The Devil Next Door

Chapter 3: Freedom and Wine

Imogen cannot help but smile when she sees Dr. John. It had taken her so long to finish her chores and drive over to the clinic, she had been afraid they would already be closed. She apologizes for coming in so late in the day.

"How is Midnight?" she asks.

John strides over to her and replies, "She's doing much better! I think she's more than ready to go home. Do you want to go see her?"

"That would be great," Imogen replies.

He leads her down a short hallway behind the receptionist's desk. She thinks she hears the receptionist chuckle as they walk away, but when she looks back, the receptionist is already back at her computer looking at pictures of cats.

Imogen follows Dr. John outside into a small pen. Midnight immediately stops pestering a pig in the neighboring pen and trots towards them. The mare stops in front of Imogen and nuzzles her affectionately. Her owner inspects the wound on her front shoulder and finds that it has miraculously almost completely healed. She gapes at Dr. John in astonishment.

"It looks wonderful! You have to tell me what antibiotic you used!" she exclaims.

"After we got her blood cultures back, we started using Metronidazole, and she has responded really well to it. As long as you keep that wound clean, I think she'll make a full recovery," Dr. John answers.

Imogen is completely overwhelmed with joy and throws her arms around the veterinarian.

"Thank you!" she breathes, unable to keep tears from stinging her eyes.

He folds her into his arms, and before she comes to her senses, several moments have passed. She quickly pulls away from him and sheepishly pulls at her bandana.

"I'm so sorry, Dr. John. I-"

He holds his hands up and smiles warmly.

"Call me John, and you don't have anything to be sorry for," he says.

She returns his grin. Her cheeks flush hotly.

He glances around to make sure they are alone and leans close to whisper, "If you keep calling me 'doctor' my head's going to get bigger than it already is."

His joke catches her so off guard that she snorts with laughter. That sends John into a fit of laughter as well.

A loud growling from Imogen's stomach brings the pair back to reality. Embarrassment floods over her, and she clutches her stomach self consciously.

"Sorry about that. I meant to stop by earlier in the day, but chores took forever. Now I'm going to miss dinner, but at least Midnight will get to sleep in her own stall tonight," she says patting her horse's neck affectionately.

John glances at his watch.

"Wow, I didn't realize what time it was, but what do you mean you'll miss dinner? There are lots of places you could grab a bite to eat real quick," he says.

She shrugs and replies, "Máthair- uh, my mother will already have dinner cleaned up, and they don't really approve of outside food. I didn't even tell them that we ate lunch together the other day.

John rubs the back of his neck as if he is debating whether or not to say whatever is on his mind. Seeming to throw caution to the wind, he asks anyway.

"If it's none of my business you don't have to answer but, I'm just curious... are you Amish? Or something like that?"

"Something like that," she answers.

"Well, I don't want to get you in trouble, but I would hate for you to go hungry tonight. If it's alright with you, why don't we have dinner together? There's a good pizza place nearby," he offers.