“Where’s your collar, buddy?” She couldn’t believe someone would let such a beautiful pet run around without identification. “We need to call your family.”
The dog closed its eyes again, dropping its head back to the ground, and Lucy felt a pang of fear.
“Don’t die, doggie.” The urgency for this creature to live was real. She hadn’t meant to hurt it. She hadn’t even seen it until it had nearly crossed the road. “Let me help you, okay?” She begged. “Please don’t die.”
As Lucy ran to the back of her Rogue, she knew what she was about to do was completely insane. She didn’t know the first thing about dogs. She’d never had any kind of pet before, but she couldn’t leave him on the side of the road like that. Especially not with the storm coming.
In no time, she’d rearranged her cargo hold and laid a blanket down for the injured animal.
“I promise I won’t hurt you.” She kept her voice low as she approached him again. “I’m going to help you, buddy, okay?”
Lucy kept up the soothing litany as she squatted down and slid her arms under the dog, hoping like hell he wouldn’t bite her when she was just trying to help him. Though she didn’t want to exacerbate any issues or add to his pain by jostling him, she couldn’t leave him on the side of the road, either.
As she repositioned her hold around the enormous dog, Lucy lamented the fact she hadn’t been doing deadlifts lately. It had been weeks since she’d been to a gym, and this dog had to weigh over a hundred pounds.
Carrying him was awkward, especially trying to be mindful of his hurt leg, but Lucy got the dog into the back of her car without getting mauled. Which she totally counted as a win.
“Okay, doggie.” She smiled into the rearview mirror, trying to reassure him. Even though she was pretty sure he had no idea what she was saying, she talked to him anyway. “I’m going to take care of you.”
As she refocused on the road, she wondered how she’d do that. She’d never had a pet in her life.
“I’m going to find you a doctor, and we’ll get your leg fixed right up.” She promised.
That one might actually be tricky. She was driving away from civilization right now, not toward it. And the closest town to her cabin was actually just a village, with less than a thousand inhabitants. She’d only ever gone to Pine Haven Falls for groceries, but surely they had to have a veterinarian, right?
Lucy pulled over to check her cell phone. Great, no service. With a frustrated sigh, she pulled back onto the road. Patchy service was normal for this part of the drive, but it would have been nice to have been able to look up a veterinarian and make an appointment.
As the sky darkened and more thunder rolled, Lucy wondered what the hell she’d been thinking putting that wounded animal into the back of her car. She didn’t know the first thing about dogs. And with the way small towns closed early and the impending storm, the chances of getting him the help he needed today were slim.
Lucy glanced into her rearview mirror, catching sight of the injured creature curled in a huddle on her picnic blanket.
He wasn’t moving.
“It’s okay, doggie,” she said softly. “Just hold on, okay? Just hold on.”
God, she hoped he didn’t die on her.
Chapter Two
“See?” Lucy told her reflection several hours later. “Everything has a way of working out.”
She smiled to herself as she brushed her teeth. As evenings went, this one wasn’t half bad. Sure, she’d hit a dog, but thanks to that veterinarian in Española being willing to do a video consultation, she knew he wasn’t going to die.
Not tonight, anyway.
Doctor Gomez had been worried about the dog’s pelvis, so she’d promised to bring him to the clinic as soon as she could for x-rays. She didn’t relish the idea of picking him up and putting him in her car again, though. For starters, he was hurt, not to mention how freaking heavy he was.
As she headed back into the bedroom, a huffing sound drew her eyes to the bed. The dog was watching her over his shoulder with those beautiful blue eyes.
“How are you feeling? Did you get enough to eat?”
She didn’t know why she kept talking to the dog. It’s not like he could actually understand her. Still, she’d read that dogs could sense human emotions, and she didn’t want him picking up on her fear.
That storm was really raging now, heavy winds driving the rain into the side of the house. Peals of thunder cracking so regularly they reminded her of the ocean at high tide.
Lucy checked the diffuser on her dresser, trying to distract herself. “I read frankincense is good for dogs.” She smiled at him, appreciating the way his ears perked up. “I hope you like it.”
She slipped off her robe, laying it on a chair before climbing into bed and sliding over under the covers, closer to the dog.
