"Okay with Tanker being your service dog, I will allow you to stay within the clinic with him. Just please don't tell anyone I let you do this." Samantha's seems to plead.

"There is no one for me to tell." I reply easily with a calm voice.

She doesn't ask a question further but pulls out papers from a drawer.

I look back at Tanker and stroke his fur. There is times I steal a glance at the vet. Must admit she is a sight to see and looks fairly young to be left in charge overnight here. Not like I can talk am I twenty-five year old myself.

The part that interest me the most about her, besides her obvious beauty, is how she doesn't ask any questions unless it has to do with Tanker's health currently. Even then though I gave her the most basic version on what happened and she didn't want more it was fine that all she knows is he was hit with a baseball bat. Never did she ask if Tanker had started it.

People are naturally curious and I have gotten to used to questions along with how to dodge them if I didn't want to share private information. It actually surprises me with how quiet Samantha is.

"Could you finish filling out the rest of this paper for me? I just need your name, phone number, and then if you have a physical address to be added. It is for his file I am creating like I do for every animal." Samantha's voice is soft and gentle the entire time she talks.

"Sure." I take the clipboard and pen.

Her voice is something else too. Ever so soft and gentle, other than when she was wanting fast answers for Tanker.

The little clicks sound on the floor as a husky prances over to where I sit on a bench with Tanker next to my leg.

"Hi to you too." I chuckle when the husky starts licking my hand.

Tanker sniffs the other dog, who moves onto sniffing Tanker out. My eyes widen when the husky starts licking Tankers leg.

"Oreo! No. Leave them alone." Samantha's voice calls out from the other side of the back room we have all moved to after getting out of the patient room.

The husky puffs out air and walks over to a dog bed where a gray tabby cat lays sleeping.

"Sorry about Oreo, if he is bothering guys. He is an attention pooch but extremely lovable." Samantha laughs lightly.

Her laugh makes my heart flutters. Something I am not used too at all.

"He was fine, just licking on Tanker's leg." I smile some at her and feels just as strange to do.

I look at her hands where she holds a first aid box.

"Hope you don't mind? It's just you need to clean that up instead of just the gauze I handed you earlier. Unless you go get yourself checked out at the emergency room, but if you refuse to do that then this has to be done at least here." Her face is firm.

Something sparks in me. I actually like this slight bossy and stern side to her.

"I am not going to the hospital." I clear my throat some and Tanker nudges me with his nose. My hand goes to his head and I slowly breath through my nose.

"Okay so this first aid kit it is." She nods once.

She puts on gloves and grabs some cleaning stuff.

"I got the papers done." I break the silence, since it feels odd for some reason as she cleans the cut I got.

"Thanks." She smiles softly, as her eyes flit down to mine briefly.

Within a few minutes, Samantha is throwing away the dirty gauze pads.

"Thank you." I make sure there is sincerity in my voice.

"Of course. It is a good thing I know basic first aid due to things that can happen. Also lucky you don't need stitches." She smiles and walks over to wash her hands.

I stand from the bench and look out the back window, but can still hear all the noises around me.

Losing track of time, Tanker nudges me again. I look down and he is sitting next to me.

"I have a dinner plate for you, Shane."

I turn and see Samantha putting two plates on the small table.

I walk over and sit down. "Thanks. Your kindness is much appreciated."

She laughs and it makes me smile. "Your cholesterol won't thank me, since it is just a microwave meal."

She starts eating and I do the same. The silence is once again deafening for me for some odd reason.

"Can I ask you something?" I look to Samantha, who is watching her cat and the dog lay on the floor.

Her head turns to me. "Sure." She shrugs.

"Why haven't you asked more questions? It would be within your right to want more with a stranger walking up with an injured dog and a cut to his head."

Samantha places her fork down and I can tell she is contemplating her response.

"Everyone has a story to tell. Thing is though, a person's story should never be forced to be explained to anyone. A person should only tell their story if they are ready and want too. So for me it isn't my business to ask. Am I going to lie and say I have been a little curious? Nope, but like I said it is your story to tell and I am only a stranger who just needs to show kindness and help where I can."

This woman has got to be one of a kind. Her response leaves me speechless.

We go back to eating and I help her clean the plates. This clinic has a little kitchen which is different.

"There is someone that always stays overnight for the emergency calls and to keep watch on the animals. Unless we don't have any in the kennels, otherwise I have the phone with me for calls." Samantha speaks up.

"I didn't mean to say that out loud." I furrow my brows.

Samantha laughs. "It is all good. So since this is done, I want to recheck Tanker to make sure the bleeding is stopping."

I help her get Tanker on the little stand before moving out of the way for her to do her thing. Samantha is pleased with the results before she turns to me.

"Looks very promising that he won't be needing surgery, but I will check one last time in the morning."

"That is good news." I smile down at Tanker.

"So there is a cot over to the side there, just pull on the bar right there on the wall and it will come right down. I will take my fur babies out to the front and recline back to get some rest in the chair behind the desk. There may be a few times you will hear me in the kennel room as I check the others." Samantha goes through explaining.

"It's fine really, I'm not tired. You should take the cot, my being here shouldn't put you out of place. I can sit in one of the waiting chairs and still get some rest." I try to argue with her.

It is true I've learned to sleep sitting up. All part of the training I went through seven years ago.

Samantha shakes her head. "Nope, not having it and not to mention uncomfortable for you. Your the owner to my patient and a guest, so you take the bed. End of arguement."

She literally just sassed me with not a care in the world.

How many times can this woman leave me speechless tonight?

A laugh leaves her lips before she snaps her fingers, making Oreo and Fluffier follow her to the front. I don't miss the small swing of her nice hips and behind.