by Betina Krahn
Paradoxically, he received as much warmth as he gave. The feel of the cool, damp nose and the silky feet softened something inside him. And there were more inside. He located some straw, made a nest and laid the puppy in it. Alone and cold again, it mewled for its littermates and mother.
“Hang in there. I’m going for them, too.”
He looked through the hole he’d made and spotted two others. He pulled them out, one by one. Each squirmed in his hands and burrowed straight for his heart as he placed them on his chest and carried them to the nest he’d made. Together again, they comforted each other with shared warmth.
A fourth puppy lay motionless in the dirt, and he couldn’t tell if it was still breathing. He nearly threw his shoulder out as he strained to reach the puppy. He had to make a bigger hole.
Grabbing the pickax, he took bigger swings at the boards and cracked them higher up. But the wood there was even harder and resisted.
“Damn it—I want in there!” He jammed the pick beneath one edge of a board and pushed fiercely, willing it to give and allow him access to that little life. The wood cracked but remained solidly nailed. He put his feet against the boards and used his back and legs. One board finally broke, sending him shooting against a roll of cage wire that scraped his spine. It hurt like a son of a—gun.
Shaking off the pain, he went back to the opening he’d made. The puppy hadn’t moved. But he looked up and his heart almost stopped. Beyond the puppy, trapped in a coil of wire, bleeding from her neck, was the mother dog. Small and thin, exhausted from the birth of her pups, she lay with her head and forelegs trapped and barbs from the wire slicing into her skin with every movement she made.
“Oh, God.” At that moment it truly was a prayer. His heart sank as she saw him and moved her head enough to meet his gaze. He sucked a shaky breath and reached for the puppy. The little body was still warm, but seemed limp compared to the others and was barely breathing. He had to get it out to Kate and Jess. But the mother—if he took her puppies out now, she might die before he got back to save her.
It was a cruel choice—so similar to one he’d made that day in Iraq that it could only be his penance for that fateful decision. Do the right thing for your men...or the dogs...but know as you do so that someone will die. That was a soldier’s unearned hell: good always tainted by bad, peace bought by horrific violence, saving some lives at the cost of others.
The mother dog raised her head to look at him despite the way the wire bit deeper into her flesh. Pain glittered in her dark eyes. But he understood what he saw in them. Save my babies, she said with those big, sad eyes. A mother’s plea.
At that moment, suspended in time and battling remembered grief, the protective wall that had formed around his heart cracked.
“No.” He scrambled back with the puppy and shoved to his feet, unwilling to make that fateful choice.
Kate’s words came to him: “We can’t do everything, but we can do something. We can always do something.” He looked at the little body in his hands and realized this wasn’t penance, it was a second chance.
“There has to be a way.”
He whipped off his shirt, wrapped the puppy in it and set it in the nest with its littermates. Then he grabbed the pickax and swung it at those boards with all his might. Again and again he pounded that stubborn wood, pouring his anger and frustration into each swing of the pick. When that stubborn wood finally gave, he was almost shocked. Panting, he pulled pieces of shattered wood out of the way.
“I don’t know how you got in here—” sweat ran down his face as he stepped through and crouched beside her “—but I’m going to get you out.”
The mother dog looked up at him as he studied her entanglement, and when he spoke softly to her and stroked her head for reassurance, she licked his hand. At that moment, he’d have given his right arm to see the little thing freed.
He untangled her legs first, threading them through the wires, careful to avoid putting more pressure on her neck. One by one, the loops of steel released their grip on her, until only two remained. These coils were tighter, smaller, and he finally understood that without wire cutters, there was only one way to get her out. He carefully inserted his fingers inside the sharp wire, gripping it on each side, and pulled hard. It gave, but only a little and the wire bit viciously into his fingers. He lifted her out into the open and tried again, this time pulling with all his might and lifting—hoping she would slip out. He could hardly believe his eyes when it worked and she dropped to the floor.
“Don’t die on me now.” He picked her up gently and cradled her in one arm. As he climbed back through the hole, the barn door opened and Nance rushed in, calling his name.
“Back here!” He picked up the puppies, tucking them against his chest and around their mother. With his free hand, he gave Nance the quiet puppy, wrapped in his shirt. “Get this one to Kate, quick. I’m not sure it’s breathing.”
He heard Nance murmur encouragements to the puppy as she ran.
He could feel the mother’s heart beating against his arm, and the other puppies squirmed and rooted against him as he carried them out into the late-afternoon sunlight. It was hot and humid and bright, and he felt strangely at peace as he crossed the gravel yard bearing an armful of life.
* * *
“I THINK HE’S GOING to make it.” Kate pulled the stethoscope from her ears and looked up, strain giving way to hope in her face. “He just needed a little help breathing.” She stared at Nick, and he knew she was trying to make sense of his bare chest, the bleeding dog and armful of puppies he carried, and the tracks of sweat—or tears—on his dusty face.
He laid the puppies on the table one by one, and then gently settled the mother dog beside them.
“She’s lost some blood, but I think she’ll be okay if we can get some fluid in her and stitch her up.” He smiled at her in a way that weakened her knees. “If you’ve got a needle pack, I can get you a line started.”
