Didn’t she deserve that?Simple human companionship, and a single night of pleasure?Sure, he was a jerk sometimes, but she imagined he would be a generous lover.He wasn’t the type of man to leave a woman unsatisfied.
Chico whined at the foot of the bed, so she leaned over to pick him up.He licked her cheek in gratitude.
“Your breath is terrible,” she said.
To her chagrin, tears blurred her vision.The idea of kissing only this snaggle-toothed dog for the rest of her life threatened to send her over the edge.She swiped away the tears in annoyance.Chico licked her face again.
She didn’t surrender to self-pity, because she was Meredith Rose, of the Plainview Roses.She didn’t wallow in despair or cry into her pillow.She was tough as nails.She could haul bales of hay, repair a fence, and milk a goat.Sniffling, she rose from the bed and lost herself in a series of chores.Chico stuck close to her heels, as usual.She was about to make herself a snack when she heard King outside the kitchen door.He emitted three short barks.
She opened the door to investigate.King raced toward the dog run, his long legs galloping.She followed him toward a soft shape in the dark.It was Daisy.The Australian shepherd was stretched out on her side, head lolling and paws twitching.Foam dribbled from her mouth.
Meredith dropped to her knees beside the dog.Tremors continued to rack her body.Her eyes were wild and insensible.Meredith didn’t know what to do, other than take her to the vet.This was an emergency.Racing into the house, she grabbed her purse, the keys to the Subaru, and a blanket off the bed.Her heart lurched with panic as she opened the hatchback.
Daisy hadn’t moved from the slumped position.Meredith gathered her into the blanket and lifted her gently.Wade’s truck pulled into the driveway as she carried Daisy toward the Subaru.He parked and rushed toward her.
“What happened?”he asked.
“I don’t know,” Meredith said, smothering a sob.“I found her like this.”
He stared without comprehension as she placed the dog in the back of the vehicle.Daisy’s legs were stiff, her eyes rolling.
“Jesus Christ,” he said.“It’s the fucking dog.”
Her face crumpled.He was angry, and she didn’t know why.
“Where’s my mother?”
“She went out.”
He cursed under his breath.“Can we have one night around here that isn’t a total clusterfuck?”
Meredith couldn’t stand here arguing with Wade.“I need to take her to the vet.”
“Which vet?”
She drew in a shaky breath.“The emergency one.”
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Give me the keys,” he said.“I’ll drive.”
Meredith fished the keys from her pocket and handed them over.Then she closed the hatchback and got in the passenger side.Wade climbed behind the wheel, still cursing, and adjusted to seat to accommodate his longer legs.Even at the maximum, he barely fit.He shoved his phone at her before starting the engine.
“Find an emergency vet,” he said.
She stared at the little icons.One looked like a map, so she selected it.She knew how to use voice dictation, so she pressed that button with a shaky finger.“Emergency vet,” she said, holding the phone close to her mouth.
The screen glowed with indecipherable options.
“Which way?”he demanded.
Her eyes filled with tears again.“I can’t read it.”
“What?”
She handed him the phone.“I can’t read it.”
