Crashing Into Tess (18 page)

Waiting nervously for Alice, she curled her eyelashes,
slipped lipgloss, her driver’s license, and some cash into a
little hip purse, and fired up her laptop.

To:
[email protected]
From:
[email protected]
Date: Saturday, November 10, 8:26 am

To:
[email protected]
From:
[email protected]
Date; Saturday, November 10, 4:26 PM

Sam,
Tonight’s the Jackalope. I’ll meet the whole town. I’m
nervous, Sammi. What if Jake’s still acting like a
Jerkalope?

Total Mess-Tess
*****
“Whoa, look at that coat!” Alice raved at five-thirty,

when Tess climbed in her car. “You look fabulous.”
“Well, as you can imagine, my mother is obsessed with
the Lord and Taylor President’s Day coat sale. This was the
one from two years ago,” Tess said self consciously,
comparing the bell sleeves and streamlined bodice of her
double breasted deep magenta boucle to Alice’s bright
patchwork quilted coat and suede slouch boots. “Do I look
too east coast for the Jackalope?”
“You look gorgeous, like spun gold and fine wine. I
love those wide sleeves. It’s a welcome change from
muddy Carhartt’s no?” Alice smiled.
“Yes,” Tess agreed emphatically.
“Ready for some fun?”
She sagged a bit. “As much fun as I can have, I guess.
I’m really stressed about meeting everyone, and it’s going
to be awkward with Jake. I hate to admit it, but I have a
really bad feeling about tonight, Alice.”
Alice reached over and patted her hand. “Doc and Bea
and I are all pulling for you, Tess. Doc is excited how well
everything’s been running at the clinic with you around.
And lots of people around here already know and like you,
including Jake and his Aunt Olivia. I’ll mix you a special
drink at Green Forks when the Jackalope’s over, I
promise.”
The high school was just outside of town on a hill
overlooking the park. As they parked, she saw a line of
people on the sidewalk, waiting to get into the lobby. Her
empty stomach clutched. “Looks like the whole town is
here.”
“Yup, the whole town and everybody from the ranches
around town,” Alice agreed cheerfully. “The Jackalope’s a
big deal. Didn’t Sherri Tarleton want you to meet her sons?
They’ll be here tonight.”
“Oh, great,” Tess rolled her eyes.
“I promised to give Bea a hand in the kitchen before
dinner. You just circulate and let Doc introduce you to
everyone, okay?”
“Okay,” she answered. “Sure, Alice.”
In the lobby, they handed their coats to girls in band
uniforms. Dropping a bill in the tip jar, she wished she
could hide in the back with Alice.
I’m all thumbs in the
kitchen, but I can take orders. Though I don’t know much
about rattlesnake jerky.
“You’ll be fine. Keep smiling and try to remember
names. There’ll be a quiz later!” Alice teased, pushing the
cafeteria door open.
The room was filled to bursting with men in jeans and
boots and women in wide skirts, rich with the buzz of
conversation and the heavy aroma of roasting meats. A long
buffet was set across the front of the giant cafeteria, near
the kitchen. Rows and rows of fold-out dining tables ran
the length of the room, covered in red-checked plastic
tablecloths, and decked with silly giant centerpieces. The
ladies had fitted large hares with small antlers, and they
seemed to scamper along the middle of the tables, amidst
pineapples and fresh fruit. Something about the jackalopes
made Tess’s stomach even queasier.
No turning back, now.
The familiar shock of Doc’s white hair rose in the midst
of the crowd. “Let’s head over there, maybe Bea is with
him,” Alice urged.
Not only was Bea with Doc, Cassie and Vicki were
there as well. Vicki wore a lame silver mini dress, fishnets
and four inch platform heels, and glared at Tess as she and
Alice walked over.
Adorable in a red corduroy jumper, white tights and a
white ruffled turtleneck, Cassie looked anxious, bouncing
next to her mother, hair in pigtails, feet in sturdy leather
mary janes. She carried a little felt horse.
Where’s Cassie’s bubbly self confidence? She’s a
different kid when she’s with Vicki.
Thinking about what
Vicki might have dropped in her purse, she worried for
Cassie.
“Here’s Dr. Bamberger,” Doc said pleasantly.
“Dr.
Tess!” Cassie threw her arms around Tess’s waist. “I am SO
glad to see you. Are you going to try the antelope stew?”
She looked up, wrinkling her nose.
“I will if you will!” Tess laughed, as Doc handed her a
glass of red wine.
Cassie grabbed her hand and twirled around. “My dad
will be here later. I like your dress!”
“And I like yours!” she answered, squeezing Cassie’s
hand. Vicki smirked and rolled her eyes. Tess gulped her
wine.
Looking between Vicki and Tess, Bea smoothed her
hands over the front of her dress. “Good to see you Tess.
We’re pleased you could come and meet everyone.” Doc
smiled, too, nodding good naturedly. Vicki tossed her head.
The giant, hair-sprayed pouf at the front barely moved.
“You girls made it just in time, it’s a full house, already,”
Bea said approvingly, still trying.
Answering brightly, Alice chatted with Bea. Wishing
she could avoid Vicki’s glare, Tess drank wine.Doc had just
refilled her glass when she felt a tug at her sleeve. Officer
Ron was next to her now, too close, in a polyester navy
jacket, black cotton chinos, and his black cop shoes,
grinning from ear to ear.
Will the disasters of this evening
never cease?

