I was looking up and not at the grass below the deck when out of nowhere a deep, booming bark was the only warning I had before a massive dog launched itself out of the yard and up onto the deck.
A terrified scream curdled out of my throat as the dog, bigger than any I'd ever seen, lunged for me. I backpedaled into the kitchen, but the beast headbutted me in the chest. I went flying, still screaming my head off and expecting to land hard against the far wall, but something softer stopped me.
Adam wrapped his arms around me and absorbed the impact of the wall as we both continued to stumble. I blinked and one moment the dog was there, drooling with his huge fangs out and the next he was gone. "Whoa, there," Adam said. "I was coming back in here for more beer and heard you scream. What happened?" I looked around, expecting Lucian to come. That he had heard my scream as well, but he hadn’t gotten there yet.
He set me on my shaky feet. By the time I was steady, he escorted me over to the island, shut the back door, and the men were all in the room again.
Lucian put his arms around me. "Now what?" He looked worried as he searched my face and smoothed his hands over my arms.
"I went out on the porch for a breath of air."
Lucian nodded. "The owl?"
"No," I exclaimed. "A huge dog!"
Adam's gaze swung around to me. "What kind of dog?" He looked concerned and furrowed his eyebrows. "Did it bite you?"
"No, it just knocked me back. You kept me from hitting the ground, so while it was really scary and my adrenaline is going nuts, I'm okay."
"What about the baby?" Lucian moved from stroking my arms to rubbing my belly. "Is he or she okay in there?"
I nodded. "Yeah, thanks to Adam." I beamed at him and found myself thankful for him being so cautious. "He caught me and kept me from slamming into the wall or floor."
Lucian turned and held out his hand. "Good man," he said. "Appreciate it."
Adam preened comically. "All in a day's work, my friend."
Once again, everyone filed out of the kitchen, except for Adam and Lucian. "I'm curious about this dog," Adam said.
"Me, too." Lucian turned on all the outside lights and peered out. "What did it look like?"
"Bigger than any dog I've ever seen. Maybe like Saint Bernard big, but taller, like a Great Dane. It was more like a small horse.”
"What color was it?" Adam asked. He had his arms crossed, knuckles white as he clenched his bicep.
"Black," I said. "But it disappeared so fast."
"I felt the impact," Adam said. "Even though I didn't see it." He rubbed the back of his head. "You're so petite, I'm not sure you could've created that much force with all your strength. Especially pregnant."
Lucian moved to the sink to peer out the big window. "Nothing out there now."
Adam moved away from me and toward the back door. "Get your shotgun. Let's go check this out."
Lucian nodded and went into the dining room to fill in the guys. The next thing I knew, they had gotten flashlights, all of Lucian's hunting rifles, and even my little revolver and were heading out the back door. They must’ve gotten them from the hallway closet. "Don't shoot it," I cautioned. "He didn't try to bite me. It was more like a head butt."
I listened to them discuss the types of dogs that would act like that as they disappeared around the house.
I curled up on the sofa and pretended to watch a reality show about a rich family in Hollywood until they stomped their way onto the front porch. Jumping up, I winced in pain as my hips protested my movements while I waddled toward the front door. Halfway there Lucian opened it, and I cursed my pregnancy hips.
"Nothing," Lucian said. "No dogs or owls."
I shrugged. "I don't know what's been going on lately. We've got oversized animals stalking us."
Adam laughed and patted me on the arm. "Don't worry, we'll keep an eye out."
As they put the guns back in the safe in the corner of the living room and my revolver back in the hall closet, Lucian's friend Robert smiled at me. "Are you sure you didn't just overreact to a particularly exuberant chihuahua? I mean, there was that time that one nipped at your ankle.”
I glowered at the man, my fear of the animal turning to rage towards my husband's annoying friend. "I'm not an idiot, Robert." I put all the venom I could into my voice. "I'm not some hysterical woman, needing smelling salts because I have the vapors." If I could've growled at him enough to make any difference, I would have. What a douche. "If you think I'm capable of such things, you can just leave."
