Courted by the Cowboy Read online

  “She takes thumb wars really seriously,” Fisher quipped, pointing at his eye. “She didn’t like losing.”

  Jarvis laughed, setting to work on Fisher’s thumb. “X-ray it?” he asked. “Might need a ligament repair.”

  Fisher shook his head. “It’ll be fine.”

  “Dr. Fisher.” One of his students stuck her head in. “We need you up front.”

  Fisher nodded. “What is it?”

  “Stray.” Abigail paused. “Are you okay?” She glanced at him. “You—”

  “The patient?”

  “Right. Sorry.” But she couldn’t stop staring at his face. “Dog with several deep bites along the neck and back leg. Ear laceration, almost bitten off. His right eye looks pretty bad, too.”

  “Bites from?” he asked.

  “Two other dogs, apparently. Miss...” she paused to scan her notes. “Miss James just brought him in.”

  He nodded, following Abigail from the operating room and into the patient care room. A speckled dog lay on a metal table, his gray coat matted with blood and dirt. At first glance, he looked like a blue heeler, same size and build. The dog didn’t raise his head when Fisher approached the table, though his uninjured eye was open and alert.

  “Can you tell me what happened?” Fisher turned to the woman standing nervously in the corner. “Kylee?”

  Was it his imagination or did she seem to relax when she saw him?

  “Hi, Doc... Fisher.” Her arms were crossed tightly over her bloodstained, oversize white T-shirt. “I was walking around the park and these two big dogs were on him. He was fighting so hard. But they were too big for him. I saw him go down beneath them...”

  Fisher listened to the dog’s heart rate with his stethoscope. Accelerated. One hundred ten. Respirations were shallow and rapid, distressed. But, from the number of injuries the animal had sustained, that was to be expected.

  “No owners?” Abigail asked, taking notes on her clipboard.

  “There wasn’t anyone else in the park.” Kylee glanced at Abigail, watching as she jotted down a few more notes. “No collar.”

  He continued his inspection of the dog, his hands gentle, yet probing. “How did you break them up?”

  “I found a big stick.” Her clear blue gaze held his, making it impossible not to look at her.

  “A stick?” he repeated, trying to keep his voice neutral.

  Her nod was tight. She was nervous, defiant...and so damn beautiful. He noticed her tension. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen her this way. Why did she always seem ready to run? “It was a very big stick.”

  Abigail stopped writing then, looking at Kylee with the same mix of awe and surprise that he felt.

  He shook his head. “You could have been seriously injured.”

  Kylee’s face shuttered instantly. “All I had to do was yell and wave it at them, and they ran. He didn’t.”

  Fisher wanted to tell her she was lucky. To tell her not to do it again. To shake her a little for putting herself at risk like that. But something told him that would be a mistake. Instead he said, “Abigail, make sure X-ray is free, please.”

  Once Abigail left, he spoke. “Dogs, especially when they’re worked up like this, don’t always respond predictably. You could be the one in the hospital, Kylee.” His eyes swept over her too-big clothes and worn tennis shoes. Her black hair was pulled up in a ponytail that swung between her shoulders when she moved. She looked young and lost.

  If she was listening to him, she gave no sign. Instead, she stepped closer to the exam table, running her hand down the dog’s side. “Will he be okay?”

  “Not sure.” He watched her, moved by the tenderness on her face. She was tough. And fearless. And, apparently, she had no problem defending the underdog. A flash of her holding that beer bottle sprang to mind. She’d been ready to defend him, too. Was that how she saw him? Someone who needed protecting? He couldn’t stop his smile. “I’m sure he’d thank you if he could.”

  She glanced at him, a hint of a smile on her mouth. “I thought you were fluent in dog.”

  He laughed, surprised.

  The dog whimpered and Kylee looked at him. “I feel like I should do something.”

  “Talk to him,” Fisher encouraged. “It helps.”

  Kylee glanced at him, then bent forward to whisper something to the animal.

  “X-ray is ready for him,” Abigail said, poking her head into the exam room.

