The Color of Courage. Patricia Davids

turned away without voicing the comment on the tip of his tongue and led the way to the door beside the reception desk. She was stubborn, irritating and yet pathetic at the same time. So, why did he find her so attractive?

      It made no sense. The sooner she saw her horse, the sooner she would leave. Then maybe he could forget those beautiful eyes and the effect they seemed to have on his common sense.

      He held open the door, but she stopped so close beside him that he could smell a subtle scent like peaches in her hair. He was tempted to lean closer to make sure. He didn’t, when he realized how unprofessional it would appear.

      “What do you think his chances are without surgery?” she asked in a low voice as she stared at him intently.

      Such beautiful, sad, green eyes. How could he add to her sorrow? This was the part of his job he dreaded most. He glanced back at the other unit members. They were watching him intently. The words he needed to say stuck in his throat. He sought to give her some hope. “Every patient is different. Only time will tell.”

      “If he were your horse, what would you do?”

      “If he were my horse and surgery wasn’t an option?”

      “Yes.”

      “I wouldn’t let him suffer. I’d spend as much time as I needed saying goodbye, then I’d have him put down.”

      “No! I couldn’t stand that.” The last bit of color leeched from her face. She turned away, and the sudden movement caused her to lose her balance. His cane clattered to the floor as he caught hold of her.

      Chapter Three

      “Easy, I’ve got you.” Brian held the slender form of the woman against his chest and struggled to keep upright for both their sakes.

      Her hair did smell like peaches. Funny, he hadn’t pictured her as the type of woman to use a scented shampoo. She struck him as a soldier through and through. It was intriguing to know she had a feminine side. He steadied himself by leaning back against the wall.

      “I’m fine. It’s just a dizzy spell,” she said quickly.

      The tight grip of her hand on his lab coat lapel told him more than words how much distress she was in. If there was one thing he knew well, it was the signs of pain—in animals and in humans.

      A second later her fellow soldiers reached them. Shane swept Lindsey up into his arms without a moment’s hesitation and Brian had no choice but to let him. Seeing how easily and gently the man lifted her made Brian acutely aware of his own physical shortcomings. Years ago he had carried Emily just as effortlessly. He thought he had come to terms with his disability a long time ago, but obviously he hadn’t.

      His limp was only a small reminder of the tragedy his carelessness had brought about. In one night he had lost both his wife and their unborn child. His mistake had cost him everything he held dear and he had only himself to blame.

      Lee quickly retrieved Brian’s cane and handed it to him. Taking the polished wooden staff, Brian nodded his thanks and ignored his feelings of inadequacy. He extended one hand indicating a door a few steps down the hall. “My office has a sofa in it. You can lay her down in there. Do you want me to call nine-one-one?”

      “No.” The weak murmur came from Lindsey.

      “Are you sure?” Shane asked, looking uncertain.

      She nodded as if more words were beyond her.

      “This way,” Brian said, and moved to open his door. Inside his office, he swept up a few papers and books from the brown leather sofa to make room for her.

      Shane lowered her gingerly, then stood back. None of the men seemed to know what to do next. Brian cleared his throat. “Would you like a drink of water?”

      “Yes, please,” she whispered. She still hadn’t opened her eyes.

      Brian grabbed a paper cup from the dispenser on the wall and filled it from the bottled container beside it. Moving back to her side, he settled himself on the edge of the couch. He lifted her head and held the cup to her lips. She took a sip then sighed. He lowered her head back to the cushion.

      She opened one eye. “I thought you didn’t do humans.”

      “I make exceptions for women dressed in Civil War uniforms.”

      For an instant a smile tugged at the edge of her lips before she winced in pain again. “How fortunate can a girl get?”

      “Are you sure you don’t want me to call nine-one-one?”

      “Two rides in an ambulance in one day would be more than my ego can take. I don’t suppose you have some really good pain medicine handy. The pills they gave me at the hospital don’t seem to be doing much.”

      “I’ve got a ton of good stuff here.”

      She opened both eyes. “Really?”

      He nodded. “I’ve got drugs that will knock out a horse.”

      “Ha-ha. What does a girl have to do to get some?”

      He was pleased to see her smile return, along with a bit more color in her cheeks. “She would need to grow two more legs and a tail.”

      “Are you telling me I don’t measure up as one of your patients?”

      “I never said anything of the kind. It’s actually nice to be able to ask a patient where it hurts and get an answer.”

      “It hurts exactly where my horse landed on me.”

      “From my vantage point that looked like almost all of you.”

      “You are so right. If you aren’t going to supply me with drugs, can you help me sit up?”

      Brian didn’t have a chance to help her. Her comrades were more than happy to oblige. He moved out of their way. When she was sitting upright she waved them aside. “I’m okay now. Don’t hover.”

      The men backed up, but they didn’t look ready to leave her to her own devices.

      Brian filled the cup again with more water and handed it to her. To his relief, he saw that her color was almost back to normal. “If you won’t go to the hospital, at least go home and lie on your own sofa so I can have mine back.”

      Taking the offered drink, she sipped it and nodded. “Once I see Dakota, I’ll do just that.”

      All of the men began to protest together, but she ignored their scolding and stood. Cradling her arm, she winced but remained steady on her feet. “Show me the way, Dr. Cutter.”

      “He’s down the hall, through the doors at the very end and in the first stall on the left.”

      He felt slightly cheated as he watched her fellow unit members guide her out the door, one on each side with her captain close behind. It wasn’t that he wanted her to fall into his arms again. Of course not. He simply wanted to make sure she was all right. But that was what her friends wanted, too, he reminded himself. And they certainly had more of a right to care for her than he did. He was nothing but a stranger.

      The thought brought back his frown. He was more than that. He was the man who might have to put her beloved horse to sleep.

      Early Monday morning, Lindsey begged a ride to the Large Animal Clinic with Shane. When they arrived, they saw Lee and Avery just going in. It seemed that all of them wanted to check on Dakota before they started their duties for the day.

      As she approached Dakota’s stall, Lindsey was surprised to see Captain Watson had arrived before them. He was deep in conversation with Dr. Cutter.

      When her captain caught sight of them, he smiled. “I’ve been talking to the doctor and he has a way to do surgery on Dakota at a reduced cost to our unit.”

      Lindsey’s heart jumped as happiness surged through her. “How