Four
The vets Ford F150 was sitting in the driveway when he got back. Overcast skies were putting a light drizzle in the air. He pulled up alongside and got out with the dog following him. Truck was empty. The dog took off towards the newer sheds. She came back with him few minutes later.
“What a bloody mess!” she said, when she was 20 feet away. He shrugged. “Shit happens.”
“Shit happens because of bowel movements only! This was no bowel movement!”
“Act of God or mankind. Whatever. Done is done. Coffee?”
She patted the dogs adoring head and smiled. “If you insist. Here, carry some stuff in for me!
She opened the truck door and passed him a rifle case and another bag. “OK that is it”.
“Your command is my wish your highness!”
“That is how it should be,” she replied. They looked at each other and laughed out loud.
She was 5 foot 6 or 7. Slim build with green eyes. The left eye just slightly different from the other. Dirty blond hair. Probably early 40's he thought. Weather beaten face. As opposed to cosmetic. Few lines under the eyes. Just a slight accent. Very competent. Some times very bossy and abrasive. They had never had too many conversations about each others personal life even after 4 years of Dave retaining her as his vet.
“K then, coffee.”
Rain started to come down heavier as they hurried to the house.
“So what is this?” he asked opening the rifle case.
“X Caliber. Made by Pneu-Dart in Pennsylvania. Good to about 45 yards. Co2 or compressed air or nitrogen propellants for cold weather. Works well.”
“Use it often?” he asked.
“Yes. Large animal in the pasture you cannot get near. Sedation mix in the needle. About 10 seconds to go down. 20 minutes or so they are sedated. Larger the animal, quicker it wears off.”
She showed him how to load the needle and push the bolt forward.
“Interesting” he said. “You bring enough darts?”
She just looked at him with raised eyebrows..
“OK then. Sorry. Coffee.”
“So whats the plan?” she asked.
“Track the animals. Dart the boar first. Use the ATV and trailer to load him up. Bring him back to the barn, the new one, then repeat the process. Time consuming.”
She nodded then said “Cannot you herd them back? They are familiar with the place.”
He shrugged. “Need the boar first. Maybe try the sows later. Just do not want to spook them. They go through the fence they are gone. Quite a few square miles out there for them.”
She took a sip of coffee pulled a face. “How old is this stuff? Tastes like crap!”
He shrugged “Just two days or so. I make a pot and re-heat it. Easier that way. Getting dark” he said
glancing out of the window.. “Need a drink of something else? Rum, Gin, Vodka, beer? ”
“Rum may be nice. What make?”
“Kraken. Black spiced. 47% alcohol. Made in the US. Good stuff.”
She shrugged. “Why not?”
He got up from the table and went to the cupboard and found the bottle. “No pop” he said.
“Ice will do fine.”
He put the bottle on the table and put a bowl of ice beside it and a glass.
She looked at the glass quizzically. He caught her look.
“Guess I better wash it!”
“It's fine. Alcohol will kill the germs!” then “You need a woman around here'”
“Move in anytime!” then 'Sorry. How come you did not go for the Vodka? Being of Russian background or whatever.?”
She smiled at him. “Latvian actually. Hate the stuff. Reminds me of...never mind.”
He poured himself a shot and filled the glass with tap water. He seen her raised eyebrows and said
“Only way I can drink it. Too strong just on ice.” then “You married?”
“Was. You?”
“No. Never had the time or the right one. Heck! Food you hungry?”
“What do you have?”
“Freezer full of stuff. Fridge full also. Have a look.”
She opened the fridge and looked in. She started to read the labels on some of the packages. “Most of this needs dumping. Best before date was a month or so ago!”
“Yes. One of these days...”
She opened the freezer and looked in. “What's the stuff in the freezer bags? Unmarked?”
“MM's. Mystery meat. Cook some thing then freeze the left overs. Frozen dinners in there.”
“K. Couple of those should do. Chicken?”
“Fine with me.”
She got two out and went to the microwave. “Goodness!” she exclaimed on opening it.
“Forgot to clean it. Had something in that sort of exploded.”
She looked at him for a few moments then sighing she went to the sink and got a cloth and washing up liquid and began to clean it out.
He felt embarrassed. “So what happened to your husband? If I am not prying.”
She shrugged and said “We were married 2 months. He left me for another.”
“He must have been a fool! Handsome lady like you!”
She turned and smiled at him. “Well thank you kind sir! When he left it really upset me for a while. Think he married me to get citizenship .2 months married and we never had sex!”
“You are being frank.” he said.
She continued to wash out the microwave then said “All done.” She put one frozen dinner in the microwave and started it going.
“Frank?” she came back to the table and sat down and made another drink. They looked at each other for a few moments. “I will be frank. After he left I just did not go out with any one. Just worked. So, here I am. Waiting to go in the bush and hunt pigs. 43 year old virgin. Am I being too honest?”
“Not at all. Appreciate you telling me. What was the other woman like, the one he left you for?”
“Woman? It was a guy!”
Dave looked at her for a few moments then started to laugh. He could not hold it back. “Sorry” he said then laughed even louder.
“Holy shit! Never heard of that one!”
She frowned at him at first then began to smile then she also started to laugh also.
“Holy shit is right. His boy friend is a priest!”
They laughed for quite a while then he microwave dinged and she got up to get the dinners, still chuckling.
“I feel comfortable with you” she said. “First time I have laughed in a long time.”
“Same here” he replied. “Comfortable.”
After supper and a few drinks later they sat at opposite ends of the living room sofa watching a movie.
“You like this movie?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Watch it occasionally. Cinderella Man is probably as true as they get. You?”
“Do not watch too many. Animal Planet stuff like that.” she shivered a little.
“Cold? I will turn the heat up.” He got up and adjusted the thermostat. “Will just take a minute.”
He sat down again then said “You could sit with me.” She looked at him for a few long seconds.
“OK.” She moved over and sat close to him. “Am I safe?” she asked.
“Safe as you will ever be” he replied. She sighed and put her head on his shoulder. Her hair smelled of watermelon. Shampoo he assumed. Cautiously he put his arm around her shoulders.
She snuggled in closer and sighed. “Feels nice” she whispered. “So quit twitching ever time one of them throws a punch!”
“OK. About finished anyway.” The screen credits were rolling now. “Watch another or...?”
“Bed for me. Too much to drink. Feeling woozy. Were is the bedroom?”
“Follow me.” Reluctantly he got up. “I will get your bag first” he said.
She followed him to the bedroom at the end of the passageway.
“There you go. Bed all made and everything.” he hesitated and then said “I am next door. Anything you need just ask.”
She gave him a quick kiss and said “I will remember that. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight”. He left feeling a little confused.'Oh well. Had my hopes up too high'.
A noise woke him at about 2 am. He lay there listening. He heard the toilet flush then the bathroom door open and close. Few seconds later his bedroom door opened.
“You awake?” she whispered.
“Yes. Of course.” He could just make her out in the dim light. “Can I help you?”
“If you want to.”
“How can I help?”
She dropped the nightgown to the floor and lifted the sheets and got in beside him. “Tired of being a 43 year old virgin” she whispered.
“I can help” he said and reached for her.
