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

on her leg and the last half-hour on her arm. Flora applied a cold compress before working with either part of her body, then a warm one after.

      When they were through Flora said, “I’m sending you to the whirlpool for half an hour. After lunch someone will show you to your afternoon therapy at the canine therapy center.”

      She didn’t give Cass time to respond before she turned to another patient who had entered the room. Cass had no intention of going to the canine therapy center. She wasn’t ready to be involved with a dog again, any dog. Wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready. Why had her doctors in Germany insisted on sending her to this clinic when they knew her background? Maybe they had thought it would be what she needed since she had been a dog handler, but she wasn’t emotionally ready. She would just make it clear, without explanation, that she wouldn’t be going to the canine therapy center.

      As she walked toward the door marked “Whirlpool” Cass groaned. She almost cried with pleasure as she slipped into the hot swirling water. Today she had taken the first step towards her complete discharge and regaining her life. The one that didn’t include Rufus.

      After her trip to PT she’d stopped by the dining room long enough to grab a sandwich, leaving the soup behind. With food eaten, a warm shower taken and clean clothes on, Cass now had a nap on her agenda. She would be perfectly happy spending the rest of the day in her room.

      She woke with a start when there was a sharp knock on her door. “Coming.” Cass opened it to find a staff member there. This time it was a young man.

      “I’m here to show you the way to the canine therapy center.”

      “I’m sorry but I don’t feel like going.” What she really meant was she wasn’t going.

      The man studied her a moment as if he expected her to say more, then nodded. “I understand.”

      Cass settled back in the chair and looked into the fire. She knew her abilities and strengths. The wound of losing Rufus was too raw. Her emotions in general were stretched to snapping point. She couldn’t cope with the thought of interacting with a dog even if it was supposed to speed up her recovery.

      She loved her job, but could she ever return to it, ever get so involved with another animal that she risked reliving this almost unbearable suffering? What if it wasn’t a dog? Could she ever open up enough to anyone again to take the chance of losing her heart?

       CHAPTER TWO

      LYLE STOOD OUTSIDE Cass’s door. She had refused to go to her canine therapy appointment. From the information he’d received from Flora she’d been more than game to do the work in physical therapy. Why was she balking at the rest of the program?

      It was important. He and his colleagues had been highly successful in using canine therapy in the recovery of their patients. Cass needed to participate. He had read in her paperwork that she’d worked as a dog handler for search and rescue. Certainly she wasn’t afraid of dogs. If anything, he would have thought that she would be eager to meet her assigned dog.

      Lyle rapped on the door twice.

      He heard a voice call, “Just a minute.” Then a few seconds later the door opened.

      Cass was dressed in a T-shirt, a zip-up hoodie, jeans and socked feet. She only came as high as his shoulders. She pushed at her short blonde hair, her tone demanding as she said, “Yes?”

      “I understand that you don’t want to go to your canine therapy appointment.” Frustration with her resistance made him sound sterner than he’d intended.

      “You understand correctly.” She stepped back into the room.

      He moved to just inside the doorway. “It’s part of the program here. Everyone’s required to participate.”

      “Why?” She stood feet slightly apart as if preparing for a fight.

      He lowered his voice. “Because we’ve found that people recover faster when part of their therapy involves a dog. It’s almost crucial to full recuperation. Why don’t you let me show you the way to the center?”

      “No, thank you.” She put her hand on the door.

      His brow rose. Did she intend to close it on him? “Are you in pain? Do I need to speak to Flora?”

      A look of something close to panic filled her eyes. “No, I’m just tired. I don’t feel like it today.”

      He checked his watch. It was too late now for her to go anyway. She had already wasted half her time. “Okay, that’s understandable. Rest is good. Take the remainder of the afternoon off. I’ll see you at dinner.”

      She made no comment as she closed the door.

      Lyle had to back out into the hall to avoid having the door shut in his face. When was the last time he’d been thrown out of a room? He couldn’t even remember one. People didn’t treat him like that, yet Cass had effectively done so. He shook his head. She would be a tough nut to crack.

      It was almost dark when Lyle started for home. Cass hadn’t been at dinner. Neither had she ordered a tray. He had left his meal long enough to go to her room, determined he’d be less understanding this time. If she couldn’t follow the clinic protocols, she would be transferred elsewhere.

      There was no answer when he knocked on her door. He tried three times before he called her name. Finally, he opened the door a crack and listened for the shower running. Nothing. He called again then stuck his head in to look. Cass wasn’t there. First thing in the morning he was going to confront her when she showed up for her PT session with Flora.

      A short time later Lyle turned to go through the gate leading to his cottage when he saw a dark shadow of a person down the way. They were sitting on the fence. Who was it? He was acquainted with most people around here but didn’t recognize this person. The locals knew better than to sit outside at this time of year. His conscience wouldn’t allow him to go home without first checking on the stranger.

      He didn’t wish to scare whoever it was, so he approached slowly. Still, there was no movement. Were they so deep in their thoughts they didn’t hear him walking up? He stepped closer. He still couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. The person didn’t move. He went nearer, close enough he could touch them. Just as he was about to, they turned and looked at him. Cass! He had assumed she was safely in the castle somewhere, if not already back in her room. He would have never thought she might wander out into the night and cold. What had possessed her to come outside?

      All she wore was a thin jacket. Her hands were shoved into her pockets. She wasn’t dressed adequately for this weather. She should have on a woolly hat and scarf and a thicker jacket. “What’re you doing here?”

      She looked away, toward the last of the dying light.

      “Are you okay? It’s much too cold to be sitting here.”

      “I had to get out. I’ve been cooped up in a hospital for weeks. I needed some fresh air.” Her words were so soft he leaned forward to hear them.

      Lyle glanced in the direction she was looking and saw nothing that should hold her attention. He could only guess that her thoughts were so deep she had no idea what danger she was in. Could she even find her way back to the castle?

      But first things first. “How long have you been out here?”

      It took a moment before she answered, “I don’t know.”

      Had frostbite started? He needed to get her out of the cold.

      “Why’re you here, Doctor?” Her voice sounded stronger.

      That was encouraging. Much more like herself than her first few words.