A second paw appeared, then the animal’s whole face.Yep.Definitely a dog. “Are you hurt?”
The dog whined but moved forward. I held still until the little one rubbed his head under my hand. Gingerly, I scooped him up and immediately saw the issue. His back paw was red from blood or inflammation. I couldn’t tell which in the dark.
“We need to get you fixed up, huh?”
The dog nuzzled his snout into my neck. He licked my hand, and I laughed at the tickling sensation.
“Can we get a puppy, Erykah?”
“We can barely feed ourselves, Ellynn. How are we going to feed a dog?”
“But they’re so fluffy.”
I blinked away the memory and stared at the fluffball in my arms. His muzzle was white, but he had brown patches around his eyes. The rest of his coat held a mixture of brown, black, and white. Was he a runaway? Had he been abandoned? There was no collar. I had no idea if he’d been chipped.
If this little guy didn’t already have a family, maybe I could ship him to Ellynn. Surely she and her family would enjoy him. Then again, my niece hadn’t even turned one, so dealing with a baby, a five-year-old, and a puppy at the same time might not be a good mix.
I walked into the building and went to the bulletin board. There was no advertisement for a missing dog, so he was either newly missing or hadn’t come from here. I turned toward the elevators. I could doctor up the puppy’s foot. It couldn’t be that complicated, right?
Why don’t you just call Chris and get his help?
My cheeks heated.
Operation Stay Away proved to be harder than I’d imagined. I’d lasted a few minutes at the governor’s dinner before I ended up talking to Chris and flirting.Flirting!At least, it seemed like flirting. But he was very clear to call me afriend, so maybe not. Or maybe our interaction was just a getting-to-know-you period that I didn’t understand because dating and I didn’t go hand in hand.
Are you trying to date him?
No. ... Right?
I shook my head, then unlocked my front door. Warmth enveloped me. I’d set the timer on the thermostat to heat the room to seventy-five a little before my arrival. There was nothing like walking into a warm home. Who cared if it was empty?
You, you ninny.
I shrugged out of my coat, holding on to the cutie, who was content to curl up against me. After disposing of my coat and purse, I walked down the hall and into the one and only bedroom. The first aid kit stayed under my bathroom sink. There should be gauze and something to clean abrasions with inside.
After looking at the puppy’s paw, I could finally admitI knew nothing about veterinary care. I snapped a picture, then sent the photo along with a message to Chris. We’d texted here and there since our second meeting a few days ago. I couldn’t get over the feeling of having a friend to text and ask questions of. That was usually reserved for Ellynn.
Erykah
I found an injured pup. How can I tend to this?
Chris
Is he friendly? It’s really not a good idea to get close to an injured animal.
Erykah
So your YouTube video said. However, he’s been snuggled next to me since I found him in the bushes. I think I’m okay.
Chris
It looks free of debris so use some mild antibacterial soap on it. Then dry it carefully, and if it’s still bleeding, wrap it in gauze.
Erykah
That’s it?
Chris
