by Taylor Rylan
I sighed but got up from my chair and pushed it in. Why did it feel like I was making my last walk on death row?
“Dude, it can’t possibly be that bad,” Kirk said, and I turned and glared at him.
“You have no idea. I’m warning y’all. Dr. Garrison can barely stand me.”
“Well, now’s your chance to prove to him you’re a good guy, just a very busy one,” Adrian said. The smile on his face had me narrowing my eyes. I pointed a finger at him, but I didn’t say anything. I simply turned and left. Well, at least I wouldn’t need Cody to pick Oreo up for me. Damn. I didn’t expect to get home this early all week. It was only just after four, and I figured we had at least three more hours of work before Alex would want to call it quits.
Well, time to go find out the level of Dr. Dreamy’s hatred for me. Why couldn’t I be attracted to someone other than the vet? I groaned as I grabbed my coat and pulled it on. My office was already secure; I hadn’t been in it except to drop off my coat for the past week.
“Hey, I’ll let Cody know you’ve got Oreo,” Adrian yelled down the hall. I gave him a thumbs-up as I walked toward the door. Time to go get my fur baby and see if I could somehow charm the doctor into letting me tag along. If not, we’d simply have to go on our own.
Xander — 8
I smiled at Oreo. She obviously had a cold and kept sneezing. It had started about an hour after we’d taken her off her fluids. She definitely had a viral infection though. Poor thing.
I felt bad, and partly responsible. If I hadn’t been such an asshole to her owner, he might not have taken her out of our daycare. If he hadn’t done that, she might not be sick. I knew playing the what-if game was never good. But I had to wonder.
“Dr. Garrison, Deputy Hunk is here for his baby,” Ezra said from behind me. I turned and peered behind him. I was expecting the other guy, the young one, but if it was Bishop, that was better.
“He’s in the reception area. Do you want me to send him back?”
“I’ll go. Are there any more appointments this evening?”
“No. It’s Monday and you’re usually at Second Chance or Grady’s.”
“Not due there until Wednesday morning, so make sure everything’s booked for then. Rick can cover,” I told him. We both had started walking back to the front of the clinic, and once again, you absolutely couldn’t miss Deputy Jones. Of course, he was the only person in the reception area at the moment, but still.
“Deputy Jones?” I said, getting his attention. He turned his piercing blue gaze my way, and I had to remember, he was a client. He was off-limits. Damn him for being both.
“Is Oreo okay?”
“She’s fine. She’s still running a low fever, but she’s feeling a little better. We did get her to eat a little bit of wet food, and she drank on her own after. She’s sneezing like crazy now though. But it’s perfectly normal. You ready to see her?” I asked and gestured toward the back.
“Yeah. Could I talk to you first?” Bishop glanced at Ezra before he looked back at me. “In private?”
“Sure. Ezra, we’ll be in my office if you need me.” Ezra nodded and went back to typing on the computer. He looked like he was almost finished with inputting the updates into the records, something we needed to work on getting brought into the modern age, but that would have to wait until another day. “Is everything okay?” I asked as we entered my office. I didn’t expect Deputy Jones to close the door behind him, and it caught me off guard. I went behind my desk and simply stood there. I watched as Bishop ran his fingers through his hair again, making it stand out in all directions. I wondered what type of product he used if it did that.
“Remember how I said I was working on an odd case?”
“Yes, I seem to recall you mentioned something along those lines.”
Bishop rubbed the back of his neck. It was almost as if he was nervous about something.
“Well, we discovered that you’re the attending vet that certifies the cattle going through Grady’s feedlot. There’s reason to believe that the owners might be involved in our case somehow, and I needed to ask a favor.”
My heart started racing. Fuck. I knew the Grady brothers. I’d grown up with the younger one, Paul. There was no way they were anything but on the up-and-up.
“They’re clean. I’ll swear on it.”
“That’s not it, Doc. The case is odd, like I said. But we’re tracking some stolen horses and we think they might be hidden in the back of the lot somewhere.”
I sunk down into my seat. Oh shit.
