janet dailey- the healing touch Read online

  THE HEALING TOUCH Janet Dailey

  Chapter One

  I'm sorry to bother you at this time of night, Dr. Barclay. But we have an emergency here at Casa Col- ina." The male voice on the phone had a gentle Irish brogue, but not gentle enough to soften the blow. Rebecca Barclay groaned as the words sank into her half- asleep brain. No... no more emergencies tonight, please! Rolling over in bed, she peered at the clock on her nightstand. Three o'clock in the morning.

  "What seems to be the problem, Mr. O'Brien?" she asked, hoping it would be something simple. Normally, Rebecca would have been pleased to hear from Neil O'Brien, one of her favorite people. He was quite proficient at animal husbandry himself, and Rebecca knew he would never call her unless he truly needed her services. She just didn't want to be needed... at least not for the rest of the night.

  "I've got myself a fine little nanny goat here who's tryin' to deliver her first kid," the Irishman replied. "But surely, somethin's amiss. She's been at it for hours, and she's made no headway at all."

  A birthing. A goat birthing. Rebecca groaned again. Something simple, huh? Wishful, but naive thinking on her part. It was some sort of cruel cosmic rule that no call was ever simple at three o'clock in the morning.

  With an effort she forced a note of cheer into her voice. False, perhaps, but cheerful all the same. "I'd be glad to come out, Mr. O'Brien. I'll be there as quickly as I can."

  There's no rest for the weary, Rebecca thought as she hung up the phone and heaved her aching body out of bed. She had only been asleep for an hour. One lousy hour since the last emergency.

  At midnight she had been wakened by a frantic phone call—a distraught cat owner who lived across town and far out in the country. As she had tried to find her way in the darkness, Rebecca had decided that the area was so rural it could be considered a suburb of the boondocks.

  Weighing in at almost thirty pounds, sleek and shiny black, the feline named Butch had more closely resembled a panther than a common house cat. Her next two hours had been spent reassembling the tomcat's mangled ears. Having lost a skirmish with an even bigger and meaner male, Butch had been in a foul mood. Rebecca's hands and arms still stung from his scratches, and her left thumb bore several holes where he had sunk bis cute little fangs into her flesh.

  Unfortunately, Rebecca was the only veterinarian in the small town of San Carlos who was willing to do house calls. As a result, she could count on being hauled out of bed several times a week... at least.

  Exactly why did I want to be a vet ? she asked herself as she pulled on her jeans and a plaid flannel shirt that she had only recently draped over a chair nearby. Wasn't

  it something about helping animals... relieving suffering, healing the wounded?

  Ugh! Altruistic reasons aside, right now she didn't want to see another furry face for at least a month.

  Grabbing a favorite old woolen sweater and her case full of pharmaceuticals and surgical instruments, she hurried out to her ancient, battered pickup.

  For a brief moment she allowed herself the luxury of pausing to breathe in the sweet smell of the California night. The delicate scent of the star jasmine planted beside her door blended with the heady perfume of the orange blossoms in a nearby grove.

  The night air was silent and unusually cool for summer. Her breath frosted, white puffs in the moonlight, as she pulled the sweater more tightly around her and climbed into the truck.

  Not a single headlight shone on the highway that ran in front of her house. The town of San Carlos was asleep... except for her and Neil O'Brien... and, of course, that poor little nanny who was struggling to deliver her first baby.

  "I'll be right there, sweetie," Rebecca whispered as she pulled the old jalopy out of her driveway, grinding a gear or two in the process. "Just hang on. Help is on the way."

  Ten minutes later, Rebecca arrived at Casa Colina, a lavish estate on the northern edge of town. The enormous house gleamed blue-white in the moonlight, an

  old-fashioned Spanish hacienda with a red-tiled roof and graceful arches covered with climbing roses.

  Rebecca knew the place well. As a child, she had spent many happy hours playing on the estate, exploring the nooks and crannies of the old house, the gardens, bams and orchards. The Flores family had five daughters and she had been friends with them all.

