Page 69 of Christmas at the Castle
“I’m going to pull these levers to release pressure on the jaws.” She took a breath and moved the two levers toward her. The jaws opened. Not fully, but enough. “His foot is free.”
Gill released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
Kat examined the paw. “It doesn’t look like he needs stitches, but call your vet. They may want to examine him and put him on antibiotics to ward off an infection.”
“But he’s going to be okay?”
Smiling, she nodded.
Thank goodness.
“You can let go of him,” she added.
Gill did, and the dog stood on all fours, but he seemed to be favoring his injured paw slightly. He’d carry the dog back to the castle to be on the safe side. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Max licked her face. She laughed and gave the dog a hug.
One of those might be nice. A hug. Gill wasn’t tempted to kiss her.
“You’re welcome, too. Such a handsome boy.” Laughing, she patted the dog. “But let’s not do this again. You might not be so lucky.”
“And you might not be here. I’m relieved you were.”
And taken charge in spite of his doubts. Gill trusted her vet skills. Yes, he’d hesitated, and he felt bad for doing that, but he didn’t trusther. Or know if he could. Still, he owed Kat for helping Max—make that Maximillian.
Gill picked up his dog and was greeted with a lick, too. “I’d like to show my gratitude.”
“That’s not necessary.” She stood. Her pants were wet from sitting on the ground, but she looked beautiful with her pink cheeks and warm smile. “I was only doing my job.”
“I understand that.” He wanted to make this effort, but he needed her to go along. “Please allow me to do this. If not for me, then for Maximillian. And Sophie,” he added, to make Kat saying no more difficult.
“Okay.”
Uncertainty filled her voice, but she hadn’t said no. He needed to set a date and time or she might change her mind about allowing him to thank her.
“Keep tomorrow afternoon free.” If his calendar were full, he’d have Frederick rearrange the schedule. And he’d make sure Jamie had something to do, too.
She brushed off her knees and backside. Something Gill would have helped her with if asked. What was he thinking? The last thing he needed to do was touch any part of her.
“What do you have in mind?” she asked.
Gill was about to tell her, but then he remembered her first night at the castle. Had that been only a week ago? It seemed like she had been there longer.
“I’m not going to tell her, but I’ll tell you the way she did,” Gill whispered into the dog’s ear the way Kat had in her room, and then he looked at her. “If you want to know, ask him.”
*
The next afternoon,Kat checked her reflection in the mirror one last time. She hadn’t forgotten to put on makeup or earrings. She brushed her hair one last time.
That was as good as it would get.
The door to Gill’s room was open. She peeked inside.
A soccer game was on the television screen. Jamie lay on the floor with a pillow under his head and Max at his side. The two looked comfortable and cozy.
That brought a smile to her face, so did knowing her diagnosis had been correct. Maximillian had been treated by his vet yesterday and sent home with antibiotics, pain medication, a cone around his neck, and a big appetite.
