Sunset Bay Sanctuary

by Roxanne Snopek

  “Good morning to you, Mr. Fiori,” she said, her smile lethal. “As you may have heard, we’ve had an unexpected turn of events, one that will add greatly to the value of your stay with us. After all, how many city kids have an opportunity to witness the miracle of new life these days?”

  Neither of the city kids in question appeared to think much of the honor.

  “As a result, our usual schedule must be rearranged. Huck, since we’re all busy in the house, you’ll have to divvy up the chores among our guests. Since Mrs. Fiori and her son have volunteered to handle breakfast, I suggest Mr. Fiori accompany you and Tena for muck duty. Family unity, life skills, teamwork. So many things to check off today! Isn’t it wonderful?”

  “That’s it.” Daemon’s face turned an even darker shade of red. “Angel, kids, get your things. I’ve had enough. To think we could have been in the Galapagos Islands.”

  “Can I help?” Daphne asked. “We can have you out of here in a half hour.”

  Aiden made a mental note to find out what kind of chocolate Daphne liked and order her a gift basket. Huck wasn’t the only one whose good side he needed to be on.

  “And good morning to you, Dr. Mac,” she said, turning her apple-cheeked smile on him. “We could use the advice of a medical professional. Even though this isn’t your usual kind of patient. Follow me, if you will.”

  “Gladly,” he said, nodding at the Fioris. “Have a nice trip.”

  Aiden hadn’t seen this much of the lodge before. It was even more impressive than he’d imagined. Cedar planking from floor to soaring ceilings, enormous windows framing mountains in one direction and sea in the other, and so much natural light, everywhere.

  “Aiden.” Haylee looked up from where she was kneeling in the corner of a bedroom he quickly identified as Sage’s, thanks to the baby accessories. Sage sat cross-legged at the dog’s head, stroking gently, her face wreathed with worry. Jamie sat on the bed, paging through an old book titled Dog Breeding for Dummies.

  For a moment his eyes met Haylee’s, hers wide and blue and unguarded, as if she hadn’t had time to decide whether or not she regretted last night.

  He moved quickly to crouch at her side. “Sorry I had to leave.” He kept his voice low. “Did you get my note?”

  She nodded. “I’m glad you’re here. She’s been in labor all night, but no puppies yet. Our vet’s out on a farm call, but the technician said we should have seen results by now. Can you take a look?”

  He got the message: stick to business.

  “Can’t you give her something? Please?” Sage’s eyes, so similar to Haylee’s, brimmed with tears. “She needs help. We have to help her.” The girl was flooded with hormones, still healing from the birth of her own daughter, and any protective instincts left over were being directed straight at this poor dog.

  “I’m a doctor, not a veterinarian.” But he palpated her abdomen gently. He was both grateful and alarmed to see that Karma was too uncomfortable to even react to his presence. “Hey, girl,” he said. “Lots of work and no babies, I hear. That’s not good.”

  Just then, a contraction hit. She stretched out her legs as the muscles in her belly gathered and tightened, and groaned heavily.

  “She’s been doing that for hours.” Sage stroked the dog’s silky ear, her fingers moving rhythmically, back and forth. “I think something’s wrong.”

  “I’m inclined to agree. My patients don’t give birth in baskets on the floor,” he said, “but I’d get her to the hospital if I were you.”

  He didn’t like the way the dog was arching and squirming. Her gums looked pale and dry. If she were a human mother, he’d definitely be concerned.

  Haylee nodded. “The vet will be back in a half hour. We can meet her there.”

  “But won’t moving Karma during labor be bad for her?” Sage’s voice quivered.

  “If she needs surgery, we’ll have to move her anyway.” Haylee glanced from the dog to the girl, then looked at him helplessly.

  Aiden wouldn’t have wanted to be in Haylee’s shoes for anything right now. There was only one good outcome, which Haylee would be unlikely to get any credit for. The blame for any bad outcome, of which there were many possibilities to choose from, would be parked squarely at her door.

  “We don’t have a choice,” said Haylee. “Let’s go.”

