Leave Tomorrow Behind (Stella Crown Series) Read Free Page B

hadn’t been worn. Not how you need to wear them to actually be a farmer. And the truck and trailer? They hadn’t been used for anything except hauling champion cattle from fair to fair. No “memories,” as Jethro liked to say, meaning scratches and dents and scuff marks.
“But don’t they have to know what they’re doing at least a little bit, to keep the animals through the winter?”
“Don’t know what they do about that, but I could guess.”
“I don’t have to guess.” Austin tossed his brush into his bucket. “They have one little pole barn, more suited to purebred horses than cows. They keep their precious prize animals in there, and hire a guy who takes care of them all winter, milks the dairy cows, brushes the calves, everything. The only time any of the Greggs actually touch the animals is here, where people see them.”
“And you know this how?” I asked.
“Guy at my church. They asked him to do the work a couple years ago. He turned them down.”
“But what’s the point?” Nick asked. “If they don’t want to spend time with animals, why do the fair thing at all?”
“I do know the answer to that,” I said. “Rumor is the oldest daughter thought it would be fun to have a ‘pet’ cow. The other girls decided they wanted pets, too, and the parents don’t mind the limelight, from what I can tell. The dad uses it to promote his business. He’s the CEO of some recording label in Philly, so the cash isn’t a problem. Not like it is for those of us who do this for a living, who are hands-on with the herd every day. They built some mansion worth a bazillion dollars, but try to suck up to the country music fans by doing some ‘farming.’ ”
Nick took my hand and squeezed. “The way they farm they miss out on all the best parts, don’t they?”
I watched the wide-eyed little Gregg girl dance away from the calf’s hooves as it entered the stall. The mother slammed the gate shut as soon as the cow’s hind end cleared, and the three of them stood back in the aisle, brushing off their pants, obviously glad to be done with the messy work of touching a living creature.
“Yes,” I said. “They absolutely do.”
 

Chapter Four

“Hey, you.” Carla Beaumont slapped her tray down next to mine in the school boosters’ food tent, and plopped into a chair. “Got Zach’s little boy all settled?”
I set down my hot dog and focused on my friend, and favorite veterinarian. “He’s happy.”
Carla winked at Nick. “Hi, gorgeous. How ya’ll doin’?” Nick smiled, and Carla faked a swoon.
I shook my head. “Crazy woman. What are you doing here already?”
Carla had been chosen as the official fair veterinarian. It was quite an honor, and for her it was the first time. Most of the other local docs were happy for her—they’d had their turns—but of course there were a few being snotty kids about it. Just because she wasn’t a fifty-five-year-old white guy didn’t mean she couldn’t handle the job. In fact, a lot of her clients specifically asked for her when they called her multi-vet practice. They liked that she was younger, and that she was a woman. Of course there were those who preferred the old guard, but that’s to be expected. The vets she worked with were all supportive and competent, and if it hadn’t been that Carla was my best friend, I would have been happy for any of them to take care of my animals. But sometimes personal lives do make a difference.
She was smiling now. “My official duties started as soon as the kids got checked in, and you won’t believe how many people think their precious animals are already on the brink of death. Or are at risk of contracting something from the animal next door.” She took a bite of her double cheeseburger. She would somehow get through the sandwich, fries, milkshake, and piece of pie, and still be ready for a funnel cake. The woman could really pack it away, sort of like Jethro, Zach’s dad. Sometimes I thought Carla was