‘Mr MacKinley!’
‘Kern,’ he corrected.
‘I didn’t realise you would be here,’ she said, surprised to see him. Mostly the guests consisted of work colleagues and friends. Kern MacKinley was neither of those.
‘Eloise insisted I come,’ Kern admitted.
Ruby grinned and teased him. ‘So you’re here because your aunt told you to come?’
Kern shrugged. ‘The woman has a way of making me agree to things when I have every intention of declining. It’s a skill I’d hoped she’d lost while I was away.’
Ruby laughed, not believing anyone could make this man do anything he didn’t want to. She guessed the real reason he’d come this afternoon was to make his aunt happy. Kern MacKinley might like to act all deep and uncaring, but sometimes he showed glimpses of being a sweet man.
Glancing around, she noticed another surprise guest, talking to Anne’s husband, Harry. ‘And your stepfather? Did Eloise invite him too?’
‘It turns out Fin is friends with your colleague’s husband and he invited him along.’
‘So an unexpected family gathering for you?’ she said, looking up at him to see how pleased he was at the fact. It had been clear during their exchange the other day, and from what Kern had said while clearing out his aunt’s barn, that the two men had little time for each other.
‘If I’d known Fin would be here then I’d have stayed away, no matter what Eloise wanted. Every run-in we’ve had since I came back has ended badly.’
‘Probably best to just ignore him, then,’ Ruby said.
Kern nodded. ‘I intend to. Would you like another drink?’
Ruby held up her half-full glass of orange juice. ‘No, thanks. I still have plenty.’
She waited for Kern to walk away and find someone else to talk to—someone more interesting—but he didn’t. Searching for a different subject, she asked, ‘How’s Evie?’
Kern grinned, the warm light in his eyes softening his features, taking away some of the tension that seemed permanently to line his face.
‘She’s much better. I still haven’t worked out what magic you used on her, but she’s happier in herself and willingly stays in the stables at night. She and my aunt’s horse are slowly making friends too.’
Ruby smiled and brushed back a curl that was tickling her cheek. She was pleased to hear that her short session with the troubled horse had helped. ‘That’s wonderful.’
‘It is,’ he agreed. ‘And it’s all because of you and the spell you cast over her.’
She laughed and shook her head, feeling warmth flowing into her chest at his praise, easing some of her awkwardness. ‘No spell or trickery involved, I swear.’
He stared at her for several moments, not saying a word, but his eyes did the talking for him. He didn’t believe her, and the flicker in their serious depths told her he wasn’t done with finding out the truth.
Self-conscious, Ruby touched her neck, wondering if she was imagining things. ‘Why are you staring at me?’
‘I’m looking to see if your nose grows any longer,’ he replied. His eyes narrowed and he leaned forward, closing the space between them. ‘No, I think it’s as small and pretty as usual.’
Ruby’s laughter caused several people to turn their way, but she didn’t care. ‘I’m not lying. I just spent some time soothing her and talking to her.’
It wasn’t a lie. Her healing did soothe and calm. Just like humans, animals reacted to strokes and soft words. Evie was a horse in emotional pain, and normally she would have offered further sessions to help the filly through it, but Kern already suspected some kind of sorcery, so the last thing she wanted to do was arouse his curiosity further. Not when she wasn’t sure how he would react to the idea of someone healing by using her hands and her mind.
A lot of people were sceptical about holistic medicines and practices, despite the fact that most of them had been around longer than modern medicine. Many of the old cures had simply been forgotten over time and generations.
‘I wish I could work out what you’re hiding,’ he murmured softly.
Unnerved by his words, Ruby glanced away. If he knew all her dark secrets she doubted he’d spend any more time talking to her. He’d cut her off without another thought.
It was what had happened in the past, when people had either discovered her gift or learnt the truth about who her parents were and the lurid scandal of a world-famous, much-loved jockey, adored by the public for his humour and talent and his French model wife. They’d been the perfect couple in front of the camera and the racing crowd. Only behind closed doors the marriage had been one full of violence, affairs and cruelty.
