Free Changeling Moon by Dani Harper Page B

day had had few redeeming qualities. He’d semen-tested six young bulls that had been brought in last minute by 83-year-old Ivan Chirikov, then dehorned the lot. Ivan had no phone, seldom came to town, and didn’t believe in appointments. He was also mostly deaf. It was simply easier to perform whatever unscheduled procedures he was asking for rather than try to argue. At least it would be six months or so before the old farmer returned with another batch of unplanned patients.
    Next was emergency surgery on a cat hit by a car. It was noon before Connor could get back to his regular appointments, which included a few patients he’d rather not have seen. Ever.
    One was an old dog that was scheduled for euthanasia. The big Chesapeake was blind, arthritic, and had soiled the carpet one too many times, including that very morning. Connor’s Changeling senses could easily read the animal’s confusion. She didn’t understand why her owners had left her there alone. She did know that they were cross with her. It was instinctive for a canine to keep its den clean, a source of shame to the dog when it failed. Connor ran his hands over the chocolate fur, now dulled to mud-brown with age. It’s not your fault, old girl. He had soothed the animal’s mind and comforted it as he injected the lethal substance. It was over almost instantly, but unexpectedly he had spent the next few minutes in the bathroom splashing his face with cold, cold water. Euthanasia was part and parcel of veterinary practice, but this time it reminded him far too much of what he had been forced to do to Bernie. Oh sure, Bernie was still alive. But only part of him.
    A cesarean case came in right before closing time. The calf was already dead and had been for a while, the cow nearly so because of the extreme toxicity. It had been a god-awful mess. Connor had done his very best, used every talent and skill he had at his disposal, but the unfortunate cow likely wouldn’t survive the night.
    A goddamn perfect ending to a goddamn perfect day. He sipped the terrible coffee, half wished it was something much stronger. Like his father’s favorite whiskey for instance. Connor sighed and wondered how Birkie was doing in Scotland. She’d been his mother’s best friend since forever, and had gone with his sister, Kenzie, to visit his parents. He would’ve liked to have joined them, but that would have meant closing down the clinic completely.
    Of course, things would be different if he’d listened to his friends and family and advertised for a partner. Most of the time he resisted the idea. After all, he’d handled the workload on his own just fine for years. Lately, however, he had to admit that his practice had grown much bigger than one vet—even if he was a Changeling—could handle. The North Star Animal Hospital served a large chunk of the Peace River country, and the traveling alone was taking up a helluva lot of his time.
    Birkie, bless her, had done her best. She’d brought in a steady stream of Animal Health Technicians who needed a few months of practical work experience in order to complete their diploma. The extra hands were invaluable, and thank God he had three techs on hand right now, but there was a limit to what they could do. He needed to bite the bullet and advertise for another partner.
    And he ought to ask Zoey Tyler out.
    Connor picked up a newspaper from a waiting room chair. Zoey hadn’t returned his calls yet, but maybe she was just busy. Or maybe she wasn’t interested. He recalled her face when he had covered her hand with his. She had been flustered, and he hadn’t needed Changeling senses to discern the jump in her pulse even as she pulled her hand away. There was interest there all right. Attraction. Maybe he could build on that.
    God knew there was attraction on his side. And a curious familiarity. He felt as though he knew Zoey, had known her for a long time. That