  Fisher nodded, watching Kylee. “I’ll take care of him,” he promised her.

  Kylee stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest again. “I can’t... I don’t have any money. He’s a stray.”

  “It’s a teaching hospital.” Fisher nodded. “We’ll take care of him. Cases like this are good learning opportunities.”

  She brightened. “Oh. Good.” She glanced down at the dog. “He deserves a second chance.”

  He didn’t miss the wistfulness in her voice or the flash of pain in her huge blue eyes. But, like the night before, she seemed to stop and pull into herself.

  Jarvis came in, followed by two vet students. He saw Kylee and smiled. “Beating up the doctor one day and saving the dog in distress the next,” he teased Kylee. “I imagine you make a mighty fine avenging angel.”

  She stared at Fisher, stunned. “I didn’t touch Dr. Boone,” she argued, glaring at him with such anger he wanted to throttle Jarvis. “But the dog...well, it wasn’t a fair fight.”

  He’d have to worry over Kylee later. Right now he had a patient to tend to. And a group of vet students waiting for his direction. The students carefully lifted the dog, laying him gently on the gurney. Fisher turned the dog’s head, assessing the injured eye. It didn’t look good. But the lacerations that covered the dog’s haunches and chest looked relatively superficial. He knew the students were watching, echoing his every motion, hanging on his every expression. It was part of the process, reading the animals, their owners, filling in the blanks when possible.

  He stepped back. “Where do we start?” Fisher asked the three students, already clicking into teaching mode.

  “Check his vitals,” Abigail sounded off.

  “Done,” Fisher countered.

  Jake, another student, was scanning the dog’s chart. “Oxygen?”

  Fisher waited, prompting them, “And?”

  “Fluids,” Abigail jumped in.

  “IV?” Cliff asked.

  Fisher nodded. “Good. And get him prepped for X-rays. Let’s get to it.” He held the door open, letting them lead the way.

  Jarvis piped up, “We’ll take him from here, Kylee. Don’t worry, I have a feeling Dr. Fisher will do everything he can to see this mutt pulls through.”

  Fisher shot Jarvis a look, but his friend just winked on his way out. Kylee followed, pointedly avoiding eye contact as she brushed past him into the hallway. Her heat, her scent, washed over him—knocking him completely off center. He stood, rooted to the spot, staring after her swinging ponytail. But her blue eyes were fixed on the dog as it disappeared into the X-ray room. He saw the slight tremor in her shoulders, the way her hands fisted at her sides, and knew this dog was somehow important to her. He had one option—save the dog. For Kylee.

  * * *

  “WHAT DID HE SAY?” Cutter asked, spinning his worn hat in his hands.

  “Is he gonna be okay, Kylee?” Shawn’s voice shook.

  She shrugged. “Dr. Boone said he’ll do what he can.”

  “Which one?” Cutter asked. “There are two Dr. Boones in Stonewall Crossing.”

  “Fisher,” she clarified. “Not much we can do now.”

  “Good. That’s good,” Cutter murmured, heading toward the admissions desk.

  She tried to act unaffected, like it was every day she charged at two massive dogs
screaming her head off. She didn’t even know why she did it, exactly. That dog’s desperation, trying again and again to get away, tore at something deep inside of her. She knew how that dog felt.

  One glance at Shawn’s terrified face had forced her into action. For the first time, she could actually chase away his fear...and save the dog. Once the bigger dogs were on the run, the little pup stood on unsteady legs, looked at her, wagged his tail, and fell over. She’d picked him up and hurried back to Cutter’s place with Shawn running at her side.

  Shawn’s pleading had prompted Cutter to pack them into his beaten-up four-door Bronco and drive them to the veterinary hospital. He hadn’t said much, all grunts and head shakes. But it didn’t matter, they got there.

  It was only after she’d laid the poor dog on the table that she realized what she’d done. Those dogs could have turned on her. Or Shawn. Her actions had put Shawn in real danger—over a dog. Danger Fisher had reminded her of.

