The Nurse's Christmas Temptation / A Mistletoe Kiss For The Single Dad. Ann McIntosh

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      “Everything looks good,” Harmony told the older lady as she helped her back into her wheelchair. “But I see from your chart that you’ve refused treatment for your anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. May I ask why?”

      Hillary’s eyes shifted away and she knotted her fingers together. For a moment Harmony thought she didn’t intend to answer. When she finally spoke there was an air of surrender in the words.

      “I’ve been poked and prodded and I’ve taken medication my entire life. Why would I add even more? Besides, going anywhere in this contraption takes so much effort. It’s not fair to Gav.”

      Harmony tweaked the ends of Hillary’s skirt so it lay flat, thinking through her answer before saying, “You realize what an anomaly you are, right?”

      Hillary frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

      “Well, you’ve lived to be in your sixties with spina bifida. Had two children and a full life. It’s only in the last few decades that spina bifida has been considered something other than a childhood disorder, since people diagnosed with it weren’t expected to live very long. Why give up now?”

      Hillary shrugged, but she was obviously listening, her gaze steady on Harmony’s face, so she continued speaking.

      “You already have some limitations placed on you by your disorder. Why not deal with what you can, so you can continue enjoying your life to its fullest?”

      There was no reply, but as Harmony packed up her kit she left it at that, hoping she’d given her patient some food for thought.

      They left the bedroom and found Cam and Gavin, Hillary’s husband, in the large farmhouse kitchen, leaning on the counter, sipping from teacups.

      Gavin was a short, stocky redhead with an infectious grin, who asked, “All right, then, love?”

      “Yes,” Hillary said, smiling back at him. “Everything is fine.”

      But Harmony found herself the recipient of a piercing interrogatory glance from Gavin, who only visibly relaxed when Harmony nodded her agreement.

      “Good, good… Want a cup of tea, ladies?”

      At their affirmative responses he set about pouring cups for them from the pot, while a black-and-white collie came over to say hello to Harmony. She bent to pet it, getting a lovely cold nose in her neck and a couple of licks before the dog slunk off in typical collie style to flop down on a cushion in front of the fireplace.

      Gavin said, “I was just telling Cam that I’ve moved the flock up to the old croft, which is why they weren’t hanging over the fence watching to see who was arriving.”

      “They’re a nosy lot,” Hillary said. “I miss seeing them when I look out the window.”

      “I was hoping to get a glimpse of them when we arrived,” Harmony said, adding a murmur of thanks as she took the cup from Gavin.

      “Cam can take you up to get a look,” he replied, turning to Cam as he continued. “Take the four-wheeler.”

      “I will,” said Cam.

      “Oh, that’s not necessary,” Harmony said, at the same time.

      Cam laughed. “I think it’s a grand idea. And, if you don’t mind, I’d like to show her Ada Tor.”

      “Go right ahead,” Gavin replied, resting his hand on his wife’s shoulder as he passed. “I don’t need the UTV again until later this evening.”

      Everyone else looked pleased as punch at this idea, and Harmony realized she’d look churlish and ungrateful by refusing, so she plastered a smile on her face. But she wondered what kind of vehicle it was they’d be taking, what kind of terrain they’d be traversing, and if any of this was safe.

      She got her answer after they’d finished their tea. While she stowed her bag in True Blue, Cam and Gavin went into the barn. After a short time there was the clatter of an engine, which sounded like a large lawn mower, and a small four-wheeled vehicle came stuttering out. It had two seats, a flatbed in the back, no doors, and it bumped across the farmyard as though it had a complete lack of shocks.

      Filled with trepidation, she cautiously approached as Cam brought it to a halt nearby.

      At least it probably couldn’t go very fast, she thought as she got in.

      But with the way Cam drove it over the rutted tracks it might as well have been a race car. Even terrified half out of her wits, and hanging on for dear life, Harmony had to admit he handled the little vehicle well, with the kind of casual capability she couldn’t help but admire.

      When they got to a gate she got out rather shakily to open it, and then closed it behind the UTV once he’d driven it through.

      “All right, there?” he asked with a grin as she got back in, before setting off again after her curt nod.

      The land undulated, but Harmony got the sense they were going more uphill than down—a supposition that was proved as they went around a rise and she looked back to see the farmhouse below them. Ahead in the distance was a stone building, and even farther away what looked like a jumble of boulders all piled up together.

      At the sound of the UTV, the alpacas came moseying out, and Harmony couldn’t stop her little squeak of pleasure on seeing their cute, curious faces. Cam brought the vehicle to a halt and Harmony got out for a closer look.

      The alpacas kept their distance, with the one in the front eyeing her suspiciously. As she got closer to the fence it huffed, and she stopped.

      Cam came up beside her and pointed. “That’s Sandro—the male. He’s pretty protective of his flock. Not much of a spitter, according to Gav, but I wouldn’t chance going much closer when his ears are flat like that.”

      “I was hoping to pet one,” Harmony replied. “They look so soft…”

      “Got their winter coats on,” he replied, and she saw him looking at her out of the corner of her eye. “You really like animals, don’t you?”

      “I do. Gran had a little scruffy dog for years, and he and I were best buds. She didn’t want to get another after Hobo died, and I was so busy I didn’t think I’d have enough time to care for an animal myself, but recently I’ve really been thinking about getting a pet soon.” It was her turn to look at him, now, wanting to see what his expression told her as she asked, “Don’t you like animals?”

      “Love them,” he said, which came as no surprise to her, really. He seemed the type.

      “So how come you don’t have a dog or three?”

      Cam shook his head. “Maybe one day I will, but right now a pet would tie me down too much. Every time I want to go away I’d have to find someone to look after it.”

      Unable to decide whether that was a smart or a selfish way to be, Harmony made no comment. Instead she made soft, hopefully enticing sounds to the alpacas, trying to coax them closer, but they weren’t interested and, after a short time, they turned and started back toward the building.

      “That СКАЧАТЬ