Death by Equine by Annette Dashofy (read this if txt) 📗

“Unfortunately, yes.”

He turned toward the window again, but not before she caught a glimpse of something dark in his eyes.

Jessie stood. “I should be going.”

He swung around in his chair, as though he’d forgotten about her. “I’m sorry.” He flashed his charming, boyish smile at her. “I’m not a very good host. You don’t have to go.”

“Yes, I do. I have a lot of paperwork to catch up on.”

He rose and stepped around his desk. “I’ll check into Frank and Butch and let you know what I find out. You’ll keep me posted if you learn anything more?”

“Absolutely.”

He extended a hand and she took it. His grip was warm and firm. And gentle. She found herself wondering about that argument he’d had with Doc. But now wasn’t the time to ask.

It must have shown on her face. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked.

She looked up into Daniel’s concerned eyes. “Absolutely.” She threw in a smile for good measure before slipping her hand from his and beating a hasty retreat.

JESSIE HAD SKIPPED breakfast, and her rumbling stomach insisted she make a detour on her way to the office. Armed with a second large coffee and a Styrofoam container of toast and scrambled eggs from the rec hall, she wrestled open the clinic door and trudged across the exam area. She set her “brunch” on the desk and popped open the lids, savoring the aromas. No sooner had she taken her first bite than a familiar voice called from outside.

“Hello? Jessie?” Catherine Dodd stood just inside the big doorway, out of the rain.

“Come in,” Jessie called around a mouthful of bread. She chewed fast and managed to swallow by the time Catherine reached the office. “What brings you all the way out here?” Catherine rarely strayed into the backside.

“I hope you don’t mind. I need to talk to someone.” Catherine pointed at the container on the desk. “I’m sorry. I see I’ve interrupted your breakfast.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Jessie flipped the lid closed and motioned toward the couch. “Have a seat.”

Catherine brushed a hand across the vinyl as though that might make it acceptably clean before sitting down.

Jessie suppressed a smile. “Catherine, how do you always manage to look so put together? Not only do you look like you stepped out of the pages of Vogue, but you stay so...clean.”

Catherine glanced down at her perfect pale blue skirt and jacket. “What do you mean?”

“I put on clean jeans and a t-shirt in the morning, and within an hour I’m covered in cat hair, hay, and straw.”

“Maybe you should stay out of the barn.”

Jessie studied Catherine’s face for some sign of humor. There wasn’t any. “Maybe I’ll give that a try.” Jessie waited for a laugh or a grin, something—anything—to show Catherine recognized the irony in her words. When none was forthcoming, Jessie cleared her throat. “What did you want to talk about?”

Catherine let out a shuddering, damp sigh. “Jessie, do you think Milt might be having an affair?”

Jessie choked. “An affair? Milt?”

Catherine extracted a tissue from her jacket pocket. She didn’t reply but watched Jessie intently.

Jessie gazed into her coffee cup, imagining Milt’s face with all its good ol’ boy charm. She thought about how he and Meryl had been making eyes at each other a few days earlier. No doubt about it, Milt was a shameless flirt. But Jessie couldn’t fathom him ever taking it further.

Catherine touched the tissue to the corner of her eye. “You know I was the one who broke up Milt’s first marriage.”

Jessie hadn’t. Maybe he was capable of taking it further.

“I’ve heard the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.” Catherine sniffled. “This spring, I was certain Milt had a girlfriend on the side, so I decided to retaliate.”

The office suddenly felt too close. Too confined. “Why are you telling me all this?”

“I can’t stand it anymore. I need to talk to someone about it. We’ve known each other forever, and you know everyone involved. Plus, I trust you won’t repeat any of this.” Catherine again dabbed at her eyes, careful not to smudge the mascara. “I slept with Doc.”

What? While Jessie adored the man and his brilliant mind, she couldn’t picture Catherine, with her perfectly styled hair and matched suits, together with Doc and his dusty blue jeans and shabby hat.

“Doc was such a wonderful, sweet lover. Incredible really...” Catherine’s face took on an ethereal smile. Jessie sensed she had drifted away to a place Jessie did not want to think about.

“Does Milt know?”

Catherine snapped out of her reverie. “Oh, Christ, no.”

“You sure?”

“Absolutely. Milt would never be able to hide something like that from me. He would be crushed. I’m certain he doesn’t know. And I don’t want him to find out.”

From experience, Jessie knew exactly how Milt would feel. Betrayed. Devastated. Heartbroken. She wouldn’t wish that on her worst enemy, let alone a friend. “I won’t say a word.”

“Thank you.” Catherine lowered the hand clutching the tissue to her lap. “Are you positive you don’t know anything about him having an affair?”

“Not a thing.” Nor did she want to.

Catherine nodded. “I’m probably projecting my own guilty conscience on him.” She stuffed the tissue back in her pocket. “It’s good to be able to talk to someone about these things.” She stood and moved to leave, then hesitated. “I almost forgot. Could you take another peek at Blue sometime when you get a chance?”

Jessie rubbed her eyes, still trying to get the vision of Catherine with Doc out of her brain. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing really. Well, nothing new. I just wanted you to check him and make sure. Maybe the break has healed better than you expected. Do you think you could x-ray him again?”

“I doubt I’d have anything more to tell you than I did last time.”

“I know, but I’d still like another set of x-rays.”

“Sure.”

“Good. I’ll call you and set up an appointment.” Catherine performed a flawless pirouette on four-inch heels