Free Mercy & Mayhem: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery by Ava Mallory Page A

supposed to get to work today?” I teased. “You would have missed me.”
     
    “You shouldn't drive when the weathers like this. Didn't they teach you that when you were growing up?” Nubbin continued with the scolding.
     
    He was so engaged in conversation, he had no idea that we'd managed to get him down safely, secured his cane, and walked him back to his room without so much as a stern word.
     
    After we had him settled in with the day's newspaper, I was finally able to go into the office and prepare for the day. To my surprise, Kathy was hard at work, finishing up her charting from the night before. All I could do was think some not-so-kind thoughts about the audacity of her to sit there and do nothing while her staff needed her help. Typical!
     
    “Well, hello.” I couldn't bring myself to pretend I was thrilled to see her.
     
    She kept her head down, continuing her charting.
     
    “You had to work overnight again?” I asked, anxious to get what little conversation we were going to have started, so I could get on with my day.
     
    She pretended not to notice that I was in the office with her and kept her eyes focused on the chart in front of her.
     
    That was it. I was going to make this woman behave like a decent human being even if it killed me.
     
    “Okay. You don't have to like me, but since I am going to be here for a few months, you might want to get over whatever your issue is and learn to practice kindness.” It had to be said. I knew that surviving three months with this incorrigible woman wouldn't be a possibility unless I confronted her now about her issues.
     
    I watched her neck turn red. I knew I had gotten to her. She wrote the last of her nurse's notes with more force, digging her pen into the paper. I definitely touched a nerve.
     
    “If you became a nurse to make friends, you're in the wrong profession, honey.” She said through clenched teeth.
     
    Arguing with her or anyone was not my cup of tea, especially this early in the morning, so I bit my tongue – literally – to prevent myself from saying what I so badly wanted to say to this wretched woman.
     
    She rolled her eyes, disappointed that I didn't respond in kind and said, “I just want to go home. This working overnight thing is for the birds, but there's no way that Marie would be able to drive into town safely. I recorded my report for you while you were out there playing jungle gym with Schmeckpepper. Be prepared to work overnight tonight because if we get as much snow as they claim we're going to get today, there's no way I'm even going to attempt to come in tonight.”
     
    She might as well have slapped me with a bag of books, I felt like the rug had been pulled out from right under me. Why couldn't she have called me to warn me before I reported for duty today?
     
    “Nice of you to give me a heads up before I came in here with my lone sandwich and juice box for lunch. It's not like I need food or drink to survive or anything.” I couldn't help myself. She needed to know how much I didn't appreciate being treated like a second class citizen.
     
    Kathy smiled. “Yeah, sorry about that. Busy night and besides its not like you have a house or family in town that you have to tend to.”
     
    I felt heat rise in my throat. This woman had officially crossed the line with me and there was no hope of redemption coming anytime soon.
     
    Just as I opened my mouth to give her a piece of my mind, Jeb tapped his knuckles on the door, making both Kathy and myself lurch out of our seats.
     
    Kathy opened the door. “Jeb, you scared the living daylights out of me. What are you doing here so early today?”
     
    His cheeks turned red. “Sorry, ladies. I've been working extra hours for a while now. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be installing new cameras today.”
     
    Kathy's whole attitude changed. Suddenly she was this bright, cheery woman who wore a smile on her face. Without the attitude, she really was