Kate rushed around the table and threw her arms around him. He kissed her forehead while she wiped the dusty tracks from his cheeks.
“I had to get them out of there,” he murmured into her ear. “But I swear, I’ll never break a promise to you again.” When she looked up, he saw tears spring to her eyes.
Jess traded looks of surprise with Nance, then propped her chin on her hand and watched with a wistful expression.
“I’ve got to get me one of those.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE HEADLINE READ Ninety Dogs Saved in Puppy Mill Raid in the local paper the next day. The Harbor staff was happy to let the Humane Society take the credit and provide facts and photos to the media. All Nance, Kate, Jess and Harbor’s volunteers wanted to do was find care and shelter for the rescued animals and then go home to their families to sleep.
Rest, however, was more an ideal than a reality for Kate and Jess. Many of the animals needed significant medical care, and others had issues adjusting to food and close human contact. Each had to be bathed, screened for ID chips, evaluated and scheduled for medical care or rehabilitation. Surprisingly, they found chips in several of the larger dogs and learned they had disappeared weeks ago—possibly stolen. It was heartening to think they could reunite some dogs with loving families.
Nick, on the other hand, spent the next day with deputies from two counties and a couple of fellow troopers going over the Crowder place for evidence of more than the puppy mill operation. They located a previously undiscovered tack room in the barn that contained viciously spiked harnesses, muzzles, hot shot prods and cruder, homemade electrical devices used to administer punishment—tools of the dogfighting trade, no doubt about it. The thought of such things being used on dogs turned Nick’s stomach. It got worse when the sheriff’s deputies investigated the trail Nick and Barney had spotted and discovered a dumping ground of dog remains—the source
of that sickening stench.
Nick was happy to hand over the investigation to the local guys and get back to his station. Routine patrols on highways sounded like sweet duty compared to dealing with such disturbing discoveries. But his overwhelming urge as he headed back into Lakeview was to see Kate and feel the calm that their growing connection brought.
* * *
AS NICK WALKED into the clinic, Kate looked up from treating battered paws and skin problems discovered when volunteers shaved matted dog hair.
“You look tired,” she said, letting him lead her outside, into the shade of the laurel oaks around Harbor’s old farmhouse. She studied him as he pulled her into his arms. “What’s happened?”
“It’s what we thought. A lot of stuff going on out there. None of it good.”
“What did you find?” she said, half-afraid to hear what other horrors the place held.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to hold you.” He sank his nose into her hair. “God, you smell good.”
“After two days of sweating?” She nestled more fully against him, feeling fatigue settling in and grateful for the support of his muscular body. “It must have been bad if you think I smell good right now.”
“You always smell good,” he murmured.
She pulled back enough to see his face. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you how much it meant to me to see you with...those puppies yesterday.”
“Yeah, well...they needed help and I...couldn’t just walk away.”
“Even if it was painful for you?”
He went still, and she could see him working to make sense of his thoughts and feelings. He was the amazing embodiment of all of the complexities of human nature; hope and fear, strength and weakness, self-doubt and confidence, confusion and clarity. And in that moment, she quit falling in love... because she had just landed—fully, irrevocably—in love with Nick Stanton.
“I just figured... I owed some dogs for helping get me home in one piece. I can’t return the favor directly, but I could help others. Maybe even the score a bit.”
“Dogs don’t keep score.” Tears rimmed her eyes and her voice was thick and low. “You know that, right? They just love you, accept you for what you are and invite you to love them back. And that trust and unconditional love can work miracles on a battered heart.”
“I guess it can,” he said, gazing into her eyes, stroking her cheek. He took a deep breath, seeming a little surprised at what was happening between them.
“It takes time, Nick.” Kate released him and took hold of his hands instead, threading her fingers through his. “And patience and caring. You have all of that and more from the people who love you. Including me.”
She held her breath for what seemed a small eternity. Did he realize what she’d just said to him?
Then he bent his head to kiss her, and the relief and pleasure of it poured through her with thick, reassuring warmth. She relaxed instantly. This was a behavior she could read with 100 percent accuracy.
Moments later, a soft buzzing sound made him pull back enough to reach for the phone in his pocket. “Sorry—call from home.
“Hi, there...˚Sure. Always.” He listened. “Aww, that sounds great. Give us half an hour. Make that forty-five minutes.” He gave a husky laugh that made her shiver. “Yeah, well, she’s a girl and she may want to do something first...like freshen up. Girls are like that.”
Girls. She smiled. He had to be talking to Ben.
“Time for some R & R, Doc,” Nick said as he clicked the call off. “We could both use it.”
Kate glanced back at the shelter. The animals all had been triaged, and the paws and ears and baths were being finished by volunteers. She looked up at Nick. There was nothing she wanted more than to be alone with him...someplace soft, quiet and private. But the minute he mentioned grilling burgers and his mom’s prizewinning potato salad and chocolate cake, she ruefully decided that private time could probably wait.
