Concerned Friend

Faith stood on their porch, seeing his truck disappear in the distance before she walked back into the house and sat Cheyenne down in her high chair.

“Ma-ma!” she said, excitedly tapping her hands on the table while she waited for her breakfast. 

“Yes, sweetheart. It will be ready soon,” Faith replied, grabbing some fruit from the fridge and instant oatmeal from the cupboard. While the oats cooked in the microwave, she cut the apples and pears on a wooden cutting board, turning towards her daughter soon after.

“Here, princess.” She put the fruits in front of her, cooling down the oats before putting them on the table as well. 

Sitting down in front of Cheyenne, she opened the laptop that she kept on the dining chair and started browsing for fashion schools online where she could apply.

Excitement ran through her, and she couldn't wait to be a part of one. 

After spending a good amount of time searching, she didn’t have as much luck as she hoped. Nothing appealed to her, and for some reason, she was not only disappointed, but felt sort of relieved. 

Faith didn’t even know why she felt that way, but she did.

As she looked at her daughter, a smile escaped her lips. What if it was meant to be this way? She thought.

Cheyenne was a blessing for her and she wouldn’t change it for anything in the world, even if she had wanted to finish her degree. 

Pearl started to bark out on the porch, alerting her of a visitor. It was a happy bark, so she assumed it was Palmer or Christopher.

When she walked out, her best friend was getting out of her SUV, a brand new Dodge Durango. Faith smiled at her as she walked over, her arms outstretched and ready for a hug.

“That’s a nice vehicle. I thought you were into Pickup trucks,” she mentioned as she pulled away.

“Yes, but Christopher and I plan on having a family soon, so this was more convenient,” Palmer replied.

“What about your honeymoon?”

“We’re leaving tomorrow. I still have to arrange a few things at the ranch before I leave. Mom and Dad decided to go on a trip themselves. Some long overdue vacation, according to them.”

Seeing Palmer being successful made her happy, but also had her mind filled with dread. Gunner and she had his father’s ranch, but after his passing, they had been warned about a possible foreclosure, something they didn't want to tell anyone. 

Especially their friends. 

“Hey, are you okay?” Palmer asked, noticing how quiet Faith was.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just a bit worried. Gunner told me to find a school online so I can finish my degree, but so far, no luck.”

Palmer ran her hands on her arms in reassurance, giving her a soft smile. 

“It will all work out.”

Easy for you to say, you have it all, she thought as she gave her a smile herself. Since when had she felt jealous of her friend? She was happy with her success and her achievements. But all she wished for was to be able to provide for the family as well.

Gunner was struggling to make ends meet himself. Being an athlete in the Olympics would have set them up for years to come and maybe be able to save the ranch, but he couldn’t even do that. 

“Do you want to come in for coffee? I have some extra from what I brewed earlier for Gunner,” Faith offered.

“Oh, yes. Pleaaaase!” Palmer replied; a pleading smile on her face as if having caffeine would save her life. Faith laughed, linking her arm on her friend's elbow as they both walked into the house, chatting up a storm about Palmer’s plans for her honeymoon. 

~♡~♡~♡~

Gunner parked his truck in front of his veterinary clinic, taking a deep breath before he turned the ignition off and stepped out onto the pavement. As he stood there, he couldn’t help but think of how different life could be had he gone to the Olympics like he planned since he was in high school.

Life works in funny ways, he thought as he locked the truck with a single beep of his key’s remote controller and walked inside the clinic.

Being a veterinarian was something he wanted as a kid, and he was grateful to have a paying job on something he loved, but he wasn't happy. He wanted to provide more for his family.

“Good morning, Dr. Travis,” Gina, the receptionist, an older lady with graying hair and brown eyes, greeted him as soon as he walked through the glass doors that led him into the small waiting area. 

“Morning, Gina. Any news on the dog that Sheriff Fisher rescued?” He asked, picking up the folders from the counter before giving them a once-over. He had to see ten patients today, not enough to cover his quota of the day, but he'll take it.

He always made up with house calls to the ranches to check on the horses and the cattle. 

“Is Sam here?” 

Gina rolled her eyes discreetly, as she didn't like his assistant. Samantha Landon had arrived from California a few months ago, looking to get some internship hours, lucky to have found Gunner's. Even though it was a small clinic, she enjoyed her job.

She was tall, with blonde hair and green eyes. Charming for some men, and hated by some women.

Samantha could've been a model in a magazine and Gunner had always wondered why she was a veterinary assistant instead? 

“Yes, she's in the back, attending to one of the dogs who had given birth overnight.”

“Why did no one call me?” he asked, dropping the folders on the counter and making his way towards the back of the clinic to see Fern, one of the dogs who was pregnant when she was run over by a car on the county road. 

She was a stray pitbull-boxer mix, and whoever owned her didn't hesitate in abandoning her. Let alone about to give birth.

"You were at your friend's wedding?" Gina stated with a smile. 

Shaking his head, Gunner walked in, smiling at the sight of Sam weighing the puppies and helping them latch on their momma.

“You're already becoming an expert, Miss Landon. I'm impressed,” he said as he picked up one of the puppies to make sure it didn't have any issues with its health.

“Well, I love to impress my mentor. I want to be a vet one day,” she flirted, making Gunner uncomfortable and regretting flattering her so much. He was sure Faith wouldn’t like it.

Ignoring her words, he put the puppy down with his momma and headed to his office, sitting down on his desk and sighing, not knowing what to make of this. Between Faith's unfinished degree, the threat of losing the ranch hanging over their heads, and a job he didn't want anymore, he was bound to go crazy. 

But he was holding on for his family.

As he looked at the picture of Faith and Cheyenne, sitting on their porch swing, he smiled, knowing he couldn’t wait to marry her.       

A few hours had gone by when Gina walked into his office.       

“Doctor Travis, Miss Wright needs you at her ranch. Says one of her horses might be sick,” she said. He was thankful she did as he couldn’t get out of his stuffy office fast enough and take some fresh air. And it had only been half a day.

Ordering the ladies to watch over the clinic, he headed towards his truck and drove to Palmer's ranch to check on her sick horse. He preferred to be out in the heat of the sun than stuck inside. Maybe not so much dealing with loud animals, but with an assistant who wouldn’t let him be until she’s gotten his attention, just the way she wanted.