Jessica McLeod has always wanted to be a small town doctor. She
remembers her grandfather's stories of being a rural doctor, and that is all
Jess dreams of becoming. So to follow her grandfather example, Jess leaves
the big city and moves to Last Chance New Mexico, a small town where
everyone knows everyone else's business and is not shy about getting into
it. Jess is there to start her family practice, and while the quirky locals are
welcoming to the doctor, they don't want to use her services. Once she's
moved in, Jess is fascinated with the way the locals are such fanatics about
high school football. Jess is not a fan. All the locals find that nugget of
information bizarre. How can Jess not love football? What is wrong with
her?
LAST CHANCE HERO also introduces you to Andy Ryan, the local football
hero who has returned home after being cut by the Denver Broncos. Andy
is hired to coach the high school football team. He tries to explain to
everyone that not every team is the same, but the locals won't hear of it.
They want another dream team and they know Andy is the one who can
get that done. Andy wants to create a new future for his team but the town
just can't seem to let go of the glory days. Andy likes Jess but thinks it's
weird she doesn't know anything about him or football. The two of
them have some interesting conversations because neither one of them
knows anything about the other's profession. I was laughing out loud at
some of their bantering.
I can't believe LAST CHANCE HERO is the final book in such a wonderful
series. I have grown to love the quirky characters of Last Chance New
Mexico. Please continue to write more about this small town, Ms.
Armstrong. There are many awesome characters in LAST CHANCE
HERO, and I love how Cathleen Armstrong makes you get all wrapped up in
their business. I felt like I was back in my childhood small town. I dare you
to read this book and not get caught up in all their lives. I was turning the
pages like crazy and had to see where everyone was going to wind up. When an
author can capture my attention like that, I read every book they
have written. Can I go visit Last Chance? What a heart-warming town
Cathleen has created, a place I would love to call home.
The inhabitants of Last Chance, New Mexico, could not be
more pleased. Dr. Jessica McLeod has opened an office right
on Main Street. Andy Ryan, the best athlete the little town
ever produced, has ended his short career in the NFL and
has
come home to coach the mighty Pumas of Last Chance High.
Unfortunately, Dr. Jess immediately gets off on the wrong
foot when she admits that she's never seen a football game,
isn't really interested in doing so, and, in fact, doesn't
know a first down from a home run. Meanwhile, Coach Ryan is
discovering that it's not easy to balance atop the pedestal
the town has put him on. When this unlikely pair is drawn
together over the future of a young player--whose gifts may
lie in the laboratory rather than on the football
field--they begin to wonder if they might have a future
together as well.
With the flair that has made her Last Chance books a
favorite among readers of contemporary fiction, Cathleen
Armstrong draws on the passion Americans have for the
traditions of small-town high school football.
Excerpt
1
Good morning, and welcome to Last Chance.” Rita Sandoval, owner and manager of
the Last Chance Motel as well as the town’s mayor and chief booster, tucked her
pencil back behind her ear and smiled up at Dr. Jessica MacLeod. “I know you’re
going to love it here.”
“I hope so. I’m counting on it.” Jess found the big urn of coffee in the corner
of the motel lobby and filled a Styrofoam cup to the brim. Cradling it between
her hands, she gazed out the front window. The sky had just begun to lighten an
hour ago when she began her run, but now the sun was fully up, spilling its light
over the desert, shading the distant mountains in blue and purple and the nearby
desert floor in sage green and gold. Over it all arched a sky of such brilliant
turquoise that it almost hurt to look at it, so different from the gray and foggy
mornings she knew in San Francisco. She took a sip of her coffee. Oh, I do hope
so, because there’s no turning back now.
“Well, I wish I had time today to take you around and introduce you to everyone.”
Rita picked up a clipboard from her desk and stood up. “Ordinarily, that’s just
what I’d do, but I’m afraid I’ve got to get right over to the Dip ’n’ Dine and
start getting set up for our fiesta tonight.”
“That’s okay. I’ll meet everybody eventually. It’s not like I’m just passing
through.”
