Page 68 of Redeeming Harmony

“So, I imagine a handsome fella like yourself is married?” Mrs. Murrell asked.

“I’m not married, actually,” Nathan said.

“Is that right?” Mrs. Murrell glanced at her husband. “Our Ruby’s been divorced twice, but she’s still one heck of a looker and smart as a whip. “Isn’t that right, Lawrence?”

“Yes,” Lawrence said. “And she’ll be getting her braces off any day now.”

Beside him, Jade made a strangled sound that might have been a laugh. Trying hard to keep a straight face, Nathan said, “Well, it was great to meet you both. Keep an eye on Tinkerbell tonight. Vaccines can make them a little sleepy, so don’t worry if she naps a bit more than usual tonight. Give the clinic a call if there’s any vomiting or lethargy. All right?”

“All right.” Mr. Murrell held his hand out again, and Nathan shook it before shaking Mrs. Murrell’s hand.

As they left, carrying a still purring Tinkerbell in the crate, Jade grinned at him. “You know they’re going to try to set you up with their divorced daughter, right?”

He laughed and disinfected his hands as Jade wiped down the table with more disinfectant. “Sounds like it.”

He looked around the gym. It was close to four in the afternoon, and the clinic was winding down. Compared to this morning, when it had been full of people and animals, there were only half a dozen people left in the rows of chairs, and they all had dogs. He’d lost track of how many dogs he’d vaccinated this morning and, once he’d switched stations with Warren after the lunch break, how many cats he’d vaccinated.

He didn’t want to be prematurely optimistic, but he thought the clinic had been a success. Thanks to Rayna and her connections, they’d even had a local TV station from Riverton come by. They’d recorded some footage and did an interview with Nathan and Rayna, and the segment would air tomorrow morning on Riverton Global.

He glanced over at the dog station. Warren attempted to vaccinate a giant and enthusiastic English Mastiff as Hal and Allie worked together to keep the dog still.

He stretched and then cracked his neck. “Was that the last cat?”

“Let me check with Laila,” Jade said. Before she could leave, an older woman with short silver hair marched up to the table carrying a soft-sided carrier. Arianna trailed after her, an exasperated look on her face.

“Excuse me!” The woman said and placed the carrier on the table in front of Nathan with a soft thump. “I’m here for the free vaccine for my cat.”

She waved a hand dismissively at him, and the light that caught on the multiple diamond rings gracing her fingers nearly blinded Nathan.

Her cashmere sweater and designer jeans fit her to perfection, and oversized diamond earrings weighed her lobes down. A thick silver necklace studded with yet more diamonds as well as rubies and sapphires hugged her neck, and Nathan wouldn’t have been surprised if her boots cost more than the clinic’s x-ray machine.

“Um, like, I told you back at the check-in table, this clinic is for low-income families, Mrs. Rathbone,” Arianna said. “You have more money than my parents, and they’re, like, stupid rich.”

The woman glared at her. “How dare you, Arianna! I will speak to your father at the country club next weekend about your rudeness to me.”

“Whatever,” Arianna said. “All I’m saying is that demanding a free vaccine when you can easily afford to pay for it is super gross.”

Mrs. Rathbone’s face turned bright red, and her lips thinned out until they were barely visible. “You will watch your tone with me, young lady.”

Before Arianna could respond, Nathan said, “It’s fine, Arianna. We’re happy to help Mrs. Rathbone today.”

Mrs. Rathbone sniffed and then curled her lip at Arianna. “You can go now, Arianna, but don’t think I won’t still speak with your father.”

“Whatevs,” Arianna said with an exaggerated eye roll. She walked away, and Nathan forced a pleasant smile onto his face.

“Mrs. Rathbone, is it? I’m Nathan Henshaw. It’s nice to meet you.” He held out his hand, and Mrs. Rathbone hesitated before giving it a quick shake.

“I do hope you’re washing your hands in between clients.” She glanced at the others still waiting patiently in the rows of chairs, a look of distaste on her face. “Who knows what diseases are running rampant in this room.”

Annoyance flared in Nathan, but he kept the smile on his face. “We’re always very careful about disinfecting. Now, who do you have here today?”

He bent and peered into the carrier. A petite, white, long-haired Persian cat stared back at him, her yellow eyes studying him with as much distaste as her owner.

“This is Lady Nakia of the House Rathbone,” Mrs. Rathbone said.

Jade’s burst of laughter was cut short by Mrs. Rathbone’s icy glare. Jade dropped her gaze to the table and fiddled with her nose ring as Mrs. Rathbone said, “Lady N for short.”

“Let’s get Lady N out of her carrier and have a look at her. How is she with being handled?” Nathan asked.

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