Wounded Souls

by R J Nolan

  Dale smiled. Casey might bitch, but she never let her down. “Thank you. I owe you.”

  “You’ve got that right. You owe me—big-time.”

  “Fine.” All Dale could think of was how thrilled she was that she’d found a way to help Logan. “Anything you want.”

  Casey cackled. “I’m holding you to that!”

  Oh crap. What had she just gotten herself into? “Casey. Come on.”

  “Too late. Don’t whine now.”

  “Fine.” It didn’t matter what Casey came up with to torture her. Logan needed help. “I’ve got to talk to Logan. I’ll call you before we come over later this morning. I know she’ll want to meet you first. Thanks again, Casey. I really appreciate this.”

  “No problem, my friend. I’ll see you later.”

  Dale had a spring in her step as she walked back into the department. She scanned the area around the nurses’ station, but Logan was nowhere to be found. I bet I know where she is. She headed for the conference room where they had shared breakfast the last few mornings.

  “Thank you, but no.” Logan pushed her chair back from the conference table.

  “But—”

  “I appreciate you trying to help, but I can’t turn over Drake’s care to some woman I don’t even know.” Drake was her responsibility, and she couldn’t—no wouldn’t—abrogate that.

  “She’s totally trustworthy. And she watches her brothers’ dogs, so she’s experienced.”

  Logan shook her head adamantly and started to rise.

  Dale put a restraining hand on her arm. “Wait.”

  Sighing, Logan settled back into her chair. The pleading look on Dale’s face was impossible to ignore.

  “Casey is an amazing woman. She’s military like me.” Dale raked her fingers through her shaggy hair, then reached down to rub her injured leg. She was clearly struggling with what she wanted to say.

  Logan placed a gentle hand on her forearm. When Dale looked up, Logan was struck by the vulnerable look in her eyes.

  Dale swallowed heavily. “She was there for me, without fail, during the lowest time in my life, when I was struggling to regain my independence.” She held Logan’s gaze. “I promise you Drake will be safe with her.”

  Logan’s heart ached for what Dale had suffered. Casey must be a very special woman, but this wasn’t about Dale. Her hand strayed to the spot above her left breast as her thoughts raced. Could she really let someone else care for Drake full-time, as this arrangement would require? What other options were there? Her living conditions were not conducive to Drake’s recovery.

  “What other viable options are there?” Dale asked, echoing her thoughts. “Isn’t this about what’s best for Drake?”

  Oh, Drake. I’ve always tried to do what’s right for you. But they had never faced anything like this. Blowing out a breath, Logan slumped back in the chair. “It’s not that simple. Taking care of a dog Drake’s size isn’t like caring for an average-sized dog or even a large dog like a lab. You can’t just pick him up or even physically make him do something he doesn’t want to. Even with a huge abdominal incision, he’s strong. Most people have no idea just how strong. Are you sure your friend knows what she’s getting into?”

  “Yes. Casey loves big dogs. She grew up with a mastiff. They were together for ten years.” Dale smiled. “She used to go home on weekends when she was in college to spend time with Zeus. He’s been gone fifteen years, and she still talks about how much she misses him.”

  Logan bit her lip. Was she really going to do this? “I’d have to meet her first and see her place.”

  “Of course. I told her we would be over later this morning.”

  She still had reservations but nodded anyway. “Okay.”

  “Great.” Dale glanced at her watch. “Let’s take care of the shift changeover, and then we’ll head to Casey’s.”

  Logan stopped Dale with a hand on her arm before she could step out of the conference room. “Thank you for once again coming to my and Drake’s rescue.”

  Dale draped an arm around Logan’s shoulders and gave her a brief one-armed hug. “Anytime.”

  She forced herself not to lean into the touch, much too aware of the solid length of Dale’s body against hers. Women are off-limits, she sternly reminded herself. That didn’t stop the part of her that immediately missed the contact when Dale stepped away. Logan followed her out of the conference room.

