“Agreed.” Lachlan was on his feet, Sadie balanced on his hip while Piper collected Caleb. “Last thing I need is to rescue half the county from snowdrifts on Christmas morning.”
The party began breaking up with practiced efficiency—these people knew Montana weather, knew what a real blizzard could do. Coats appeared. Kids were bundled. Someone started packing leftover cookies into containers.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out, expecting a holiday text from one of the other women. Instead, Lark’s name flashed on the screen. She was out of town. Beckett and I were handling things at Pawsitive while she was gone for a few days.
I answered. “Lark? Everything okay?”
“Audra, I’m so sorry to do this.” Her voice was tight, rushed. “I know the timing is terrible and it’s Christmas Eve.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I just got a call from Ray Hewitt—he lives about twenty minutes outside Garnet Bend, past the Miller property. He was driving home and spotted a dog on the side of the road. Abandoned. He couldn’t stop—had his grandmother in the car and needed to get her home before the storm hit—but he called me because he knows I take in strays.”
My stomach clenched. “A dog left on the side of the road in this weather?”
“That’s why I’m calling you. Ray said the dog looked rough. Thin.” Frustration bled through her words. “I know you and Beckett have your hands completely full with the rest of the Pawsitive animals, but most of my rescue contacts either can’t get out or aren’t in town. The weather apps say the storm coming in is big?—”
“We’ll go.”
The words came out before I could second-guess them. Because I knew what it was like to be abandoned. To be cold and scared and alone, wondering if anyone would come.
Plus, it was the right thing to do and I was a hundred percent certain Beckett would agree.
“Are you sure? The roads are only going to get worse. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you two because I asked you to?—”
“We’ll go,” I repeated. “Where exactly?”
“About a mile past the old Miller barn, on the right side of the road. Ray said the dog was near a fence post, wouldn’t come to him when he called.” She paused, and I could hear the guilt in her voice. “Thank you, Audra. I’m so sorry. Some Christmas Eve, huh?”
“Don’t be sorry. We’ve got this.”
At least I hoped we did. Everyone was quickly moving out, hugging and giving Christmas well-wishes as the storm started to look more threatening by the minute.
“Call me when you find it? Let me know everyone’s safe?”
“I will. Promise.”
I was already standing when I hung up, catching Beckett’s attention with a look. He straightened immediately, reading my expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“Lark just called. Someone spotted an abandoned dog about twenty minutes out, near the Miller property.” I grabbed my coat from the stand by the door. “We need to go before the storm gets worse.”
He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t ask if it could wait, didn’t suggest someone else handle it. Just grabbed his own coat and started checking his pockets for keys.
And that, very simply, was why I loved Beckett Sinclair.
“Abandoned dog?” Coop appeared beside us, shrugging into a jacket that had seen better days. “I’ll come too. Follow in my truck—more room if it’s a big one.”
“You don’t have to?—”
“What else am I doing?” His grin was easy, but something flickered underneath it. Something that looked a lot like loneliness wearing a mask. “Going home to stare at my walls? I’d rather freeze my ass off doing something useful.”
Piper caught my arm as I headed for the door, Caleb balanced on her hip. “Be careful out there. And Merry Christmas, Audra.”
“Merry Christmas.” I squeezed her hand. “Hug those babies for me tomorrow.”
