Highland Doc's Christmas Rescue

Lyle continued along the snowy, muddy path toward his cottage. He knew this walk by heart. The moon was large tonight and he didn’t need his torch. From experience he was sure his housekeeper had left a fire laid. The thought of lighting it and a warm drink kept him moving. Thankfully he had a full belly from the meal he’d shared with the residents before leaving the clinic. He wasn’t required to dine at the castle, but Mrs. Renwick was a much better cook than he was. Since he didn’t much enjoy eating alone, he ate most of his meals at the clinic. And just as he’d expected, the two newest residents hadn’t been in attendance.

Going through some paperwork in his office the next morning, he allowed his thoughts to wander to Ms. Bellow. He had gone to Andy Wallace’s room to make sure he was comfortable and had spoken to the overnight nursing staff about him. Yet despite his curiosity about Cass, Lyle hadn’t searched her out. Because she wasn’t under his direct care, he couldn’t think of a reason to do so. Flora would have her case well in hand. Still, he felt compelled to see Cass.

She’d whetted his curiosity for some reason. Something about her sharp, self-assured tone and unwillingness to show her obvious pain made him want to understand what was going on behind those gloomy eyes. He’d felt her fragility when she had leaned against him. All bones and skin, as if she had lost weight. Being injured would have caused some of that but she was too thin. He felt the odd need to protect her, reassure her. Not that he would let that show. Still, just before lunch he couldn’t stop himself from walking to the physical therapy department.

Lyle found Flora, with her dark head down, working at her desk. He knocked lightly on the door.

She looked up and smiled. “Hello, Lyle. What can I do for you?”

“I just wanted to check in on Cass Bellow. I haven’t seen her today.” He put his hands in his pockets.

“She was here for therapy this morning.” Flora put down her pen. “She was ready to start when I arrived.”

He leaned against the doorframe. “Great. When we met yesterday, I was afraid she might be resistant.”

Flora shook her head a little. “If there was a problem it was with her working too hard. She acted determined to be finished with her recovery well before the prescribed time. I had to remind her that she could hurt herself further if she pushed herself too hard.”

“I’m sure that you’ll see she takes it slowly and easily.” Lyle took a step into the office. “By the way, did you tell her there’s animal therapy as well? I got the impression it was a surprise to her when I mentioned it. I don’t think she was told by her doctors in Germany that it’s a central part of our program here.”

Flora’s eyes darkened with concern. “I did mention it but was called away before more was said.”

“I’ll speak to Esme. If Cass doesn’t show up at the canine therapy center, then I’ll talk to her.”

Flora nodded. “Good.”

“I told Cass the residents eat together, and she didn’t look any happier about that.”

Flora picked up the pen and tapped it on the desk once. “You and I have been at this long enough to know how to handle an uncooperative patient. We know physical issues often include adjusting to a new way of life.” She lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “Why would Cass be any different?”

“Agreed. What about Andy Wallace? Have you had your session with him?”

“I’ll see him this afternoon.”

“Let me know how it goes. I don’t think he’s in any better frame of mind than Ms. Bellow.”

Flora grinned. “We don’t get all those great accolades for being the best therapy clinic for nothing.”

“You have a point.” He nodded his head at the door. “I’m on my way to get a sandwich for lunch. Care to join me?”

“Thanks, but I need to finish some paperwork for the boss.”

Lyle chuckled. “And he appreciates your efforts. See you later.” He left, walking to the dining room to pick up some food before returning to his office. Lyle planned to continue checking up on Cass and Andy for a few days until he was satisfied with their compliance, then he’d back away.

After lunch, Cass sat in her room by the fire, rubbing her thigh, glad therapy was over for the day. It had been grueling. Less from what she had been asked to do and more from her pushing herself. She had broken into a sweat and had clenched her teeth more than once not to cry out as pain had shot through her leg. Flora had warned her to slow down. It had been strenuous and stressful at best. Even her arm had resisted a couple of the exercises.

