Part 29 (1/2)
Paul offered Kendra his hand to help her stand.
The veterinarian smiled her greeting. ”Kendra Wil is. I remember you from Tom's first fight. Or the first one we know of.”
Kendra clasped the other woman's hand. ”Dr. Maxwel .
I'm glad you were on duty. How's Tom?”
The doctor sobered. ”He's lost a lot of blood, and needed a lot of st.i.tches. Wel over a hundred. But he should be fine. We'l have to watch for infection.”
Relieved, Kendra leaned into Paul. ”But he'l be OK?”
”Yes.”
”Can we see him?”
The other woman's gaze moved to Paul, then back to Kendra. ”Sure, but he's probably stil asleep.”
”That's OK. We just need to see him.”
Dr. Maxwel turned to lead them back through the doors she'd used to enter the waiting area. Her crunching steps led them down a hal way to a smal , sterile recovery room.
Thomas lay on his side on an olive green examining bed topped by a paper sheet. He was covered in st.i.tches and bandages from head almost to tail. They'd washed most of the blood from his fur. His stomach rose and fel in a slow, steady breathing pattern.
Kendra quietly approached her dozing cat. With the tip of her index finger, she brushed back the fur from the bridge of his nose over his forehead. His favorite spot.
”Oh, my poor Tom. My poor baby.” She crooned in a whisper, not wanting to disturb him.
Paul put a hand on her shoulder, sharing comfort and support. He spoke over his shoulder to the doctor. ”When can we take him home?”
Kendra looked at his profile in surprise. Harvey wouldn't have cared about reuniting her with her cat. He probably would have asked Dr. Maxwel if she knew of any animal shelters. Paul had just claimed another piece of her heart.
Dr. Maxwel glanced at Thomas before responding to Paul. ”We'l keep him overnight to make sure he doesn't develop an infection. If everything goes wel , you should be able to take him home tomorrow after lunch.”
Kendra sighed with satisfaction. ”Thank you for taking care of him.”
The veterinarian nodded with a smile. ”I'l give you a few moments alone. Don't tire him.” She left, closing the door softly.
Kendra turned back to Thomas. He was watching her through sleepy green eyes. She stroked his favorite spot again and spoke gently. ”Hey. You scared me.”
Paul squeezed her shoulder. ”You scared both of us.”
Kendra looked up at her neighbor. This was what she wanted. Someone she could share the important things with. Someone she could share her life with. Was Paul that someone?
She could tel he was attracted to her. Her gaze slipped over his tal , tight form. She was definitely attracted to him.
But she wouldn't rush into another relations.h.i.+p. She'd just broken up with Harvey that morning. It had taken her four months to realize how selfish, self-centered, and mean Harvey was. That must be some kind of world record for poor perception.
But Thomas likes Paul. He'd followed him home.
As much as she loved Thomas, she wasn't going to trust her love life to a cat.
Besides, did Paul really care about her cat or was he trying to impress her?
Don't even go there. Paul's concern for Thomas was real. After al , he'd carried Thomas to her wrapped in the afghan his mother had made for him, then raced through Westervil e to the clinic with her.
He real y cared, and it showed.
Paul gave her a quizzical smile. ”What are you thinking about?”
”How glad I am that you're here with me.”
His smile softened and the expression in his eyes warmed. ”So am I.”
Thomas could barely keep his eyes open. He wanted to see what was going on. He wanted to know who was with him, not because he was worried. He was just curious.
Kendra leaned over him, rubbing his nose. He sighed.
As always, her touch soothed him, easing his fear of this strange place and his remaining tension from the fight.
Shadow and his cats had done a number on him, but this time he'd been the one to chase them off. In the future, they wouldn't chal enge him.
He'd also brought the male to his mistress. He was glad.
Thomas strained against his drooping eyelids and watched the male smiling down at Kendra. He had a good, kind face. And, despite the concern in her eyes, Kendra looked happy. Content.
His mission accomplished, Thomas closed his eyes to nap.
A MAN, A WOMAN, AND HAGGIS.
Sue-El en Welfonder.
CHAPTER ONE.
Loch Lomond, Scotland.
'Tis the haggis you'll be wanting, la.s.s.
A sharp, high-pitched bark gave prompt agreement.
Jil y Pepper, American tourist on a mission, dropped her menu and whipped around, ready to tel the aged Scotsman that it wasn't necessary to whisper his recommendation so close to her.
Nor did she need his canine companion splitting her ear- drums.
She looked about, frowning.
Not that a scan of the inn's plaid-decorated dining room helped matters. The yappy little dog had high-tailed it. And the owner of the voice wasn't anywhere to be seen.