Page 62 of Call it Fate

Iain’s comment broke the immediate tension.

Clay went out to get his suitcase.

“Don’t go,” Zach said to me. “Clay just needs to get to know you. He’s a good guy. I haven’t had a chance to catch him up on everything.”

There wasn’t a chance in hell I would get Iain out of the house without a fuss, not after he just met Milo. “Okay, just don’t leave me alone with him. I’m not sure which of us is feeling more stabby.”

Zach helped bring Milo’s stuff into the house, and I offered to make dinner. Zach helped me while Clay showed Iain some of Milo’s tricks. It wasn’t what I would call relaxed, but with Iain’s innocent comments, we all managed to laugh and get through dinner without any further issues.

Zach was helping a sleepy Iain get settled in my car when Clay called my name. Hesitantly, I walked over to him on the front stoop. Clay raked a hand through his hair before looking at me. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for behaving like an asshole earlier. It’s not a good excuse, but I’ve been busy with a pretty nasty case, and I haven’t kept up with Zach for a couple of weeks. I’m afraid it colored my attitude today. That, and I knew how much losing you last time messed with him. I just didn’t want to see that happen again.”

“My friends felt the same way. The jury is still out with Chase, my cousin. So, I understand. I’m glad Zach has a friend like you.”

He smiled, but I held up my hand. “But don’t try to intimidate me again. Zach and I are working things out, and his happiness is important to me. But I won’t sit back and allow anyone to come between us or him and his son, not even his friend.”

His eyes widened, and his mouth twitched. I waited for the fallout, but instead, his face broke out into a huge smile; his eyes lit up, and I saw a small dimple in one cheek that I previously hadn’t noticed. “I hear you loud and clear.” He cocked his head as he stared at me. “I think I like you for Zach after all. He needs people in his life who stick up for him and not their own interests.”

“Oh, believe me, I have my own interests in him.” I winked to signal we were good.

Clay walked me to the car, where Zach stood watching us with a guarded expression. He visibly relaxed when he saw the two of us smiling. Things were looking hopeful after all.

CHAPTER26

Zach

The days passed, and I’d settled into a good routine, both with the clinic and time spent with Iain and Emalee. I felt a sense of settlement that I never expected to find. I no longer filled my days with appointments and volunteer hours. Instead, I looked forward to going home and having Em and Iain over or meeting them at The Dogtrot. And having Milo back with me helped a lot, too.

“Hey, Doc, I just squeezed in an extra appointment this afternoon,” Lucy called into the office where I was updating some charts on my past two patients. “I know that makes it tight, but I think you’ll understand when you meet them. They’re in room two.” She cast pleading eyes toward me. “I really hope you can help him. Here’s the file.”

I was worried, especially after my other emergencies, but this time, I was better prepared for the unusual. I glanced at the chart, relieved to see it was a dog, but it was still a special case, one that went straight to my heart. I grabbed my stethoscope and headed to the exam room.

With a soft knock on the door, I poked my head in. “Sergeant Connelly, I’m Zach Abbott. I’m filling in for Doc Claypool.” I headed in the direction of the man who’d seen the ravages of war. He turned his head toward the sound of my voice, but his eyes didn’t meet mine. He held out a scarred hand. I grasped it, not at all repulsed by the mottled skin that had been damaged by fire. I’d seen similar several times before.

“Doc, nice to meet you. Call me Harrison, please.”

“Harrison, it’s a pleasure to meet you. And this must be Lessa.” I squatted down to scratch the ears of the golden retriever who sat at his owner’s feet. To my surprise, she lifted a paw as if shaking my hand as well, making me chuckle.

“Just ‘cause she’s got four feet instead of two don’t mean she shouldn’t have manners,” Harrison joked. He must have known what Lessa did because his head never turned our direction. “Her name meansprotector of humanity. Turned out to be a right good name for her.” He patted her head while he spoke. “She’s saved a lot of lives.”

“Did you teach her that?” I asked, settling onto the rolling stool to chat while I observed the loyal dog who nuzzled her human in return.

“Sure did. Found I had a lot of time on my hands when I came home. It was something to do.”

I nodded, even though I knew Harrison couldn’t see me. “Tell me what I can do for her.”

Harrison’s face grew solemn. “Well, I’ve noticed a lump on her left back leg. My wife tells me she can’t see a tick or anything, so I’m here to find out what it is and see what you can do for her. She’s been my constant companion since we came home six years ago. She was my bomb-sniffing partner in Afghanistan. She saved my life more than once and some others, too, so I figure it’s my turn to do everything I can for her. She’s slowed down some, but she’s still guiding me around obstacles, keeping me safe.”

“Well, Lessa, let’s see what’s there, shall we?”

“Up,” Harrison commanded, his tone firm but still soft. I had a feeling Harrison didn’t do much of anything with force. How he came out of combat with a gentle nature still intact was a mystery to me. I guessed for some people, when you’d seen the worst of humanity, it was easier to take lesser things more in stride.

I maintained a meaningless dialogue with the animal while working my hands across her body until I reached her back leg. Sure enough, there was a lump almost the size of a golf ball on her leg.

After examining it, I praised Lessa for letting me look at her and sat back on the stool.

Harrison turned his head in my direction. “What’s the verdict, Doc?”

“Well, I can’t say for sure, but it’s definitely subcutaneous. It could be a fatty deposit, which isn’t uncommon in older dogs. But I’ll have to run some tests to know for sure. She also seems quite arthritic in the back legs. I see she isn’t on any pain meds. I can give you something that might make her more comfortable.”

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