  Daphne appeared then, with Sal whimpering on her hip, and began bustling about giving orders. Jamie, Olivia and Gayle sprang into action, gathering towels and blankets for the trip.

  “Thanks,” Haylee added, in a voice only he could hear.

  He touched her arm and bent down slightly. “What are friends for?” he murmured against her hair.

  “Friends?” She smiled. “Sure.”

  He was definitely feeling more than friendship. But it was a start.

  * * *

  Aiden pulled up to the animal hospital and jerked to a stop, causing a chorus of grunts and groans.

  “Here we go,” Haylee said. Let the circus begin.

  Sage crouched in the back with the dog, one hand on Karma’s flank, one hand gripping the back of the seat where Sal was buckled in. Sage had nearly gone hysterical at the suggestion that she stay behind, but nor would she leave without Sal. So Haylee had agreed to let them come, but only with Daphne as backup.

  Daphne, ecstatic, had barely taken time to dress.

  “Hey, Rhonda,” Haylee called to the pastel-clad vet technician who met them in the parking lot.

  “How is she?” Rhonda leaned in to assess Karma.

  “Panting hard, no pushing,” said Haylee. “She’s a good dog. You won’t need restraint, but I’ll take the head end.”

  Even the sweetest dogs were prone to aggression when in pain. But Karma hadn’t so much as twitched a lip. She whined when Rhonda eased her onto the large blanket she’d brought with her but they got her inside without incident.

  “This must be Karma,” said the vet as she held the door for them. Dr. Janice Corbin was a well-dressed woman in her mid-thirties, with a short, no-nonsense hairstyle and an even shorter, no-nonsense style with people, which suited Haylee just fine. She bent down to be closer to the dog’s face. “Hey, honey, how are you doing? Can I take a look?”

  The doctor’s immediate focus on the dog, was part of what made Haylee trust her. Janice had her priorities straight. Patient first, everything and everyone else, second.

  That’s how Aiden was too. That’s how all caregivers should be.

  “I recommend IV fluids and an X-ray to see how many puppies we’re dealing with. You good with that?”

  “Yes! Do whatever you have to,” said Sage.

  Dr. Corbin looked at Haylee, her eyebrows raised.

  Haylee nodded. “Go ahead.”

  The baby began grizzling from the car seat. Sage sent an anguished glance between the dog and the baby.

  “Come on, honey,” Daphne said, taking Sage’s arm and leading her to the waiting room.

  “Be a good girl, Karma,” Sage called, over her shoulder.

  Haylee closed the door behind and turned to the doctor. “This is kind of a mess,” she began.

  While she explained, haltingly, how Karma had come to be with them, Dr. Corbin listened to the dog’s heart, took her temperature, palpated her abdomen and looked under her tail.

  Then she straightened up. “I have to check for a chip, Haylee. The kid’s attached, I take it.”

  Haylee nodded, miserably. “Just do it. If she’s got an owner somewhere, I’ll figure out a way to tell Sage.”

  Janice got the chip reader from a drawer and turned it on. “She another one of Olivia’s?”

  Haylee puffed her cheeks, hesitating. “She’s . . . actually . . . she’s mine.”

  The words felt foreign, out of place, like snowflakes landing on sun-warmed concrete, melting unexpectedly.

  But Janice didn’t bat an eye. “Everyone’s got a story. She looks like you. So, a kid and a grandkid, just like that, huh?”

  Hayle
e rubbed the back of her hand across her forehead. “Weird, isn’t it? Anyway, yeah. She’s attached. If I have to tell her she can’t keep the dog . . .”

  Janice ran the scanner over the dog’s neck and back. “She’ll deal. So will you. Anyway, you’re in luck. No chip.”

  “I’ll still have to let the shelters know.”

  “Tomorrow’s problem. Right now, we’ve got puppies to deal with. You want to go get a coffee or something?”

  Haylee imagined Sage’s response to that. “No. If you don’t mind, we’ll wait.”

  “Fine by me. I’ll keep you posted.”

  * * *

  When Dr. Corbin came through the doors ninety minutes later, Sage nearly threw herself at the woman.

  “A shot of Pitocin did the trick.” Janice looked askance at the girl clinging to her.

