thankful there was no one else out tonight. When I got closer to the address Bryce had given me, I finally noticed the sign for the clinic. The old owner’s name was still on the plaque. Doctor Benjamin Foster, DM. God, I hoped Bryce was correct. The trees were overgrown, the drive down the narrow gravel lane dark as shit. When I came up on the series of buildings, there was no sign of activity, not a single light highlighting the outside.
“Fuck!” I slammed my hand on the steering wheel, cursing until I noticed the small house located off the side. And there was a vehicle parked on the side. As I drew closer, I could tell there was a light on somewhere inside. I threw the gear into park and rushed out, pounding on the door.
When there was no movement for a full minute, I pounded again. “Come on. This is an emergency.”
Finally, I heard footsteps as well as the rumbling bark of another dog. When the door was opened tentatively, a huge dog raced out, jumping on me immediately, his growl deep-throated, the outside light turned on.
Then I heard a cry of surprise.
And perhaps one of disgust.
“Zorro. Whoa, boy. I’m sorry. He’s my guard dog. It’s obvious that I need one.”
I would recognize the beautiful voice anywhere, but my gut told me this wasn’t going to be a pleasant exchange. “Danni. I’m not here on a social visit.” I continued to rub Zorro’s head, offering a smile even as my heart continued to race.
“While that’s a damn good thing, I’m not interested.”
“So you’ve said more than once. I need your help.”
“Oh, this should be good.” As Zorro eased onto his haunches, Danni stood with her arms crossed, a mixture of animosity and curiosity crossing her face. “On second thought, maybe I should allow Zorro to eat you. He hates bad people. You can bite him if you need to, Zorro.”
When Zorro wagged his tail, nuzzling against me, she rolled her eyes.
“Look, I don’t know what the hell you have against me, but we can play games later. I have an injured dog with me, and I need some help. If you really are a veterinarian, I’m not asking for me. I’m asking for the pup huddled on my passenger seat who might be bleeding to death.”
She shifted forward, glancing toward the truck. “Your dog?”
“No, I found him at the ranch, but he’s hurt pretty badly. Maybe a wild animal attack. Maybe worse.”
There was no more hesitation. She immediately raced off the porch in her bare feet, moving quickly toward the passenger door and throwing it open, blinking as the light highlighted what she was dealing with. She threw her head in my direction, grimacing. “Jesus. What the fuck happened?”
I took long strides in her direction, watching as she carefully peeled away the blanket. “I wish I knew but if I had to venture a guess, I’d say he’s been shot.”
“Who the fuck would do this?”
“I have no idea.”
“Yeah. I just bet you don’t.” She shot me a hateful look then pointed to the other building. “If you really give a damn, take him to my clinic. I need to grab my keys.”
Hissing, I watched as she bounded into her house. While I couldn’t understand the utter hatred she felt for me, I refused to allow her nasty attitude to interfere with the dog’s care. “Come on, buddy. Let’s get you some help.”
By the time I’d carried him to the door of the clinic, she was already approaching, replacing her bare feet with tennis shoes, and wearing a white coat over her pajamas. In her hand was a set of keys. I couldn’t help but notice her hands were shaking as she attempted to find the right one, finally jamming it into the lock. She opened the door, immediately flooding the area with fluorescent light, moving quickly to another room and flipping on a switch.
“You can put him down on the table inside the room. I need to gather some items.” Just before she headed toward a small hallway, she tipped her head, looking in my direction. “This is going to be a long night. I suggest you settle in. Or you can leave if you need to. I will certainly understand.”
“I have no intention of leaving.” Damn, the woman could get under my skin. I’d never had a single woman challenge me the way she did. While a part of me appreciated her moxie, the majority of me