He drove on past the building and parked the truck and trailer near a maze of sheds and holding pens. “Take the horses on to the barn. I’ll check out the car.”
Trey opened the door and jumped to the ground. “Guess you’re going to open up and take care of that damn cat.”
“If need be. Or if you’d rather, I’ll take care of the horses and you can deal with the cat,” Chandler offered with a baiting grin.
“Oh, hell no. I’ve had enough scratches and bites for this month.”
“Trey, it’s only the second day of April.”
“That’s my point, Doc.”
Chuckling, Chandler left Trey to deal with the horses and walked down a short slope to where the car was parked near the entrance of the clinic. The lights were off, and the tinted windows were up, making it difficult to see whether anyone was inside.
He rapped his knuckles on the driver’s door and called out, “Hey, anyone in there?”
Long seconds passed without any response and Chandler was about to decide the car was empty when the window slid down a few inches and he found himself peering into a woman’s wide, wary eyes.
“The clinic is closed for the night,” Chandler told her. “Do you have an emergency?”
“Emergency?”
“An emergency with an animal,” Chandler patiently explained. “Do you have a pet with you in the car?”
The eyes that had been warily studying him blinked and then the window lowered to reveal a very young woman. “Uh...no. No animal. I, uh, just stopped for a minute—to rest.”
Frowning, he stepped closer. “Excuse me, miss, but you don’t sound well. Do you need to get out and—”
Finishing the question would’ve been pointless as she suddenly flopped face-forward onto the steering wheel.
Recognizing she’d fainted, Chandler jerked on the door handle, only to discover it was locked. Without hesitation, he reached through the open window and released the latch.
Once the door swung wide, he leaned in and touched her shoulder. When she failed to respond, he felt for a pulse at the base of her neck. The faint, rapid thump wasn’t ideal, but at least her heart was beating.
Carefully, he eased her head away from the wheel and touched a hand to her face. Beneath his palm, the soft skin felt clammy.
He was trying to decide whether to call an ambulance or carry her into the clinic, when she suddenly began to rouse.
“Ooh.” She groaned and looked up at him. “Where...am I?”
“You’re in Wickenburg. You’re in your car,” he calmly informed her. “Have you been ill?”
While Chandler waited for her to answer, his gaze dropped to the very pregnant belly touching the bottom of the steering wheel. Oh, damn. If she was a mare, he’d predict she wasn’t far away from foaling.
Her brow furrowed with confusion. “No. I haven’t been sick. I’ve been driving for a long time. If I could just trouble you for a drink of water—that’s all I need.”
He eased her shoulder back against the seat. “Don’t try to move,” he ordered. “I’ll be right back.”
Chandler hurriedly unlocked the heavy glass door on the front of the building and returned to the car. By then, she was sitting up straight and wiping a hand over her face.
“Let me help you into the clinic,” he said. “Or if you think the baby is coming, I’ll drive you to the hospital.”
The hand on her face instantly fell to her belly. “Oh, I don’t need a hospital. The baby isn’t coming.” She looked up at him. “I—I’m sorry to bother you. I got swimmy-headed and thought I’d better rest before I drove on. I can make it now.”
Her face was as pale as the moon rising over the distant hill behind him. She wasn’t in any shape to drive ten feet, much less a mile and a half, he decided.
He extended his hand out to her and ordered, “I’m not so sure. Take my hand and squeeze it.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“Don’t worry. I’m a doctor. My name is Chandler Hollister and I own this veterinary clinic where you’ve parked.”
“Oh. You’re an animal doctor.”
He couldn’t help grinning. “I’ve been known to doctor a few humans from time to time. After all, we’re mostly two-legged animals.”
“Uh... I suppose.” She hesitated a moment, then finally placed her hand in his. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Hollister. I’m Roslyn DuBose.
Her fingers managed to fold around his, but he likened the touch to the gentle closing of a butterfly’s wings. “Is that the most you can squeeze, Roslyn?”
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I’m rather tired.”
He didn’t wait for her to say more. He leaned in closer and ordered, “Put your arms around my neck.”
“Listen, Doctor, if this is another of your tests, I’m—”
“It’s not a test. Put your arms around my neck. I’m going to carry you into the clinic.”
“Oh, but I can walk,” she protested. “Just give me a hand.”
“You can walk later. Right now, do as I say.”
To his relief, she followed his orders and he lifted her out of the car and into his arms.
As he started toward the clinic with her, Trey came jogging up to them.
“What the hell, Doc? She’s not a cat!”
“Far from it,” he told his assistant. “Go down to my office and make sure the couch is cleaned off. This young lady needs a few minutes of rest.”
“Right. I got it.”
At the entrance, the tall, lanky blond held the door open long enough for Chandler to step inside with his armload, then he sped down the hallway ahead of them.
By the time Chandler reached his private office, Trey had cleared the couch of clutter and propped a pillow at one end.
“Is she about to have the baby?” Trey asked as he stood to one side, watching anxiously as Chandler placed his latest patient on the couch. “Should I call the ambulance?”
Chandler carefully positioned the pillow beneath her head. “No. And no. Not yet, anyway,” he told Trey. “Right now, I need a bottle of water from the fridge.”
Trey fetched him the water, then Chandler squatted down at her side, quickly twisted off the lid and tilted the bottle to her lips.
“Drink, Ms.
