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The dog slowly extended its nose. It obviously liked Cass far better than him. It crawled out from under the hedge and came to Cass. Just a puppy, it was small with muddy matted hair. One of its ears stood up while the other flopped. It had an oddly patterned coat, making it look of mixed breed. Cass lifted the dog to her chest.
Lyle stood. “It figures. I’ve always been far better with people than animals. It likes you.”
Cass gave him a dry smile. When she struggled to stand he helped her.
“The canine therapy center is right down this way. Not far. Just behind the castle. It used to be the stables. It’s just through the woods.” He led them back to the path. “We’ll take it there. Esme will see to it.”
Cass didn’t say anything as she came to stand beside him. As they walked she held the dog close but not overly so. Was she afraid of the dog? Or was there more going on? Lyle would have thought she’d be the first in on a rescue.
Soon they reached the center. The lights were still on. “Esme must be keeping another late night. I’m glad I didn’t have to call and get her out in the weather again. She’s the veterinarian. This therapy center/veterinary center is Esme’s brainchild.” He hurried ahead and held the door for Cass.
She moved in past him.
“Esme, it’s Lyle,” he called as the door closed behind him.
“Hey, be there in a sec,” came Esme’s voice from another room.
She soon appeared with a broad smile on her face. Her short blonde hair was disheveled, as if she had been running her hands through it. “What’s going on?”
Lyle nodded toward Cass, who still held the dog. “We have a patient for you.”
Esme looked at the dog then gave Cass a questioning look.
“Esme, this is Cass Bellow, one of our new residents. She hasn’t made it down to meet the dogs yet, so you haven’t met her.”
“Welcome, Cass. So, who do you have there?” Esme reached for the dog.
It growled.
“Aw, I see you have that special touch,” Esme said, speaking to Cass. “Bring it back here and I’ll give it a look.” Esme led them down a short hall into an examination room. “Put it on the table.”
Cass did as she was told.
Esme went to touch the dog again and it rumbled a complaint deep in its chest.
“I’ll give him something to ease his anxiety.” Esme went to draw up a syringe of medicine.
“Apparently Cass has that special something with animals.” Lyle looked at her, expecting to see a positive expression, but instead she appeared distraught. What was wrong?
Esme quickly and efficiently gave the dog an injection. It soon rested easily in Cass’s arms. “You can put him on the table now. He shouldn’t be any trouble.”
Cass placed the dog on the metal table and backed away. “I think you have this now.” She looked at him. “I can find my way back to the castle from here.”
Cass was out the door before Lyle could stop her.
“She seemed in a hurry,” Esme murmured as she started examining the dog.
Lyle agreed. That accompanied intense curiosity about the stricken look on Cass face as she’d fled.
* * *
The next evening Lyle entered the dining room. A number of the residents were already there and engrossed in conversation. Cass wasn’t one of them. He hadn’t seen her since the night before. The few times he had left his office during the day she hadn’t been anywhere in sight. After her reaction to the dog he’d been very interested in how she was doing.
Everyone was seated at the table and the food was ready to serve when Cass entered the room. Relief washed through him. He had feared he was going to have to go and find her and he hadn’t been looking forward to the conversation that would have taken place.
She was dressed in a simple white button-down shirt and jeans. On her feet were the same boots she’d worn the night before. Her hair was brushed back and it didn’t look as if she had any makeup on. There was a fresh, simple air about Cass that appealed to him. Something he was completely unprepared for.
For too long he’d held onto Freya because she had been something safe and secure in a world he’d been unable to control. He had been too young, too unsure of life and couldn’t see that before he’d gone overseas. Still, the way their relationship had ended had colored how he viewed potential partners. He was gun-shy, and he’d be the first to admit it. The next time he got involved with a woman he wanted it to be a mature, mutual lifelong commitment. That certainly couldn’t be with a resident who would soon be gone and had her own life thousands of miles away. He needed to stop any kind of thoughts like the ones he was having now.
“We’re glad to have you join us,” he informed Cass as he stood and pulled out the chair next to him. Smiling, he added, “I was worried I might have to go out in the weather to hunt you down.”
She gave the therapy dog belonging to the resident on the other side of her a long uncertain look before taking the offered seat. “It isn’t because I didn’t think about skipping out.”
“I’m glad you changed your mind.”
She gave him a direct look. “Hunger pangs changed it for me.”
He nodded. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here. Let me introduce you to everyone.”
“You don’t—” She didn’t finish the sentence when those at the table turned to look at her.
“Everyone, this is Cass.” Lyle then went round the table, giving each person’s name. They either nodded or said hello to her as he went. She offered them all a tight smile.
The food was served family style out of large bowls and platters, passed around the table. Cass only took small amounts of a few items. At this rate she would never gain back the weight he suspected she had lost.
“I thought you might like to know that the puppy we found last night is doing well. Esme said he’s fine except for being underweight. He should make a full recovery.”
“That’s good.” She started picking at her meal.
Cass wasn’t helping much with making conversation. Lyle made another effort. “She’s going to ask around and see if anyone claims him.”
“That’s nice.” Cass took a bite of food as if she loathed doing it.
Roger, the man sitting on the other side of her, asked her a question. Cass gave him a two-word answer. Apparently, she didn’t want to carry on a conversation with anyone. But she needed to. If he had ever seen someone badly in need of interaction, it was Cass.
He tried another approach. “I see the residents and staff have been busy in here today. It looks festive.”
Cass looked around as if she was seeing the room for the first time.
How could she not react to the greenery and red bows hanging from the chandeliers, along with the large matching centerpiece of green boughs, velvet bows, and crimson balls? Or the mantel filled with decorations? In his experience it was the kind of stuff women loved.
Other than her hesitant look at the dog beside her, she appeared unaware of everything and everyone. He’d forced Cass into noticing him, but only for an all-too-brief moment. For some reason he wanted her to initiate an interaction with him. He wanted her to like him.
Lyle transferred his attention to Alice, who sat on his other side. Maybe giving Cass space would help open her up a bit. He and Alice carried
on a lively conversation about the upcoming village Christmas market beginning this weekend. They went on to discuss some of the other events planned for the festive season, like the annual Christmas festival at the castle, and the live nativity in the village.
“I was told there would be a tree lighting in the village and a parade in a few weeks.” Alice’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“There is and they even include some of the dogs from the center.”
He glanced at Cass a few times during the discussion and caught her listening. When she saw him looking, she focused on her food again. He decided to try to draw her into conversation once more. “Cass, do you like craft markets?”
Her head jerked up. “I...uh... I do.”
“Then you’ll want to be sure and catch the minibus into Cluchlochry on Saturday morning. The village has a pretty impressive one. Great place to buy Christmas presents.”
“I’ll think about it.” She pushed back her chair. “Right now I need to go for a walk before it gets dark.”
“Hey, before you go could I speak to you for a moment in private?”
Her expression said no. Yet she answered, “Okay, but just for a minute. I really want to walk.”
“I promise not to take up too much of your time.” He rose when she did and followed her into the hall. “Why don’t we go to the lounge?” With a hand he directed her down the hall. She headed that way and he joined her. They turned a corner and entered another hall. At the first doorway, Lyle opened the door to the large room with numerous sitting areas. A fire roared in the fireplace in the center of the main wall. Windows filled the opposite side.
“Why don’t we have a seat?”
“I’m starting to feel like I’m being brought into the principal’s office. You could have gotten on to me about not going to canine therapy again today in the hall outside the dining room.” Cass sat on the edge of a cushion of the closest sofa.