Making matters worse was the discovery Cass had made that she had stamina issues. The hospital stay in traction had taken a lot out of her. She’d always been fit, had worked out regularly with ease. Now she just felt frustrated. Regaining her strength wasn’t going to happen fast enough.

That morning she’d been up and dressed by the time Melissa, a staff member, had knocked on her door. She had slept well the night before. Sleeping in the hospital hadn’t been ideal. The peace and quiet of this country castle did have its appeal.

She had on some of the few clothes she habitually kept packed in her to-go bag. The knit sweatpants and T-shirt would have to do for workout clothes. When she and Rufus had caught the transport plane to Eastern Europe, nowhere in her plans had she thought to prepare for weeks of being in a hospital or being in a physical therapy clinic in Scotland in the winter.

Melissa had escorted Cass by elevator to the ground floor. There she had been led to the dining room.

“I’ll return in a few minutes to show you to the physical therapy department,” Melissa had said.

There hadn’t been anyone else in the room. Cass had been thankful for that. She’d gone to the buffet and helped herself to a boiled egg and a slice of toast. She had just finished her second glass of orange juice when the woman returned.

“Flora’s ready for you.”

After placing her dishes on a tray, Cass followed Melissa down a long hall off the main one. They entered an area that looked like a gym where exercise equipment faced a bank of three large windows. In another corner of the spacious room were mats. Two high padded tables sat in the middle.

“You can have a seat on a table and I’ll let Flora know you’re here,” she’d been told.

Cass scrambled up on the table with more effort than she liked.

A leggy, dark-haired woman wearing what looked like the latest fashion in exercise clothes soon joined her. Dressed in a hot pink jacket over a black top and leggings that came to mid-calf she made Cass feel extra-frumpy in her outfit. The woman even wore makeup.

She offered her hand, “Hi, I’m Flora McNeith. It’s nice to meet you, Cass. I apologize that I wasn’t here to meet you yesterday. I’m sure Lyle took good care of you.”

“Who? Oh, yeah, the doctor.”

She chuckled. “Most woman consider him more memorable than that. We should get started on your therapy.”

Over the next hour Cass showed Flora the range of motion in her leg and arm. For the first thirty minutes they concentrated on her leg and the last half-hour on her arm. Flora applied a cold compress before working with either part of her body, then a warm one after.

When they were through Flora said, “I’m sending you to the whirlpool for half an hour. After lunch someone will show you to your afternoon therapy at the canine therapy center.”

She didn’t give Cass time to respond before she turned to another patient who had entered the room. Cass had no intention of going to the canine therapy center. She wasn’t ready to be involved with a dog again, any dog. Wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready. Why had her doctors in Germany insisted on sending her to this clinic when they knew her background? Maybe they had thought it would be what she needed since she had been a dog handler, but she wasn’t emotionally ready. She would just make it clear, without explanation, that she wouldn’t be going to the canine therapy center.

As she walked toward the door marked “Whirlpool” Cass groaned. She almost cried with pleasure as she slipped into the hot swirling water. Today she had taken the first step towards her complete discharge and regaining her life. The one that didn’t include Rufus.

After her trip to PT she’d stopped by the dining room long enough to grab a sandwich, leaving the soup behind. With food eaten, a warm shower taken and clean clothes on, Cass now had a nap on her agenda. She would be perfectly happy spending the rest of the day in her room.

She woke with a start when there was a sharp knock on her door. “Coming.” Cass opened it to find a staff member there. This time it was a young man.

“I’m here to show you the way to the canine therapy center.”

“I’m sorry but I don’t feel like going.” What she really meant was she wasn’t going.

The man studied her a moment as if he expected her to say more, then nodded. “I understand.”

Cass settled back in the chair and looked into the fire. She knew her abilities and strengths. The wound of losing Rufus was too raw. Her emotions in general were stretched to snapping point. She couldn’t cope with the thought of interacting with a dog even if it was supposed to speed up her recovery.