  But over the years, the girls had grown up, gone to college, established careers and gotten married. Finally, even the youngest, Gabriella, had left home. Last winter, feeling lost and alone on such a large property, Jose and Rosa Flores had sold Casa Colina and moved to an apartment in town.

  Rebecca had been told that the new owners were private people, but she had heard little else about them. Even the standard town gossips seemed in the dark and hungry for tidbits of information about their reclusive neighbors.

  She had been pleased to hear that they had chosen to keep Neil O'Brien as their caretaker, and his wife, Bridget, as their housekeeper. After working for the Flores family for twenty years, Neil and Bridget knew more about running Casa Colina than anyone. Rebecca felt a great deal of affection for the couple and enjoyed their company. She admired Neil's skill and compassion with the animals in his care, and he always seemed to have a big smile and a corny joke for everyone he met. Bridget was equally friendly, graciously offering a cup of Irish breakfast tea and queen cakes, as

  she called her special cupcakes, to visitors at Casa Col- ma.

  Having paid many social calls to the property, Rebecca was intimately familiar with its layout. She didn't bother to go to the house first; Neil would be in the barn with the goat and Bridget would probably be sleeping. So she drove around the front of the house and toward a series of outbuildings in the back.

  With her bag in hand, she climbed out of the truck and headed for the stables, where a light shone from one dusty-paned window, throwing a golden glow across the lawns. She rushed inside, hoping she wasn't too late.

  O'Brien was kneeling beside a small white nanny goat, who lay on her side in a pile of straw. She was a Nubian, Rebecca's favorite breed of goat, known for its friendly, playful disposition and long, floppy ears. The animal was panting hard, straining with the contractions. But, in spite of her efforts, there was no sign of a new arrival.

  With her attention focused on her patient, Rebecca didn't notice the little girl who sat huddled in the corner of a stall. She was hugging her knees, which were drawn up to her chest, her big blue eyes filled with tears.

  "How long has she been in hard labor?" Rebecca asked. Kneeling beside the goat, she ran her hand over its bloated belly. She could feel the animal shivering with fear and fatigue; the goat couldn't take much more. But Rebecca felt something else, which gave her hope—the movement of the kid inside. There was still a chance of a positive outcome for both mother and baby.

  "She's been at it since yesterday morning," Neil replied, pulling a red kerchief from the pocket of his coveralls. He wiped his brow, which was wet with sweat, despite the coolness of the night. "As you can see for yourself, nothing's happened. I'm thinkin' that some- thin' must be tangled up in there."

  Rebecca opened her bag and pulled out a tube of antiseptic, lubricating cream. "I believe you're right."

  "Since I called you, she's been goin' downhill fast," Neil said, his ruddy, freckled face registering his concern. He looked exhausted, and for the first time, the thought occurred to Rebecca that Neil O'Brien was growing older. When had those lines appeared on his face? When had he lost his youthful vigor? He brushed back a lock of his curly red hair from his forehead—red that was mixed with more silver than Rebecca remembered. "Hilda's a nice little goat," he added, stroking the Nubian's long silky ears. "I'd hate to lose her."


  Rebecca heard a sob from the far corner of the barn. Turning around, she peered into the shadows and saw the girl for the first time.

  "Hilda's going to die...isn't she, Doctor?" the child asked, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I knew something awful was going to happen. And I was right, it is."

  Rebecca walked over to the girl and dropped to one knee beside her in the pile of straw. "My name is Rebecca," she told her. "What's yours?"

  "Katie," she said with a sniff.

  "Well, Katie, I don't think you need to worry so much about Hilda," Rebecca said, reaching out and gently touching one of the girl's shining black curls, which lay on her shoulder. "I run into this sort of problem all the time. It usually works out just fine."

  "Really?" The girl choked back her sobs. "You do it all the time?"

  "Ten times yesterday," Rebecca replied with a teasing smile.

  The child laughed through her tears. "I don't think it happens that much," she said.

  "I think you're right. But I think Hilda's going to be fine. You'll see."

