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“Come check these out.” Shawn waved her toward the massive aquarium in the wall. “There’s a puffer fish in here. And an eel, too.”
Kylee stared, amazed by the vibrant colors of the agile creatures. She smiled as Shawn held a finger close to the glass and the fishes swam toward it. He moved his finger slowly and the little group of fishes followed. He glanced back at her, smiling. “Bet they think I’m going to feed ’em.”
The doors of the vet school slid open and a young couple came in. The man cradled something, wrapped in a large beach towel, against his chest.
“We found this, when we were out walking.” The young man placed the towel on the admissions counter.
“Do you remember where you found it?” the admissions clerk asked. “You need to remember exactly where you found it and put it back.”
Shawn moved forward, but Kylee caught him by the shoulder. She led him around the side, so they could see but not get in the way. In the towel was a small deer, covered in white spots.
“We were in the park...” The young woman looked at the young man. “But I don’t remember where, exactly.”
The woman at the admissions desk frowned. “Momma probably dropped it there. But they come back, once they’ve found food. Fawns know how to hide and stay still, it’s in their DNA.”
“What happens if we don’t put it in the right spot?” the young man asked.
The admissions clerk shook her head. “It’ll starve.”
“Oh.” The young woman was really upset. “I told you we should have left it—”
“There were fire ants,” the young man argued.
“Hold on.” The woman at the counter buzzed, “Dr. Archer to the front, please.”
“What’ll happen?” Shawn whispered.
“Dr. Archer Boone works with all sorts of animals,” the admissions clerk explained, smiling at Shawn. “He has a big ol’ refuge on the Boone Ranch. It’s mostly abandoned or abused horses, but he also takes in local wildlife that need tending. He had a skunk. Oh, and a squirrel. And normally a few fawns on a bottle, too.”
Dr. Archer walked through the swinging doors. He barely acknowledged the people in the room, heading straight for the fawn. This was Fisher’s brother?
Kylee couldn’t help but notice how different Archer was from Fisher. Both were tall, but Fisher was bigger. Fisher was thick and broad—built like a fighter. He was a fighter, that much was clear. Knocking Carson out with one punch without losing his cool...it had been impressive and unnerving all at the same time. She didn’t see Archer doing something like that. Sure, he was fit, but more like a runner. And his face...his face wasn’t as expressive—as warm—as his brother’s. Not that she’d met many men like Fisher Boone.
“Found it?” Dr. Archer asked, seeing their answering nods. “Fire ants?” He lifted the fawn. It made an impressively loud sound, and Shawn covered his ears.
Kylee watched the way Archer assessed the animal. “Donna,” he spoke to the admissions clerk, “have them sign the drop-off form. I’ll go ahead and take it back.”
Donna pulled out a clipboard and pen, offering it to the couple.
“What will happen to it?” Shawn asked.
Archer glanced at Shawn. “We’ll shelter him until he’s ready for release.”
Shawn nodded, his attention bouncing between Dr. Boone and the fawn. She knew what the look on her brother’s face meant. A thousand questions were coming. He started with, “What do you mean? Shelter?”
“Shawn, he’s got work to do,” Kylee said, trying to reel in her little brother and his endless fascination.
“Oh.” Shawn nodded. “Right.”
Dr. Archer almost smiled before he carried the deer into the back. Kylee watched. If it had been Fisher, she suspected he’d have answered all of Shawn’s questions. Chances were he’d have taken Shawn into the back and shown him around. She paused, wondering where the hell that had come from. She had no idea what Fisher would do. And more importantly, she didn’t care.
“Kylee,” Cutter waved her toward the admissions desk. “This is Donna. She’s looking to retire in...?”
“Right before Christmas. Five months, two weeks and about seventy hours,” Donna said, shaking Kylee’s hand. “Cutter said you might be interested in applying for the position?”
“That’d be cool.” Shawn nodded, his blue eyes inspecting the waiting room and check-in desk. “Learn about helping animals and stuff.”
“It is pretty cool.” Donna winked at Shawn before turning back to Kylee. “Money’s not bad. Hours are regular, rarely any overtime—that falls to the student workers who come on in the evenings for emergency duty. You get school holidays, which is nice when you have family.” She winked at Shawn. “It can get a little hairy now and then, but I guess working at the bar you’ve seen it all. Oh, and you get health care and retirement, too. And tuition reimbursement, if you want to go back to school.”
Kylee was speechless. She had no intention of applying for this job. But hearing the laundry list of reasons why she should apply gave her pause. A real job? Health benefits, normal hours, and vacation time with Shawn. She glanced at her brother, who was looking at her. She knew that look, that how-can-you-say-no? look. How could she say no?