“Thoroughbreds, right?” I asked. Oh fuck. If Paul or Tom were dirty, there was most likely no way I was getting out of this unscathed.
“How’d you know?”
“I saw them there on Friday. Looked like two mares and a stallion, but the smaller ones could have just been yearlings. I wasn’t close enough to get a good enough look.”
“No. You’re right. It’s two mares and a stallion. They were snatched in Colorado right before New Year’s. The people that were supposed to be transporting them, their card has started hitting in Jackson. We’ve checked all of the empty barns around here. So you’ve seen them?”
“Yeah. They’re in the back corner, left side. I didn’t really think much of it except that it was a little odd that there were thoroughbreds on the lot. It’s not the first time horses have gone through there. Paul and Tom will hold horses being transported as well.”
“All right. I need to know when you’re going again.”
“I’m scheduled to go Wednesday morning. Why?”
“Because I need to go with you. I know you don’t like me, and I can’t help that.”
“Why would you go with me?” And why does he think I don’t like him so much? I thought about it for a second and realized I’d been nothing but an asshole about how he’s always busy and late. Of course he thinks I don’t like him. That’s something I needed to change.
“Because I have to see the horses in order to get a warrant. And if I have proof, I can get one within an hour. If I’m with you, nobody will think much of it. I can go as your assistant. If I go alone, I’ll stick out.”
“You’re going to stick out anyway,” I said and cringed immediately. When would my mouth ever stop getting me into trouble? Bishop glanced at the door before his gaze met mine again.
“You’re right, but I’m used to it and it can’t be helped. Can I get Oreo now? She’s ready to go home, right?” Bishop said as he started to leave. He was out the door before I could even round my desk. I expected him to go left and back out to the reception area, but he didn’t. He turned right, heading back into the kennel area.
“She’s ready, yes. I have a list of dos and don’ts for you. Ezra will hand it to you when you leave,” I said as I finally caught up with the deputy. He nodded, but I could see a hint of a smile on his face when he saw Oreo. You knew when she’d spotted her master; her tail started thumping against the floor of the kennel. She moved from lying on her side to on her stomach, but she didn’t get up just yet. Nope, she sneezed, several times, just as Bishop opened the kennel to pick her up.
“Bless you. Do you need a hanky?” Bishop asked as he held Oreo up to his neck and nuzzled her.
“It’s possible that she might, yes. Back to earlier. Did you seriously need to go with me? Does Wednesday morning work?”
“I’ll have to get back to you on that one. The sooner we have confirmation, the better. I’m not the lead in the case. That would be Deputy Lopez. I’ll give him a call and get back to you. Does that work?”
I nodded and gestured for him to walk back toward the front of the clinic. When we got to just outside my office, I stopped the slightly larger man with a hand on his bicep.
“In here,” I said and walked past him and into my office. I quickly grabbed a pen and sticky note and wrote my cell number on the slip of paper for him. “Here. This is my cell number. Give me a call and let me know. I went to school with Paul. There’s no way he’s involve
d in this.”
“It’s possible. At this point, we’re not ready to rule anyone out. We’re not sure if the owners know about the horses or not. Or if they do, that they’re stolen. I’ll give you a call within an hour. Does that work with your timeline? I know you probably still have clients.” Bishop looked at the paper, then stuffed it into his coat pocket.
“I’m here until almost six. But Ezra said there aren’t any other clients this evening. This happens every year right after the holidays. People overspend on Christmas and then wait until February and then I’m slammed again.”
“All right, I’ll give you a call when I know more. But if it needs to be tomorrow, will that raise too many suspicions?”
“No. I don’t have a set date to go out. Just whenever they need me.”
“Perfect,” Bishop said before he nodded and then turned and fled my office. I quickly followed, wondering what that was about.
“Ezra, could you check out Deputy Jones, please?”
“Sure thing, Dr. G. I have Oreo’s account up now.” I smiled at Ezra as he quite efficiently checked out the deputy’s account. I was sad to see her go, but that was one of the reasons why I didn’t have a dog of my own. I worked just as much as Bishop did, and that wasn’t fair to a dog.