She loved her job, but could she ever return to it, ever get so involved with another animal that she risked reliving this almost unbearable suffering? What if it wasn’t a dog? Could she ever open up enough to anyone again to take the chance of losing her heart?

CHAPTER TWO

LYLE STOOD OUTSIDE Cass’s door. She had refused to go to her canine therapy appointment. From the information he’d received from Flora she’d been more than game to do the work in physical therapy. Why was she balking at the rest of the program?

It was important. He and his colleagues had been highly successful in using canine therapy in the recovery of their patients. Cass needed to participate. He had read in her paperwork that she’d worked as a dog handler for search and rescue. Certainly she wasn’t afraid of dogs. If anything, he would have thought that she would be eager to meet her assigned dog.

Lyle rapped on the door twice.

He heard a voice call, “Just a minute.” Then a few seconds later the door opened.

Cass was dressed in a T-shirt, a zip-up hoodie, jeans and socked feet. She only came as high as his shoulders. She pushed at her short blonde hair, her tone demanding as she said, “Yes?”

“I understand that you don’t want to go to your canine therapy appointment.” Frustration with her resistance made him sound sterner than he’d intended.

“You understand correctly.” She stepped back into the room.

He moved to just inside the doorway. “It’s part of the program here. Everyone’s required to participate.”

“Why?” She stood feet slightly apart as if preparing for a fight.

He lowered his voice. “Because we’ve found that people recover faster when part of their therapy involves a dog. It’s almost crucial to full recuperation. Why don’t you let me show you the way to the center?”

“No, thank you.” She put her hand on the door.

His brow rose. Did she intend to close it on him? “Are you in pain? Do I need to speak to Flora?”

A look of something close to panic filled her eyes. “No, I’m just tired. I don’t feel like it today.”

He checked his watch. It was too late now for her to go anyway. She had already wasted half her time. “Okay, that’s understandable. Rest is good. Take the remainder of the afternoon off. I’ll see you at dinner.”

She made no comment as she closed the door.

Lyle had to back out into the hall to avoid having the door shut in his face. When was the last time he’d been thrown out of a room? He couldn’t even remember one. People didn’t treat him like that, yet Cass had effectively done so. He shook his head. She would be a tough nut to crack.

It was almost dark when Lyle started for home. Cass hadn’t been at dinner. Neither had she ordered a tray. He had left his meal long enough to go to her room, determined he’d be less understanding this time. If she couldn’t follow the clinic protocols, she would be transferred elsewhere.

There was no answer when he knocked on her door. He tried three times before he called her name. Finally, he opened the door a crack and listened for the shower running. Nothing. He called again then stuck his head in to look. Cass wasn’t there. First thing in the morning he was going to confront her when she showed up for her PT session with Flora.

A short time later Lyle turned to go through the gate leading to his cottage when he saw a dark shadow of a person down the way. They were sitting on the fence. Who was it? He was acquainted with most people around here but didn’t recognize this person. The locals knew better than to sit outside at this time of year. His conscience wouldn’t allow him to go home without first checking on the stranger.

He didn’t wish to scare whoever it was, so he approached slowly. Still, there was no movement. Were they so deep in their thoughts they didn’t hear him walking up? He stepped closer. He still couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. The person didn’t move. He went nearer, close enough he could touch them. Just as he was about to, they turned and looked at him. Cass! He had assumed she was safely in the castle somewhere, if not already back in her room. He would have never thought she might wander out into the night and cold. What had possessed her to come outside?

All she wore was a thin jacket. Her hands were shoved into her pockets. She wasn’t dressed adequately for this weather. She should have on a woolly hat and scarf and a thicker jacket. “What’re you doing here?”

She looked away, toward the last of the dying light.

“Are you okay? It’s much too cold to be sitting here.”

“I had to get out. I’ve been cooped up in a hospital for weeks. I needed some fresh air.” Her words were so soft he leaned forward to hear them.