  Having comforted the child, Rebecca returned to Neil and the goat. She rolled up her sleeves and smeared the antiseptic cream from her fingertips to her elbows. Then she pulled on a pair of long, surgical gloves.

  "I'll check and see what's going on in there," she said. "We need to know what we're dealing with."

  As Rebecca examined her patient, the animal lay still, too weak to resist. After only a couple of minutes, she had her answer.

  "Well, we have twins," she said. "And the first one is a big fellow. He's the one who's holding up the works."

  "What are you going to do?" Neil asked.

  "I'm going to turn him a bit to get him in the proper position. Then I can ease him out."

  As gently as she could, Rebecca performed her task. Hilda seemed to sense that something had changed and, encouraged, she began to bear down again and push with a vengeance.

  In only a few minutes, Rebecca delivered the first kid. As she had predicted, he was huge with an especially large head. But he didn't seem any the worse for having gone through his ordeal. He snorted his disapproval as Rebecca aspirated his nose and mouth and wiped his face with a towel.

  Grabbing a handful of straw, Neil began to give the youngster a brisk rubdown. Hilda bleated and craned her neck around to get a better look at her newly arrived offspring.

  From the corner of her eye, Rebecca watched as Katie slowly left her spot by the wall and inched toward them.

  "Is it a boy or a girl?" the child asked. Her tears had evaporated, but her blue eyes were still big and round with wonder.

  "It's a billy," Rebecca said. "A fine, strapping fellow. I certainly won't want to fool around with him in another year or so."

  Katie looked disappointed. "Oh... I was hoping for a girl."

  Neil laughed as he pushed the kid toward his mother's face. She sniffed him curiously, then began to give him his first tongue bath. "Poor Katie," he said, "I promised her she could have one of the kids for a pet if it was a nanny."

  "Well, there's one more left in there," Rebecca said. "And we'll know soon whether it's your nanny or this billy's brother."

  Katie lost her shyness as she scrambled to Rebecca's side and knelt on the straw. Reaching out her small hand, she stroked the goat's belly. "You're okay, Hilda," she said in a soft, soothing voice. "The nice doctor is going to take care of you.''

  "Yes," said a deep voice from behind them, "it looks like everything is under control."

  Rebecca glanced over her shoulder and caught her breath. The man who stood in the doorway was the most knock-down-dead gorgeous guy she had ever seen. With his shining black hair and blue eyes, it was obvious that he was Katie's father. He almost filled the doorway with his broad shoulders, and the room seemed to vibrate with his presence.

  But Rebecca didn't have time to think about a handsome man at the moment. As attractive as he was, she had work to do. With its oversize brother no longer an obstruction, the second kid was on its way into the world.

  She felt a pang of concern when she saw the baby. It was much smaller than the first, and it seemed limp and lifeless as she eased it out and onto the straw.

  Quickly she cleared its nose and mouth, then began to rub its body with the towel. Neil understood the urgency and did the same to its legs.

  "Come on, little one," she whispered. "Let's get you going. Breathe for me... come on..."

  She noticed that it was a female and her heart sank. Katie would be crushed if she didn't live.

  Just when Rebecca was about to give her CPR, the tiny animal shuddered. She gasped for air, and kicked her hind legs.

  "There she goes," Neil said, his face splitting with a wide grin. "You did it, Doc!" Jumping to his feet, he grabbed Katie, lifted her and gave her a bear hug.

  "And it's a girl!" Katie said when he set her back on her feet. "It's a little nanny... for me!"

  "That's right, Katie," Neil said. "A bonny nanny for a bonny lassie."

  Hilda bleated and sniffed the second kid as Rebecca presented it to her. The mother wore a relieved and contented expression on her face, her long Nubian ears Sopping as she bathed her twins.

  Finally, both kids snuggled close to their mother, nuzzling her, seeking her warm milk.

  Rebecca sat down in the straw and enjoyed the scene. Moments like this one made it all worthwhile. She had done her job well. Hilda was relieved of her burden. The kids were safe and cozy. Katie and Neil were thrilled with the new arrivals. And Katie's father...

