Laying Down the Law Read Free

any moment and someone as slight as Callie would have no chance against an animal its size.
    Sure, he seemed placid enough at the moment, particularly considering he was injured and in pain. But that could change at any moment.
    Yeah, like hell he was going to leave her here alone.
    “Why don’t you just give him some pain relief and take care of the rest in the morning, Callie?” he asked.
    She shook her head tiredly. “Best to get it out of the way now, particularly if it turns out to be broken. Besides, I’m fully booked in the morning. And it’s not like I could sleep anyway.”
    She worked as she talked, and as always he marvelled at her confident movements, the he marvelled at her confident movements, the strength she held in that slight body.
    “Is that why you’re still up?” he asked, concerned. “Why haven’t you taken the sleeping pills the doc gave you? You have to get some sleep. Insomnia can be very unhealthy, squirt.”
    Callie snorted. “What are you, my father?”
    “Callie,” he growled warningly, and she nodded slowly in recognition of that tone.
    Both of them knew he wouldn’t hesitate to take her to task for her behavior. He wasn’t going to be denied.
    “Sorry.” She rubbed her hand over her face. “I’m fine, Tanner. I have a really sick cat and I was keeping him company. It’s Mrs.
    Shuckley’s Purdy, she got into a fight.” Tanner flinched, he knew how much Mrs.

    Shuckley loved that cat, if anything happened to it… no wonder Callie looked so concerned.
    “Think Purdy will make it?”
    “Lord, I hope so.”
    Tanner moved to the dog’s head, patting him, prepared to grab him if he even looked Callie’s way. She set up the x-ray.
    Amazingly, the mutt stayed quiet, seemingly happy with the attention he was getting despite his pain. Tanner watched her as she continued to work.
    “How often do you take jobs at night with no assistance?”
    She smiled at him. “Tanner, this is my job. I’m a fully trained vet. I know what I’m doing.”
    “Anyone could have walked in here, Callie. What if you get a dangerous animal that Callie. What if you get a dangerous animal that you can’t handle by yourself?”
    She shrugged. “I’ve been fine so far.” He snarled softly. “Not really the point.” She ignored him. “It’s just as I thought, bruised.”
    Callie went to pick up the dog, but Tanner quickly intervened.
    “I’ll do it.” He pushed her aside gently, and knew she must be really tired when she let him take over without argument. He carried the mutt over to a large cage, putting it inside, ignoring the way the dog looked at him imploringly, with sad eyes. It was almost as if he was accusing Tanner of abandoning him.
    Tanner shook off the foolish thought.
    “Will you keep him?” Callie asked as she patted the dog’s head softly before closing the cage door. “It’s only some bad bruising. You cage door. “It’s only some bad bruising. You should be able to take him home tomorrow.” Tanner shook his head. “No, I’ll take him to the pound.”
    Callie nodded thoughtfully and he knew immediately what she was thinking.
    “No, Callie,” he stated firmly. She looked up at him in feigned surprise, her eyes wide.
    “No, what?”
    “No, you can’t keep him. You’ve already got enough pets to take care of now. Your apartment is overflowing and you are not taking him on as well.”
    Callie frowned fiercely. “You’re not the boss of me, Tanner Jamieson.”
    “Well, you certainly need one. Look at you; you’re so exhausted you’re practically swaying where you stand. You’ve lost even more weight, Callie, so I know you’re not more weight, Callie, so I know you’re not eating properly. You simply don’t know when to say enough is enough so I’m going to say it, enough Callie. No more taking in stray animals and keeping them as pets, no more late night’s watching over sick cats, no more poor eating habits. And definitely no more unlocked doors.
    You