“I wanted to ask as well. I know she’s sick and I’ll figure it out, but when can I bring her back to daycare? I just think it’s better for her here instead of out at the ranch with Cody. I know she loves playing with Adrian’s niece and nephew, but right now, she’s probably too sick to play.”
“You can bring her back and we can keep her in the kennel until she’s better. But until then, she shouldn’t be around other dogs just yet. But you’re welcome to do a day board, just like daycare, in the clinic. She just won’t get to play with the other dogs though,” I told him. I saw the instant relief on Bishop’s face, and I was glad he was bringing her back. I knew he worked long hours by the check-in and out times, but he was taking care of her at least and I’d been too harsh on him.
“Thanks. I really appreciate that. I’ll see if I can get my director to let me bring her to work with me at times. Only downside of that is I’m never sure when I’ll be in and out of the office.”
“She’s more than welcome here, Deputy. She’s loved by everyone. Rick has a soft spot for her, for sure,” Ezra said.
“He’s your tech, right?” Bishop asked, turning his gaze to me.
“Yes. I only have the one vet tech. He’s all I’ve ever really needed.”
Bishop nodded and then handed his card over to Ezra, who efficiently ran it through the machine. When the receipt was printed, he placed it and a pen on the counter for Bishop to sign.
“Here, let me hold her for you,” I said as I reached for Oreo. She was certainly content to be held, and when I pulled her to me, I got a whiff of Bishop’s cologne. I was sure it was coming from Oreo’s hair because he had been cuddling her against his chest. The scent wasn’t unpleasant, and I wouldn’t mind smelling more of it.
“Here you go, Deputy. So, do you want me to put her down for boarding in the clinic, this week then?” Ezra asked, a hopeful look on his face.
“Yes, please. I’d really appreciate it,” Bishop said before he turned toward me. I got caught snuggling his dog, and he seemed a little surprised. Oreo gave my nose a quick lick before she proceeded to sneeze right in my face. Yep, I deserved that. I know I did.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Doc.”
“No big deal. I’ve had so much worse before,” I said as I wiped my face off. And it was true. I’d had every imaginable animal fluid on me at one point or another. A sneeze was nothing.
“Here, Dr. G,” Ezra said as he leaned across the counter and handed me a tissue. After I gave Oreo back to her owner, I took the tissue and wiped first my face and then Oreo’s nose. It was definitely runny.
“Make sure she stays warm tonight,” I told him.
“Oh, she sleeps with me, so she’s usually warm. I’ll put a sweater on her though, if you think she needs it.”
“Does she sleep on top of the covers?” I asked.
“No. She curls up next to my side or chest,” Bishop said.
“Lucky dog,” Ezra said under his breath. I heard him, but if Bishop did, he chose to not acknowledge it. But I had to agree.
“If she’s sleeping under the covers with you, she should be okay. Is it cold in your house?”
“Not really. I have the thermostat set at seventy. Is that cold?”
“No, it’s fine. She’ll be okay. But if you could, would you bring a sweater with her tomorrow?” I asked as I gave her ears another quick rub. She groaned and my hand got a kiss, this time without the sneeze.
“I can do that. I’ll bring her blanket and a toy as well,” Bishop said, wrapping Oreo up inside his coat. Yep, that was certainly a very spoiled dog. I couldn’t wait to get to know her owner better and hope to find out more about the dynamics of how it was that such a busy man ended up with a dog.
“Here, Deputy. This is the food she was eating earlier. If you put a little on the plate and microwave it for around ten seconds or so, it’ll warm it up and she’ll eat it. I’d imagine she doesn’t like it cold too well just now,” Ezra said as he handed an unopened can of food to Bishop.
“Do I need to get more of this?” he asked, unsure.
“You can. She’ll only be on it for a few days or so. She’ll eventually go back to her dry kibble. Unless you want to keep her on soft. I don’t recommend a strictly soft diet unless there is a medical reason. You can mix it though. Or use it as treats,” I told him. He nodded and stuffed the can of food into his coat pocket before he thanked Ezra.
