Once Upon an Island

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Neil stood on the prow of the ferry as it plowed through the choppy water of the straits on its way to the island. A cold wind blew against his face. It made his eyes water. The ship was called The Welcome. Appropriate, Neil thought as he approached the destination where he would spend his summer. He wished now he’d done more research on spring in the north. It was April, but to Neil, a boy from Texas, it felt more like January.

He tightened the drawstrings on the hood of his Texas A&M sweatshirt and wrapped his arms more tightly around himself, wishing he’d thought to pack a winter coat. Nevertheless, cold though he may be, he was glad to be here, on his way to his first real job as an equine vet.

As Neil gazed out over the white-capped waves, he thought of Jordan for the hundredth time, remembering that a great career opportunity wasn’t the only reason he’d taken the job. Relieved Jordan didn’t get the vet job he’d applied for to surprise him, Neil still felt guilty that he hadn’t manned up and told Jordan that the real reason Neil had applied for the vet position on the island in the first place was to put distance between himself and Jordan. Feeling he needed to spare Jordan the hurt of being rejected, Neil left Jordan waving goodbye at the airport with the situation between them unresolved.

To make himself feel better, Neil rationalized that since Jordan’s degree was in small animal medicine, he was ill- equipped for a job that required extensive work with horses. Jordan’s only equine experience was his required six-week rotation while in school.

When Neil had left him, Jordan had assured Neil he would be in touch. Neil reassured himself his decision to distance himself from his friend was the right one. Neil still hoped that with time, Jordan’s feelings for him would cool, and both of them would be free to move on.

The island was now close enough that Neil could clearly see buildings and physical features. Rising from the surrounding water was an island of unexpected beauty. The shoreline was dotted with large homes which looked as if they were from the turn of the 19th century. Behind and above them rose another row of houses of the same vintage. The spire of a church rose above these. Higher yet was a large, imposing white building several stories high with what seemed to be a large sweeping porch covering the entire front of the structure.

The heavily forested island was clad in the pale green of early spring, the trees just beginning to leaf out. It was truly a spectacular sight for a lad raised on a ranch in the heart of the wide-open spaces of Texas, where you had an uninterrupted view of the horizon, and the trees and buildings were far and few between.

Neil could feel his excitement rising when the ferry’s horn sounded as the vessel pulled into the harbor and approached its mooring. Being early in the season, only a few passengers were on board. The ferry mostly carried goods and supplies for the many shops that were preparing for the arrival of the tourists still a few weeks off.

Neil walked down the gangplank amid trolleys laden with boxes. He dodged still more that were being pushed up a ramp from the lower levels of the ferry to the dock. Neil stepped onto the pier itself and walked along the wooden wharf into a covered enclosure. Here he and a few of his fellow passengers waited at the luggage claim area for their bags to be brought from the ferry. As travelers began leaving the enclosure and going out onto the street, he heard someone calling, “Dr. Logan! Lookin’ for Dr. Neil Logan.”

He walked out of the enclosure to see a boyishly handsome young man in a heavy plaid jacket and jeans, wearing a cowboy hat. Neil repressed a surge of attraction. Then, thinking the whole point of moving this far away from Texas was to let Jordan move on, Neil decided it applied to him as well. He allowed his feelings of attraction to the jacket-clad man to surface once more.

The man was standing by a black covered carriage, hitched to a Belgian draft horse. Neil walked over to him. “I’m Neil Logan.”

“Hey. I’m Kip, Kip Davis,” the young man said, giving Neil a sweeping appraisal. “Doc Turner sent me to pick ya up.”

Neil recognized the name of the head veterinarian who’d sent the letter offering him the job.

Kip extended his hand. Neil took it. “Welcome to the island,” Kip said with a smile that enhanced his handsome features.

Neil shook Kip’s hand. “Thank you. I’m just waitin’ on my bags.”

Kip turned to the horse. “You stay put, Clancy. I’ll be right back.”

Clancy snorted his acquiescence.

“Come on, Doc, I’ll help ya with ‘em.”