“Hi, Ronald,” Bea said warmly, as Ron shook hands
with Doc.
“How are you feeling, Dr. Bamberger?” Ron asked
stiffly, smiling at Tess. Vicki’s glare intensified.
“Fine, thank you,” Tess answered, trying not be
annoyed.
Haven’t we been through this already once today?
“So, I’ll have the good fortune of seeing you at the Tree
Lighting, weekend after next?” Ron asked, looking
pointedly at Tess. Vicki’s eyes narrowed even further.
Ugh!
Mortified, Tess raised her eyebrows, looking to Alice
for help. “Doc and I will be there, Ron,” Bea smiled. “And
I think the girls are planning to go, too, aren’t you, Alice?”
Thank God for Bea.
“I think we’ll all be there, Ron,” Alice nodded.
Thank
God for Alice.
“The dance afterward is a benefit for the police, fire and
ambulance corps,” Ron explained, looking at Tess
meaningfully. “You know about the tickets?”
“We got them at the office. Thanks for thinking of us,
Ron,” Alice said. Tess just smiled politely, repulsed by the
prospect of wearing the fancy dress her mother had picked
out to dance with tactless, deceptive, despicable Ron
Karachek.
“I’m really looking forward to the Tree Lighting
Dance!” Vicki stepped in front of Doc, grabbing Ron’s arm,
flashing him an inviting smile, heavy on the lipstick. “It’s a
great cause.”
Ron’s eyes roved over Vicki’s low-necked lame, and he
moved her way. With Vicki at his elbow, Ron talked Ag
Department news with Doc. Then, puffed with importance,
he nodded to them all. “I’m headed down to the station for
the night shift.”
“We’ll be on the lookout, Ron,” Alice countered with an
innocent smile. With an ingratiating look to Tess, Ron
stepped away. Vicki charged after him, hot on his trail, and
Tess breathed relief, but her eye caught Jake, just coming
through the door, and she tensed all over again.
Brow furrowed, he watched his ex-wife chase Ron into
the lobby. Catching Tess’s eye, Jake grinned, twisting an
eyebrow sardonically. She couldn’t help but laugh. His hair
had gotten longer while she’d been away, and a dark curl
fell over his forehead. In a chambray shirt, open-necked
under a wool tweed sport jacket, jeans and brown dress
boots, he was appealing as ever. Cassie made a beeline for
her dad. Tess turned back to her wine, trying not to drool.
Shortly afterward, she heard Bea exclaim, “Well, hello,
Jake!”
He was behind her now. She felt the electricity of his
closeness torch up her spine. Touching her elbow, Jake
murmured, “Nice to see you out on the town, Crash.”
Turning to Doc and Bea, he said, “Tess did a great job with
Alchemy, Doc.”
“How ever did he get into barbed wire?” Bea asked.
“Jumped out of the paddock. Best we can figure, the
tractor churned some old wire up when we brush hogged
last spring. We didn’t catch it, and that’s what the horse got
tangled in.”
“I’ll be darned,” Doc said. “Alchemy’s jumping the
fence, again, is he?”
Jake smiled ruefully. “Usually he runs right to the barn,
and we find him at dinnertime. I’m real glad Tess showed
up when she did. She did such a great job with the sutures,
the scars are barely visible.” He met her eye, and his smile
flashed gratitude.
“She’s a quick hand with sutures. Did a neat job on
Sherri Tarleton’s gelding, too,” Doc said. He and Jake were
looking at her approvingly. She smiled again, getting lost in
Jake’s deep brown eyes. Catching herself, Tess pulled back,
but he was still smiling. Nervously, she sucked down more
wine.
Bea’s eyes darted to Alice. “Ready for the the kitchen,
dear? I’ll need to get my apron on, it’s almost time to check
the venison roast.”
“I’m right behind you,” Alice smiled, following Bea
through the crowded room.
Tess ducked down, eye-level with Cassie. “Hey, Cassie,
I like that horse.”
Cassie held the brightly embroidered felt creature up.
“My Aunt Olivia made him for me for Christmas last year.
Do you want to go see Aunt Olivia? She said to bring you
over.”
“I’d like that,” Tess said, offering Cassie her hand.
Smiling approval, Jake stayed to converse with Doc. Cassie
led Tess down the middle aisle to the table where Olivia
was seated with her lady friends.
Striking in black patent boots, long wool grey
houndstooth skirt, and pale pink cashmere turtleneck,
Olivia smiled a welcome, extending her hand graciously.
“Well, here’s Doctor Tess!”
“I brought her to see you, Auntie O. I knew your
friends would want to meet her. Dr. Tess is a vet,
everybody. She was in school for twenty years,” Cassie
explained in a conspiratorial tone, her eyes wide.
“It’s a lot of work to become a vet,” Gertrude offered
with a smile. “Surely takes dedication.”
“How are things, Tess?” Aunt Olivia asked, smoothing
an errant hair into her smooth grey chignon, next to her
giant pearl earrings.
“Great, very busy here tonight,” Tess commented
neutrally, holding her empty wine glass like an accessory.