“You should come with me.” Rita slung her purse over her shoulder. “It’s only a
couple blocks from here, and you’re going to want some breakfast anyway. Have you
eaten at the Dip ’n’ Dine yet? Well, I’m here to tell you that you are about to
eat some of the best food you’ll ever put in your mouth. Carlos, the cook, has
been famous in these parts for years, and he and Chris Reed, the new owner, are
doing some great things. Chris was a big chef up in Albuquerque before he bought
the place, you know, and it took him a little while to find his footing here, but
now there’s just no holding ’em back. This fiesta tonight is just one of a series
of food and live music events we’ve been having all summer. This one’s called Red
Chile and Bluegrass.”
Still talking, Rita put the “Back Soon” placard in the window, ushered Jess
outside, locked the front door, and headed across the parking lot at a brisk
pace. Jess’s choices were either calling after Rita that she was staying behind
or going along. Going along with Rita seemed the easier course of action, and as
Jess hurried to catch up, she wondered if most people didn’t find going along
with Rita the easier route.
“Oh, there’s Manny Baca opening up Otero Gas and Oil. You’ll want to meet him.
He’s got three little kids, twin girls and a boy. He bought Otero’s from his
father-in-law last spring, so by rights, it should be called Baca’s now, but once
something takes hold in Last Chance, it’s hard to change it.” She waved her hand
over her head as she led Jess across the road.
“Manny, I want you to meet our new doctor. This is Dr. Jessica MacLeod. She’s
opening an office right here in Last Chance. What do you think about that?”
“I think it sounds great.” Manny grinned and offered his hand. “We’ve been
wearing a groove in the Last Chance highway getting our kids back and forth to
the pediatrician in San Ramon for one thing and another. I’m not sure what Patsy
would think about changing doctors, though. He’s been taking care of us for
years.”
“I’m not here to raid anyone’s practice.” Jess liked the wide smile and firm
handshake of the proprietor of Otero Gas and Oil, although he did seem way too
young to be a business owner and father of three. “I’ve joined the family
practice at San Ramon Medical Center, and I’ll have a satellite office here in
Last Chance.”
“Well, we’ve got places to go and things to do.” Rita’s stated purpose in
crossing the road had been to introduce Manny, and clearly, since that objective
had been met, it was time to move along. “We’ll see you all this evening at Red
Chile and Bluegrass, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Nice meeting you, Doc.” He lifted his hand in a wave and
turned back toward his office as Rita led Jess back across the road.
“Now, up ahead across the road is Last Chance’s newest business establishment,
Desert Sage. It’s a beauty salon, and I’m here to tell you that Kaitlyn Reed, who
owns it, can do anything. Don’t think for a minute that just because ninety
percent of the people who come out of there have wash-and-set perms, she doesn’t
know what’s what. She just knows how to give her customers what they want, that’s
all. She’s from Scottsdale and only moved here because her brother’s here. I told
you about him; he’s the one who bought the Dip ’n’ Dine. Oh, good. It looks like
the place is full.”
They had reached the parking lot of the Dip ’n’ Dine, and Jess found herself
wondering how someone could walk so fast and talk so much and not be out of
breath. Rita had to be at least sixty.
“Hey, everybody, I want you to meet our new doctor. This is Dr. Jessica MacLeod.”
Rita’s voice carried well, even through the buzz of conversation and clatter of
dishes. Silence fell as everyone stopped eating and looked toward the door Rita
had just blown through with Jess in tow. “I know. You all think she doesn’t look
old enough to be a doctor, but she is, and a good one too from everything I hear.
She’ll have an office right here on Main Street, and for starters she’ll be here
three days a week and in San Ramon for two. Right, Doctor?”
“That’s right.” Jess tried to smile but was suddenly extremely aware that this
was not how she had planned to meet the people of Last Chance and her future
patients. All she had wanted when she stopped in the office of the Last Chance
Motel after her run was a cup of coffee. She was wearing shorts, running shoes,
and a Beat Stanford T-shirt. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled off her face
in a stubby ponytail, and she could almost feel every last freckle beaming from
her scrubbed face. What had she been thinking to follow Rita down the street
looking like that?
