Courted By The Cowboy

Shawn moved forward slowly, his hands wavering before sinking deep in the cat’s fur. “He’s so soft.” He looked at his sister. “Kylee.” The boy’s exasperated tone brought a smile to Fisher’s lips. How often had he goaded Renata into doing something?

Kylee placed Chance’s rawhide chew on the counter and moved to Shawn’s side. Her fingers barely touched the cat’s fur before she drew back. Her hand returned, stroking the bobcat’s head with more confidence. “Poor thing,” she murmured. The smile that appeared on her face was mesmerizing. She was mesmerizing—too mesmerizing.

Fisher understood the awe on Shawn’s face. There was something magical about animals, they inspired delight and wonder—something it was easy to forget when you worked with them day in and day out.

“What happened to it?” Kylee asked. “How did it get hurt? His leg...is it broken?”

“It looks broken,” Shawn echoed.

Fisher nodded toward the bobcat’s back leg. “Got hit by a Jeep.”

Shawn winced.

Fisher nodded.

“How did it get here?” Kylee asked, her brow furrowing.

“The driver, the one who hit him, loaded him into her car while it was knocked out and drove him here.” Fisher shrugged, still amazed that the woman hadn’t stopped to think about what might happen once the bobcat woke up. A slew of stitches wasn’t good, but it could have been a lot worse.

Jake jumped in. “Then the bobcat woke up while she was still in the Jeep.”

Kylee’s mouth fell open. “Is she okay?”

“She will be. But she needs stitches,” Michelle answered, handing the chart to Fisher for review.

Kylee grabbed Shawn by the shoulders and pulled him back.

“He won’t be waking up anytime soon,” Fisher reassured them. “It’s safe, I promise.”

Shawn resumed stroking the bobcat, his black hair flopping forward onto his forehead. “He has spots.”

“Know why the bobcat is spotted?” Fisher asked, glancing over the notes Jake and Michelle had added to the chart.

“No,” Shawn shook his head.

Fisher handed the clipboard back to Michelle. “One Native American tribe, Shawnee I think, say the bobcat trapped a wily rabbit. Once he was caught, the rabbit told the bobcat he’d taste better grilled. So the bobcat built a fire. But the rabbit told the bobcat the best wood to use was damp wood. Know what happens when you burn damp wood?” he asked Shawn.

Shawn shook his head.

“The wood swells, pops and can be a real fire hazard,” he explained. “So when the wood burned, it popped and snapped, and the embers singed the cat’s fur, leaving spots.”

Kylee frowned. “Mean rabbit.”

“Smart rabbit.” Shawn laughed. “Bet he didn’t get eaten.”

Fisher chuckled. “I bet you’re right.” He glanced at Kylee to find her watching him.

“What will happen to him?” she asked.

He swallowed, unnerved by the intensity in her blue eyes. “We’ll fix him. If he can be fully rehabilitated, he’ll be released in the wild. If not, my brother Archer has a rehabilitation and refuge center. He’ll take in any animal that needs a safe place to live out their life.” He saw the slight crease between her brows. She looked like that a lot when they were together but he didn’t know why. He got the feeling she was waiting for him to do or say something else. He hoped she wouldn’t be disappointed to know that, with him, what you saw was what you got.

* * *

LISTENING TO FISHER’S folktale filled her with unexpected longing. She didn’t put much stock in being sentimental or dwelling on the past. Most of her memories were best forgotten. But she had a few of her mother that she cherished. Climbing into her mother’s lap with a book, the feel of her mother’s softness, her sweet scent engulfing her and the soft lilt of her voice. Kylee had felt safe and protected...two things she hadn’t felt in years, two things she’d almost forgotten were a part of her childhood.

“Dr. Archer on his way?” Fisher asked the students.

“Yes, sir,” the girl answered. “He said he’d meet us in the OR after X-rays were done.”

“I’m betting there’s a hip issue,” Fisher spoke, leaning over the bobcat. “See the displacement?” Both the students crowded beside him, peering at the slight bulge of bone along the cat’s hip. Kylee almost smiled at their eagerness. “Make sure you get clear images. Might want to have an ultrasound on standby, as well.”

