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“That would be cool.” Shawn was instantly excited.
It did sound cool, but she knew Fisher was being polite. “No, we should go,” she argued, placing a calming hand on her brother’s shoulder. “We don’t want to interrupt. You obviously have work to do.”
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Fisher shook his head. “I wouldn’t have offered if it was an interruption. I’m off in—” he glanced at his watch before finishing “—eighteen minutes anyway.”
“Please, Kylee,” Shawn pleaded. “This place is awesome.”
“It really is,” the female student agreed. “I came here on a field trip when I was in seventh grade and knew I wanted to go to school here.”
“You took a field trip here?” Shawn asked.
“Every year,” Fisher said. “The kids get to be a vet for a day.”
The girl nodded. “I saw all these dogs and cats and knew this was my future.”
Kylee smiled when Shawn looked at her. They hadn’t spent much time talking about the future before. Their days had been about surviving—keeping Jesse happy. Thinking beyond their day-to-day was dangerous; it led to ideas and hope. And hope meant there was something to lose. But if they stayed here in Stonewall Crossing that might change. Shawn could grow up making plans for a real future, have friends and gain legal skills for a good life.
She didn’t say much as Fisher gave them a tour. It was an overwhelming facility, full of high-tech gadgets and impressive equipment. The only experiences she’d had with medical facilities had been for stitches, slings or treatment for her latest injury. She’d always equated hospitals and clinics with the suffering she and Shawn had experienced. But now...she saw beyond the injury to the healing. What would it be like to be a student here? To be trained on the newest, best equipment. To have engaging and passionate teachers like Fisher. To help.
Shawn had a million questions and Fisher answered them all—just like she’d known he would. She was beginning to consider Fisher was something she thought didn’t exist: a good guy. She waited for Fisher to be preoccupied with Shawn before studying him. Fisher’s smile, his laugh, his easygoing nature was a stark contrast to Jesse. Which was good—Shawn needed a better role model.
“Recovery ward,” Fisher said, pushing open another door.
Chance greeted them with several awkward spins and the frantic wave of his stubby tail.
“He’s happy to see you,” Fisher translated.
“Even I figured that one out.” Kylee couldn’t stop her smile then. “He looks great.”
“He’s a real sweetheart.” Fisher squatted so he could rub the dog behind his good ear. “Good disposition. A real pleaser.”
“What will happen to him when he’s all healed?” Shawn asked, sitting on the floor. Chance was on him then, circling Shawn, licking his ear, whimpering with unfiltered happiness. “Hey, boy, I brought you something.”
Chance took the rawhide chew, put it in the corner of his cage and ran—awkward but steady—back to Shawn. Shawn held his arms out, hugging the little dog close and carefully rubbing the wiggling creature.
“We’ll find him a home,” Fisher said, watching Shawn. “He’s got too much energy to live here at the school.”
“Some animals do?” she asked, surprised.
“Tripod does,” Fisher answered, turning his green eyes on her.
“Who’s Tripod?” Shawn asked, giggling as Chance curled up in his lap.
“He’s a pretty important cat, actually. He comforts the patients that are hurting.”
“A cat?” Kylee repeated. “Patients, as in other animals?”
“Not all of ’em. He seems to know who needs him.” Fisher grinned. “I know it sounds weird but he helps. I’ve seen it, calming the other animals’ BP. He’ll lie by them, groom them, sometimes he just puts his paw on them. He must give off some sort of healing vibe that other animals respond to.”
“Sounds like another story?” Shawn asked. “Like the bobcat and his spots?”
Fisher chuckled. “It’s true. I promise.”
“A nurse cat?” Shawn asked, still skeptical.
“Pretty much,” Fisher agreed.