Everyone smiled, some called “Welcome,” and all went back to their breakfasts.
Jess felt a tap on her arm.
“I need to talk to Chris about the fiesta tonight, so I’m going to set you right
here at the counter, if that’s all right. You’ll want to meet Andy anyway. He’s
our new high school football coach. Andy, this is our new doctor, Jessica
MacLeod.”
“Morning.” Andy put down his fork and extended his hand. “Welcome to Last Chance.
I hope you’ll be happy here.”
“Thanks. I’m pretty sure I will be.”
A woman wearing a name tag that read “Juanita” appeared on the other side of the
counter and beamed a wide smile as she poured coffee Jess had not yet asked for
into the cup sitting in front her. “Mornin’, I’m Juanita Sheppard. Welcome to
Last Chance. It’s about time we got our own doctor. Of course, Russ and I have
had the same doctor in San Ramon since our kids were little, so you probably
won’t be seeing much of us. At least not professionally.”
“Well then, I hope we’ll be seeing each other on a non-professional level.” Jess
returned the smile, but she did notice that Juanita was the second person she had
met in the last twenty minutes who expressed delight that Last Chance was finally
getting its own doctor and told her she could look for patients elsewhere in the
same breath.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that for a minute. The Dip ’n’ Dine is the heart and soul of
this town, and I’m here just about every day. Just come on in and I’ll be happy
to introduce you to folks.” She slid a menu across the counter toward Jess.
“Although I’m sure you’ve already heard of Andy, here. This is Andrew Ryan.
Quarterback for the Denver Broncos?”
“Um, I’m afraid I don’t follow football very closely.” Jess looked back at Andy
and shrugged. “Sorry. I know I should know who you are.”
“Not necessarily. I spent a whole lot more time on the bench than on the field.”
Andy’s grin was rueful. “And as of the end of last season, it looks like I’m out
of football for good. At least out of professional football.”
“Well, their loss is our gain, that’s all I can say.” Juanita pulled out her
order pad and cocked her head as she looked at Jess. “You say you don’t follow
football? Huh. What’ll you have for breakfast?”
Jessica hadn’t had time to even open the menu, but she had been in diners before
and knew from experience that there wouldn’t be a whole lot on the menu that she
wanted to eat. “I guess I’ll just have a single poached egg and some dry wheat
toast.”
“Alrighty. Red or green?”
“Red or green?”
“You want red or green chile with that egg?” Juanita didn’t look up from her
order pad.
“Neither. Just the egg and toast, please.”
This time Juanita did look up. “Neither? Huh.” She tore off the order and put it
on the rack in the window to the kitchen. Tucking the pad back in her apron
pocket, she headed back to the dining room with the coffeepot, but not before
giving Jessica one last curious look.
“Well, that was a little awkward. I feel like I made a giant misstep somewhere,
but I’m not sure where.”
Andy swiveled his stool around and leaned his elbow on the counter. “Well, I’ll
tell you. Football’s pretty big around here, my short lusterless career
notwithstanding. Same with chile. It’s not whether you want chile that’s the
question. It’s what color. Juanita probably never met anyone who doesn’t care
about either.”
“Oh.” Jess shrugged again and took a sip of her coffee. “Well, now she has.”
Andy raised one eyebrow. “You are a brave woman.” He gestured at Jess’s T-shirt
with his chin. “You must have been at least a little interested in football at
some point. That’s some rivalry you’re sporting.”
Jess looked down at her faded blue Beat Stanford shirt. “Oh, this? I think it was
one of my roommate’s when I was an undergrad. I don’t know how I wound up with
it. I know I didn’t buy it. In fact, I didn’t make it to a single game the entire
time I went to Cal.”
“You’re kidding.” Andy leaned back for a better look. “Not one game in four
years?”
“No.” Jess was starting to feel a little warm. “Is there something wrong with
that? I’m beginning to feel like I have a horn growing out of my forehead or
something.”
“Oh, no. You might run into someone around here with a horn growing out of their
forehead, but someone who doesn’t like football? Now, that’s weird.”