  She pulled her brother into a quick hug. Neither was all that comfortable with physical affection, but she needed comfort. If anything happened to her, where would that leave Shawn? She couldn’t think about what might have happened. They were all they had. “Sorry I freaked out like that.”

  Shawn smiled up at her. “It was awesome.” He laughed. “I was sorta scared of you for a minute.”

  She sighed. “I guess that was the point. Not to scare you, but the dogs.”

  “Come check these out.” Shawn waved her toward the massive aquarium in the wall. “There’s a puffer fish in here. And an eel, too.”

  Kylee stared, amazed by the vibrant colors of the agile creatures. She smiled as Shawn held a finger close to the glass and the fishes swam toward it. He moved his finger slowly and the little group of fishes followed. He glanced back at her, smiling. “Bet they think I’m going to feed ’em.”

  The doors of the vet school slid open and a young couple came in. The man cradled something, wrapped in a large beach towel, against his chest.

  “We found this, when we were out walking.” The young man placed the towel on the admissions counter.

  “Do you remember where you found it?” the admissions clerk asked. “You need to remember exactly where you found it and put it back.”

  Shawn moved forward, but Kylee caught him by the shoulder. She led him around the side, so they could see but not get in the way. In the towel was a small deer, covered in white spots.

  “We were in the park...” The young woman looked at the young man. “But I don’t remember where, exactly.”

  The woman at the admissions desk frowned. “Momma probably dropped it there. But they come back, once they’ve found food. Fawns know how to hide and stay still, it’s in their DNA.”

  “What happens if we don’t put it in the right spot?” the young man asked.

  The admissions clerk shook her head. “It’ll starve.”

  “Oh.” The young woman was really upset. “I told you we should have left it—”

  “There were fire ants,” the young man argued.

  “Hold on.” The woman at the counter buzzed, “Dr. Archer to the front, please.”

  “What’ll happen?” Shawn whispered.

  “Dr. Archer Boone works with all sorts of animals,” the admissions clerk explained, smiling at Shawn. “He has a big ol’ refuge on the Boone Ranch. It’s mostly abandoned or abused horses, but he also takes in local wildlife that need tending. He had a skunk. Oh, and a squirrel. And normally a few fawns on a bottle, too.”

  Dr. Archer walked through the swinging doors. He barely acknowledged the people in the room, heading straight for the fawn. This was Fisher’s brother?

  Kylee couldn’t help but notice how different Archer was from Fisher. Both were tall, but Fisher was bigger. Fisher was thick and broad—built like a fighter. He was a fighter, that much was clear. Knocking Carson out with one punch without losing his cool...it had been impressive and unnerving all at the same time. She didn’t see Archer doing something like that. Sure, he was fit, but more like a runner. And his face...his face wasn’t as expressive—as warm—as his brother’s. Not that she’d met many men like Fisher Boone.

  “Found it?” Dr. Archer asked, seeing their answering nods. “Fire ants?” He lifted the fawn. It made an impressively loud sound, and Shawn covered his ears.

  Kylee watched the way Archer assessed the animal. “Donna,” he spoke to the admissions clerk, “have them sign the drop-off form. I’ll go ahead and take it back.”

  Donna pulled out a clipboard and pen, offering it to the couple.

  “What will happen to it?” Shawn asked.

  Archer glanced at Shawn. “We’ll shelter him until he’s ready for release.”

  Shawn nodded, his attention bouncing between Dr. Boone and the fawn. She knew what the look on her brother’s face meant. A thousand questions were coming. He started with, “What do you mean? Shelter?”

  “Shawn, he’s got work to do,” Kylee said, trying to reel in her little brother and his endless fascination.

  “Oh.” Shawn nodded. “Right.”

  Dr. Archer almost smiled before he carried the deer into the back. Kylee watched. If it had been Fisher, she suspected he’d have answered all of Shawn’s questions. Chances were he’d have taken Shawn into the back and shown him around. She paused, wondering where the hell that had come from. She had no idea what Fisher would do. And more importantly, she didn’t care.

  “Kylee,” Cutter waved her toward the admissions desk. “This is Donna. She’s looking to retire in...?”