  As they approached the nurses’ station, the sound of sirens reached Logan’s ears. She checked her watch. Fifteen minutes and we would’ve been out of here. So much for leaving anytime soon.

  CHAPTER 21

  Logan kept a close eye on Dale’s Jeep as she followed her to Casey’s. She had input the address into her GPS, but Dale had not taken the route the unit provided. Thankfully, they had not gotten hung up in the ER as she had feared. While she knew that she needed to meet Casey and check out her place, what she really longed to do was go to see Drake. That was her other worry. If she went through with this, how was she going to survive being separated from Drake for two weeks? These last two days were the longest they had been apart in two years.

  Dale parked in front of a small ranch house. A bright-red crew cab pickup truck sat in the driveway.

  Logan pulled in behind Dale’s Jeep. She put her hand over her jittery stomach as they approached the front door. Would the house be decorated for Christmas? She hadn’t been inside a home decked out for the holiday since that fateful Christmas. It was hard enough ignoring all the reminders of the holiday strewn throughout the city. I can do this—for Drake.

  The walkway led through a xeriscaped front yard, straight to the front door with a level entryway. She glanced at Dale, who was shifting from foot to foot. Why was she nervous?

  “Um, I should warn you…”

  Logan’s anxiety spiked. What hadn’t Dale told her? Maybe this was a bad idea after all.

  Dale’s hand on her arm startled her out of her runaway thoughts. “It’s nothing bad. It’s just that Casey can be, well, kind of brash. She’s not the least bit shy about letting people know exactly what she thinks. Please don’t take it personally. She may not be the most diplomatic at times, but she’s a good person.”

  Logan barely resisted the urge to pop Dale in the arm for adding to her worries. “Straightforward and honest. I can deal with that.”

  “Great.” Dale rang the doorbell.

  A muscular blonde, dressed in jeans and a tight, sleeveless T-shirt, opened the door. She had a pretty face and a physique that Logan could only dream of.

  Relief flashed across Dale’s face; then she smiled.

  Logan’s curiosity peaked.

  “Hey, Casey.”

  Casey winked at Dale before greeting Logan. “Hello. You must be Logan.” They shook hands. “Come on in.”

  The entryway opened right into a large living room. There was not a Christmas decoration in sight. The knot in Logan’s stomach released, and her knees weakened.

  Dale was instantly at her side. She placed her hand on Logan’s back. “You okay?”

  Her gaze met stormy-gray eyes, and she lost herself in their dark depths.

  Casey cleared her throat.

  Logan glanced her way just in time to see Casey arch her eyebrows at Dale.

  A scowl marred Dale’s face.

  Logan flushed and stepped away from her. But she couldn’t stop herself from touching Dale’s arm. “I’m good.”

  In an attempt to distract herself, she checked out Casey’s home. A short half wall with wide openings at either end separated the living room from the dining room. A walkthrough kitchen was adjacent to the dining area. The whole space had an open, airy feeling.

  Casey waved her arm encompassing the area. “As you can see, there’s lots of room with easy access. There are no steps anywhere in the house.” She m
otioned toward the far wall, which was composed of floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out into the backyard. One section was a sliding glass door. “Let’s go out back.”

  As Casey walked across the room, Logan frowned. There was something peculiar about her gait. Had she been injured like Dale? She glanced over at Dale, but her expression gave nothing away.

  They stepped through the sliding glass door to a covered area just outside. The ice plant ground cover cascaded down a bank at the back of the yard and ended at a low retaining wall. It was the only greenery in the yard. The rest of the small area was covered with a light-brown, stamped concrete. A large wrought-iron table with four heavy metal chairs dominated the center of the space.

  Damn. The yard was not suitable for Drake. He would have to relieve himself on the concrete, and Logan was positive he wouldn’t do that.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Casey said.

  Logan quickly schooled her features, hiding her disappointment.

  “She’s got—” Dale said.

  Casey waved her off. She walked to the side of the house and beckoned Logan over.