Jess looked closely at Andy. He did not appear to be kidding. A little flare of
anger shot up between her shoulder blades and made her neck prickle. For one
thing, she didn’t believe him. Sure, you could expect the high school football
coach, and a former pro no less, to think football was the be-all and end-all of
life. Juanita probably wasn’t his only fan either. But surely grown-ups in Last
Chance—Manny Baca, for example, with his three kids and his service station, and
Rita Sandoval, who was mayor as well as the owner of the motel—had other things
to think about than a bunch of high school kids and their football game.
“Well, I suppose I should get used to being a curiosity then.” She cradled her
coffee cup in her hands, wondering how rude it would be if she got up and moved a
stool or two down the counter.
“Here you go.” Juanita set her toast and egg in front of her. “And I went ahead
and brought you a little green chile anyway. You don’t have to eat it, of course,
but honey, if you’re going to live in Last Chance, you really need to learn to
eat chile. It’s who we are and what we do around here.”
“So I hear.” Jess’s smile felt stiff. She lifted the egg to the toast with her
spoon while Juanita watched, and when she realized what Juanita must be waiting
for, added just a touch of the chile. No need to alienate every single person she
met today.
The chile was hotter than she expected, but the creamy yolk quickly soothed the
heat. It was the chile’s flavor, though, that really took her by surprise. Rich
and sharp, it bore no resemblance whatsoever to the pallid, tasteless green stuff
she had spooned from cans.
“This is really good!” She looked up at Juanita with a real smile.
“Thought you’d like it.” Juanita gave a brisk nod as she picked up a couple more
plates off the shelf to take to a booth by the window. “You just need to learn to
try new things, that’s all.”
Jess turned to her breakfast as Juanita disappeared. Actually, she had been under
the impression that leaving Marin County in California and heading out to a tiny
town in southwestern New Mexico to begin her practice was pretty darned
adventurous, although some of her friends and relatives used other terms ranging
from ill-advised to downright crazy. But hey, what was pulling up stakes and
moving a thousand miles from home compared to eating green chile with your eggs?
“I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to make you mad.” Andy’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“I’ve known lots of people who didn’t like football.”
“Really.” Jess barely glanced at him. All she wanted was to finish her breakfast
and get back to her room.
“Well, actually, not a lot, but I’ve known some. A few. Three, maybe. No, not
that many, but there was this one girl . . . Nope, now that I think about it, she
was just mad at her boyfriend and he was on the team. I guess when you get right
down to it, there’s just you. You’re the only one.”
Jess’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth as she turned to stare. Seriously? What
was his problem? Was he really expecting everyone he met to fall at his feet in
admiration because he knew how to throw a football, or kick one, or whatever
quarterbacks did with footballs?
Andy met her gaze with a look both grave and sorrowful. She shook her head and
was about to dismiss him for good and turn back to her breakfast when she noticed
the little crinkles around his brown eyes and the tiny twitch at the corner of
his mouth. She narrowed her eyes, and Andy’s grin broke through.
“I am sorry. Truly.” He laughed. “I’m not being very neighborly, am I? Truth is,
you’re welcome here in Last Chance. We are glad you came. Honest.”
Andy’s grin was infectious, and as annoyed as Jess had been with him a minute
before, she found herself returning it.
“Friends?” Andy stuck out his hand.
Jess slipped her hand in his. “Friends, I think.”
“Are you about done?” Rita came up behind Jess and put her hand on her shoulder.
“They’re fixing to bring the tables and chairs over from the church, and I need
to get over there and see about that. You can come if you want.”
“I think I’ll walk on back to the motel, but thanks.”
“Got your key?”
Jess patted her pocket. “Right here.”
“All right then. See you after a while.” Rita headed out the door, and Jess could
see her waving her hand over her head and calling to someone as she strode across
the parking lot.
“Rita is a dynamo, isn’t she?” Jess turned to Andy with a smile.
“Wait till you get to know her better. Dynamos come to sit at her feet and
learn.”
“I’ll just bet.”
Jess forked in the last bite of eggs and toast as Juanita appeared on the other
side of the counter.
“Here, let me give you these checks.” She placed one ticket on the counter in
front of Jess and another in front of Andy.
