What if it was hurt, though?
Consumed by worry and knowing that she wouldn’t sleep tonight unless she checked, she pulled off the road and got out.
“Hello? Anyone there?”
Now she sounded like an idiot. Was she really expecting it to reply to her? Arabella ran her hand over her face, letting out a huff of breath. But as she turned to get back into her car, she heard a whimper.
Was that a dog?
“Here, pup-pup,” she crooned. “Are you still there? Where are you? Come here.”
Her hand shook as she held it out. Arabella didn’t have much experience with dogs, but there was no way she could leave it here.
“Here, pup-pup.”
To her shock, a fully grown but skinny dog shuffled out of the grass. It wasn’t the most attractive looking dog she’d ever seen. It looked a bit scruffy and worn.
But when she stared into its eyes, she saw something that she’d seen in the mirror too many times.
Hopelessness.
Sadness.
The dog didn’t expect her to help. In fact, it likely thought she’d lash out. So despite her fear, she sat down on her bottom and called out to him or her again.
“Come on, baby. Come here. It’s all right. I won’t hurt you.”
It took a few minutes, but then the dog grew closer. It lunged and she nearly screamed and ran. But all it did was lick her hand and move back.
They stared at each other for a long time.
“Okay, buddy. I’m guessing you could use some dinner and so could I. So how about we get in my car, get to Haven, and then I’ll figure out what to do with you?” She got slowly to her feet.
The dog whimpered again and she froze. But it didn’t move. Didn’t lunge.
Just gave her those sad eyes. She opened her back door and patted the seat. “In.”
The dog didn’t move.
“Come on, buddy. We need to go or the agent will leave and I will have to sleep in a hotel room tonight.”
She swore the dog understood her. Or maybe he or she didn’t want to be left behind. Because it got to its feet and jumped into the car.
Arabella let out a deep breath, relief filling her.
She didn’t know what she would have done if he . . . yep, definitely a he, had refused to move. At least he hadn’t looked like he was in pain.
Although she did wince as she saw how dirty he was. Oh well, she could clean her car. However, that stench . . . holy. She opened a window. That was bad.
He sat in the backseat and looked out the window. “Hope the house is pet friendly. Maybe there’s a pound here.”
Another whimper and he placed his face behind his paw.
Jeez. There was no way he understood the word, pound. Right?
She still felt terrible for saying it.
For thinking it.