  There, hidden from sight, a six-by-ten-foot area had been created with scalloped bricks and filled with pea gravel.

  “I set this up for my brothers’ dogs. It’s easy to keep clean and sanitize. Do you think Drake could adapt to using the gravel? I know some dogs can’t deal with not having access to grass.”

  Maybe this would work after all. “He actually prefers gravel. That’s what a lot of RV parks use for their dog runs.” She smiled, thinking of Drake in better times. “He thinks grass is a gourmet treat because he’s exposed to it so rarely.”

  “Harley, my brother’s lab, is the same way. We think he was a cow in a previous life.”

  Logan threw back her head and laughed. “I swear Drake’s part cow the way he moos sometimes.”

  As Logan and Casey swapped dog stories, Dale wandered over to the patio table. When Casey reached over and touched Logan’s arm, a wave of irritation swept through her. She had worked so hard to connect with Logan and break down her barriers, but for Casey, it seemed effortless.

  She pulled out one of the chairs from the table and plopped down, feeling totally left out. A hand on her shoulder startled her out of her pitying thoughts.

  “Everything okay?” Logan asked, concern shining in her eyes.

  Dale nodded. When Logan sent her a warm smile, her bad mood vanished. She glanced up to find Casey smirking at her. She sent her a sharp look, which made Casey laugh outright.

  Logan glanced back and forth between them.

  Casey smiled at her. “So what do you think, Logan, will you trust me with your boy? I promise I’ll take good care of him. And whenever you’re free, I want you to come over and spend time with him. What do you say?”

  “It’s a deal. I’ll pay you the same thing I do when I board Drake, forty-two dollars a day.” Logan held out her hand.

  Casey stared at Logan’s outstretched hand, and the smile dropped from her face. “I’m not for hire.”

  “I can’t let you do it for free.”

  “Yes, you can.” Casey’s tone was adamant.

  Logan crossed her arms across her chest. “No. I have to pay you.”

  Dale sighed; she should have seen this coming. Logan didn’t like being obliged to anyone.

  Casey shrugged. “Then I can’t do it.”

  What? “Casey!” Casey shot Dale a quelling look. She clamped her lips together to keep from protesting.

  Logan’s brow furrowed. “But why would you do it for nothing? I’m nobody to you.”

  “Sure you are. You’re Dale’s friend. She thought enough of you to ask me. That makes you special.”

  Logan, her color high, glanced at Dale, then back at Casey. She shook her head, but it seemed halfhearted. “It doesn’t seem fair.”

  “Tell you what. You can pay me back.”

  Logan smiled.

  “I work at the VA hospital. We always need extra people to help, especially over the holidays. There are a lot of patients that have no one to visit them.”

  Logan blanched at the mention of the holidays.

  No! What the hell are you doing, Casey? Dale tried to warn her off with a look and a quick motion of her hand. Logan couldn’t stand to be in the same room with Christmas decorations; what would forcing her to interact with patients over the holidays do to her? Not to mention the fact that the VA was Dale’s haven, and she wasn’t ready to invite Logan into it.

  Casey pointedly ignored her. “Help out at the VA hospital over the holidays. Then we’re even.”

  Logan bit her lip and said nothing for several long moments. Finally, she blew out a long breath. “Okay.”

  “Great.” Casey grinned. “I’ll get breakfast started. I make a mean omelet; just ask Dale.”

  “Thank you, but I can’t stay. I need to check on Drake.”

  “Have you eaten already?” Casey asked.

  “No, we came straight from work,” Dale answered before Logan could. She smiled to herself. Logan was about to get another dose of Casey’s stubborn nature.

  “Then you need to eat first.”

  Logan started to shake her head.

  “When was the last time you ate?” Casey’s tone would have done a drill instructor proud.

  “Um…last night.”

  Casey snorted. “Right. You mean as in yesterday? You’re a doctor. You should know better.” She wagged a finger at her. “You need to take better care of yourself.”