“Thank you for the lovely card, my father is doing much
better, now.”
“Oh, good,” Olivia said. “I was worried for you, dear.”
Gertrude smiled, her eyes black as onyx. “You look real
pretty, Tess.” Turning to Olivia, she said, “Tess came by
today, helped tag some new things that came in to the thrift
store. She’s a big help. My days go quicker, when she stops
by,” Gertrude said, “She really brightens a room.”
“You must join our group for tea, and Stella’s chocolate
cake, Tess,” Olivia offered. “We meet every other Tuesday
for lunch and bridge at my place. Bea often comes, and
Alice is welcome. You’ll be our guest of honor, next time.”
“Thank you, I’m sure we’ll enjoy that,” she felt herself
blushing with appreciation. As she visited with Olivia and
Gertrude and the ladies from the Ecumenical Society, she
couldn’t help noticing Vicki, standing with a group of
friends near the front of the room. They were whispering
together, shooting her dirty looks. Nervously, Tess said,
“Ladies, if you’ll excuse me, I know Doc has some people
he wants me to meet.”
“Of course, dear. Delighted to see you again,” Olivia
answered. “I’ll be after Bea to bring you and Alice by.”
“Come back for dessert!” Cassie piped, and Tess
squeezed her hand.
Moving towards Doc, Tess bumped into Sherri
Tarleton, who nipped an open bottle of cabernet from the
table and filled Tess’s glass. As they talked horses, a pair of
tall, lanky twenty-somethings came up, in boots and jeans
and fancy western shirts, grinning broadly, and Sherri
introduced her sons, Stuart and Brett. They had giant hands,
freckled, tanned faces and wore their dark red curly hair
identically; full in front, cut short over their ears and
collars.
Western Starchy Archies! Wait til I tell Sammi!
Vicki and her friends had moved to the side of the room
now, standing closer to Tess. Tess saw Vicki mouth
something to her. “What?” Tess asked, distracted from her
chat with Sherri. Another girl squealed “Stewhair!” and the
rest broke into peals of laughter. Self-consciously, Tess
touched her hair, loose down her back, held at her crown
with a barrette.
I haven’t gotten stew in my hair!
Doc was just across the table now, talking with Chris
and Maybelle Carson. “You get on over to Doc, Tess, we
could talk all day,” Sherri motioned. “But don’t forget to
come out and ride my big hunter mare. I’m so busy starting
three year olds, I’d welcome the company, and she needs
exercise.”
Feeling a glow from her third glass of wine, already
gone, Tess said, “I’d like that, Sherri, thanks for thinking of
me.”
“Doc’s got a full night planned for you, lots of people to
meet,” Sherri whispered, filling her glass again. “You’ll
need this.”
Tess wobbled over to Doc and the Carsons, self
consciously tugging at the ends of her hair.
I really haven’t
eaten much today, and this Stew hair thing has me a little
concerned. . . There isn’t even any stew out yet, so it
couldn’t be in my hair!
Bea and Alice and the other ladies were bustling from
the kitchen, just filling buffet pans and soup crocks. Stuart
and Brett had stayed at her elbows. Alarmed, she glanced
over to Jake, seated with Olivia and Cassie. Jaw set, he
looked away, pretending not to notice her.
Oh, great. He’s
ignored me for all this time, and now he’s jealous?
Stung
by Jake’s rejection, Tess sucked down more wine.
Smiling a greeting, Maybelle stood next to Chris,
holding a year old baby. “Our big sow was firing from all
cylinders within eight hours of your visit a few weeks back,
Dr. Bamberger,” Chris Carson told her approvingly. “We
surely appreciate your help.”
“Well, that’s fantastic,” she answered, catching her
balance. “A touch of mastitis isn’t uncommon after a sow’s
had a litter, as you know. I’m glad we treated it right away,
though.”
Maybelle had another baby on the way, and Tess
noticed dark circles under her eyes.
It has to be tough,
caring for young children while running a pig and chicken
farm. Maybelle and Chris aren’t much older than me.
There’s a lot of work on their place.
Thinking about her friends in Philadelphia, who seemed
to have it so much easier, Tess held Maybelle’s baby’s
hand, shaking it and cooing until her tiny, chubby face burst
in a toothless grin.
Stuart and Brett spoke to Chris and Maybelle while Doc
moved off towards an older man. Tess immediately
recognized him as the man with the cat carrier, from the
Saturday debacle with Vicki.
Is it Mr. Harris with Otis, or
Mr. Otis with Harris?
As Tess joined them, the man told Doc appreciatively,
“Mah Harris had a hair ball, t’ young lady took good care
of him t’other week.”
Mr. Otis!
“Well, hello, Mr. O-” Tess started, but Doc
was smiling, too, saying in his deep, approving voice, “Ah,
Tess, you’ve met Mr. Zweigstich, then.”
“Yes, hello, sir!” Tess said, taking his hand and shaking
it enthusiastically.
How did I get Otis from Zweigstich?