  “Right before Christmas. Five months, two weeks and about seventy hours,” Donna said, shaking Kylee’s hand. “Cutter said you might be interested in applying for the position?”

  “That’d be cool.” Shawn nodded, his blue eyes inspecting the waiting room and check-in desk. “Learn about helping animals and stuff.”

  “It is pretty cool.” Donna winked at Shawn before turning back to Kylee. “Money’s not bad. Hours are regular, rarely any overtime—that falls to the student workers who come on in the evenings for emergency duty. You get school holidays, which is nice when you have family.” She winked at Shawn. “It can get a little hairy now and then, but I guess working at the bar you’ve seen it all. Oh, and you get health care and retirement, too. And tuition reimbursement, if you want to go back to school.”

  Kylee was speechless. She had no intention of applying for this job. But hearing the laundry list of reasons why she should apply gave her pause. A real job? Health benefits, normal hours, and vacation time with Shawn. She glanced at her brother, who was looking at her. She knew that look, that how-can-you-say-no? look. How could she say no?

  She shook her head. She didn’t have a vehicle, for one, and it would be a long walk from the bar to the vet hospital. “I’m not so sure,” she spoke up. “I don’t have much experience with computers. Or animals.”

  “I’d train you. It’s not hard—most of the programs are tailored for the school. You just gotta stay on top of things.” Donna shrugged. “And be nice to customers. They’re real uppity about being nice to the customers.”

  Which was another problem. Kylee was civil but nice was a stretch.

  Shawn snorted. “Never mind.”

  Donna and Cutter laughed, too.

  “Hey.” But she was smiling, too. “I thought you were on my side.”

  “I am.” Shawn stared around the lobby. He was clearly impressed. But then, he hadn’t spent much of his life in a place this interesting—or clean. “You should work here.”

  Her gaze followed his, taking in the detailed mural that ran around the top of the waiting room. It was gorgeous, a rainbow of subtly faded colored animals. Between the fish tank and the sliding glass doors into the clinic, there was a light and airy openness. Maybe that was why she felt nervous? The bar was dim
and small, easier to hide in. She knew to be on guard and what to look for. But here? Working here would put her on display, front and center. Easy to find, if someone was looking.

  “Just in case.” Donna slid several sheets of paper across the counter. “Here’s the application.”

  Shawn nudged her until she picked up the papers. “Thanks.”

  “Better be gettin’ back,” Cutter interrupted. “Got a bar to run.”

  * * *

  THE WEEK FLEW BY. Fisher was in charge of the spay clinic on Tuesdays and neuter clinic on Thursdays. Wednesday and Friday classes were followed by afternoon clinical rotations. Every day he checked on Kylee’s sweet-natured stray. The clinic had named him Chance—because he’d been given a second chance. He hadn’t lost the eye, but he had lost most of his ear. His back leg wasn’t broken, but the tissue and skin had been badly damaged. Chance had more stitches than Fisher cared to count. The dog would heal, but his gait would probably always be a little off. All things considering, Fisher was pleased things had turned out so well.

  By the time quitting time rolled around Friday, he was glad he didn’t have emergency duty that weekend. His thumb was better, but still tender. And next week he’d need full range of motion to handle Goliath for his post-op visit. He and the giant rottweiler didn’t see eye to eye when it came to who was alpha in the room. It didn’t help that Goliath’s hundred-pound owner spoiled the beast. But it was time to check the damn dog’s pins and he was the only doctor who would still work with him, so resting his thumb was necessary.

  Besides, a few days off from the hospital was a good thing. Not that his father would let him sit around and do nothing. Nope, Teddy Boone had a never-ending list of things to be done on the ranch. Cutting cedar, replacing fence stays, grading the back road that had washed out during the winter rains and rounding up calves were on the old man’s agenda. But tonight Fisher was going to enjoy himself.

  Every weekend Cutter opened the dance hall off the bar, bringing a good portion of Stonewall Crossing out to enjoy the live music and family-friendly atmosphere. His brother Ryder had invited the whole family to the Shots dance hall that night.