His Bundle of Love / the Color of Courage

by Patricia Davids

  Rising, Lindsey stroked the rabbit’s small round head. “You don’t look very terrible to me.”

  “Reserve judgment until you know her better,” Jennifer suggested. “Shall I take her outside?”

  Brian shook his head. “No, I’ll take her and then you and I are going to have a talk in my office.”

  “Yes, Doctor.” She turned away meekly and left the building.

  “I can’t believe it,” he said in astonishment.

  “What?”

  “She always has some sort of snappy comeback.”

  “Maybe she’s saving it until you’re alone.”

  “That’s a scary thought.” He made a mental note to be gentle with his secretary when he took her to task for neglecting her duties.

  He glanced at the woman beside him.

  Thoughts of Lindsey kept him from sleeping, kept him from working, and, worst of all, they kept him from thinking about Emily. It certainly wasn’t Lindsey’s fault, but he had decided it would be best if he didn’t see as much of her in the future. During the past two days, he had accomplished his goal with difficulty. Like today, she always seemed to turn up when he least expected her.

  Determined to put some distance between them now, he said curtly, “I have to put Isabella away. Excuse me.”

  * * *

  Lindsey watched his abrupt retreat and wondered why he always seemed to be rushing out the door as she came in. After their exchange of confidences during Dakota’s illness, she felt she had gained a better understanding of the man, perhaps even made a friend. Obviously, she had been mistaken. Brian couldn’t have made it plainer that he didn’t need or want her friendship.

  “Not a very sociable chap, is he?” Avery said, coming to stand beside her.

  She felt compelled to defend Brian in spite of his recent attitude. “He can be.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  “Where have you been?”

  “Jenny had me guarding the doors to keep the rabbit from getting away. She stopped by to tell me the rodent has been recovered. Where was she?”

  “Making nice with Dakota.”

  “No joke? I didn’t know horses and rabbits got along.”

  “I’ve seen horses that weren’t happy unless they had a stall mate. Usually it’s a pony, but I’ve seen them adopt goats or dogs, so why not a rabbit?” Lindsey said.

  “If it helps Dakota get better, I’ll buy him a whole herd of rabbits.”

  “I’ll second that. Speaking of Dakota, how is he today?”

  “Relaxed, eating and drinking well. I’d say he’s much improved. And how are you? You saw the doctor again today, didn’t you?”

  “The bone is mending, but I still don’t have feeling in my fingers or my hand.”

  “How much longer does he think that will last?”

  “You know doctors. It could be a week, it could be a month. Time will tell.”

  “Bummer.”

  “No kidding. It sure would be nice to be able to drive myself again and not have to depend on everyone to get me places. Karen is a doll, but I think even she is tired of being my chauffeur.”

  “Is your car a stick?”

  “No, why?”

  “Because if it isn’t a stick, then you only need one arm to drive. Get a spinner for your steering wheel.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A kind of doorknob that attaches to the wheel and allows you to steer with one hand.”

  “Isn’t that only for handicapped people?”

  “Have you looked in the mirror? You are handicapped even if it’s temporary. But no, they aren’t only for the people with disabilities. I’ve got one on my sports car.”

  “Don’t tell me, let me guess. So you can keep one arm around a girl while you’re driving your Jag?”

  “Exactly.”

  “How did a guy like you end up in the army?”

  “You mean how did one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors find himself enlisted as a private?”

  “Yes. I’ve been wondering about that.”

  “So have I. My grandfather has some explaining to do when I get home. And for the record, the evils of alcohol cannot be overstated.”

  “You got drunk and ended up enlisted?”

  “I’m ashamed to admit that I was so plastered I don’t remember, but even my grandfather’s lawyer couldn’t get me out of Uncle Sam’s contract. If he actually tried.”

  “Why wouldn’t he?”

  “I’ve done a lot of dumb things in my life. I was careless and selfish because I thought money fixed everything. My grandfather was at his wit’s end with me. Maybe he thought the army could straighten me out.”

  “I think he was right.”

  A half smile pulled at one corner of his mouth. “It’s nice of you to say so. At least I’ve given up drinking anything stronger than soda.”

  Lindsey patted his shoulder. “The Lord moves in mysterious ways.”

  “So does my grandfather,” he grumbled.

  “The spinner is a good idea. Would you be able to put one on my car if I gave you the money to buy one?”

  “It would be my pleasure. But before you get behind the wheel, I insist you let me take you to an empty parking lot for some practice before you try it alone.”

  “You’ve got a deal. Thanks, Avery. Now, you’re relieved. Is there anything I need to know about Dakota?”

  “The Doc wants us to keep checking the cast for hot spots with the thermal thermometer at least once every four hours.”

  “Any signs of pressure sores?”

  “No, his leg is as cool as a cucumber, but he is getting up and down more and that could cause problems. Are you taking leave for Christmas?”

  “I hadn’t planned on it. I don’t want to desert Dakota after his close call.” Voicing her excuse out loud didn’t lessen the nagging guilt she had been saddled with since her conversation with Karen that morning.

  “What about your family?”