Shawn was still stroking the bobcat, but even he’d bent closer to the animal. His eyes narrowed as he studied the area Fisher had pointed out. His nose scrunched up and he frowned as he realized what the lump might mean. “Will you have to do surgery on him?” Shawn asked.

Fisher smiled at her brother. “Looks like it. He’ll be up and around in no time.”

Kylee was surprised to realize she believed him. And, from the small smile on Shawn’s face, so did he.

“Since he’s in such capable hands, how about I show you around?” Fisher offered.

“That would be cool.” Shawn was instantly excited.

It did sound cool, but she knew Fisher was being polite. “No, we should go,” she argued, placing a calming hand on her brother’s shoulder. “We don’t want to interrupt. You obviously have work to do.”

Fisher shook his head. “I wouldn’t have offered if it was an interruption. I’m off in—” he glanced at his watch before finishing “—eighteen minutes anyway.”

“Please, Kylee,” Shawn pleaded. “This place is awesome.”

“It really is,” the female student agreed. “I came here on a field trip when I was in seventh grade and knew I wanted to go to school here.”

“You took a field trip here?” Shawn asked.

“Every year,” Fisher said. “The kids get to be a vet for a day.”

The girl nodded. “I saw all these dogs and cats and knew this was my future.”

Kylee smiled when Shawn looked at her. They hadn’t spent much time talking about the future before. Their days had been about surviving—keeping Jesse happy. Thinking beyond their day-to-day was dangerous; it led to ideas and hope. And hope meant there was something to lose. But if they stayed here in Stonewall Crossing that might change. Shawn could grow up making plans for a real future, have friends and gain legal skills for a good life.

She didn’t say much as Fisher gave them a tour. It was an overwhelming facility, full of high-tech gadgets and impressive equipment. The only experiences she’d had with medical facilities had been for stitches, slings or treatment for her latest injury. She’d always equated hospitals and clinics with the suffering she and Shawn had experienced. But now...she saw beyond the injury to the healing. What would it be like to be a student here? To be trained on the newest, best equipment. To have engaging and passionate teachers like Fisher. To help.

Shawn had a million questions and Fisher answered them all—just like she’d known he would. She was beginning to consider Fisher was something she thought didn’t exist: a good guy. She waited for Fisher to be preoccupied with Shawn before studying him. Fisher’s smile, his laugh, his easygoing nature was a stark contrast to Jesse. Which was good—Shawn needed a better role model.

“Recovery ward,” Fisher said, pushing open another door.

Chance greeted them with several awkward spins and the frantic wave of his stubby tail.

“He’s happy to see you,” Fisher translated.

“Even I figured that one out.” Kylee couldn’t stop her smile then. “He looks great.”

“He’s a real sweetheart.” Fisher squatted so he could rub the dog behind his good ear. “Good disposition. A real pleaser.”

“What will happen to him when he’s all healed?” Shawn asked, sitting on the floor. Chance was on him then, circling Shawn, licking his ear, whimpering with unfiltered happiness. “Hey, boy, I brought you something.”

Chance took the rawhide chew, put it in the corner of his cage and ran—awkward but steady—back to Shawn. Shawn held his arms out, hugging the little dog close and carefully rubbing the wiggling creature.

“We’ll find him a home,” Fisher said, watching Shawn. “He’s got too much energy to live here at the school.”

“Some animals do?” she asked, surprised.

“Tripod does,” Fisher answered, turning his green eyes on her.

“Who’s Tripod?” Shawn asked, giggling as Chance curled up in his lap.

“He’s a pretty important cat, actually. He comforts the patients that are hurting.”

“A cat?” Kylee repeated. “Patients, as in other animals?”

“Not all of ’em. He seems to know who needs him.” Fisher grinned. “I know it sounds weird but he helps. I’ve seen it, calming the other animals’ BP. He’ll lie by them, groom them, sometimes he just puts his paw on them. He must give off some sort of healing vibe that other animals respond to.”

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