot up. “You’d do that?”

“Considering Doc Ingram’s affinity for your scones, I think we could twist his arm.”

The mother cat was purring loudly now, the sound appearing to have a calming effect on Diana. She glanced up at Tripp. “I appreciate this. More than you know.”

Tripp felt like he could sit there all day, basking in the warmth of Diana’s presence. Man, how he’d missed this woman! All the years apart seemed to melt away like ice cream on a hot sidewalk, along with all the reasons Tripp had used to justify their breakup.

Maybe...maybe they really could start again. He’d been feeling better every day since getting out of the city. Yes, it had only been a few days now, but his health could only go uphill from here, right? Anyway, in the years since his diagnosis he’d heard of lots of people with Crohn’s who went on to live normal, healthy lives, even raised families. Was it possible he’d been too quick to give up on his own chance at happiness?

Diana’s sharp sigh brought him back to the present. “I didn’t realize how late it was. I need to get back to the shop.” She slid the cat box onto the bench between her and Tripp, then stood, her hand lingering on the mother cat’s head. With a tentative glance at Tripp, she said, “You’ll take good care of them, right?”

“Of course, the very best.” He rose as well and picked up the box. “Want to walk back with me and see the kennel where they’ll be staying?”

“No, that’s okay. I should make this a clean break.” She winced, and Tripp could guess exactly where her thoughts had taken her.

“Diana...”

“Gotta run.” Her perky smile was back in place. “Tell Doc Ingram y’all can drop in anytime to collect on your coffee and doughnuts. Bye!”

Her brusque departure left him feeling like he’d just been sideswiped by a semi.

And also shocked him back to reality. He had no business entertaining thoughts of rekindling what he and Diana had once shared. She might give lip service to the possibility of starting over as friends, but the flicker of hurt in her eyes made him wonder if she’d ever fully forgive him.

* * *

Diana tried hard not to call the clinic every day to check on the mother cat and her babies. Even though Tripp had called a couple of days later to report that mama cat was healthy and her kittens were thriving, Diana couldn’t help being concerned. She’d already prepared adopt-a-kitten flyers to post around town as soon as the kittens were old enough to leave their mother.

In the meantime, she spent most of her spare time working out details for the therapy pets program. She still needed to enlist her volunteers, but working all day at the doughnut shop didn’t leave much time for recruitment efforts. It was the first week of October, and unless Diana had her volunteers lined up and ready by the end of the month, she’d have to postpone Agnes Kraus’s evaluation and training visit. Time to speed things up, and tonight’s service committee meeting at church might be her best chance.

Around midafternoon, a couple of Main Street business owners stopped in for coffee. Diana cheerfully filled their orders, and the customers had barely sat down at a window table when Tripp and Doc Ingram breezed in.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen. What can I get for you?” Diana tried to keep her attention on Doc Ingram, but her eyes kept betraying her with darting glances at Tripp. The last time she’d actually seen him was at church last Sunday, and then only in passing. Seth and Christina had kept him occupied as they introduced him to the pastor and other acquaintances.

“Two coffees, for starters.” Doc palmed his Stetson. “Then I’d like to bend your ear about catering an open house for us at the clinic.”

“Sure. Meet me at the corner table over there and you can tell me all about it.” Diana filled two mugs, then a third one for herself. As she set the mugs on a tray, she remembered Tripp had asked for soy milk on his first visit, so she filled a small ceramic pitcher. Still wearing her pink Diana’s Donuts apron over her T-shirt and jeans, she carried the tray to the table.

As she distributed the mugs and handed Tripp the container of soy milk, his smile conveyed both appreciation and surprise. “Thanks,” he murmured in the mellow tone that once set her heart racing.

And apparently still did, if the heat rising up her cheeks meant anything.

She straightened her apron and took the chair on the other side of Doc Ingram. “So. About your open house. When is it, and what’s the occasion?”

“If it’s not too short notice, I’m thinking next Sunday afternoon, say from two to four,” the doc answered. “It’ll be a welcome party for Tripp here, a chance for the community to drop in and meet him.”

“Sounds fun.” With a smile and nod in Tripp’s direction, Diana pulled a pen and notepad from her apron pocket and jotted down the date. “What would you like to serve?”

“Thought I’d leave the menu in your capable hands.” Doc chuckled. “Consider it part of Tripp’s bartering agreement for seeing to those cats you dropped off last week.”

Tripp caught Diana’s eye and mouthed, Not my idea.