  “Karen has decided to spend the holidays with my brother since I won’t be going home.”

  She dreaded the coming holidays. It was hard to think about celebrating Christmas with Danny’s injury looming like a dark cloud over everyone’s mood. “What about you?”

  “I’ll be here. Maybe we should have our own Christmas party.”

  “That’s a good idea. I’ll talk to the Captain about it.”

  After Avery left, Lindsey walked into the stall and sat down beside Dakota. He nuzzled her shoulder briefly, then began nipping at her pocket.

  “Okay, I do have a few alfalfa treats in there, but don’t get greedy. You’re not the only horse in this place. See that little pinto across the way?” She pointed to a pony across the aisle. Dakota ignored her extended arm.

  “He likes alfalfa, too, so you’ll have to share.” She pulled a handful of green pellets from her pocket and held them out for him. He lipped them up quickly.

  After visiting with the horse for half an hour, Lindsey rose and began walking between the pens, stopping to visit with several other inmates. At the end of the building she glanced out the window and saw Isabella racing back and forth in a wire run.

  Slipping out the door, Lindsey stopped beside the rabbit’s kennel and knelt down to put her fingers through the chain links. Isabella stopped running long enough to investigate the potential new playmate. “Have you been banished from his office?”

  She glanced toward the front of the building. “Care to share any secrets about your owner? Do you know why he’s treating me like a plague victim?”

  Isabella sniffed at Lindsey’s fingers then dashed away. “I can see you aren’t going to be any help.”

  From inside the barn, Lindsey heard Dakota’s whinny. Risin
g, she headed back into the building. With only horses and rabbits to talk to, it promised to be a long day. Mainly because the one creature she really wished to spend time with had retreated to his office and she couldn’t think of a good reason to follow him.

  It was late afternoon and Lindsey had just closed the book she was reading when the sound of raised voices reached her.

  Brian stormed through the doorway. A deep frown etched a groove between his eyebrows.

  Jennifer was hard on his heels. “I didn’t take her out of her pen, honest.”

  “Is she in here?” he demanded, stopping in front of Lindsey.

  Not a word all day and now he had the nerve to behave like this? He wasn’t the only one capable of pretending indifference. “More rabbit troubles, Doctor?” she drawled.

  “Isabella has never run away before. You want me to believe she’s done it twice in one day?”

  “Dakota and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her, have we, boy? How much trouble is it to keep track of one bunny?” She rose from the cot where she was sitting and looked toward her horse. He stood in the corner of his pen with his head down. She assumed he had been sleeping. It was then she noticed the small bundle of fur beneath his nose.

  Brian spotted his pet at the same time. “She is here.”

  Taken aback, Lindsey turned to him. “I’m sorry. I never saw her come in. I was outside by her pen for a little while, but I didn’t take her out. She was inside her run when I left.”

  “I seriously doubt a six-pound rabbit could open a kennel door and then a barn door all by herself.”

  “I wouldn’t put it past her,” Jennifer muttered.

  Brian glared at her but didn’t allow himself to be diverted. “It isn’t safe to let her in with Dakota no matter how cute you think it is.”

  Lindsey opened her mouth and closed it again. Anger at his accusation momentarily robbed her of speech. She took a step toward him.

  “Are you saying you think I took your precious rabbit out of her cage and put her in with my lame horse just because I thought they looked cute together?” Resentment lent a steely edge to her words.

  “You go, girl.” Jennifer crossed her arms and looked smug.

  Brian took a step back. Lindsey could see the indecision wavering in his eyes. “If this is another one of your harebrained ideas for stress reduction...”

  “I have no idea how your rodent found her way out of her pen and into here, but I had nothing to do with it.”

  “Rabbits aren’t rodents, they’re lagomorphs,” Jennifer supplied with a bright smile.

  “My horse doesn’t need a lop-eared fur ball to reduce his stress and keep him company. He has me. Perhaps if you paid more attention to your pet, she wouldn’t be looking for love in all the wrong places.”

  “Lagomorphs have four upper incisors. The second pair is peglike and posterior to the first. Rodents only have two upper incisors.”

  Both Lindsey and Brian turned to stare at Jennifer.

  “Well, it’s true. A rabbit isn’t a rodent. I can’t believe the pair of you. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a hare’s brain and don’t ever say rodent like it’s a bad word.”

  Brushing between Brian and Lindsey, Jennifer slipped through the gate into the stall and picked up Isabella. Slipping out again, she paused and looked from Brian to Lindsey and back. “Any more name-calling and someone is going to find their mouth washed out with soap. Apologies are in order, and I mean now.”

  Lindsey watched Brian’s secretary exit through the main doors with the squirming rabbit under her arm. Dakota whinnied frantically as his new friend was carried away.

  Without taking her eyes off the doorway, Lindsey asked, “Did she mean it?”

  He stood beside her looking in the same direction. “I’m not sure, but I’m not taking any chances. I’m sorry I suggested you were harebrained.”

  “I’ve been told there’s nothing wrong with a hare’s brain, so apology accepted. I’m sorry I called Isabella a rodent.”

