Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [110]
“Very good,” Hassie agreed.
“I don’t suppose you could use any extra help?” She made the question sound timid, as though she was afraid to ask.
“I thought you were working at the Wyatts’ video store.”
“Oh, I am, but…I was looking for more hours. Whatever you could give me.” The job inquiry was meant to lead into the subject of living with Hassie. Just until she finished school and had enough money to move away.
She’d always heard that honesty was the best policy, and seeing what a mess she’d made of this, Calla decided the direct approach would probably work better. “Actually,” she said, staring down at her soda, “I was thinking I could move in with you.”
“You want to live with me?” Hassie sounded kind of skeptical.
“Not for long,” she promised quickly. “Just until graduation. Perhaps a while longer…I wouldn’t be a bother, really I wouldn’t. We could help each other. I’d do the housework and the cooking, work in the store, and you’d be helping me out.”
Her suggestion was followed by a lengthy silence.
“You don’t think it’s a good idea?” Calla asked, chancing a look in the older woman’s direction.
“No. In fact, I think this is the worst idea I’ve heard in twenty years.”
“Oh.” Calla’s voice fell. A simple no would do, she thought resentfully. “Why?”
“First of all, you’ve already got more places to live than four teenagers combined. I know for a fact that your mother would love to have you with her—”
“No way!” As if Calla would deign to live in the same house as Dennis Urlacher! Not in this lifetime.
“So I understand, which is a pity. Your mother and Dennis deserve better treatment than you’re giving them. So does Joshua. I don’t know what happened between you two, but if he confronted you, then my guess is you damn well needed it. I can’t imagine anyone with less reason to disown her family! One day you’ll look back and realize how foolish you’ve been. For your sake, I hope it’s soon.”
Calla felt the heat of indignation fill her face.
“My advice, and you did ask for it, is to step back a moment, think about what you have and thank God every day of your life that there are people who love you and care about you.”
Calla blinked back the hurt. She’d expected Hassie to be an ally. Obviously she’d been wrong. Slapping some money on the counter, she turned and with an indignant tilt to her head, walked out of the pharmacy.
Margaret drew in a deep, calming breath and spoke gently to the laboring heifer who was about to deliver her calf. This was her first birth and the poor thing struggled with each contraction.
“It’s all right, girl,” Margaret said softly. “You’re doing just fine. Soon you’ll have a beautiful new baby.”
Margaret worried about the heifer. The birth was taking longer than expected and the animal was weakening. Rolling up her sleeves, she slipped on the long plastic glove and inserted her arm into the birth canal to feel for the hooves. They were there, thankfully. At least the calf wasn’t breech. She removed her arm, slipped off the glove and patted the heifer, crooning encouragement.
“Can I help?”
At the sound of Matt’s voice, she swung her head around. He stood no more than five feet away. She stared, hardly able to believe that her imagination hadn’t conjured him up. She hadn’t seen him in over a week.
“Say something,” he said next. He seemed to need some sign of the kind of reception she was willing to accord him.
The cow bawled with pain and Margaret glanced back at her. “Yeah—I could use some help,” she said.
“You’ve got it.” A moment later, he was on his knees at her side.
“We’re going to need a rope,” Margaret told him.
“You sure she’s ready?”
“Check for yourself.”
Matt quickly washed his hands, then rolled up his sleeve. Soon his arm was sheathed in the blue glove and he was elbow-deep inside the cow. She didn’t take kindly to the intrusion and protested loudly, thrashing her legs until Matt withdrew his arm.
“Apparently I’m not as gentle as you,” he muttered.
Margaret let the comment slide. She wasn’t there to discuss who possessed