Page 72 of Deadly Vendetta
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The engine of Dana’s truck was running when Zach pulled his SUV to a stop next to her clinic. Before he’d even gotten Katie out of her car seat, the door of the clinic banged shut and he looked up to see Dana fly to the back of her truck, a box of supplies in her arms.
“What’s the rush?” he called out as he unbuckled Katie and lifted her to the ground.
Busy stowing away the supplies, she didn’t turn around. “A mare with lacerations, over in Bixby.”
Zach strolled over to her side, trying to curb his impatience. “That must be almost an hour from here. There isn’t a vet closer?”
“There is, but he’s on vacation, and there aren’t that many of us out in ranch country.” Slamming the lid of the compartment shut, she opened the neighboring compartment and peered inside, then closed it as well and started toward the driver’s side door. “All set.”
“Is it even cost-effective for you to go?”
She paused, one hand on the door handle to give him a look of disbelief. “These people have a horse bleeding heavily. I can’t just say, ‘Oh, dear, it’s a long drive.’ And at any rate, the farm-call rates do vary by mileage. The expense is covered.”
“Have you been there before?”
“Not this again. Really, Forrester, you need to find a new hobby. Worrying about my career is going to get you nowhere.”
“Weren’t you supposed to let me know about late farm calls for unfamiliar clients?”
“And why is that? Has anything happened around this place? Have I been threatened? I’ve been on my own for three years now. I can take care of myself.”
“But what about the kids?” he persisted. “Is Ben here?”
“Of course he is.” She opened the door of the truck and slid behind the wheel. “And my mother is on her way, because Ben is going to Denver later this evening to stay with his youngest daughter for a few days. I’m not stupid.”
Zach moved ahead a step and held the door open. In her rush to treat an injured horse she probably wouldn’t register half of what he said, but after this farm call he would lay everything out in detail.
“Do you mind?” she said, running a hand through her bangs in exasperation. “I appreciate your concern, but I need to hit the road.”
“Let me go with you.”
“That really isn’t necessary.”
“Swing up by your house so I can drop off Katie with your kids. Ben needs to stay in the house with them, and they need to lock the doors while you’re gone.”