She shook her head. She didn’t have a vehicle, for one, and it would be a long walk from the bar to the vet hospital. “I’m not so sure,” she spoke up. “I don’t have much experience with computers. Or animals.”
“I’d train you. It’s not hard—most of the programs are tailored for the school. You just gotta stay on top of things.” Donna shrugged. “And be nice to customers. They’re real uppity about being nice to the customers.”
Which was another problem. Kylee was civil but nice was a stretch.
Shawn snorted. “Never mind.”
Donna and Cutter laughed, too.
“Hey.” But she was smiling, too. “I thought you were on my side.”
“I am.” Shawn stared around the lobby. He was clearly impressed. But then, he hadn’t spent much of his life in a place this interesting—or clean. “You should work here.”
Her gaze followed his, taking in the detailed mural that ran around the top of the waiting room. It was gorgeous, a rainbow of subtly faded colored animals. Between the fish tank and the sliding glass doors into the clinic, there was a light and airy openness. Maybe that was why she felt nervous? The bar was dim and small, easier to hide in. She knew to be on guard and what to look for. But here? Working here would put her on display, front and center. Easy to find, if someone was looking.
“Just in case.” Donna slid several sheets of paper across the counter. “Here’s the application.”
Shawn nudged her until she picked up the papers. “Thanks.”
“Better be gettin’ back,” Cutter interrupted. “Got a bar to run.”
* * *
THE WEEK FLEW BY. Fisher was in charge of the spay clinic on Tuesdays and neuter clinic on Thursdays. Wednesday and Friday classes were followed by afternoon clinical rotations. Every day he checked on Kylee’s sweet-natured stray. The clinic had named him Chance—because he’d been given a second chance. He hadn’t lost the eye, but he had lost most of his ear. His back leg wasn’t broken, but the tissue and skin had been badly damaged. Chance had more stitches than Fisher cared to count. The dog would heal, but his gait would probably always be a little off. All things considering, Fisher was pleased things had turned out so well.
By the time quitting time rolled around Friday, he was glad he didn’t have emergency duty that weekend. His thumb was better, but still tender. And next week he’d need full range of motion to handle Goliath for his post-op visit. He and the giant rottweiler didn’t see eye to eye when it came to who was alpha in the room. It didn’t help that Goliath’s hundred-pound owner spoiled the beast. But it was time to check the damn dog’s pins and he was the only doctor who would still work with him, so resting his thumb was necessary.
Besides, a few days off from the hospital was a good thing. Not that his father would let him sit around and do nothing. Nope, Teddy Boone had a never-ending list of things to be done on the ranch. Cutting cedar, replacing fence stays, grading the back road that had washed out during the winter rains and rounding up calves were on the old man’s agenda. But tonight Fisher was going to enjoy himself.
Every weekend Cutter opened the dance hall off the bar, bringing a good portion of Stonewall Crossing out to enjoy the live music and family-friendly atmosphere. His brother Ryder had invited the whole family to the Shots dance hall that night.
His brothers—minus Archer—their wives and his cousins from Montana would all be there. Ryder’s wife, Annabeth, was getting close to delivering their twins so there weren’t a lot of nights out in their future. Annabeth wasn’t really up to dancing, but he suspected Ryder and their young son, Cody, were trying to cheer her up. She’d been pretty uncomfortable the last few weeks.
Knowing he’d see Kylee was an added incentive. She was a prickly little thing, someone he didn’t understand—yet. But that hadn’t stopped him from thinking about her throughout the week or hoping he’d see her when she checked in on Chance.
“Eye’s lookin’ better,” Cutter greeted him as he walked into the bar.
“Thanks. Feelin’ a bit better, too.” Fisher smiled.
“Here’s hoping this weekend is downright uneventful,” Cutter laughed.
“No arguments from me,” Fisher agreed, heading through the open doors and into the dance hall in back.
Most of his family was there already, crowded together around two tables. They smiled, waving him over.
“What happened to you?” Renata, his twin sister, was on her feet. “And why didn’t I know about it?” She frowned at her brothers.
“Nothing to tell, really.” Fisher hugged her.
“Way I hear it, he took one in the eye for Archer.” Ryder, the youngest Boone, grinned.
“First his roommate, now his stunt double,” his cousin Tandy said, wincing and shaking her head. “Archer owes you big time, cuz.”
“I’m with Tandy. Being the oldest means I have to look out for all of you, but—” his big brother, Hunter, pointed at Fisher’s eye “—taking a punch to the face for Archer is going above and beyond brotherly duty.” Hunter grinned. “I’m betting Archer didn’t shoulder much guilt over it. Or is he coming to buy you a thank-you beer later?”
