The Texan’s Bride(31)

“Oh, oh, oh,” Jessie squealed.

“What? Are you hurting?”

“I feel a heartbeat, Cadde,” she cried excitedly. “She’s alive!”

“Are you sure?” He didn’t think that was possible.

“Give me your hand.”

She took his right hand while he steered with his left and put it beneath the towel on the bloody, damp fur. “Just wait a second,” she said, and he felt a faint throb against his fingers.

“Hot damn, there is a heartbeat.”

“Yes! Hurry! Hurry!” Her eyes met his and a closeness, a newness passed between them. They’d connected. Out of this horrible dark day the glimpse of sunshine was blinding.

He swerved in and out of traffic as she gave directions. Gavin’s clinic wasn’t far from downtown in a renovated house on a corner off Montrose. Before he could turn off the engine in a parking area, Jessie unbuckled her seat belt and got out. He followed. A man with sandy-blond hair and blue eyes opened the door.

Gavin looked at Jessie covered in blood. “What happened?”

“The Dobermans attacked Mirry.”

“Oh, my God!” Gavin rubbed Jessie’s shoulder. That was just a little too friendly to Cadde’s way of thinking. Or he could be overacting.

“One attacked Jessie, too. She needs to go to an emergency room.”

“What!” Gavin paled, and Cadde could see there was more than concern on his face.

“Gavin, this is my…husband, Cadde.” She paused before husband and he wondered why. Was there something between the vet and Jessie?

“Nice to meet you.” They shook hands and Cadde realized he was taller than Gavin. Why did that please him? He wasn’t in high school.

Gavin turned back to Jessie. “I’m sorry. I should have come out there today, but your…husband is right. You need to see a doctor.” Again with the pause before husband. What was it with these two?

“I’m fine,” Jessie said, and lifted the bundle in her arms. “But Mirry is not.”

“Bring her inside.” They made their way into a sterile-looking room with a stainless-steel examining table. Jessie laid her bundle on it. Her T-shirt was soaked with blood and Rosa’s apron was still looped around her neck.

Gavin partially removed the towel. “Oh, Jessie. That dog did a number on Mirry. Her neck is chewed severely and there are long gashes on her body that’ll need stitching. I’ll do X-rays and anesthetize her to deal with her injuries. There also might be some internal bleeding. I’ll have to keep her in the clinic for a few days to monitor her.”

“But she’s going to make it?”

“You know I’ll do my best.” Gavin patted her arm again. “Noel,” he called.

A young college student came in.

“Take Mirry and flush her wounds. I’ll start an IV shortly.”

“Yes, sir.” The boy gathered the bloody dog and disappeared into another room.

Gavin pushed the stained apron aside. “One of those bites looks deep. Go see a doctor with…”

“Her husband. Cadde Hardin.” The words came out before he could stop them.

Jessie glared at him, and it seemed as if Gavin had more to say. “I didn’t realize you lived with Jessie.”

“I do,” Cadde stated clearly, and a palpable tension crept into the room like a mosquito everyone wanted to swat.

Jessie stepped between them. “I don’t want to leave Mirry.”

“She’ll be out.” Gavin’s gaze slowly shifted back to Jessie. “She won’t know if you’re here or not and she’s in a lot of pain.”

“Oh.” Jessie put a hand to her mouth.

“I’ll sedate her to keep her comfortable,” Gavin assured her. “Now go.”

“I’ll call as soon as I get out of the E.R.,” Jessie blurted out as Cadde led her away.

In the truck, Jessie said, “Sometimes you can be rude.”

“And sometimes you can be stubborn. Damn stubborn. Over-the-top stubborn.” He sucked in a breath while darting through traffic. “How long have you known this guy?”

“Five or six years. I met him at a fundraiser for the Houston SPCA. I had a horse then and he came to look at her hoof even though he’s a small-animal vet.”

“I’ll bet. I’d say he has a thing for you.”

“We’re friends. That’s it.” He could feel her eyes pinned on him like an AK-47 and she was fixing to fire off a few rounds.

“Then why did you pause before husband?”

“I…I…”

“What have you told him about me? About our marriage?”

“He knows it was an arranged marriage, okay?”