Soon the two men were riding along behind Clancy down the main street. It was lined with shops, restaurants, and hotels. The fact that this was a tourist town was clearly evident. As it was still early in the season, the street was fairly empty, except for horse- drawn delivery wagons and a few bicycles.

“I don’t see any cars,” Neil observed.

“That’s right. Other than the fire trucks and ambulance—no motorized vehicles allowed. Horses and bikes—the only way to get around.”

“Wow! Really cool. I could get used to this real quick.”

“So, this is your first trip north?” Kip asked.

“Yep. How did y’all know?”

“Anyone’s been here this early before, would know better than wear only a sweatshirt,” Kip said. “That where you went to school?” He nodded toward the A&M insignia.

“Yes.”

“You got a winter coat?”

“No.”

“Better get ya one. Be a few weeks before it gets warm up here. The big lakes that surround the island keep it from gettin’ too warm even when it’s the middle of summer. There’ll probably be something up at the stable we can find for you to wear until ya can get one of your own.”

“Thanks,” Neil said, feeling grateful as well as slightly embarrassed that he hadn’t thought that there would be a difference in climate between Texas and an island this far north. He was chilled to the bone.

They turned at an intersection and made their way up a steep hill. They passed the large white building with the sweeping porch Neil had seen from the ferry.

“That’s the Imperial Hotel,” Kip said. “It was built in 1887 as a retreat for vacationers from the mainland. More than 130,000 overnight guests stay at the Imperial each season. More than a million people visit the island each year, the island has only 600 year-round residents.”

“Wow,” Neil said, impressed. “Y’all sure know a lot about the hotel.”

Kip laughed. “Well, I aughta. I was born and raised here on the island, and I drive a tour wagon for Island Tours. What you heard was parta my spiel for the tourists.”

A while later Kip pulled up to a large green building trimmed in red. “Welcome to headquarters of Island Tours,” he said, making a grand gesture toward the building. “I’ll catch up with you later. I need to get Clancy put up. He’s worked up a sweat. Still has his winter coat. Just go on in and introduce yourself to Margie and Mr. Douglas—and tell ‘em you need a coat, too.” Kip winked at Neil, who ducked his head and chuckled.

Neil grabbed his bags from the back of the carriage, thanked Kip, walked up the wide walkway past a bronze statue of a horse and buggy, and went inside the building. He welcomed the warmth. A sign directed him to the office. He went in.

“Hello,” a pretty young woman greeted him from behind a desk. She got up and walked around to the other side. Extending a hand, she said, “I’m Margie. You must be Dr. Logan. My granddad’s expecting you.”

She led him to an inner office. When they entered, an elderly man looked up from his desk. His smile was warm and welcoming. “Dr. Logan,” he said, getting up and coming around to greet Neil. “Andy Douglas.” He offered Neil his hand.

Neil took it. “It’s good to meet you, sir.”

“My, but your hand is like ice,” Mr. Douglas commented.

Neil chuckled. “I guess this Texas boy underestimated the weather y’all have up here. I didn’t pack for winter. I didn’t think I’d need gloves or a coat in April.”

Mr. Douglas laughed. “We’ll take care of that. Margie!” he called to his granddaughter in the outer office. She came to the door.

“Call the barn and see if they can find someone to bring up something warm for Dr. Logan to wear. Tell them I don’t mean a horse blanket.” He winked at Neil. “And bring Dr. Logan a cup of something hot.”

“Sure thing, Granddad. What can I get you, Dr. Logan?”

“Black coffee’s fine.”

“Granddad?” Margie asked.

“Coffee for me, too,” the older man said. He turned to Neil. “Have a seat, Neil, and lets you and me get acquainted.”

He led Neil to a corner of the room where they sat in large leather chairs that surrounded a glass top table made of a large wagon wheel.