“Nope,” Ryder shook his head. “He bowed out, something about some new something-or-other at the refuge needing his attention.”
“He needs a girlfriend,” Renata sighed.
Fisher, Ryder and Hunter burst out laughing.
“Hey, Fish— Your face!” Annabeth, Ryder’s very pregnant wife arrived, almost dropping the pitcher of water she carried.
“He’s fine, princess.” Ryder stood and pulled a chair back for her. “Don’t get yourself all worked up.”
Annabeth rolled her eyes.
“What are we laughing over?” Josie, Hunter’s wife, joined in. “I’m assuming it’s not Fisher’s face?”
“Sort of.” Hunter kissed his wife’s cheek.
“I was just saying Archer might benefit from the company of a lady friend,” Renata offered.
“What about the new bartender?” Annabeth asked. “She’s gorgeous.”
“She is, at that.” Toben, his cousin and Tandy’s twin, tipped his beer bottle at the bar. “I don’t think Archer could handle that one.”
“Kylee and Archer? As a couple?” Fisher asked before he could stop himself. He didn’t like the way Toben was looking at her. He heard the shock in his voice, and so did everyone else around the table. He didn’t miss the grins the women exchanged.
“Kylee, huh?” Hunter piped up, hiding his smile behind his beer.
Ryder was looking at him wide-eyed. “Huh,” he murmured before craning his neck to see the bar at the back of the room. “Where is she?”
“Working at the back bar,” Annabeth answered. “Long black hair. Biggest blue eyes. Other than yours, of course.” She grabbed Ryder’s chin and pressed a kiss to his lips.
Fisher watched, seeing the satisfied smile on his little brother’s face. His brother, the player...he never thought he’d see his brother so happily settled, but then Fisher had never had a woman look at him the way Annabeth was looking at Ryder. “Guess I’ll get a beer,” he mumbled, pushing himself up from his chair.
Which led to a few giggles from the women.
He didn’t respond as he made his way across the dance hall, smiling and exchanging pleasantries as he went.
Kylee didn’t see him, she was busy filling mugs and popping tops off beer bottles. Cutter didn’t serve hard liquor when the dance hall was open—only beer, water and soda. Cutter said it kept things from getting out of control and was more family friendly.
“What can I—?” She paused, her gaze meeting his. She caught sight of his face and wrinkled her nose.
“Evening, Kylee,” he said, smiling.
“Doc.” She nodded. “How’s the dog?”
“Getting stronger. Jarvis said you’ve stopped by a couple of times. Sorry I missed you.” He smiled. “You should come see him again. Nothing perks a fella’s spirits up like a visit from a pretty lady.”
Her eyes narrowed.
He held his hands up. “He told me to say that.”
“He? As in, the dog?” Kylee asked, smiling even though he could tell she tried like hell not to.
“Yep.” He nodded. “The dog.”
“Good to know he’s feeling well enough to talk.” She shook her head, looking uncomfortable as she murmured, “Thank you for looking after him.” She was pretty when she blushed. Who was he kidding? She was pretty all the time. Especially when she wasn’t frowning at him.
“Hey, lady, can we get a beer?” someone called from the other end of the bar.
“Cutter got you workin’ alone?” he asked.
“Joni called in sick.” Kylee shrugged. “Meaning her boyfriend is in town. Bobby’s coming in about an hour.” And with that, she went back to work.
“How’d I know I’d find you here?” Jarvis asked, sitting on one of the bar stools. “You should know, your whole family is watching.”
“More reason to stay here.” He sighed.
“Fisher,” Kylee called out, sliding his preferred beer down the bar toward him.
He grabbed the bottle—even though he hadn’t told her what he wanted. He shouldn’t read too much into it. She was a good bartender and he’d been a regular customer. That’s all. A bartender who was working...so he should leave her alone and stop giving his family a reason to talk.
“Feel free to join me.” He pointed to his family. “My cousins are new in town. I can introduce you to Tandy, if you promise to behave.”
“Making no promises,” Jarvis said.
Fisher took his beer, trying to dodge a group of kids—his nephew Eli, Hunter’s son, included—and stepped back, bumping into something. He turned to find a boy bent over, collecting papers and shoving them into a notebook.
“Sorry, mister,” the boy murmured, looking up at him.
“No problem.” He stooped beside the boy, picking up several papers. The boy liked horses; he’d drawn a lot of them. One in particular caught Fisher’s eye.
“I’ll meet you over there,” Jarvis said, leaving him for his very blonde, very pretty cousin.