She couldn’t risk anyone finding out who she really was. They would either hate her for not telling them the truth, view her as being secretive and not to be trusted, or—worse—grill her over her parents’ marriage in their quest for gossip.
She shivered and gripped her glass tighter. The old familiar urge to be alone with Dog somewhere secure was returning. But she couldn’t leave yet. The party had barely started, and if she did it was bound to cause talk and even offence among her new colleagues.
Kern touched her arm with concern. ‘Hey, what did I say?’
She blinked up at him, wishing she had stayed at home instead of trying to join in with the others. She wasn’t a people person, preferring her solitary existence.
‘Sorry?’
‘You seem upset,’ he murmured.
‘No,’ she lied, flashing him a smile she didn’t feel. ‘Just thinking about something. Nothing important. Why did you leave the other night?’
Raised voices interrupted them. They turned in the direction of the ruckus, which was on the other side of the car park. Eloise and Fin stood several paces apart, glaring at each other. Fin held a can of beer and Eloise a plate full of food.
‘Looks like a family bust-up is about to kick off,’ Kern sighed heavily. ‘Some things never change. I’ll be honest—this I haven’t missed.’
Ruby didn’t like the way her landlady appeared about ready to throw her food over the old man. ‘Should you go over?’
Kern shook his head. ‘I doubt my aunt needs any help. I’ve known grown men to shake when she gets riled up.’
‘Even so,’ Ruby said, concerned at the way the old couple were squabbling. ‘It’s ruining the barbecue.’
Kern grunted. ‘Okay—but if she gets angry with me, I’m blaming you.’
Ruby giggled and shook her head. ‘I’ll deny everything. Go—before your aunt starts throwing mushroom vol au vents. I haven’t had a chance to eat any yet.’
‘Fine,’ Kern huffed, capturing her elbow and manoeuvring Ruby along with him. ‘But you’re coming with me.’
‘I think I should stay back,’ she said, not keen to get dragged into his family’s issues.
‘No way,’ Kern scoffed. ‘This is your idea, so if anything gets thrown you can get hit first.’
Ruby gasped. ‘Such a gentleman!’
‘Oh, I’m no gentleman, Ruby,’ he insisted flatly. ‘I’d hate you to make the mistake of thinking I am.’
They reached the elderly couple just as their voices began to rise again.
‘What’s going on?’ Kern asked, shielding Ruby slightly behind him despite his earlier comment, his stance both protective and thoughtful.
‘Oh, here he is,’ Fin sneered, turning his attention to Kern. ‘The returning son and nephew. He left with nothing and he’s returned with nothing—because he couldn’t control a woman.’
‘Keep your mouth shut!’ Eloise yelled. ‘You know nothing about him or his marriage.’
‘Enough, both of you!’ Kern scolded the bickering pair. ‘This is not the time for tossing insults. Go home if you want to do that.’
‘Why shouldn’t these good people know the truth about you?’ Fi
n continued, not listening. ‘You always believed you were better than anyone else—your mother was to blame for that.’
‘Don’t you speak about my sister,’ Eloise interrupted. ‘She was an angel—too good for you.’
‘She was a money-grabbing waste of time—just like his wife.’
Wife? Ruby glanced at the man beside her. Not once had Kern mentioned a wife. Where was she? Did she plan to follow him to Dorset? Why hadn’t he ever mentioned her?
She took a step away from the squabbling threesome, the urge to leave returning.
‘I said enough!’ Kern yelled. ‘No one here is interested in our family’s past and grievances. Now, behave or leave.’
Anne’s husband, Harry, moved into the group, his expression annoyed. ‘Fin, I think perhaps you should listen to the man and go.’
Fin slammed his beer can down on the buffet table, causing it to wobble. ‘Me? Why not them?’
Harry shook his head. ‘Everyone was having a good time until this. I won’t have Alex and Kiki upset because I made the mistake of asking you to join us. You need to go home and have a good long sleep. You’ll feel better if you do.’
‘Damn people!’ Fin swore. He picked up his drink and pulled a bunch of car keys out of his trouser pocket.
