Maybe she’d been mistaken?
Still on alert, she eased down to the main area and out the door to the porch, where the air was fresh, morning dew still glistening on blades of grass that grew between the scattered car parts and other junk.
She’d spooked herself, that was all. She’d let the dreary house get to her and—
From the corner of her eye, she caught movement, a dark shadow dashing around the corner of the house.
Her heart nearly stopped.
Someone was here?
No. Not someone.
The dog.
No longer barking his fool head off. Now quiet as a church mouse.
Good.
It was one of the reasons she’d come.
She latched the gate before the shepherd could escape and then spoke in soft tones to the cowering animal. It took off, leaping onto the porch to dive under the same rocking chair as it had the night before. As she cautiously approached, it growled, showing teeth, dark eyes focused on her.
“Oh, stop that,” she said, deciding that it was more scared than angry.
And, no doubt, hungry.
She reached into her bag, where she found the half-eaten hamburger. “Look what I have for you.” Quickly, while the dog continued to stare at her, she unwrapped the remains of the burger, tore off a corner, and tossed it onto the porch.
The shepherd’s gaze flicked to the morsel, then to her before he crawled from beneath the chair to snap it up. She noticed the blood on his matted coat and was more determined than ever to get him to a vet.
Before he could retreat, she flicked out another piece.
Again, the hungry dog scarfed it down.
And didn’t retreat to its hiding place.
Good.
Carefully, she laid the leash in a circle on the uneven floor boards and placed torn bits of the burger in the circle.
The dog waited.
Nikki didn’t move.
After nearly five minutes, hunger overtook fear, and the ratty-looking mutt took the bait, gobbling up each torn bit of hamburger and sticking his nose into the circle of the rope, which, when he stretched his neck far enough, she pulled tight.
Startled, the dog yanked back.
Nikki talked to him in soothing tones, and after immediately surging back against the leash, the dog finally relaxed, all fight gone.
Using the last scraps of the burger, she lured him along the lane and road to her Subaru and the waiting crate inside the cargo space.
Time to see the vet.
Then call her husband.
And face the music.
