She nodded and reached for the mop and bucket.
He stayed her hand. “We can clean up in the morning.” He eyed her with concern. “Are you all right?”
She blinked. “Ja, why wouldn’t I be?”
“You’ve been quiet.”
“Just thinking.”
“About?
“Boots.”
James smiled. “He’s doing well. I’m glad I called the Rogans. They’re happy to come for him. He’ll do fine as long as they keep him still, leave his collar on and give him his pain medicine on time.”
“And bring him back to see you on Tuesday,” Nell added.
“Yes.”
“Do you need me to do anything else before I leave?”
James shook his head. “No, go on home.” He paused and couldn’t help saying, “Be careful driving.”
She nodded and left. James was slow to follow, but he watched her through an opening in the window blinds. Once her buggy was no longer visible, he took one last look around the clinic to make sure everything was as it should be, then he left, locking up as he went.
As he slipped onto his car’s leather seats, he thought of Nell on the wooden seats in her buggy. He wondered how she’d react if she had the chance to ride in his car. There might be a time that he’d bring her home. He scowled. Probably not, because her time at the clinic was temporary, until Janie came back from vacation.
Nell was a fine assistant, he thought as he put the car in Reverse. She would manage fine until Janie’s return.
A dangerous thought entered his mind, but he pushed it firmly aside. He quickly buried a sudden longing for something—or someone—else in his life other than his work, which had been the most important thing to him for some time.
* * *
Nell answered the phone when James’s receptionist, Michelle, called into the office the next day. “Pierce Veterinary Clinic,” she greeted. “How may I help you?”
The woman on the other end sounded dismayed. “Hello? This is Michelle. Who is this?”
“Hallo, Michelle. It’s Nell. I’m helping James in the office until you or Janie returns.”
“That’s wonderful, Nell,” the woman said. “I was worried about him managing the office alone.” The two women chatted for several moments more, catching up, before breaking the connection. Nell went back to work, relieved that Michelle was glad to learn that she was filling in.
“Who was on the phone?” James asked as he came out to the front desk.
“It was Michelle. She and her son are feeling better, but now her husband and two daughters are sick.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Was she surprised that you answered the phone?”
“Surprised but pleased. She’s been worried about you.” She and Michelle had become friendly since Nell’s first visit to the clinic.
James smiled. “I hope you told her to rest, recuperate and take care of her family.”
“I did.”
“Good.”
Nell glanced at the appointment book on the desk. “Boots Rogan is due any minute for his follow-up.”
“I want to check to make sure he hasn’t bled through his dressing,” James said.
Boots’s appointment went well, and the owner took him home to continue the dog’s recovery.
The afternoon went by quickly, and before they knew it, they’d seen the last appointment. But then an emergency call came in from Abram Peachy, a deacon in Nell’s church district. Their mare Buddy had been injured by another horse.
James grabbed his medical bag. “Nell, will you come?”
“Ja, of course I’ll come.” Nell locked the front door and turned off the lights before she hastened through the back door and met James at his car. She hurried toward the passenger side and hesitated, uncomfortable being in such close quarters with James. He was suddenly there by her side, opening the door for her.
Feeling his presence keenly, she quietly thanked him, then slid onto the passenger seat. She ran her fingers over the smooth leather as James turned the ignition. The interior of the car smelled wonderful.
“Which way do I go?” he asked as he glanced her way.
She blushed under his regard and forced her attention ahead. “Take a right out of the parking lot,” she told him.
As he followed her directions, Nell was overly aware how close they were in the confines of James’s car. Did he feel it too? The attraction between them? Charlotte was waiting outside for them as he drove close to the house. She hurried toward the vehicle as Nell and James climbed out of the car.
Her eyes widened and a look of relief passed over her features as she looked from James to Nell.
“What happened?” Nell asked.
“Something frightened Barney,” Charlotte said. “Joshua was getting Buddy out of her stall when Barney reared up and came down hard against her side.” She addressed James directly. “She’s suffered a large gash. Can you help her?”
“I’ll do what I can. Show me where you keep her.”
Charlotte led the way, and Nell followed them to the barn where they found Abram near Buddy’s stall.
Abram looked relieved to see them. “I put her back in her stall.”
James studied the horse. “Good. She’s in closed quarters.” He addressed Abram. “I may need your help to hold her steady as Nell and I ready her to stitch up the wound.”
“She’s a gentle soul, but she’s hurting bad,” Abram said after agreeing to James’s request.
Abram’s son Nate entered the building. “Can you help us for a minute?” James asked after a quick look in the young man’s direction. “Do you have any rope? We’ll need to secure it to the rafters and around Buddy to help keep her steady after I give her a sedative.”
“Ja,” Abram said. “Nate, will you get that length of rope from the tack room?”
Nate immediately obeyed then slipped inside the stall, being careful to skirt the animal until he reached the front right side. “Dat? You oll recht?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Be careful, soohn,” Abram warned as Nate came up on Buddy’s opposite side.
James grabbed the rope and with a toss of his arm, he threw one end over the rafter until it fell in equal lengths to the ground. “Nate, could you wrap this around Buddy? Abram, you don’t have a wench or pulley, do you?”
The man shook his head. “We’ll make do.”
He addressed Nell, “Would you get me a syringe and the bottle of anesthetic?”
Nell handed him the bottle and the needle.
He took it without looking at her. She could feel his concern for the animal. She’d seen different sides to the veterinarian over the past week, each more impressive than what she’d seen before.
His face was full of concentration as he inserted the needle. The animal jerked and kicked out, her hoof making contact with James’s shin. He grimaced, but that was the only sign that he’d been hurt. Nell worried about him when he continued as if the horse hadn’t clipped him.
He stood back. “We’ll have to wait a moment or so until the anesthetic takes effect.”
His eyes met Nell’s. She