Courted By The Cowboy. Sasha Summers

drooped.

      “Good shot, though,” Fisher added.

      Jake nodded.

      The two of them pulled the forty-plus-pound animal from under the Jeep and onto the sidewalk, out of harm’s way. Fisher rubbed the cat’s head, checking its pupils before running his hands along its muscular side. The cat’s right back leg hung at an awkward angle.

      “Fracture. Possibly oblique, maybe transverse. We’ll know soon,” he murmured.

      “Pretty lucky, considering.” Jake knelt beside him.

      Fisher nodded. “So was the woman who was driving.”

      Why the woman decided to put the bobcat into the Jeep with her after she’d hit it, he’d never know. Sure, she did a good thing by bringing it to the hospital. But she’d also endangered herself by handling a wild animal. She’d loaded it into her Jeep while it was too stunned to react. But when it did come round, the bobcat wasn’t too thrilled about being trapped. The woman was going to need stitches the length of her forearm as well as on her thigh and the side of her hand. The bobcat was probably looking at some pins and a plate in his leg.

      Michelle arrived, pushing the metal gurney in front of her. “Sorry. Couldn’t find one big enough.”

      Fisher stood, scooping the bobcat up and placing it on the gurney. “No problem. Long as we get him into a cage before he wakes up again.” He ran his hands over the bobcat, careful of the broken leg. “Did you page Dr. Archer?”

      Michelle paused. “No.”

      “I will.” Jake finished making notes on his tablet and started to go, but Fisher stopped him.

      “How about you two get the cat secured first.” He shot a meaningful look at Jake. Something about fourth-year vet students. They got all competitive. “Then call Dr. Archer to present the case—together.”

      Jake looked irritated, but he nodded and helped Michelle push the gurney inside.

      He followed behind the two, making a few notes on his tablet. When he entered the hospital he was hit with a chorus of barking. It was vaccination day. The community clinic in the teaching hospital offered a low-cost vaccination clinic once a month. Cats in the morning and dogs in the afternoon. He glanced at his watch. It was almost four. From the looks of the lobby, they were behind.

      “Hey, Dr. Fisher,” Shawn’s voice caught him off guard. “Kylee said Chance wanted to see us so we brought him a toy.” The boy held up a large rawhide twist.

      He smiled at Shawn. “Good to see you, Shawn. Chance’s gonna be one happy dog.” His eyes swept the room until he found Kylee. She stood off to the side, arms crossed, posture rigid. Like him, she was inspecting the room—but she wasn’t looking for him. He didn’t know what she was looking for, but it was obvious she wasn’t comfortable being there. He and Shawn joined her. “Hi.”

      “Hi,” she murmured, hardly acknowledging him.

      “What?” he teased, cupping his ear.

      She looked at him, her eyes so blue they took his breath away. “I said hi.”

      “What?” he repeated, loudly. “Wait.” He waved them through the doors that separated the lobby from the exam rooms and specialty wings. “Hi.”

      She arched a brow. “You think you’re funny, don’t you?”

      “I have my moments. You have to admit, it’s a little quieter back here.” He smiled. “Let me take you back to see Chance.”

      She nodded, a small smile on her face. In the few days since he’d seen her, he’d thought a lot about her smile. “Is it always this crowded?”

      He shook his head. “Last Monday of the month we have discounted vaccinations. Tends to be our busiest day of the month.”

      “Oh.” Her expression softened further. “That’s really nice.”

      “We try to do that around here,” he returned. “Be nice. Take care of animals. And their people.”

      “What was that thing on the cart?” Shawn asked, pointing at the gurney and its comatose occupant.

      “It’s a bobcat,” Kylee answered. Her huge blue gaze fixed on him, “Right?”

      “Yep.” Fisher nodded, inspecting her. She looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes. But then, working all night would do that to a person. How she managed her job and kept up with Shawn was a mystery. Looking at her, he’d bet she could use a break. It was close enough to quitting time—maybe he could take them for an ice cream.

      She’d say no, he knew that. She was too guarded. But he’d already learned she had two soft spots. Her brother and animals. He respected her desire to protect those who were weak. Hell, that was one of the reasons he was in the line of work he was in. Maybe she wouldn’t be so quick to turn him down if he showed them around the hospital. “Just got here. Wanna see?” he asked Shawn.

      Shawn glanced back and forth between his sister and Fisher. It was only after Kylee nodded that Shawn followed Fisher into the exam room where the bobcat lay.

      “Jake, what can you tell us about the patient?” Fisher asked.

      “Lynx rufus,” Jake said, listening to the animal’s heart with his stethoscope. “His vitals are steady. Bleeding is controlled. Actually pretty minor. Waiting on X-rays.”

      Fisher nodded. Sounded like everything was on track. He turned to Shawn. “He’s out cold, if you want to pet him.”

      Shawn stared at the bobcat. “Really?”

      Fisher nodded. “Sure thing.” He looked at Kylee then, figuring he might need to ask her first. But she was just as transfixed by the animal. Something about the look on her face made his chest feel heavy—and warm. “You, too, Kylee.” He smiled at the uncertain expression on her face. “Not every day you get to pet one of these. Normally they have too many teeth and claws.”

      Shawn moved forward slowly, his hands wavering before sinking deep in the cat’s fur. “He’s so soft.” He looked at his sister. “Kylee.” The boy’s exasperated tone brought a smile to Fisher’s lips. How often had he goaded Renata into doing something?

      Kylee placed Chance’s rawhide chew on the counter and moved to Shawn’s side. Her fingers barely touched the cat’s fur before she drew back. Her hand returned, stroking the bobcat’s head with more confidence. “Poor thing,” she murmured. The smile that appeared on her face was mesmerizing. She was mesmerizing—too mesmerizing.

      Fisher understood the awe on Shawn’s face. There was something magical about animals, they inspired delight and wonder—something it was easy to forget when you worked with them day in and day out.

      “What happened to it?” Kylee asked. “How did it get hurt? His leg...is it broken?”

      “It looks broken,” Shawn echoed.

      Fisher nodded toward the bobcat’s back leg. “Got hit by a Jeep.”

      Shawn winced.

      Fisher nodded.

      “How did it get here?” Kylee asked, her brow furrowing.

      “The driver, the one who hit him, loaded him into her car while it was knocked out and drove him here.” Fisher shrugged, still amazed that the woman hadn’t stopped to think about what might happen once the bobcat woke up. A slew of stitches wasn’t good, but it could have been a lot worse.

      Jake jumped in. “Then the bobcat woke up while she was still in the Jeep.”

      Kylee’s mouth fell open. “Is she okay?”

      “She will be. But she needs stitches,” Michelle answered, handing the chart to Fisher for review.

      Kylee grabbed Shawn by the shoulders and pulled him back.