Chapter 57
“Thanks. I kinda like ‘em.” Scott reached out and ruffed each of their heads.
“Where’d you get the puppy? She really does look a lot like my pair of mutts.”
“She’s one of my surprises for you: one of the new family members I wanted you to meet. I got her from one of my coworkers who has a beagle. She told me her dog got out one night and must have had a rendezvous with a beagle in her neighborhood named Rabbit that his owners let run. She had six pups. Five looked like Rabbit was the dad. Then she must have hooked up with some mysterious stranger and got Sadie because from her scruffy fur she must have had a different daddy.”
“Yeah, litters with multiple paternities can happen,” Dan said.
“When I took the girls to see them and pick one for their birthday I told them I thought I remembered your telling me your dogs were beagle mixes. That made Sadie the unanimous choice.”
Dan looked at the girls, who’d knelt down and were petting the puppy as it chewed on its leash. He smiled.
“I was glad for that,” Scott continued. “It’s not always the case that Susan and Sarah can agree, despite their being twins.”
Dan’s smile deepened.
“Susan, didn’t you have something to give Dr. Dan?” Scott asked his daughter.
Susan stood up and shyly held out the paper she’d been holding.
Dan took it and unfolded it. On it was a picture of a white horse. Next to the horse were three figures—two men and a little girl. She was between the men and holding their hands. The taller man, who was wearing wire rimmed glasses, was labeled, Daddy, the other in a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck, Dr. Dan, the horse, Shadow, and the little girl, Me. Below the picture, very neatly printed, was written:
Dr. Dan,
Thank you for making my horse better.
Love, Susan VanHesson-Wagner.
Dan smiled, knelt once more, and said, “This is really nice. Thank you. I’m going to hang it in my office at the clinic so I can see it every day. Is it all right if I give you a hug?”
Susan threw her arms around Dan’s neck and hugged him tightly. Dan’s reaction was totally unexpected. He felt a combination of joy and love for the child, as well as a certain sadness that he’d probably never have a chance to have children of his own. He blinked to keep tears from forming.
“Come on up to the house,” Scott said. “I want you to meet the rest of my family.”
Dan put the picture in his car, and they walked up the drive into the yard. Each of the girls was holding on to one of Dan’s hands, Sadie jumping and barking beside them. The people gathered there turned and looked as they came in. The only one Dan recognized was Rachel, the young woman who took care of the horses for Scott. He’d met her on his first visit to the farm.
“Everyone, this is Dr. Dan Parker, our vet, and…” Scott placed a hand lightly on Dan’s shoulder, “friend. Dan, you know Rachel, and this is her boyfriend, Kyle.”
They all shook hands.
“This is the girls’ trainer, Holly Parker and her husband, Erick.” They greeted each other
“I’ve heard good things about you,” Dan told Holly.
“Thanks,” she replied. “Scott has been very impressed with you as well. And, of course, Susan thinks you can walk on water since you savedher precious Shadow.”
“All in a day’s work,” Dan said as they all chuckled.
The girls began to talk with Holly and Rachel about the horseshow the following day.
“And this fine lady is Greta VanHesson, Susan and Sarah’s grandmother,” Scott said, turning to a very pleasant-looking older woman sitting in a lawn chair. He bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Oh, go on, you,” Greta said, pushing him away, but smiling all the while.
“Greta, this is Dr. Dan.”
“Oh, I know who you are,” Greta said, smiling at Dan warmly. “I’ve heard all about you from most everyone in the family.” She turned to Scott and gave him a knowing look.
Scott grinned. Dan couldn’t be sure, but he thought Scott turned slightly pink.
“I’d get up and give you a proper welcome but these old knees of mine aren’t happy with a lot of getting up and down. You don’t happen to have something in your vet bag that would help with that, do you?”
“No, I’m afraid not. I’m sorry,” Dan said.
“Where’s the chef?” someone called out.