Second Chance Cowboy

Chapter 13

The following days were like a bad dream, and Lanie moved through it in a daze.  Pete was always at her elbow leading her from one misery to the next.  Bethie passed quietly in the early hours of the morning after Thanksgiving.  Bethie was gone.  Just like that, everyone lost one of the few true wingless angels walking among them.  The only bright spot was that dear Bethie was no longer a wingless angel, but she had her wings and was no longer the sallow, sickly shell withering before Lanie's eyes.  Bethie was again the youthful, round faced angel she had been when Lanie first met  her, vibrant and full of life, and God willing, watching over Lanie still.

The funeral was a dreadful affair.  All those people dressed in black and all that crying.  All those people saying how very sorry they were.  Well, Lanie was sorry too.  So dreadfully sorry.

Pete was there strong and silent.  He never said much.  Somehow  he knew that there wasn't anything much to say.  But he stayed with her, always at her elbow, always there when she needed to lean on him.  He'd get phone calls and quietly step aside to take the calls, but he was never more than a few steps away.  Lanie knew she was being weak.  She knew that Bethie would be disappointed but the grief and emptiness was almost too much to bear at the moment.  Besides, Pete was there, in his quiet strength. 

A sudden pang of guilt as Lanie remembered that Pete had known Lanie longer, since high school.  And he hadn't grieved.  Well, not that she had seen.  She felt so selfish and so ashamed.  It was almost enough to pull her back to her senses.  Pete was off on another phone call.  Lanie blinked.  The more she actually thought about things, the more alert she became.  She blinked, as if coming awake from sleepwalking.  She blinked hard a few more times, and the haze cleared from her mind. She remembered her grief and the emptiness of the world without Lanie, but it no longer consumed her.  She heard Pete speaking in sharp tones but couldn't make out the words.  His body lanugage clearly indicated he was not pleased with the news he was receiving. 

Lanie made a move toward Pete just as he snapped his phone shut.  "Damn!" she heard him curse under his breath.  He was startled as he turned around to face her.  He hadn't expected her to be so close.

"Lanie.  Are you okay?"

"Pete, I'm fine.  Thank you.  I'm really much better.  Who was that?  What did they want?  They've called you several times today, I think."

"Yes, they have.  I...Lanie, are you sure you're better?"

"Pete?"

"I have to leave you now.  I didn't want to.  I tried..."

"Pete?  Is someone hurt?  Jake? John?"

"No.  No.  Nothing like that, exactly.  One of our prize bulls was injured in transport.  There was an accident on the freeway.  He's alive, and he'll recover, but he's going to need surgery... Lanie, I..."

"No, Pete, it's okay.  I understand.  It's your job.  I mean, it's not like there are a lot of vets who specialize in that kind of animal, right?"

"Well, you have that right.  Rodeo stock are a very special sort of animal indeed.  Most of them won't let you within 10 feet on a good day.  Not the easiest of patients, I assure you.  I wish I could just tell them to all f.."

"Pete!"  Lanie smiled, and despite her grief, she felt herself holding back a giggle. 

*****

Pete pushed open the door to the cabin and Bud rushed in.  He shut the door behind him, stomped off the snow and hung up his parka.  Damn it was good to be home.  He had called Jake from the airport, so he could pick up Bud.  Jake must have come by the cabin and warmed it up for him.  The lamp was burning low on the mantle and the fireplace had warmed the cabin against the cold outside.  He would have to remember to thank Jake the next time he saw him.  He really was looking forward to sleeping in his own bed again.  The last few weeks were quite a lot to deal with, and at the moment, his mattress was calling to him.  He pulled off his boots and crossed to the fireplace, He grabbed the lamp and padded to his room...and stopped short.