‘You can’t drive,’ Kern said, moving to take the keys from the old man. ‘You’ve been drinking and you’re in no fit state to—’
‘Give me them!’ Fin snatched the keys back out of Kern’s hold and hurried away before anyone could react.
‘Let him go,’ Eloise urged, grabbing Kern arm.
‘And risk him killing someone?’ Kern asked, heading after his stepfather, who had amazing agility for someone in his seventies.
‘Dog—wait!’ Ruby yelled after the hound, who had left his pitch near the barbecue and was now intently following Kern out of the rear car park. ‘Dog—heel!’
Racing after the trio, Ruby ran down the side of the building and reached the front car park in time to see Kern tugging on the driver’s door of a rusty blue van.
‘Fin, turn the engine off!’
The old man angrily revved the engine instead, while swearing and yelling at Kern through the half-open window.
Ruby rushed forward, intent on grabbing her dog by the collar before he ran any closer to the vehicle. ‘Dog, wait!’
For the first time in his life, Dog ignored Ruby. His tail swished side to side as he bounded towards Kern, his focus on the man he considered his new friend.
‘Dog! Stay!’ Ruby yelled.
Still yanking on the driver’s door, Kern turned at her shout and spotted Dog heading towards him. Letting go of the door, he moved in Dog’s direction and yelled, ‘Stay, Dog!’
The Irish Wolfhound ignored them both and continued to run towards Kern.
‘Dog!’ Ruby screamed, desperate for the canine to halt.
Fin suddenly shot the van into Reverse with a squeal of tyres and slammed into Dog, sending the hound flying into the air with a sickening high-pitched yelp, before he fell back to the ground in a rough-haired heap.
Fear stilled Ruby’s blood and her movements. Dazed, she stared at her dog, stretched out in the middle of the car park, her brain struggling to take in what had just happened. Her heart beating loudly in her ears, drowning out all the other sounds around her, she stayed frozen on the spot.
Alex rushed past her and reached Dog first, crouching down to check him over with expert fingers.
‘Dog...?’ Ruby whispered, tears coating her lips as they ran down her face. As if in a trance, she moved towards her boss and shakily knelt down beside her best friend, dreading what she was going to find.
‘Miss Day!’
Alex’s urgent calling penetrated the fuzzy buzzing in her head and she stared down at her dog, still not moving on the worn Tarmac. Was he...? Please, no... Don’t let him be...
Swallowing hard, she glanced up. ‘Yes?’
Alex held her gaze, pulling her slowly from the shock that was about to engulf her completely. ‘This patient needs our help. He’s alive, and that’s all that matters right now. Okay?’
She nodded and roughly wiped away the tears. ‘Yes.’
Kern crouched down beside her. ‘Oh, God, Ruby. I’m sorry. I never meant—’
‘Apologies and blame can wait,’ Alex snapped. ‘Our patient’s needs come first. We need something for a muzzle, Miss Day.’
She nodded, reaching out shaky fingers to touch her pet. ‘Dog...?’
The sound of ripping fabric barely registered—not until Kern handed her a long piece of blue fabric that looked faintly familiar. ‘Here—use this.’
Without a word, she switched from owner mode to professional vet and prepared to muzzle Dog’s mouth. Even the most affectionate and soft-natured animal could turn nasty when in pain. Prevention was better than a bite.
‘His gums look okay...’
‘He’s alert, and seems to be breathing normally,’ Alex said, proficiently working his fingers over Dog’s rough-coated body. ‘His pulse is strong, too.’ Alex gently examined Dog’s right hind leg. ‘There’s no obvious wound or breakage, and no sign of bleeding, but...’ Dog whined as Alex carefully manipulated the limb. ‘I suspect he’s sustained a fracture. I can feel the bone through the skin.’
‘Anne, we need—’ Alex stopped as his head nurse handed him a blanket.
‘Harry’s fetching a trolley,’ she said.
Alex smiled and took it from his friend and employee. ‘What would I do without you?’
‘Struggle terribly, of course. I’m indispensable.’