  Logan flushed, then scowled at Casey.

  The two of them squared off like two rams about to butt heads.

  Dale wasn’t going to wait for the crash. “I’m starving,” she said. “Would you mind if we ate first? Then I’ll help you get Drake’s stuff and go pick him up like I promised.”

  Logan looked away from Casey.

  “Please.” Dale wasn’t above a little wheedling if it got Logan to eat.

  Logan narrowed her eyes at her. “All right. But it needs to be quick.”

  “I’ve got it covered. Won’t take long at all,” Casey said. “Have a seat, and I’ll get breakfast going.”

  “I’m helping,” Logan said, her tone leaving no room for discussion.

  Casey huffed, then, laughing, linked her arm with Logan’s. “Right this way.” She glanced back at Dale when she started to stand. “We’ll bring breakfast out shortly. Take a load off.”

  As they walked away, Dale was struck by a particularly unpleasant sensation, but she absolutely refused to acknowledge its origin. She sat for a few minutes, repeatedly glancing toward the sliding glass door. Screw this. She shoved her chair back and rose to follow them inside. I just want to help too.

  CHAPTER 22

  Logan paced the lobby of the animal hospital. “What’s taking so long?”

  They had already met with one of the techs and gone over Drake’s discharge instructions as well as getting his medications. If they didn’t bring him out soon, Logan was going to wear a hole into the floor.

  Dale had tried once to get her to sit down. Just as she was about to try again, the door next to the front desk swung open.

  A tech stepped out and held the door open. “Come on, Drake,” she said. “That’s a good boy.” Drake slowly shuffled out. A ridiculously large plastic cone surrounded his head. His head hung down below his shoulders as if the cone was too heavy for him to lift.

  Worry tugged at Dale. Was he really ready to be discharged? She glanced over at Logan and saw the same concern on her face. “Hey, buddy,” Logan said. She was at his side the moment he cleared the doorway.

  Despite Dale’s concern for his well-being, she couldn’t help being intimidated by his sheer size. Up until now, she had only seen him lying down, and he’d looked huge; now, standing next to Logan, he was enormous
.

  Drake lifted his head for a moment, then dropped it back down.

  Frowning, Logan touched the plastic cone. “Was he licking his incision?”

  “No. It’s a precaution we take with all of our post-op patients.”

  Logan shook her head. “Take it off of him.”

  “His incision needs to be protected.”

  “I understand. But not with this.” Logan knelt down next to Drake and began untying the knot of the gauze that was securing the cone to his collar.

  When the cone came off, Drake’s head immediately came up, and he made a strange vocalization. Dale had never heard anything like it, but it clearly sounded threatening. Then he lunged at Logan.

  Whoa! Her heart pounding in her chest, Dale backpedaled several steps.

  Drake smashed his head into Logan’s chest, rocking her back on her heels.

  Logan laughed.

  What the heck?

  Logan threw her arms around his neck to keep from being knocked down. He draped his head over her shoulder, and she hugged him close. “Easy, boy, easy. I’m here.”

  Dale stared at the pair. It was as if he were a different dog. The depressed, ill-looking dog was completely gone. He lavished Logan’s face with kisses, his tail wagging so hard, his whole rear end moved.

  “You should keep this just in case,” the tech said, offering the plastic cone back to Logan when she had regained her feet.

  Drake woofed and butted the cone with his head, making both the tech and Dale jump.

  “That’s a definite no,” Logan said. “I don’t think he’ll bother his incision, but if he does, I’ll get one of those blow-up e-collars.”

  “Good idea. Those are actually much better for a dog Drake’s size.” The tech put the cone down and then approached Drake. She rubbed his ears. “See you in ten days, big guy. Be a good boy.” She smiled and placed a kiss on the top of his head and got a kiss in return for her efforts.

  When the door closed behind the tech, Logan turned Dale’s way. Her brow furrowed at finding Dale several feet away.