A Military Match. Patricia Davids
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door and stepped inside, speaking softly to the big bay who had his nose buried in his feed bucket. The X-ray film cassette was exactly where she had left it leaning against the wall. Snatching it up, she turned and started toward the door when she heard someone call Avery’s name.
“Coming,” he shouted back. He was just outside.
Without thinking, Jennifer dropped into a crouch behind the half door. He must have been in the tack room on the other side of the walkway. She heard the creak of the door and his boots on the stone floor, but they didn’t pass by. They stopped right outside Dakota’s stall.
Jennifer closed her eyes and let her chin drop onto her chest. Realizing just what a ridiculous position she had placed herself in, she tried to think of a way to exit with her dignity intact but couldn’t come up with anything.
“What are you doing here?” Avery demanded with cool disdain.
Chapter Three
J ennifer looked up expecting to see Avery glaring at her over the stall door, but the space above her was empty. He wasn’t talking to her.
“Can’t I pay my only grandson a visit?”
It was Avery’s grandfather. The man Jennifer had tried and failed to contact. His dragon of a secretary had refused to put Jennifer’s call through the day she’d attempted to call.
“I don’t have anything to say to you. Did she put you up to this?” Avery’s cold tone made Jennifer cringe.
Great! He’s going to blame me, anyway.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about. No one put me up to this. Coming here was my own idea. Can’t we at least try to let bygones be bygones?”
“Why should I?”
“I thought perhaps you would have seen the error of your ways by now.”
“I knew you didn’t come to apologize.”
“I have nothing to apologize for. I was protecting you. You would see that if you opened your eyes.”
Jennifer pressed a hand to her mouth. Her foolish pride had placed her in the awkward position of eavesdropping on a family quarrel. There was no other way out of the stall. She braced herself to stand up and let them know she was there when Avery’s next words stopped her.
“I don’t have to stay and listen to this.”
Jennifer heard his footsteps moving away and she breathed a sigh of relief. She just might get out of this with her dignity intact.
“She didn’t love you. All she cared about was your money,” Avery’s grandfather called out loudly.
“No, all you ever cared about was money,” Avery shot back.
“It never bothered you to spend the money I earn,” the older man answered sharply. “You never had to work for anything…and that was my fault as much as anyone’s.”
“What you really mean is that I’ll never amount to anything. I’ve heard this speech before.”
“I have been guilty of saying that in the past, that’s true, but I simply wanted you to stop wasting your life.”
“It’s my life. Which is something you never understood.”
Dakota had finished his meal and walked over to Jennifer. He nickered softly and nuzzled at her pocket. She pushed his head away. He gave a loud snort and she tensed. He snorted again and whinnied.
“Shh,” she whispered with her fingertips pressed to her lips, hoping to quiet him and praying the men wouldn’t notice anything unusual.
“Thanks for the visit, Grandfather. I’m sure you can find your own way out.” Avery’s voice drifted to her from the front of the barn and she knew he had walked away.
“Wait!” the older man called out. “I didn’t mean for this to become one of our shouting matches. Please come back.”
There was no answer. Jennifer heard his heavy sigh, then his unsteady footsteps faded, too.
A wave of sympathy engulfed her. How terribly sad for both men. Avery had always avoided talking about his family except to tell her that his parents were dead. He had never mentioned his grandfather. Now she knew why.
Rising, she opened the stall door and stepped out. A few feet away, the elderly man from the limousine sat on a bale of straw. His eyes opened wide at the sight of her.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. “I’m so sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t mean to, but I couldn’t help…overhearing.”
He closed his eyes and waved his hand. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve lost him. He’s all I have and he hates me.”
The resignation and pain in his voice touched her deeply.
“You mustn’t think that. There is always a chance for reconciliation.”
He shook his head. “You don’t know all that stands between us.”
She took a step closer. “You’re right. I don’t, but I do know that faith is a powerful tool. Faith and hard work can overcome the most insurmountable problems.”
“Wise advice from someone so young, but my grandson isn’t the forgiving kind.”
The old man tried to rise to his feet, but sat down abruptly with his hand pressed to his chest. Beads of sweat popped out on his forehead and his face grew bright red. She dropped to her knees in front of him. “Are you okay?”
Nodding, he fumbled at the breast pocket of his jacket. He pulled out a small, dark glass bottle but couldn’t hold on to it. It tumbled from his trembling hand. Jennifer caught it before it hit the stone floor.
A quick glance at the prescription label confirmed her suspicions. It was heart medication.
She opened the cap and shook one tiny white tablet onto her palm. Pinching it between her thumb and forefinger, she held it out to him. “Put this under your tongue.”
He nodded, took the pill from her and put it in his mouth. She closed her hand around his wrist to check his pulse. It was fast, but not irregular. “I’m going to call 9-1-1.”
He managed a tight smile. “No. The medicine will help. I don’t need an ambulance.”
“Shall I get Avery?”
Shaking his head, he said, “I don’t want him to see me like this.”
“Sir, you aren’t well. You grandson should know that.”
“I’m fine now.”
Although she was relieved to see his color returning to normal and his voice growing stronger, his statement didn’t fool her. “Not to be disrespectful, sir, but you are not fine. Those pills are for angina. If you are having heart pain, you need to see a doctor, ASAP.”
“I thought perhaps I was talking to one.”
“Me? I’m a veterinary student. Give me a lame horse and I can help, but I don’t treat people.”
“That is a pity.” He patted her hand. “You have an excellent bedside manner and you’re much prettier than the crusty old fellow who treats me.”
She relaxed a fraction and smiled at his teasing. “Flattery—while always deeply appreciated—will get you nowhere.”
“I really am feeling better. As you must have heard, I’m Avery’s grandfather. My name is Edmond Barnes. I don’t believe I caught your name, young lady.”
“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Barnes. I’m Jennifer Grant and I should still call an ambulance.”
He rose to his feet. “I’ll simply refuse treatment.”
Rising, she planted