WereCat Fever Read Online Free PDF Page A

rolled his eyes in Keiran’s direction as he led the way into the kitchen. “We’ll help.”
    After rummaging through the contents of the junk drawer, Keiran announced, “I’ve got it.” Sure enough, she found the thermometer, chart, and a pen. Her expression looked like she’d found gold.
    “You’re so cute, Squirt. I love your exuberance.”
    Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m charting my own temperatures. Jack and I are trying to get pregnant.”
    “Whoa, did you need to share that?” Thomas cringed. “I’m picturing sex with a clinical detachment. I’m picturing scrubs with tie pants and nothing beneath… Okay, I’m feeling better.”
    “You are such a slut, Thomas. Keiran, ignore him.”
    “I am. Don’t worry. I’m a pro at this.” Keiran put the chart on the counter and rinsed the thermometer at the sink before she said, “Open, Lace. No talking.”
    “Well, this is one way to keep Lacey quiet.” Thomas tickled her, and Lacey smacked his shoulder.
    “Leave the patient alone,” Keiran said. “The last time Lacey manifested these symptoms, Doc suspected she picked up something from the wild cats out at the sanctuary—like a virile form of cat scratch fever or something.”
    “Nothing turned up in her blood work back then.”
    “How did you know?”
    “Good guess.” Thomas looked uncomfortable.
    “Well, they chalked it up to PMS, put her on birth control pills, and they worked until the brand was taken off the market five months ago. Her bouts with the abdominal cramps started again.”
    The thermometer beeped. Lacey took the thermometer out of her mouth and said, “Hello! I’m right here. Stop talking about me like I’m not.”
    “What’s it say?” Keiran asked.
    “102 degrees.”
    “That’s not good, is it?” Thomas said.
    “Nope. It’s up from 101.5 degrees last month.” Keiran announced after reading the chart.
    Lacey wrote the new numbers and her symptoms on the chart then put her arms around her friends’ shoulders. “Okay, time for you two to go home. I’m going to do paperwork and rest.” As an afterthought, she reminded them, “Don’t forget what I said about asking questions this weekend.”
    “We can take a hint.” Keiran smiled and hugged Lacey. “Feel better.”
    “We’ll see you tomorrow at the planning meeting, right?” Thomas started out the door, but stopped. “I’m just down the road if you need anything. Call me.”
    “I will. And Thomas? Ask Kirk if he has time to look at my AC this week?
    “I’ll look—”
    “Thanks. But no thanks. Kirk said he would. You can take care of me, buddy.” She kissed Thomas on the cheek. “Okay?”
    “’Kay.”
    Lacey walked her friends to the door and waved as they left. This made the fifth month she’d been off the pills and the fourth month she’d been ill. Contraception hadn’t been an issue since her libido disappeared with Bryan. But the hormones kept her symptoms away.
    Doc Wells had no idea what was causing her illness. Her new symptoms and the old cramps began after the weak spells, nightmares, and changes in her vision. Those weren’t her only symptoms, but if she ever put the others into words, someone would lock her up and throw away the key.
    The doc had tried her on different medications and various doses, but, since coming off the hormones, nothing worked. At least she wasn’t dizzy or blacking out again. Yet.
    She took the prescription out of the cabinet, opened a cool bottle of water from the fridge, and poured out the pills Doc prescribed. The new medication eased the monthly abdominal cramps. She tossed back the medication and water in one big gulp. The pink pill kept the fever down and the other helped the cramps—a little.
    She was afraid the old doctor was right. Until they identified the ailment, they could only treat the symptoms. Many of the symptoms started with the mountain lion scratch. But they’d have to wait on the CDC. The results from last