Read Rachel Goddard 01 - The Heat of the Moon for Free Online

there I would have checked on Maude later.
    “Yes,” I said, turning my attention back to Carl. “I’m so glad she’s okay. She’s one of my favorites.”
    “Hey, now, Dr. Rachel, you’re not supposed to have favorites.” Carl hauled himself to his feet, wet rags in his hands.
    I laughed. “Don’t tell anybody.”
    Luke Campbell was closing the cat’s cage.
    I unlatched the door of Maude’s cage and swung it open. She lay motionless on her nest of blankets, her eyes closed. A thick bandage encased her fractured leg. Earlier that day Tony Bonelli had installed a permanent plate to support the damaged bone, and Maude was still groggy from the anesthesia and painkiller.
    “Hi, Maude, it’s me,” I whispered, stroking her ear. Most of the blood had been cleaned off, but I felt tiny bumps of it, hard and dry, under the hair.
    Her eyes half-opened. Slowly the white tip of her tail lifted in salute then dropped again.
    “Ah, sweet girl,” I said. Behind me I heard Dr. Campbell’s footfalls, rubber soles on vinyl tile, coming closer. Why hadn’t I turned around and left when I saw him in here? “You’re going to be fine.”
    “She’s got a good attitude,” Dr. Campbell said. He’d come up on my right.
    “Yeah,” I said. “She’s a plucky little pooch. How’s the cat?”
    “Better than I thought she’d be at this point. She came in this morning in bad shape. Pulmonary edema.”
    I motioned at Maude. “Would you mind having a listen? I was about to check her over, but since I’ve got a cardiologist right here I might as well make use of you.”
    He laughed. “Sure.”
    I moved aside, and he leaned over Maude, murmuring reassuringly when she stirred. With one hand he positioned the stethoscope bell on her chest; with the other he stroked her muzzle. His rolled-up sleeves exposed the ropy muscles of his forearms. I watched his eyes lose focus and his face go still as he concentrated on Maude’s heartbeat throbbing in his ears.
    He straightened and dropped the stethoscope earpieces around his neck. “Sounds good. Her lungs are clear, her heart’s strong, respirations normal.”
    “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
    “Anytime.” He was smiling, but his eyes were reflective, considering, as if he had something to say and was weighing his words.
    Carl had left the room, I realized. “Well, good luck with the cat.” I closed Maude’s cage and started for the door.
    “Rachel?” he said. “Could you stay a second?” 
    Reluctantly, I faced him again. Yes, he’s going to have a little talk with me.
    He raked back his sandy blond hair, then jammed his hands into his jeans pockets. His eyes met mine briefly before sliding away. “I’ve got a little free time and I was wondering if, uh, you’d like to walk over to that coffee place with me.” He gave a short laugh. “I’ve never had a café latte, or whatever it’s called. I’d like to expand my experience.”
    I was flummoxed. He wanted to go to Starbucks? And why was he suddenly acting like an awkward boy? It dawned on me that he wasn’t looking forward to our talk, and he wanted to get me on neutral ground for it. Resigned, I said, “Sure.” I glanced at my watch. “But I’ve got a patient in—”
    “Forty-five minutes. I checked your schedule.”
    I was too surprised to say anything but, “Oh.”
    We walked around the corner, under flowering crab apple trees, on a sidewalk dotted white with fallen blossoms. He moved with a long-legged lope, hands in his pockets. He’d pulled on a denim jacket over his faded blue shirt. It occurred to me I’d never seen him in one of the white lab coats the other vets wore.
    He asked, startling me, “Why does everybody get so dressed up for work?”
    I’d have to remember that he could read minds. “Old habits. Dr. McCutcheon was fussy about the staff’s appearance. Ties for the men, no jeans, but he did let the women wear slacks. Lab coats for the doctors, always.”
    He pulled a face as if