Kentucky's Best

Chapter 3

Rose wakes up the next morning in a cold sweat, shaking with tears rolling down her cheeks. Looking over at the bedside table she sees it's 5 am. Throwing the covers back, Rose, get up and heads for the shower. She hates when she has the dream about her parents and brothers death, it's been months sence she's had one to, but she thinks running into Harry and his daughter the day before brought back to many memories. The few friends she had used to tease her all the time about how young her brother was, but when their graduation day rolled around and news of the wreck was told to them all, everyone was devistated to know that Rose's adorable 3 year old brother was killed along with her parents.
Stepping out of the shower, Rose dries off, gets dressed then heads to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee, while the coffee was making she grabs her day planner to see what she has scheduled for the day, but for some reason she couldn't get the thought of the good looking Harry being married out of her head. Why that thought disappointed her she didn't know, she just met the guy yesterday, she doesn't even know him.
With a shake of her head Rose pours herself a cup of coffee and goes to check on her animals.
Over the years she has adopted several unwanted strays and injured dogs, cats, horses, pig, goats and many other breeds of animals. Walking into her barn the first thing Rose notices is her pit bull, Butch, doesn't come greet her like he usually does, in fact he usually sleeps with her and has sence her parents died, but he wasn't with her this morning. Setting her coffee cup on a hay bail Rose yells for her pet. Hearing a whining she runs to the back of the barn she finds her favorite dog lying on the ground.
Walking up to him slowly Rose looks him over, just as she was about to turn Butch over she sees what his problem is. He's been bitten by a snake, looking around she sees a dead snake lying not far from her dog. Butch has killed it but it bit him in the process. Running to the office in barn Rose grabs a bag, she then goes and puts the dead snake in it so whoever is at the clinic will know it was a poisonous copperhead that bit her baby. Rose then picks Butch up and runs to her truck and lays him in the front seat, jumping in herself she grabs her phone and calls Debbie.

"Animal Wellness Clinic, how can I help you?"

"Deb, this is Rose, my dog Butch was bitten by a snake, I'm on my in now." Rose says in a rush. "It was a copperhead and I have the snake with me, don't worry its dead."

"Oh, Rose, okay I'll tell Dr. Styles you're on your way in with an emergency case. I'll have room 1 ready for you." Debbie says.

"Thanks Deb." Rose says hanging up her phone as she speeds toward the clinic, throwing worried glances at her dog. Minutes later Rose skids to a stop in the clinic parking lot, throws her truck into park, grabs the sack with the dead snake in it then runs and picks Butch up out of the passenger side. Running into the clinic Rose heads straight for room 1.

Harry was just walking out of his office when he sees Rose running into the clinic with a huge, well huge to her, dog in her arms. Seeing her go to room 1 he walks quickly toward her and opens the door for her and watches her place the dog gently onto the exam table, Rose then looks at him with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Is he my snake bite patient?" Harry asks her.

Rose nods. "Harry you have to save him. Butch is the first dog I rescued. I caught his original owner dragging him down the road from the bumper of his truck, he almost died then." Rose cries. "I've had him sence my 3 year old brother died, I can't lose him." She sobs shocking Harry.

Harry steps up and wraps his arms around Rose. "Shh, it will be fine. Come on, Marty told me you help out in these situations all the time, can you do that now?" Harry asks her. "We need to get an iv started and anti-venom started."

Nodding, Rose wipes her tears and walks to grab the shears and shaves Butch's leg so Harry and place the iv in it. Once that was done Harry mixes the anti-venom up and get the treatment started hoping he can save this dog for this beautiful woman. "God, I hope this works." Rose says as she runs her hand over the dogs large head.

"Rose it has to work." Harry whispers as he rubs her back. "Come on let get him in a kennel, Butch is going to be here for a while." Nodding Rose goes to pick him up. "You want me to carry him?" Harry asks her.

With a small smile Rose shakes her head. "No, if you do that I'd have sit on your shoulders to hold the iv bag high enough for it to do its job to get him where we're going. With me carrying him you can carry it and he will continue getting the medication he needs."

Harry chuckles at that and grabs the iv bag. "You have a point there." He says as they walk down the hallway together. Once they get Butch in his kennel, Harry turns and looks down at Rose and freezes. Why he hasn't noticed her eyes before now he doesn't know, but he has never seen anyone, ever, with purple eyes. "Holy shit, are those real or are you wearing contacts.?" Harry asks before he can stop himself.

With a startled chuckle, because that was the last thing Rose was expecting. "They are all mine. Odd as hell I know." She says.

"Beautiful." Harry whispers, still shocked, causing Rose to blush. "Sorry." Harry mutters. "I'll call you, keep you updated on his progress." Harry says as they head back toward the front of the clinic.

Nodding, Rose smiles. "Where is Stephanie staying while you work?" She asks innocently.

Harry stiffens. "Uncle Marty's wife Beth watches her for me." Harry says cautiously.

"Oh, I thought your wife would do that. Does she work also?" Rose asks nicely.

Harry suddenly spins and looks down at Rose and snaps. "That's none of your fucking business. Me and my daughter are off limits to the likes of you." Harry sneers, then stomps back to his office and slams the door.

Rose stands there with tears in her eyes not understanding what just happened. With a shake of her head, Rose wipes away her tears and walks out of the clinic after letting Deb know to send her the bill.