She checked in with Isabelle and the volunteers, and then headed home to shower and change clothes. She knew it was the right decision the minute she walked into the Stanton backyard and was greeted and hugged as if she were long-lost family.
“You just sit and relax, Kate. You’ve had quite a week.” Sarah put raspberry lemonade in her hand and directed her to a lounge chair. Then Sarah paused and glanced at her son. “We all have.”
Kate sank gratefully into the lounger, taking in the large, well-landscaped yard. She caught Nick’s eye and smiled.
“Your yard is huge. And beautiful. These trees—it would be perfect for a dog.” It was out before she realized what she’d done.
Nick caught the way Ben’s ears perked up and shook his head with a wry expression as he laid burgers on the grill.
“One of these days, maybe.”
Relieved, if a bit disappointed, she let it drop. Ben came to sit on the foot of the lounger and bombarded her with questions about the dogs that he and his grandmother had helped.
“Hey, now,” Nick said, coming to sink into a chair beside hers, “give Kate a break. I promised her some R & R from all the animal stuff.” Ben looked disappointed until he added, “Why don’t you show her your telescope and star log while the burgers are cooking?”
For the next fifteen minutes, Kate was kept busy with Ben’s accounts of star watching and the details of various telescopes he hoped to have someday. Before she knew it, Nick was settling a plate containing a burger and mouthwatering sides on her lap. “Stay where you are,” he insisted. A moment later he handed her a napkin and silverware.
“You didn’t have to do that.” She poured gratitude into a tired smile.
“Yeah, I did. Can’t have you fainting from starvation.” He brought his plate to the chair beside hers and set his beer bottle on the patio by his feet. As she watched, she realized he was wearing shorts and had pretty darned memorable legs. Unfortunately, she was so tired she could do little more than appreciate them from afar.
“Hey, Dad,” Ben said as he munched his burger and chips. “There’s lots of dogs at the shelter who need a home now.” He had ketchup smeared across his cheek. “Why don’t we get one?”
Kate held her breath, watching Nick think as he chewed and swallowed. After a long minute, he drew a deep breath.
“What do you think, Mom?” He turned to Sarah, who seemed surprised. “Maybe we could get one of those little dogs—a Chihuahua. They don’t eat much. That would be economical. Or maybe we should get one of those hairless guys. I can’t stand the thought of dog hair in my breakfast cereal.”
Ben’s initial squeal of interest turned into a groan of horror. “Noooo! We need a real dog—a big one we can play with—one that can guard the house when Nana is here by herself.”
Nick put on a puzzled look. “Not a puppy, then? I thought you liked puppies.”
“I love puppies, but we need a grown-up dog—one that already knows to pee outside.” A cough from his grandmother made him turn to her. “It’s okay to say pee, Nana. Dr. Kate says it’s a normal body function, like farts. So, it’s no big deal.”
Kate shrugged like she had no idea what he was talking about.
“Well, I don’t know.” Nick seemed befuddled by the notion of a grown-up dog. “Where would we find such an animal? It would have to be one we liked and that liked us. And it would have to have manners and follow orders. I couldn’t put up with a dog that didn’t follow orders.”
“Daaaad!” Ben caught on to his dad’s teasing. “You know where there’s a dog like that. Two dogs like that. Goldie and Soldier. Please? Can’t we get one of them?”
“I don’t know,” Kate said gravely, trying not to overdo it. “It would be a shame to part them.”
“Then we could get both of them. Our yard is big enough. And we’ve got trees and places for them to
dig and a goldfish pond for them to play in. Goldie could sleep with me and Soldier could sleep with Dad—”
“Whoa.” Nick waved his fork in objection. “Who says I want to sleep with a dog?” He glanced at Kate with a mischievous glint in his eye. “I may have other plans.”
“Well, then, he could sleep with Nana.” Ben looked hopefully to his grandmother. Her shudder of horror made Kate and Nick burst out laughing.
“If Soldier comes, he can bed down in the kitchen at night,” Sarah declared with authority. “That will make it easier for him to keep an eye on things.”
“Well, I’ll have to sleep on it.” Kate watched Nick melt visibly as he looked at Ben’s hopeful face. “Goldie and Soldier seem to be candidates, but two dogs—that would be a big change. How about just inviting them over for a visit first?”
Ben abandoned his plate to throw his arms about his dad’s shoulders, and Nick gave him a bearlike hug that produced a sweet ache in Kate’s chest. When she looked up, Sarah was smiling and dabbing her eyes with a napkin.
After dinner and a helping of rich chocolate cake, she was ordered to sit back on the lounger and relax. Sarah insisted on carrying dishes and condiments back into the house herself and set Ben to collecting garbage and helping with the dishes. She watched the sky turn a hundred shades of gilt-edged gorgeous as Nick cleaned the grill. Then he offered to show her around the yard.
Every tree had a name, and every shrub and flower had a purpose; keeping insects away, absorbing water from downspouts, feeding honeybees, providing berries for birds. And there was a flourishing herb garden near the house to supply Sarah’s desire for fresh seasonings.
“This is beautiful, Nick,” she said, slipping her hand in his as they strolled. “How do you know so much about plants and landscaping?”