  Rebecca turned to see if he was enjoying this warm scene as much as they were, but, to her surprise, he wore a frown on his handsome face.

  He took a couple of steps closer to them, studying the second nanny. "That goat is obviously a runt," he said. "I don't think it will make an appropriate pet for a child."

  "She is too an appropra... approp... a good pet. I want her!" Katie said. She glared up at her father, her blue eyes angry, but pleading. "And she's not a runt... whatever that is. If it's bad, she's not one!"

  Rebecca had to fight to control her temper. What was wrong with this man? Didn't he have a heart? How could he ruin such a beautiful, happy moment?

  "A runt is an animal that is born small and unhealthy," he told his daughter. "They often have things wrong with them, and they're hard to care for. And you don't even know if she'll live."

  Rebecca couldn't stay quiet any longer. "Excuse me, Mr.—"

  "Stafford," he said. "Michael Stafford."

  "Mr. Stafford...I understand your concern about having a healthy pet for your child. But even though this nanny is a bit small, there's no reason to assume she won't live."

  "Oh, really?" His blue eyes were cold and angry as he stared down at her. Apparently, he resented her offering her opinion without being asked. "And can you guarantee that, Doctor?" he snapped.

  Rebecca couldn't understand the bitter tone of his voice. Why was he reacting this way? "Of course I can't guarantee the animal will stay healthy, Mr. Stafford," she said. "Life doesn't offer guarantees like that."

  "It certainly doesn't," he said.

  Again Rebecca heard the anger in his voice. What had happened to this man to make him so cold?

  Looking down at Katie, Rebecca could see the same pain mirrored in her blue eyes. It seemed to run in the family.

  "Mr. Stafford," she said, trying again to sound more patient and understanding than she felt. "I truly believe this goat is healthy, in spite of her small size. If you'll let Katie have her as a pet, I promise to help all I can. I'll teach your daughter how to take care of the goat. If anything goes wrong, all you have to do is call me, and I'll be here right away."

  "Please, Daddy?" Katie pleaded. She ran to her father and, grabbing his hand in both of hers, she said, "Dr. Rebecca thinks it's okay. Let me have her. Please, please, please."

  Michael Stafford said nothing for a long time as he looked down at his daughter, who was tugging at his hand. Rebecca couldn't understand how
he could resist those big blue eyes. She certainly couldn't.

  He couldn't either. Gently, he pulled his hand away from hers and turned toward the door. "Well," he said as he walked away, "if the good doctor thinks it's okay, it must be okay. I'm sure she knows more about these things than I do. I only hope she's right this time."

  Rebecca wished he hadn't sounded so sarcastic, but as long as he had given his permission and Katie had her baby goat, that was all that counted.

  Neil helped her as she gathered her things and placed them in her bag. Her work here was finished. At least, for the moment.

  Having said her goodbyes, she turned to leave, but paused at the door to take one more look at Hilda and her kids, Katie and Neil. Katie had her arms around the baby nanny's neck and was saying sweet things in her ear.

  Yes, Rebecca thought, I knew there was some reason why I became a vet. And this is it.

  The moment Rebecca stepped through the door of the Hair Affair beauty salon, she was accosted by a furry missile named Twinkle. Twinkle had been white the last time Rebecca had visited, but this morning the dog's coat was a strange shade of lavender.

  Rebecca had seen a lot of animals in her career, but she had never seen a purple Pekinese. She had her first clue as to what might have caused the mysterious skin irritation that Twinkle's mistress had described earlier on the telephone.

  "Oh, Twink," Rebecca said as she dropped to one knee and stroked the dog's ears, "what has Betty Sue done to you now?"

  The dog simply whined in reply and rolled her eyes pitifully.

  "I know, I know..." Rebecca accepted the wet kiss on her cheek. "I've tried, Twink, but you know how Betty Sue is. By the way, where is your mistress?" she added, looking around the empty salon.

  A door in the back of the salon swung open and a young woman in a hot-pink uniform entered, bringing with her the smell of permanent wave solution and nail