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

military hung there. Then there was his obligation to the clinic…

      While he’d been in the Middle East that hopeless look he recognized in Cass’s and Andy’s eyes had grown in his own after receiving his “Dear John” letter from Freya. He had been caught in a net with no way out. Freya had called a halt to their relationship while he had been thousands of miles away, unable to talk to her face to face. For months the pain had been like a gnawing animal in his chest. It wasn’t until he had returned and started work at the clinic that he could at last breathe and see the relationship for what it was.

      Lyle continued along the snowy, muddy path toward his cottage. He knew this walk by heart. The moon was large tonight and he didn’t need his torch. From experience he was sure his housekeeper had left a fire laid. The thought of lighting it and a warm drink kept him moving. Thankfully he had a full belly from the meal he’d shared with the residents before leaving the clinic. He wasn’t required to dine at the castle, but Mrs. Renwick was a much better cook than he was. Since he didn’t much enjoy eating alone, he ate most of his meals at the clinic. And just as he’d expected, the two newest residents hadn’t been in attendance.

      Going through some paperwork in his office the next morning, he allowed his thoughts to wander to Ms. Bellow. He had gone to Andy Wallace’s room to make sure he was comfortable and had spoken to the overnight nursing staff about him. Yet despite his curiosity about Cass, Lyle hadn’t searched her out. Because she wasn’t under his direct care, he couldn’t think of a reason to do so. Flora would have her case well in hand. Still, he felt compelled to see Cass.

      She’d whetted his curiosity for some reason. Something about her sharp, self-assured tone and unwillingness to show her obvious pain made him want to understand what was going on behind those gloomy eyes. He’d felt her fragility when she had leaned against him. All bones and skin, as if she had lost weight. Being injured would have caused some of that but she was too thin. He felt the odd need to protect her, reassure her. Not that he would let that show. Still, just before lunch he couldn’t stop himself from walking to the physical therapy department.

      Lyle found Flora, with her dark head down, working at her desk. He knocked lightly on the door.

      She looked up and smiled. “Hello, Lyle. What can I do for you?”

      “I just wanted to check in on Cass Bellow. I haven’t seen her today.” He put his hands in his pockets.

      “She was here for therapy this morning.” Flora put down her pen. “She was ready to start when I arrived.”

      He leaned against the doorframe. “Great. When we met yesterday, I was afraid she might be resistant.”

      Flora shook her head a little. “If there was a problem it was with her working too hard. She acted determined to be finished with her recovery well before the prescribed time. I had to remind her that she could hurt herself further if she pushed herself too hard.”

      “I’m sure that you’ll see she takes it slowly and easily.” Lyle took a step into the office. “By the way, did you tell her there’s animal therapy as well? I got the impression it was a surprise to her when I mentioned it. I don’t think she was told by her doctors in Germany that it’s a central part of our program here.”

      Flora’s eyes darkened with concern. “I did mention it but was called away before more was said.”

      “I’ll speak to Esme. If Cass doesn’t show up at the canine therapy center, then I’ll talk to her.”

      Flora nodded. “Good.”

      “I told Cass the residents eat together, and she didn’t look any happier about that.”

      Flora picked up the pen and tapped it on the desk once. “You and I have been at this long enough to know how to handle an uncooperative patient. We know physical issues often include adjusting to a new way of life.” She lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “Why would Cass be any different?”

      “Agreed. What about Andy Wallace? Have you had your session with him?”

      “I’ll see him this afternoon.”

      “Let me know how it goes. I don’t think he’s in any better frame of mind than Ms. Bellow.”

      Flora grinned. “We don’t get all those great accolades for being the best therapy clinic for nothing.”

      “You have a point.” He nodded his head at the door. “I’m on my way to get a sandwich for lunch. Care to join me?”

      “Thanks, but I need to finish some paperwork for the boss.”

      Lyle chuckled. “And he appreciates your efforts. See you later.” He left, walking to the dining room to pick up some food before returning to his office. Lyle planned to continue checking up on Cass and Andy for a few days until he was satisfied with their compliance, then he’d back away.

      After lunch, Cass sat in her room by the fire, rubbing her thigh, glad therapy was over for the day. It had been grueling. Less from what she had been asked to do and more from her pushing herself. She had broken into a sweat and had clenched her teeth more than once not to cry out as pain had shot through her leg. Flora had warned her to slow down. It had been strenuous and stressful at best. Even her arm had resisted a couple of the exercises.

      Making matters worse was the discovery Cass had made that she had stamina issues. The hospital stay in traction had taken a lot out of her. She’d always been fit, had worked out regularly with ease. Now she just felt frustrated. Regaining her strength wasn’t going to happen fast enough.

      That morning she’d been up and dressed by the time Melissa, a staff member, had knocked on her door. She had slept well the night before. Sleeping in the hospital hadn’t been ideal. The peace and quiet of this country castle did have its appeal.

      She had on some of the few clothes she habitually kept packed in her to-go bag. The knit sweatpants and T-shirt would have to do for workout clothes. When she and Rufus had caught the transport plane to Eastern Europe, nowhere in her plans had she thought to prepare for weeks of being in a hospital or being in a physical therapy clinic in Scotland in the winter.

      Melissa had escorted Cass by elevator to the ground floor. There she had been led to the dining room.

      “I’ll return in a few minutes to show you to the physical therapy department,” Melissa had said.

      There hadn’t been anyone else in the room. Cass had been thankful for that. She’d gone to the buffet and helped herself to a boiled egg and a slice of toast. She had just finished her second glass of orange juice when the woman returned.

      “Flora’s ready for you.”

      After placing her dishes on a tray, Cass followed Melissa down a long hall off the main one. They entered an area that looked like a gym where exercise equipment faced a bank of three large windows. In another corner of the spacious room were mats. Two high padded tables sat in the middle.

      “You can have a seat on a table and I’ll let Flora know you’re here,” she’d been told.

      Cass scrambled up on the table with more effort than she liked.

      A leggy, dark-haired woman wearing what looked like the latest fashion in exercise clothes soon joined her. Dressed in a hot pink jacket over a black top and leggings that came to mid-calf she made Cass feel extra-frumpy in her outfit. The woman even wore makeup.

      She offered her hand, “Hi, I’m Flora McNeith. It’s nice to meet you, Cass. I apologize that I wasn’t here to meet you yesterday. I’m sure Lyle took good care of you.”

      “Who? Oh, yeah, the doctor.”

      She chuckled. “Most woman consider him more memorable than that. We should