“Okay, see you in the morning, and I’ll give you a call within an hour, Doc,” Bishop said. It was my turn to nod, and I turned and watched as Deputy Jones left the clinic. When I turned back around to Ezra, he had a knowing smirk on his face.
“He really is Deputy Hunk, isn’t he?”
“Yes. But he’s a client, and nothing is going to happen.”
“Sure. And he’s calling you in an hour why?”
“Because he has some questions about Grady’s. That’s why. When you finish closing the accounts for the day, you can go,” I told Ezra and watched him scramble to get back to his work. He worked hard, and I had absolutely no complaints. I was grateful I’d been able to lure him away from Mom and Second Chance. Now to go to my office and pretend I wasn’t eagerly waiting for a certain blond-haired, blue-eyed deputy to call me.
Bishop — 9
I knew the info that Dr. Garrison had given me about the horses at the feedlot was important, so I called Alex on the way home. He could be heard screaming through the line. Oreo, bless her, looked at me funny as his shouts could be heard through the speakers in the car.
“Okay. We’re doing recon tonight. Call your vet back and let him know he needs to go in tomorrow morning. You’ll get daylight visual, and I’ll have the judge on hold, waiting for the warrant. Once I have visual tonight, I’ll call Wildlife Services and get them out here to get them ready to seize the horses tomorrow,” Alex said. Damn. He was excited. Or maybe just relieved.
“Are you sure you’re going to remember all of that?” I asked as I turned onto my street. It was only another half of a block before I’d be pulling into my garage. I was more than ready to be home.
“Yep. Call your vet. Get it set up. Then let us know when everything’s a go.”
“Will do. Give me a bit to get Oreo inside, and then I’ll call him.” I pushed the button on the garage door opener the same time Alex ended the call. After the door finally lifted, I pulled my SUV into the one car stall. It was better than nothing, although I wished the garage was just a bit wider.
“Okay, girl, let’s go,” I told Oreo as I picked her up from her spot on the seat. She’d lounged on the seat with the warmer on the entire ride home.
I carefully carried Oreo into the house and immediately took her out the patio door and placed her on
the cleared area. When she squatted and piddled, I praised her, and then she trotted to the door and looked back at me.
“Okay. You want in. I get it.” I walked over to the door, and when I slid it open, Oreo trotted in as if she owned the place. Well, actually, she did, really. She had a dog bed in front of the fireplace and an entire basket of toys, most of which were currently strewn throughout the living room. Yeah, she owned the place.
I watched as she walked over to her water bowl, and after a few laps, she went over to her bed and plopped down with a huff.
“Oh, I need to get you a sweater, girl. Hang on.” Yep, I was talking to my dog. I so desperately needed a life. Maybe later. After the case. And after Oreo was feeling better. I went to the laundry room and pulled a clean dog sweater off the shelf, then went back out to the living room and quickly put it on her. Thankfully she didn’t seem to mind the sweaters. And when I put her hair up in a bow on top, she always drew attention when we were out. Too bad it was always of the female variety.
“Okay, girl. I have to go call your doctor. Wish me luck,” I said, giving her one of her favorite stuffed toys before I got up and pulled my phone and the little slip of paper out of my coat pocket. I placed both on the counter before I went to the closet and hung my coat up. I grabbed a water bottle and downed half of it before I got up enough courage to give Dr. Dreamy a call. Yeah, that’s what he was.
“Hello?”
“Umm, hey, Doc. It’s Deputy Jones.” I ran my hand through my hair before I settled it on the back of my neck and started rubbing.
“Hey. Is Oreo doing okay?”
I glanced at my fur-kid and saw she was asleep, or well on her way to it. “Yeah, she’s fine. She’s on her bed and looks like she’s about to fall asleep. Listen, I said I’d call. I talked to Deputy Lopez.”
“Yes. About the horses.”
“Yeah. He’s wanting us to go tomorrow morning. Does that work for you?” I sat down on the barstool and picked up my water bottle.
