He drove as fast as the speed limit allowed and pulled into the car park at the practice. Before he could turn off the car, his sister came running out the door followed by her new receptionist.
"Oh Cade, we've been so damned worried."
He grinned and shrugged his shoulders before opening the door. "Don't know why. I told you I would be okay."
"We know what Mr Stubbs is like, Cade," Rhian said. "Just a little on the weird and crazy side."
"Hi, Rhian. Nice to see you again. Well, what do you think?" He indicated the poor dog shivering on the back seat.
"Oh baby, look at you." Rooney cooed to the animal and opened the door. She crouched down to talk to the dog, holding her hand out. It sniffed her fingers and gave a tentative lick, looking over at Cade. "I think it likes you, brother."
"And why wouldn't it? It's a girl after all." He laughed, relaxing now he was safely away from the farm. "Can you take her in for me please and check her out. Bastard was going to shoot her because she didn't fall pregnant two seasons in a row. I couldn't leave her there hoping he didn't get around to it before the authorities visited."
Rooney sat on the back seat beside the dog and ran her fingers around its ears, talking soothingly to it. When it relaxed, she took the length of string it had around its neck and led it inside the surgery.
Cade followed with Rhian and shut the door behind them. Rooney cut the string from around its neck and let it wander around, sniffing. Rhian placed a bowl of water on the floor and the dog took a sniff before drinking her fill.
"Poor little thing is so malnourished and dirty." Rooney took a seat and watched the dog. It looked around and sniffed at a bag of dog food on display before going to Cade and sitting at his feet. "I guess she’s your dog."
"Looks like it. I'll get Squirt to help me give her a bath after school and pick a name. Can you give her the once over before I go please, Sis?"
"Sure, come in and I'm sure she will follow you." Rooney walked into the treatment room.
"Rhian, do me a favour will you?" Cade held out his phone to her. "Can you download the video from my phone and save it just in case we need to use it."
"Sure. No problem." She took it and sat behind the desk, her fingers skimming over the keys.
Chapter 23
Rooney watched the dog hover around her brother’s feet as he hopped into the treatment room. He leaned down and stroked her head, whispering to her before he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up onto the table.
"I could have done that."
"No need. I'm not helpless, Rooney. My leg is out of action for a bit, not the rest of me."
She stroked the dog while looking into its ears and eyes. When she put the stethoscope into the ears it shrank back, trying to get off the table.
"It's alright, girl, shh now." She nodded for Cade to help hold the dog while she listened to its heart and lungs. When she took its temperature, it cowed and tried to get away from her. "Understandable, love, I wouldn't like it either."
Rooney ran her fingers down the spine and palpated the dog’s stomach before giving her verdict. "She’s fine, Cade, just very malnourished. With love and attention, she should come good in no time. I doubt she’s ever been vaccinated, so I'll do that now too and give her some worm tablets."
The dog watched every move she made and sat surprisingly still while Rooney gave her an injection.
"You need to give her small meals to start with. I would suggest home-made or the brand I have out in reception. It doesn't have fillers, just good ingredients."
"I'll ask Essie to make something up for her. Can I get a collar and lead rope from you for her please?"
"Sure, go and choose whatever you want." Rooney lifted the dog down from the table and watched her follow Cade from the room, glancing back once as if she couldn't believe she hadn't been hurt.
Cade chose a plain red collar and lead, dropping them on the counter. "Give me an invoice please, Rhian. I may be able to claim this one day."
"Cade, you don't have to pay for those." Rooney came up behind him.
"Yeah, I do. This is your business, love. You need the money as much as anyone else."
"But you don't..."
"Did Russ tell you that? Figures. Mr Perfect can't keep his mouth shut."
Rooney felt for him. Cade had always been the big spender in the family, never a saver like she and Russ were. "Look, I know things aren't exactly going the way you planned but hell’s teeth, you should have always had a backup plan."
"Yeah well, shit happens. Listen, enough about my problems. Care to share a coffee with me before I go while Rhian sorts out the video."
"Give me another ten minutes or so and you can have your phone back. It's downloading now but taking forever," Rhian said glancing up.
"Of course." Rooney walked into the kitchen with Cade and his dog close behind her. He shut the door and took a seat at the tiny kitchen table. "Look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to rouse on you. It's just that I worry about you and what’s going to happen if your leg doesn't come good."
"I know. I haven't told anyone this before but if it will put your mind at rest, I'll share a
