“How are you doing otherwise? Things picking up at Stigall’s?”
“Yes, business has rebounded a bit. I haven’t had to lay anybody
off that didn’t earn the privilege.”
“Your hours still as long?”
Juliana grinned, relieved that for once she wouldn’t get the third
degree from her doctor about her work habits.
“No, actually, I started cutting them back this week.”
Emma’s eyebrows arched in surprised, and she drilled Juliana
with her bright green eyes. “Is that so? You? You cut your hours
back? What sparked this sudden reformation in your lifestyle?”
“Someone close to me pointed out that I may be a
workaholic…and a perfectionist.”
“Perish the thought.” Emma snarked, “Who could inspire such
change, I wonder?”
“I’ve met someone. Actually, I needed to talk to you about that,
too.”
Emma smiled widely in appreciation, “Someone I know?”
“Ash Peterson? Out at the Divine Creek Ranch?”
Understanding dawned in Emma Guthrie’s eyes. “Mmmm, very
tall, sandy-brown hair, brilliant turquoise-blue eyes. Yummy
muttonchop sideburns and a mustache?”
Juliana nodded, thinking that if Emma had said it with a little
more needy admiration in her voice, Juliana might have to take her by
the hair.
“That would be the one.”
“Merciful heavens, that man is so purty he makes my eyes hurt.
Wait, what happened to old…what’s his name?” Emma asked,
snipping away at the stitches.
126
Heather Rainier
“Exactly. The cheating bastard broke up with me and moved back
to Vermont to be with his mommy and his other girlfriend.”
“You’re better off without him, Juliana. He had soft, icky hands.
Now Ash is a real man. I treated him for a sinus infection a while
back. He’s got the prettiest eyes. I can definitely picture the two of
you together. Does he treat you well? Wait, you don’t even have to
answer that. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Like you’d expect a gentleman cowboy would. He puts up with a
lot, actually.”
“Want to see about getting on the pill?”
Juliana nodded, and they talked as Emma removed the stitches
one at a time then switched to her back and began removing those.
She could have allowed her physician’s assistant to do this job, but
Emma was one to take the time to care for people and not just push
papers.
Emma looked at the X-rays of Juliana’s wrist after she finished
applying a light layer of antibiotic ointment to the healing laceration
on Juliana’s back and wrapping her finger in gauze and tape. After
telling her to come back in five weeks to see about removing the cast,
Emma sent her on her way with a prescription for contraceptives and
a starter pack.
Juliana looked forward to the weekend with a mixture of
anticipation. This would be their first real date as a couple. She was
looking forward to dancing with him, but she had a feeling she’d be
dead on her feet by the time she was done with work on Saturday.
Either way, she wasn’t cancelling their plans. She hoped his plans
involved spending the night, as well.
Saturday did prove to be a busy day. The weather cleared up, and
everybody came out of hibernation to do some shopping and
socializing. Evelyn remarked to Juliana, over their lunches, what a
good job Leah was doing with regard to the employees and the store
operations.
Spurs and Heels
127
“She’s gifted at it, just like you, Juliana. May I say,” Evelyn said
with a brief pause, “you’ve been looking so much happier? Healthier.
You don’t seem like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your
shoulders anymore.”
“You think so?”
“I wonder if the change is not due to a certain charming cowboy.
He’s been good for you. I hope you make him a permanent part in
your life.”
“Only time will tell. But yeah, he pushed me to reexamine my life.
I still want to be up here at eight every morning, but I no longer feel
like I have to be here all day, every day. It just got to be a habit.”
“A bad habit. I like seeing you a little more carefree like this.
Going out tonight?”
“Planning to.”
“Well, I hope you do. At least you weren’t here terribly early then
staying until closing. That’s progress. I saw your little black dress in
your office. Going dancing?”
“That’s the plan. The Dancing Pony.”
“You should go see Rosemary and Bernadette at Cheaver’s. Get
them to set you up with a pretty Western outfit.”
“I thought about it. Do you think Ash would like it if I did?”