Page 42 of Her Three Rangers

“Well, you scared the hell out of me, too,” she said, looking equally shaken. “I was just coming to get you.”

The look on her face told me her news was probably serious, and all my thoughts of the guys were momentarily pushed aside. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “What’s going on?”

“Bill Morris just called a couple of minutes ago. His goat, Bailey—remember her?—needs help. He thinks she might have eaten something poisonous and his truck won’t start to get her here.”

“Let me grab my purse,” I said, already walking back toward my office. “Do I have any other appointments this afternoon?”

“Not for a couple of hours,” she said, following me. “Do you want me to call them and cancel?”

I paused and did some quick mental math on how long it would take me to get to the Morris farm and then how long it might take me to treat Bailey. It would definitely be close, but I might be able to make it back in time if I left in the next couple of minutes.

Once I had my purse and truck keys in hand, I was back out the office door and halfway down the hallway before I remembered what the guys had said about going places unaccompanied. I hesitated, nearly colliding with Jenny again as she pulled up short behind me.

“Are you okay?” she asked, reaching out to me as she maneuvered around me in the narrow corridor. “Why did you stop?”

“Have you seen the guys around since lunch time?” I asked, looking around frantically as if one of them might appear from around the corner or pop up out of the floor.

“They left for the hardware store about twenty minutes ago.” She gave me a puzzled look. “Ty said they should be back within the hour. Why?”

“Damn,” I cursed under my breath. I couldn’t risk waiting that long. Not only for Bailey’s sake—though she was my main priority—but for my other clients scheduled for later that afternoon. If I didn’t get out the door and into that truck right now, I’d definitely be late getting back. “Can you please tell them where I went if they get back before I do?”

“Sure,” she said, still looking at me like I was speaking a foreign language. “Any particular message? Or… for any one of them in particular?”

I shook my head. “No to both questions. Just tell them where I went, and tell whichever one you see first.”

“Got it,” she replied, but I was already moving toward the door.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I called back over my shoulder. “Don’t forget to give the guys my message.”

I walked out the door without waiting for her to answer, only pausing for a moment as I slid into the driver’s seat of the truck. There was really no way I’d run into Garrick between her and Bill’s farm, but it still made me nervous to go by myself.

I already knew I’d catch hell for it from the guys later, but there really wasn’t any alternative. I had a job to do, and sweet little Bailey couldn’t afford to wait around while I called in my personal bodyguards.

If they got mad, they’d just have to get over it.

Or maybe they’d let me make it up to them.

I smiled to myself as I pulled out of the parking lot. Yeah, that was what I’d do.

I could spend all night taking turns making it up to them. Over and over, if necessary.

But for now, I had a poisoned goat to tend to.

I secured Bailey in a crate and tucked a blanket around her to keep her as comfortable as possible for the ride back to the clinic.

“Thank you so much, Doc,” Bill said, peering over my shoulder as I secured her crate in the passenger seat of the truck. “I really appreciate you taking her in. I’ll try to get the truck fixed by tomorrow so I can come and check on her.”

With Bailey lying in the crate and the crate strapped into the seat, I shut the passenger door and shook Bill’s hand. “No worries. I honestly think she’s going to be just fine after we get some fluids in her, but I’d like to keep her at least overnight, just in case. Why don’t you go ahead and call me tomorrow and I can update you then?”

“Will do,” he nodded, waving as I walked around the front of the truck to the driver’s seat. “Thanks again.”

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I smiled, waving back as I got in and started the truck.

I looked over to my sick little passenger. “Don’t worry, sweetie,” I said, shifting the truck into gear. “We’ll get you all taken care of and back home before you know it.”

She made a pitiful little noise and nuzzled into the blanket as we pulled out of Bill’s driveway and onto the road.

I checked the time. I should have just enough time left to get back to the office before my next appointment.

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