Alex placed the blanket over Dog’s body to keep him warm. ‘Ruby, you and Kern get down here and support this leg and his rear end while we lift him on to the trolley. No point splintering it for the few minutes it will take to get him inside.’
‘Anne and I will take Dog’s other end,’ Kiki said, kneeling down next to her husband and placing her hands in the correct position to support Dog’s head and neck.
Ruby took Alex’s place and with Kern’s help prepared to lift Dog off the Tarmac with the least disturbance and movement to her pet’s injured back leg.
‘Right, team,’ said Alex, ‘let’s move our patient.’
Together Ruby, Alex, Kiki, Anne and Kern raised Dog’s limp body on to the trolley Harry had fetched from inside the building.
‘I’ll wait out here,’ Kern called as the rest of them moved indoors and through Reception towards the back rooms.
Ruby nodded, then returned her attention to Dog. She couldn’t lose her four-legged best friend—she just couldn’t. He was all the family she had. Without Dog she would have no one to love and care for, no one in her life who loved her back.
* * *
‘Right, Miss Day, what do we have?’
Ruby studied the two X-rays lit up on the screen, showing different views of Dog’s damaged leg, and pointed at the obvious break. ‘The X-rays show a broken femur bone.’
Alex nodded and moved to stand behind her. After a few moments discussing and reviewing the X-rays, he asked, ‘Have you done any femur repairs?’
She shook her head.’
Alex turned away as Kiki wheeled a sedated Dog into the room. ‘Good. I’ve done plenty, so between us we’ll soon have your boy sorted. This will be your call—I’ll assist, talk you through it and monitor. Is that all right with you? I’m thinking a pin will work best. What do you think?’
Ruby twisted round and stared at her boss. ‘You want me to operate?’
Kiki glanced between them, but didn’t say anything.
Alex rolled the prepared instrument trolley over to the table in readiness. ‘Don’t you want to?’
‘Yes, but he’s my dog.’
Alex glanced across the room at her. ‘Would you prefer I operated on Dog and you monitored?’
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Ruby considered the question and realised that she didn’t want anyone else to operate on her pet. If anyone was going to fix his leg, then it was going to be her. ‘No, I don’t think I would.’
‘Good.’ Alex nodded. ‘I know I wouldn’t want anyone else working on my animals, so I figured you’d feel the same.’
‘That’s because you’re a control freak,’ Kiki teased. ‘Right, you two. Dog’s all prepped, shaved and ready for your surgical prowess. Let’s get busy, shall we?’
Alex stayed on the other side of the trolley, his gaze still on Ruby. ‘When you’re ready... Remember I’m here to answer any questions or help overcome any unexpected problems. But I’m sure you’ll manage fine.’
‘Thanks,’ Ruby said, comforted by his words.
She walked over to the trolley, her heart aching at the sight of her anaesthetised dog laid out on the stainless-steel table, tubes coming from his mouth and body. Sucking in a deep breath, she forced all emotions from her mind and gathered her mental strength while Alex placed the surgical drapes over Dog’s body. She was very conscious that the operation wasn’t going to be finished in a short time.
Carefully feeling the swollen area of the leg, she said, ‘I’m going to make my incision now.’
Alex murmured in agreement.
Ruby picked up the scalpel and made a straight cut through the skin and muscle. Using her fingers, she located each end of the broken bone. With gentle manipulation, she managed to realign both pieces of bone in readiness to put them back together.
‘Looks nice and clean,’ Alex said. ‘Should fuse together easy enough once pinned.’
Ruby nodded, and carefully fixed a pin into place.
‘Nice...’ Alex murmured.
Ruby finished off by suturing the wound closed and covering with dressing, ready for post-op X-rays.
‘Good work,’ Alex praised her. ‘I can see I made the right decision, employing you.’
Ruby grinned beneath her mask. ‘Thanks.’
A sense of relief and warmth flooded her heart. Dog was going to be okay, and it seemed as though she had just passed some sort of test where her boss was concerned. Despite the circumstances, a small sense of pride filled her.
Awakening His Shy Vet Page 8
