“You found her!” Jessie comes barreling down the steps of her granny unit, no doubt looking out of her window the entire time I was looking for Whimsey.
“She’s alive, but something's not right. I found her curled up, whimpering. Is the main house unlocked?”
“It is. I brought in your bag for you.” She climbs the porch stairs, her hand turning the handle to my parents’ house as she talks.
“Thank you,” I tell her, both for bringing in my bag and for holding open the door as I step inside, dog still in my arms.
I take Whimsey into the kitchen where the light is brighter and I can inspect her thoroughly.
“What do you think is wrong?” Jessie asks, her hand cupping her mouth as she watches me place Whimsey on the mat in front of the kitchen sink.
“I’m not sure. Paper towels?”
She rips a bunch, leaning over me to run them under the faucet. After she’s squeezed out the excess, she opens them back up and hands them to me. I drop them on the floor next to where I’m kneeling.
Running my hands down Whimsey’s fur, I feel for any cuts, bumps, or blood, not finding any until I inspect her paws. When I reach the back left one, she bares teeth.
“Easy, girl. I won’t hurt you.”
My eyes meet Jessie’s, and she kneels beside me, rubbing Whimsey’s ears. “It’s okay, my sweet girl,” she coos. “Gareth’s going to help you, okay? You don’t need to be scared of him.”
While she baby talks to the dog, I’m able to lift her paw and see what’s hurting her. Using the wet paper towels, I gently wipe the dried blood, spreading her fur enough to find a broken piece of barbed wire in between her paw pads.
“Shit,” I hiss, knowing that has to hurt like a bitch. “I’m going to need more wet paper towels, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment, and something to wrap her paw with.”
Then before Jessie can move to go grab everything I’ve just asked for, I quickly pull the metal out of Whimsey’s paw, like I’m ripping off a Band-Aid.
Blood coats my fingers as I pull the piece of barbed wire away, dropping it next to me on the floor so I can grab the towels. I start dabbing her wound, holding the cool compress against the puncture to help slow the bleeding.
“I’ll grab the supplies,” Jessie says, pushing to her feet quickly.
“It’s okay, Whims. You’re okay,” I reassure her, petting the top of her head with my free hand.
Sitting back on my heels, I try to keep her in one spot.
Jessie rushes back in with everything, and I get to work sanitizing Whimsey’s paw and getting her squared away.
When I finish, I grin at Jessie. “Well, it could have been a lot worse.”
“I’m so glad you found her, Gareth. I was just about to go looking for her myself when you showed up.”
“I’m glad I was able to help. You want me to carry her back to your place so you two can relax the rest of the night?”
“That’d be great.” She nods, happy to accept my offer.
Once Whimsey’s comfortable in her dog bed at Jessie’s, I say goodnight to them both and head back to my parents, ready for a hot shower and something to eat.
My phone’s heavy in my back pocket as I trot down the steps, Indy on my mind yet again.
Pulling it from my jeans, I open my contacts, staring down at her name as I walk back into my parents’ house.
All it would take is a simple swipe on my screen to connect us—her soft voice flooding the speaker would instantly put me at ease.
But we’re not together. I can’t just call whenever I want.
Especially since she has a boyfriend now.
My stomach twists, my hand practically trembling as I stare at her name for a heartbeat longer.