Lyle glanced in the direction she was looking and saw nothing that should hold her attention. He could only guess that her thoughts were so deep she had no idea what danger she was in. Could she even find her way back to the castle?

But first things first. “How long have you been out here?”

It took a moment before she answered, “I don’t know.”

Had frostbite started? He needed to get her out of the cold.

“Why’re you here, Doctor?” Her voice sounded stronger.

That was encouraging. Much more like herself than her first few words. He pointed. “I live just down the lane there.”

“Oh.” Cass glanced over her shoulder then shrugged as if disinterested.

“I went to your room looking for you during dinner. I thought by now you would’ve come out of hiding and gone to your room for the night, prepared to ignore any knock on your door.” He took a seat beside her.

This time she really looked at him. “What gave you that idea?”

“The expression on your face when I told you that you’d be expected for dinner in the dining room. I guessed you weren’t planning to come. However, I didn’t expect you to run outside to get away.”

She pursed her lips and nodded. “Yeah, I don’t think I’m gonna make those communal meals. And I’m not running away.”

“We’re not going to discuss that now. What we need to do is get you inside and warmed up.” He stood.

Cass didn’t move. Instead, her attention went to the sky once more. “Don’t worry about me. I’m all right.”

Lyle’s brows drew together. He was sure she didn’t appreciate the full effect of his reaction because of the dim lighting. “So you’re knowledgeable enough about the area that you can get around without getting lost?”

Cass straightened and glared at him. “I work in search and rescue. I assure you I can manage to get myself back to the castle.”

There was spunk in her voice. “That remains to be seen. You’re obviously ignorant of the danger of being out in this weather without adequate clothing. I’m not taking any chances on losing one of our residents to exposure. Right now, you’re going to the closest warm place and that’s my cottage. When you’re defrosted and dry, I’ll walk you back to the castle.”

It wasn’t until that moment that Cass registered she was bone cold. How long had she been sitting here, staring off into space?

“Come with me. My cottage isn’t far.” He offered his large gloved hand, palm up.

She stared at it a moment. Was she acting crazy, like he already thought she was? Cass took his hand just long enough to slide off the wall. He turned and she trailed after him. They didn’t go far before they entered a small clearing with a two-story stone cottage sitting in the middle. Trees surrounded it. A light over the door was on and another burned brightly in the window. Someone was expecting him.

“Is your wife going to mind you bringing a wayward patient home?”

“If I had one, she wouldn’t mind.” He walked to the door and opened it, then turned and waited for her to enter.

Cass stepped in, giving him room to follow. They stood in a small hallway. He waved a hand toward a room off to one side as he closed the door and began removing his coat. “Go on in and take off your shoes. They must be wet. I’ll have the fire burning in a minute.”

She entered what must be his living area. There was a small couch and a large leather chair situated close to the fireplace. The seat of the chair had a dip in it. It was obviously the doctor’s favorite spot. A lamp and a stack of books sat on the floor beside it. A desk with papers strewn across it was against the wall with a window that faced the front lawn. Behind the desk stood a wooden chair. On the other side were shelves full of haphazardly placed books and a few framed pastoral scenes on the wall. The room had a very masculine feel to it. The man certainly owned his space. Cass found that comforting and reassuring in some odd way.

Lyle soon joined her, minus his outer clothing and shoes. He was in his socked feet, which made him seem even more approachable. “You don’t have your shoes off yet? You need to get that jacket off as well. It looks like it’s soaked through.”

Cass started to remove a boot. “I can tell you spend a lot of time telling people what to do.”

“You can thank my father and time in the army for that.” He pulled a box of matches off the mantel, knelt and lit the fire. It soon came to life. “You really don’t have any idea how long you’ve been outside?”

Cass considered pretending she hadn’t heard the question. She’d gotten lost in her thoughts, her disappointment and grief, but the last thing she wanted to do was confess why she’d been out there. “No, I’m not sure.”

He stood. “You really are going to have to be more careful around here. It’s easy to wander somewhere you shouldn’t. With or without snow.”

