For the Love of Ivy - Cindy Kirk Page 0,41
worry when you hear the truck drive up.”
He slipped the phone back into his pocket and smiled. “Ivy was asleep by nine.”
While he drove, Seth updated her on the little girl’s evening. Lauren kept one eye on the collie. Though it seemed to take forever, they finally pulled into the lane leading to the ranch.
Seth didn’t spare the house a second glance. Instead he wheeled the truck in front of the metal outbuilding and shut off the engine. In seconds he’d unlocked the door and returned to the truck for the dog.
Lauren followed him to a room in the back and glanced around the spotless interior. “This is amazing. It’s like your own vet clinic.”
Seth had already placed the animal on the metal exam table and was busy pulling supplies from the cabinets.
“When Dad had the building put up, it was with the knowledge that he and Mom would eventually be moving south and I’d be taking over the ranch,” Seth explained. “He thought it would be convenient for me to have my veterinary practice right on the property. Since I didn’t finish the program, I’ve never fully utilized this portion of the building.”
An hour later Seth had cleaned the debris from the laceration and sutured it shut.
Lauren frowned as he carefully inspected the animal’s hind leg. “How bad is it?”
“There’s some swelling.” Seth’s expression gave nothing away. “The joint appears strong and functional.”
“That tells us...”
“That it’s probably not broken. I don’t think he damaged any ligaments.” Now relief flowed through his voice. “We should be okay with some anti-inflammatory medications and a short-term splint.”
Seth gave the sedated dog a pat and grabbed a bandage from the cabinet. He bent over the exam table where the dog lay snoring and began wrapping the bandage around the injured leg. “Not fancy but it’ll do.”
Since he’d used the ether sparingly, by the time Seth secured the bandage, the animal was already stirring.
Lauren glanced about the room. “Where will he sleep tonight?”
Seth leaned over and pulled a large wire cage from under the counter. “This should work.”
Lauren’s heart sank. She’d pictured the collie on one of those fluffy dog beds she’d seen on television, not in a wire prison. “I hate to see him in a cage."
“If he has too much freedom, he could reinjure himself.” With expert hands, Seth settled the animal inside the cage, latched the door and straightened. “Give him time and he’ll be good as new.”
“Thanks for sticking around.” His gaze locked with hers and she saw gratitude— and some other emotion she couldn’t identify—in the liquid blue depths. “Having that extra pair of hands really helped.”
Unexpected warmth flowed through her. While she’d always received kudos for her academic achievements, this one was personal. “My pleasure.”
“What a way to spend New Year’s Eve.” Though Seth shook his head, a tiny smile played at the corners of his lips.
“I can’t imagine a better way to end a year.” Lauren gazed at the sleeping dog and her heart swelled with emotion. “It’s not often I get to help save a life.”
“It feels good.”
“Good? That word hardly seems adequate.”
“You’re right.” Seth grinned. “There’s nothing like it.”
“You’ve got a gift, Seth.” She touched his arm. “You should be so proud of yourself, of what you did here tonight.”
The tips of his ears turned red, but she barely noticed. It was his eyes that held her mesmerized. The emotion she’d noticed before had returned, only stronger and more easily recognizable. Her body responded, sending heat thrumming through her veins. Despite the late hour, she was suddenly wide-awake.
“I suppose we should head inside.” She shifted from one foot to the other, waiting for him to make his move. She waited. Then waited some more.
His eyes darkened. For a second she thought he was going to kiss her again. Instead he moved to the stainless-steel sink, turning his back to her.
She watched silently as he took an inordinate amount of time washing his hands. When he turned back surprise flashed in his eyes. It was as if he hadn’t expected to see her still standing there.
“I need to get some ice on his leg.” He spoke brusquely. “I’ll have to continue with the neuro checks. Make sure there’s no brain injury. The signs don’t always show up right away.”
“I’ll stay and keep you company,” Lauren began to offer, but he started shaking his head before she’d even finished speaking.
“You’ll have Ivy to care for in the morning.” He wiped his hands on a paper towel and