Highland Doc's Christmas Rescue / Festive Fling With The Single Dad. Susan Carlisle

on the other side of her, asked her a question. Cass gave him a two-word answer. Apparently, she didn’t want to carry on a conversation with anyone. But she needed to. If he had ever seen someone badly in need of interaction, it was Cass.

      He tried another approach. “I see the residents and staff have been busy in here today. It looks festive.”

      Cass looked around as if she was seeing the room for the first time.

      How could she not react to the greenery and red bows hanging from the chandeliers, along with the large matching centerpiece of green boughs, velvet bows, and crimson balls? Or the mantel filled with decorations? In his experience it was the kind of stuff women loved.

      Other than her hesitant look at the dog beside her, she appeared unaware of everything and everyone. He’d forced Cass into noticing him, but only for an all-too-brief moment. For some reason he wanted her to initiate an interaction with him. He wanted her to like him.

      Lyle transferred his attention to Alice, who sat on his other side. Maybe giving Cass space would help open her up a bit. He and Alice carried on a lively conversation about the upcoming village Christmas market beginning this weekend. They went on to discuss some of the other events planned for the festive season, like the annual Christmas festival at the castle, and the live nativity in the village.

      “I was told there would be a tree lighting in the village and a parade in a few weeks.” Alice’s eyes lit up with excitement.

      “There is and they even include some of the dogs from the center.”

      He glanced at Cass a few times during the discussion and caught her listening. When she saw him looking, she focused on her food again. He decided to try to draw her into conversation once more. “Cass, do you like craft markets?”

      Her head jerked up. “I…uh… I do.”

      “Then you’ll want to be sure and catch the minibus into Cluchlochry on Saturday morning. The village has a pretty impressive one. Great place to buy Christmas presents.”

      “I’ll think about it.” She pushed back her chair. “Right now I need to go for a walk before it gets dark.”

      “Hey, before you go could I speak to you for a moment in private?”

      Her expression said no. Yet she answered, “Okay, but just for a minute. I really want to walk.”

      “I promise not to take up too much of your time.” He rose when she did and followed her into the hall. “Why don’t we go to the lounge?” With a hand he directed her down the hall. She headed that way and he joined her. They turned a corner and entered another hall. At the first doorway, Lyle opened the door to the large room with numerous sitting areas. A fire roared in the fireplace in the center of the main wall. Windows filled the opposite side.

      “Why don’t we have a seat?”

      “I’m starting to feel like I’m being brought into the principal’s office. You could have gotten on to me about not going to canine therapy again today in the hall outside the dining room.” Cass sat on the edge of a cushion of the closest sofa.

      “I could have, but I’m more interested in finding out why you’re so resistant to the idea of canine therapy. Especially since I know your job entailed working closely with a dog. I assume you at least like animals a bit. I noticed you were slow to help with the dog we found and left the center as quickly as you could. I read in your file that you lost your partner.” He didn’t miss the stricken look that flickered in her eyes. “Is that what the problem is? I’d like to help. The staff here would like to help.”

      Cass shot to her feet. “I don’t want your help or anyone else’s. If you want me to go to canine therapy, fine. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

      “There you are.” Charles walking toward them stopped anything further Cass might have said.

      Lyle came to his feet. “Hi, Charles. I’d like you to meet Cassandra Bellow. She’s one of our newest residents. Cass, this is Dr. Charles Ross-Wylde. Also the Laird of Heatherglen and Esme’s brother.”

      Charles smiled at Cass. “It’s nice to meet you. Please call me Charles.”

      “Hello. You have a lovely home…castle.” Cass’s words were tight and formal. She glanced toward the door.

      Charles chuckled. “Thank you. You’re American, aren’t you?”

      “I am.”

      “You must be the woman who works in search and rescue?” He gave her an earnest look. “Interesting job.”

      “It can be.” Cass looked toward the door again. “Why don’t I let you two talk?” She slipped away.

      Lyle watched her go. He had no doubt Cass would keep her word about going to therapy. How much she would get out of it was another question. He’d just have to trust that the dog she was paired with would do what was needed to help her heal.

      “Lyle.”

      He looked at Charles, who was grinning at him with twinkling eyes. “What?”

      “You like her, don’t you?”

      “Why would you say that?” Lyle didn’t want to discuss his confused reactions to Cass Bellow. Not even with his best friend Charles.

      He laughed. “Because I called your name three times before you answered!”

      Lyle wanted to groan. Now Charles would ask questions every time he saw him. “Did you have something important you wanted to talk to me about?”

      Charles looked at him with a knowing smile on his lips. “It isn’t as interesting as Ms. Bellow but we need to talk about Andy and his progress.”

      “Ah. Why don’t we go to my office to do that?”

      Cass was still stomping and swinging her arms in exasperation when she reached the main road after the long walk down the castle drive. How dared Lyle treat her as if she were a disobedient child? She was doing her physical therapy. Aware of what she needed, it wasn’t canine therapy. But he wasn’t going to give up.

      She’d gone to dinner like he wanted, wasn’t that enough? She would go to the canine therapy center tomorrow all right, but her participation in the therapy would be minimal and uncooperative. That should keep him off her case.

      “Be strong,” she said to the trees, and shoved her hands into her jacket pockets. When her brother had been lost, her mother and father had hugged her too tightly and had constantly reminded her they all had to remain strong. Afterwards Cass had used the mantra “Be strong” whenever she’d felt helpless. Even now, years later, she was using it to defy that feeling.

      “Be strong!” she yelled to the sky.

      She’d been strong when Jim had broken her heart, then soon after that when she’d learned that Rufus was gone. She’d been strong when the doctors had warned her she might never regain full use of her crushed arm and leg. She had been strong during the grueling hospital stay. During her agonizing physical therapy sessions here. Only it didn’t matter how strong she was. Nothing changed. She was alone with no one to lean on.

      The sound of a vehicle coming up the road drew her attention. The driver was going too fast for the icy conditions. As it came around the curve the back end went one way and then the other. The skid landed the front end of the car in the stone wall between Cass and the road.

      She hurried out the castle gate and over to the car with her heart pounding, ignoring the ache in her leg. The engine was still running even though the hood was crumpled. The hot air of the radiator hitting the cold air created stream, making it difficult to see.

      Cass reached out to touch the side of the car with a shaking hand. She’d not done any rescue work or even given anyone medical attention since her last assignment.