The Color of Courage. Patricia Davids

left ear. “Why do you always zero in on the new ones?”

      Lifting his cane from the back of his chair, he crossed the office and pulled open the door. Seated at the reception desk was one of the young students who doubled as a part-time secretary for him.

      “Jennifer, will you put Isabella in her outside cage, please?”

      “Of course. What did you do to get banished from Dr. Cutter’s desk this time?” she asked the rabbit as she took her from Brian.

      “The usual,” he answered.

      “Ah, pencil nibbling, were we?” She, too, scratched the bunny behind the ears.

      “I can’t break her of the habit.”

      “You could try switching to pens.”

      “I like pencils. They let me change my mind as often as I need to.”

      “So does the delete key on your computer.”

      “It isn’t the same.”

      Rolling her eyes, Jennifer headed for the outside door and said, “Therein lies your problem, Doctor. You have to learn to say what you mean the first time.”

      Brian turned back to his office. He knew how to say what he meant, but he was often accused of being too gruff. Whenever he needed to draft a letter or a grant application, he worked and reworked the words until they seemed soft and polite enough. Pencils worked best for the task. After he had the tone he wanted, he typed his work into his computer. Some might say he was making twice the work for himself, but he still preferred his tried-and-true method.

      Certainly, his upcoming lecture on pastern arthrodesis for the Equine Surgical Conference in January was no exception. It was an honor to be asked to speak and he wanted his address to be perfect. He intended to rework it until he was completely satisfied. Fortunately, the college bookstore had an excellent supply of the large yellow legal pads he liked best.

      Back at his desk, he put aside his work on his presentation for the moment and opened the file on Dakota. The gelding wasn’t doing as well as he had hoped. The surgery itself had gone well, but the big horse seemed to be having more pain instead of less. That wasn’t encouraging. A knock at his door caused him to look up. Jennifer stood in the doorway minus the rabbit.

      She motioned toward the folder he held. “Is that the file on the army horse? I was wondering how he was getting along.”

      “I’m not happy with his progress. Even with the medication he’s getting, his respiratory rate and pulse rate are higher than they should be. The staff has been reporting that he’s restless and he isn’t eating well.”

      “None of those are good signs.”

      A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth, but he held it back. “So you have been paying attention in class. Will wonders never cease?”

      She blushed and looked chagrined. “Is there anything else you need, Doctor? If not, I’m going to take off.”

      He hadn’t meant to offend her, but before he could form the right words to apologize, she was out the door.

      Of all the females he had known in his life, only Isabella never seemed to care what tone he chose or how gruff his words sounded. If only more women had her tolerance, his life would be a lot easier.

      Before he had a chance to dwell on the current poor state of his interpersonal skills, Jennifer opened the door again. “Doctor, Sergeant Mandel is here to see you.”

      The sudden rush of pleasure he felt at hearing her name unnerved him. He tried unsuccessfully to stifle his excitement.

      “Show her in.”

      “Yes, Doctor.”

      She nodded but before she could close the door, he said, “Jennifer, I was teasing earlier when I made that remark about you paying attention in class.”

      “You were?”

      “Of course. I think you have an excellent future in the surgical field.”

      She looked doubtful. “You do?”

      “I do.”

      She flipped her long blond hair back over one shoulder. “Wow! Okay, but next time you’re kidding someone, Doc, you should smile.”

      “I’ll certainly try to do so.”

      Chapter Four

      Jennifer held open the door so that Lindsey and another young woman could enter Brian’s office. Lindsey appeared much more rested today, he noticed when she walked in. To his surprise, she looked even prettier than he remembered. She radiated an energy that seemed to warm a place inside him that he had almost forgotten existed. Like the dancing flames of a campfire on a cold night in the mountains, she left him longing to draw closer to the warmth.

      Wearing a camouflage shirt and matching pants with black boots, she looked every inch the soldier— except for the blue sling on her arm. She certainly wasn’t the type of woman that normally would have interested him. Since his wife’s death he couldn’t think of a single woman he had been this attracted to, but there was something about this woman that intrigued him. He didn’t care for the sensation. When he realized he was staring, he shook off the fanciful notion and rose to his feet. “Please come in, Sergeant Mandel. Have a seat.”

      Her smile flashed briefly and was gone. She appeared hesitant as she sat on the sofa. “Thank you for seeing us. This is my sister, Karen Mandel.”

      He nodded to the woman dressed in jeans and a tailored navy shirt. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

      Addressing the two of them, he said, “As you may know, Dakota’s surgery went very well. He’s tolerating his cast, which is always a good thing. In two to three weeks he’ll go back to surgery to have the pins removed and a new cast applied.”

      “Yes, Captain Watson has been keeping us informed,” Karen said softly.

      “Captain Watson is the reason we’re here,” Lindsey began. “Because of this arm, I’ve been reassigned to light duty. My orders are to oversee Dakota’s care.”

      “I don’t understand.”

      “I’ll be doing what I can to help here. Karen has asked to be involved, as well, and Captain Watson has agreed. Providing we’re not in the way, of course.”

      “Are you sure you’re fit to work?”

      “I can do whatever is needed, within reason.”

      “Working around sick and injured horses can be dangerous.”

      She leaned toward him, her smile changing from hesitant to forced. “I know that, Doctor.”

      Of course she did. She was the one with the broken arm. Retreating into his most professional demeanor, he said tersely, “That is something you can’t forget when you are here. Given your injury, I’m not sure what you will be able to do.”

      Her smile disappeared. Did he only imagine the room grew a few degrees cooler?

      “I’ve been taking care of the unit’s animals for over a year, Doctor. All sixteen horses plus the two mules. I’m sure I can manage to be of some help to you and your staff, even if all I do is muck out the stall. I know how to follow orders.”

      He sat back in his chair, registering her annoyed tone. She was upset, but he didn’t know why. “Very well. I’ll let the staff know that you’ll be…assisting here until the horse is fit to return to the army’s stables.”

      “Thank you,” she snapped back.

      “May I see Dakota now?” Karen asked, glancing between Lindsey and himself with an odd gleam in her eyes.

      “Certainly. He is through the double doors at the end of the hallway. His stall is the first one on the left down the first aisle. I need to speak