Although she hadn’t yet gotten her boot off, Cass removed her coat. It was heavier than usual. He was right. She hadn’t noticed how wet she had become.

The doctor reached for it and she allowed him to take it. Going to the desk, he hung it over the back of the chair, which he then pulled closer to the fire.

“Do you regularly bring patients home to sit by the fire?” She dropped one boot to the floor.

He grinned. It was a nice one. The kind that made her want to return it. “No. I’d have to say you’re the first. But then I only do it for people sitting on my fence who are obviously about to freeze to death.”

Shivering, Cass removed the other boot and let it drop beside the first one.

He pulled a colorful knit throw of orange, browns and tan off the back of the leather chair and draped it over her shoulders. She pulled the edges around her. Warmth filled her immediately. After letting it seep in, she removed her wet socks and spread them on the hearth. With a sigh, she stretched her ice-cold feet out toward the flames. Rubbing her stiff damaged leg, she got comfortable on the small sofa.

“I’ll go and brew a pot for tea.” Lyle started out of the room.

“The English and their tea,” Cass murmured.

“I heard that. And I’m Scottish. Not English,” he said with a clipped note.

Cass winced. She’d just been chastised. Her mother would be displeased with Cass for being rude, no matter what the circumstances.

He looked over his shoulder. “I forget you’re American. Would you prefer coffee? I think I have some in the back of the pantry.” He waited, an expectant look on his face.

She mustered a slight smile. “No, tea is fine. You’ve already gone to a lot of trouble for me.”

“No trouble.” He left the room.

While listening to him moving around in another part of the house, Cass laid her head back against the cushion of the sofa and gazed into the flames. The feeling was returning to her feet. She wiggled them. This was nice. The most peaceful she had felt in weeks.

Lyle returned with a small tray. On it were two steaming mugs, a milk jug and a sugar bowl. “Do you take yours with sugar and milk?”

“I don’t know. My coffee I like with both.”

“Then let’s try it that way.” The doctor mixed the ingredients in and handed her a mug.

She wrapped her hands around it, letting the heat seep into her icy fingers.

He sank into his chair with his mug in his hand. The chair fit him perfectly. “How’re you feeling now?”

“Much better. I had no idea how cold and wet I was.”

Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his knees with the mug between his palms. “You really need thicker socks and boots. There’s a good shop in the village for those.”

“My sturdy boots were cut off and discarded when I was taken to the medical tent. I went straight from the tent to the hospital and from the hospital to here. When I can, I’ll buy another pair. And maybe replace my cellphone.” She had said more than she had intended.

His brows went up. “Medical tent? I had no idea. Do you mind telling me what happened?”

“It wasn’t in my file?”

He pursed his lips and gave a noncommittal shake of his head. “Yes, but I’d like to hear it about it from you. I think you need to talk.”

“Being a shrink again, Doc?”

“It’s Lyle, and I was going more for being your friend.” He leaned back, looking completely comfortable. “If you don’t want to talk about it that’s fine.”

Now she was being put on the spot. If she didn’t tell him something he would think she was a head case. “There’s not much to tell. I was searching for a girl lost in the rubble of a building after a major explosion in Eastern Europe. It had been two days and there wasn’t much hope. I found her alive but in the process a wall fell on me. So now you have it.” Cass had been careful not to use the word we. She didn’t want to talk about Rufus. She refused to break down in front of this stranger, no matter how nice he was.

“Wow, that’s some story.”

And he hadn’t heard it all. Wouldn’t ever as far as she was concerned. “Yeah, makes for a great party story.”

He gave her a direct look. “I think it makes you a pretty impressive person. Your type of work can be both rewarding and very depressing.”

He was right about that. His piercing empathy made her conscious of her vulnerability. She wasn’t used to people seeing through what she said that clearly. The men she’d had relationships with certainly hadn’t—including Jim, her latest disaster. Now she had scars on her body. How would men react to them?

Lyle put the mug down. “How’re your hands and feet feeling now?”