“You don’t need to rush, but we’ll be closing here in a minute to get ready for
the big shindig tonight, so if you don’t mind, I’ll just run these for you now.”
Jess had a panicked second or two as she looked around for her purse before she
remembered where it was—safely tucked in the top drawer of the dresser in Room 3
of the Last Chance Motel. Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Oh my goodness, Juanita, I don’t have any money. I went for a run this morning
and then stopped by the motel office for some coffee, and before I could think to
grab my purse, Rita brought me here. If you can give me twenty minutes, I’ll run
back and get my wallet. I am so, so embarrassed!”
Juanita flapped a hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll just catch you next time.
It’s not a big deal.”
“Let me.” Andy picked up Jess’s check, added his own, and handed them both to
Juanita with a couple bills he pulled from his wallet. “Don’t need any change.”
“No, I can’t let you do that.” Jess made a grab for the ticket, but Juanita had
already whisked it away. She turned back to Andy with a resigned sigh. “Well,
thank you, although I’d have been happy to go get my purse.”
“I know, but this’ll save you a trip. It’s getting hot out there.” He stood up as
Jess slid from her stool and followed her to the door. “Can I give you a ride?
Truck’s air-conditioned.”
Jess’s first inclination was to say thanks but no thanks. She had already taken
enough from Andy for one day, from the hard time he gave her about football to
the price of breakfast, but he was right about one thing. It was hot, and getting
hotter. And hot in Last Chance was nothing like hot in San Francisco. She
hesitated just a second. “Thanks, I’d appreciate that.”
It was only a couple minutes’ drive before Andy’s truck pulled into the driveway
of the Last Chance Motel, and he used the entire time talking about the Red Chile
and Bluegrass fiesta that night at the Dip ’n’ Dine.
“Everyone for miles around comes. Tickets sell out as soon as they go on sale.
They set up tables outside and there’s live music and the best food you’ll ever
eat. And every one of these fiestas has a different kind of music. Tonight is
bluegrass, of course, but they’ve had jazz, and classic rock ’n’ roll, and I
think they’re planning one to coincide with the chile harvest called ‘It’s Chile
Country.’”
Jess had a feeling she knew where this was heading and tried to forestall it by
opening the pickup door and starting to get out. “Sounds like you’ll have a lot
of fun. Thanks for the ride.”
“So, can I pick you up? About 7:00?”
“I don’t have a ticket, and if they’re sold out . . .” Jess finished her thought
with a shrug. “But thanks anyway.”
“But I do.” Andy leaned across the seat with a grin. “The town council gave me
two tickets when I got here. Sort of a welcome home. And one of them will just go
to waste if you don’t use it.”
“I don’t think so, Andy.” Jess wanted to make her own place in Last Chance, and
she had no intention of turning up tonight on the arm of the local football hero.
“But thanks again.”
She started to swing the door shut, but Andy stopped her. “Wait.”
Jess stopped. She was really beginning to get annoyed. Andy may have still been
in the cool cab of his truck, but she was standing in the heat of a gravel
parking lot. The hum of her window air conditioner six feet away called her, and
she longed for a shower.
“Here.” Andy opened his glove box and pulled out a slip of card stock. “It’s my
extra ticket. It will just go to waste if you don’t use it. If I see you there, I
can introduce you to a few people. Or not. But if you go, I’m pretty sure you
won’t be sorry.”
He lifted his hand in a little salute as he leaned back behind the wheel before
shifting into Drive. Jess heard the tires take hold in the gravel as she pulled
her key from her pocket and fitted it into the lock. What had she gotten herself
into? Since a family vacation through the Southwest when she was in middle
school, she had dreamed of practicing medicine in a place like Last Chance. The
research she had done on rural medicine, southwestern New Mexico, and the San
Ramon Medical Center before she made her final choice was detailed and
exhaustive. That’s how she did things. How then had she failed to consider that
there were people involved, with their own thoughts and ideas about her work? The
answer came to her, and she winced as the door opened and a blast of overchilled
and slightly stale air engulfed her. Because all too often, the one element she
left out when making her minutely detailed plans was other people.
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