Neil looked around at the walls of the pine paneled room. They were covered with pictures of various locations on the island. Prominent in each picture was a horse-drawn vehicle: tour wagons, carriages, sleighs, or carts. The horses represented several well-known draft breeds: dapple gray Percherons, Clydesdales with their long feathered white legs and deep, red brown coats, honey colored Belgians, enormous black Shires, brown and white American Drafts, as well as several other breeds Neil didn’t recognize.

Neil was impressed by the magnitude of the operation and expressed this to Mr. Douglas.

“They’ve been offering carriage tours on the Island for a hundred and fifty years or more. Island Tours started about seventy-five years ago. Our family has been involved for four generations,” Mr. Douglas said, smiling proudly as he, too, gazed at the pictures.

“Currently we have around four huindred head of drafts and about a huindred light breed riding horses. Everything on the island except fire and ambulance is done with horses—the tours, a taxi service, shuttle to the hotels, luggage delivery, garbage pick-up, deliveries, everything.”

“Kip told me. That’s really impressive. What are the light horses used for?” Neil asked.

“We have a trail ride service so tourists can explore the island on horseback and…”

Just then the door opened and Margie came in carrying the coffee. She was closely followed by a mountain of a man who was carrying a coat, knit hat, and gloves. Neil felt his stomach lurch and his heart skip a beat.

“Ah, Margie, thanks,” Mr. Douglas said, taking the steaming mugs from her and setting them on the table.

Neil couldn’t tear his eyes away from the large man. He stood just inside the door looking uncomfortable, staring at the floor.

“Rolf, come on in,” Mr. Douglas said, raising a welcoming arm. “Meet Dr. Logan. He’ll be joining the veterinary team for the summer. He’s from Texas and didn’t expect winter in spring.”

Rolf walked into the room, still not making eye contact with Neil.

“Neil, this is Rolf Gundersen,” Mr. Douglas said.

Neil slowly rose from his chair and held out a hand. He had to work at keeping it from trembling. “It’s nice to meet you, Rolf.”

Rolf took Neil’s hand and gave it a firm shake and nodded. “I guess these are for you,” he said with a heavy accent. He handed Neil the coat, hat, and gloves.

“Thank you,” Neil said, while at the same time feeling ashamed as Rolf was dressed in a short sleeve shirt and bib overalls, evidently immune to the cold.

Neil’s eyes demanded that he look at Rolf. As surreptitiously as he could, Neil took in the man’s massive chest, bulging biceps, and tree trunk legs. He had thick, light blond hair and a matching bushy beard. His eyes were a pale blue.

“Rolf, join us. I was just giving Dr. Logan a verbal tour of our operation,” Mr. Douglas said. He turned to Neil. “Rolf is our head farrier. You two will be working together a lot over the summer.”

“Uh, thank you, no” Rolf said hesitantly. “I better get back…uh…we’re trying to get the shed set up and running. First load of summer horses coming back soon.”

“All right. You and Dr. Logan can get acquainted later,” Mr. Douglas said.

Rolf nodded and turned to leave.

“It was good to meet you,” Neil said.

Without looking back, Rolf nodded again and left.

“A man of few words,” Mr. Douglas said as they watched Rolf leave the room. “I’ll take you over to the dorms where the summer staff stays. But if you’d rather, you can get a room in town.”

“I think I’d like to stay in the dorms,” Neil said. “I’ll feel like I’m more a part of the crew, if that’s okay.”

“That’s fine, if that’s what you’d like,” Mr. Douglas’ smile indicated he approved of Neil’s choice. “I’ve arranged for you to have dinner with me, Dr. Turner, and his wife this evening. You can get to know them and Dr. Turelle as well. She’ll be joining us. Betsy is the third vet on the team. She’s here for the summer like you. She arrived yesterday. Ron Sumpter, our barn manager and Leslie Fredericks will be coming, too. Leslie coordinates the tours, taxi, and horse rentals. Rolf will be there as well.”

Neil heard every word Mr. Douglas said, but it was of secondary importance. Once Rolf had been mentioned the big man’s image came to mind, and Neil’s reaction to the farrier took center stage. Neil was struggling to figure out why his reaction to him was so intense.