  “You’re forgiven.”

  “She’s kind of a weird woman,” Lindsey ventured.

  “I had no idea until recently just how strange she is,” he acknowledged.

  Glancing at Brian from the corner of her eye, Lindsey suddenly found herself overcome with giggles. Brian shot her a dour look but couldn’t keep the smile off his face. A second later he was chuckling, too.

  * * *

  By the middle of the following week, Dakota’s condition had improved enough to allow him to be transferred back to the fort stables. With the unit members providing around-the-clock care, Brian knew there wasn’t any reason to keep the horse at the clinic. Except that it meant he wouldn’t be seeing Lindsey anymore.

  The day after the big bay left it suddenly became a much quieter building. At least twice before noon Brian found himself standing beside the empty stall and staring into the space. He should be wondering how Dakota was getting along, but he had confidence that Lindsey and the men would follow his instructions to the letter. What he found himself wondering was how Lindsey was getting along. What was she doing? Was she resting her arm the way she should, or would she be trying to do too much?

  Jennifer came up beside Brian and propped her chin on the rail. “I miss him already.”

  “He’ll get the best care possible and he’ll be happier in his own stall with the other horses he knows.”

  She sighed. “I know the horse will be happier, but I’m not sure the rest of us will be.”

  Puzzled at her depressed tone, he looked at her closely. “You’re not taking about missing the horse, are you?”

  “Duh? I’m talking about that gorgeous hunk.”

  “Forgive me if I seem a little slow, but which hunk would that be?”

  “Private Avery Barnes. That Boston accent of his was to die for. Can’t you think of some reason to send me out to the fort?”

  “Jennifer, if Private Barnes is interested in seeing you again, he’ll call.”

  “Oh, like you’re going to call Lindsey?”

  “That’s neither here nor there.”

  “Which means, no.” She shook her head as she walked away muttering, “Men are so not bright.”

  At the doorway, she stopped and looked back. “How is it that so many of you are in charge of stuff?”

  Brian watched her walk out without replying. He had no intention of seeing Lindsey unless it was in an official capacity. He liked her, but it would never be more than that. The love of his life was dead and he knew there would never be another.

  Yet, he did miss Lindsey.

  He rested his arms atop the cool metal bar of the gate. The hay bale where they had shared bits and pieces of their lives still sat in the corner of the stall. In those hectic hours when Dakota had been so ill, Brian had learned a lot about Lindsey Mandel.

  She was dedicated and tireless when it came to doing her duty. She was witty and funny, often when he least expected it. The mental image of her parking a tank outside the clinic made him smile even now. She was sure of her place in the world and that place was in the army. Yet she didn’t believe in mixing marriage with her career.

  It was a shame, really. She had so much to offer. She was more than a pretty face. She was a woman with a heart and a soul. Her faith in God seemed unshakable in spite of being abandoned by her mother as a child and her brother’s devastating injury. She would make some man a fine wife if he didn’t mind her going off to war.

  Like most Americans, he listened to news and saw almost daily the way brave young men and women sacrificed everything for the freedom he took so much for granted. He was ashamed to admit that he had thought of them as foolishly brave. But there was nothing foolish about Lindsey or about her love of country.

  Emily would have liked her.

&n
bsp; Pushing away from the gate, he made his way back to his office. He had a mound of paperwork waiting for him. The extra work would be good. It would help keep his mind off the void that had formed in his life. Lindsey and her horse were gone. Now his life could finally get back to normal.

  But was that what he really wanted?

  Chapter Nine

  Lindsey ran the flat brush from Dakota’s withers to his rump and worked down his side until his coat held a high shine. Inside the cavernous limestone stable that had been built in 1889, she listened to the sounds of other horses being led out for their morning exercise. Their shod feet clattered noisily on the uneven cobblestone floor. The cool interior smelled of old wood, horses, hay and oiled leather. It was a scent she had come to love in the sixteen months that she had been assigned to the unit.

  The repetitive motion of brushing Dakota didn’t require much thought, leaving her mind free to wander. The place it chose to go was back to the Large Animal Clinic.

  Had Isabella managed another escape only to find Dakota gone? What was Brian doing today, Lindsey wondered? Was he thinking about her?

  “A penny for your thoughts?”

  She turned to see Shane leaning on the lower half of the wooden stall door and looking bored now that their season was over.

  “They aren’t worth that much,” she replied, picking up a mane and tail comb.

  “Need some help?” he offered.

  “Sure. Trying to comb a tail one-handed is harder than it looks.”

  “How’s the arm doing?”

  “It hurts, it itches, and the fact that I can’t use my hand is driving me nuts—other than that, it’s fine.”

  “At least you don’t have to stand on it.” He motioned to the cast on Dakota’s leg.

  “I know. Poor boy, I can’t imagine being uncomfortable and not being able to tell anyone.”

  “He’ll tell us, just not with words.”

  “He has been nipping at the wrap today.”

  “See what I mean?”

  Lindsey ducked under Dakota’s neck and began grooming his other side. Shane spoke softly and patted the big bay’s rump before pulling his tail to one side to comb it.