  “Sage,” Haylee said. “Let her breathe.”

  “So she’s going to be okay?” Sage’s voice was trembling.

  “She’s tired, but yes. Eight puppies will do that to you.” Dr. Corbin’s face clouded. “There were nine, but the first one didn’t make it. He’d been stuck in the birth canal for too long.”

  Sage put her hand to her mouth. “We should have come sooner. The poor thing.”

  “He probably died before labor even started. If you hadn’t gotten here when you did, you might have lost them all. We’re giving her a bolus of fluids but as soon as that’s done, they’re ready to go home.” Janice looked at Sage. “Would you like to sit with her while we wait?”

  “Yes!” Sage jumped up, wiping her cheeks.

  Janice headed to the reception area with Daphne behind her but Haylee hung back, staring after her daughter.

  “You okay?” Daphne asked with a frown.

  Haylee nodded, unable to speak with relief and gratitude, the fatigue and drama of the past thirty-six hours finally catching up to her. In her mind’s eye, a door had opened onto another young girl, whose every hope in her bruised and battered heart was pinned to another dog. Strider had brought a glimmer of light to an endless stretch of dark days, when loss had piled upon loss and love seemed not just impossible, but unsur vivable. Strider had saved her, then.

  Karma was saving Sage, now.

  Aiden was right. Haylee did care about Sage. And Sal, too.

  She gripped her elbows and hugged them tightly to her chest as terror washed over her. Love was still unsur vivable, impossible and loss, unavoidable.

  How could she bear this? It was better not to feel.

  And yet her emotions, awakened, couldn’t be ignored.

  “Hey.”

  The soft voice made her jump.

  Aiden. He came up beside her, touched her cheek.

  “Are you crying?”

  She whipped her head away. “No.”

  “Liar.” He smoothed her skin with a callused thumb, then put a kiss where the tear had been. “You did good today.”

  She sniffed. “Now who’s the liar?”

  “The kid’s happy.” Aiden smiled. “You did that.”

  A tiny bud of triumph poked its way through the chill inside her. “I should get them home.”

  “I’m driving, remember?” He put his arm around her and led her to the reception area.

  It felt good to lean on him.

  Too good.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “There was so much to do. Olivia and Gideon are amazing horseback riding instructors and put so much time and effort into showing us how to correctly handle a horse. I’ve ridden before but I learned so much more here!”

  —Margareta from Washington

  Haylee decided the new little family would live in the barn, where they could have an entire stall to themselves, with space, privacy and security, and more quiet than they’d get in the kennels with the other dogs. Sage, of course, wanted them in her room, but Daphne convinced her that it was eight too many babies and everyone needed their sleep if they were to function the next day.

  After helping get Karma and the pups settled, Aiden had been dragged into the main house by Sage, who was worried about Sal’s fussing.

  Haylee was just about to leave the barn when he met up with her. The night sky was clear, full of stars, and the waxing moon threw cool, blue shadows over the yard. The stillness was only broken by the sound of footfalls on gravel.

  “Is she okay?” Haylee asked.

  Aiden nodded. “Diaper rash. Daphne had it diagnosed and treated before I even opened my mouth.”

  “Thank goodness for Granny Daphne.” She cringed at the tone of her voice and tugged her denim jacket tighter. “I don’t mean to sound resentful. I’m grateful for everything Daphne’s doing with Sage and Sal. She’s a lifesaver. I mean”—she gave a little laugh—“I certainly can’t do what she’s doing.”

  She shoved her hands deep into her pockets, wishing she’d kept her mouth shut. She didn’t want false assurances or a pep talk or some cheery advice on how easy it was, if only she’d try.

  “Babies can be intimidating,” Aiden said.

  She started, blinking, then turned her face away from the light, hoping to hide the moisture welling up behind her eyelids.

  But of course he noticed. He touched her arm. “You’re in a tough situation and there’s a lot at stake, Haylee. No wonder you’re nervous. Don’t worry. It’ll come, in time.”

  The warmth of his words, combined with the gentle caress made her breath catch in her throat. Her bones felt like they were made of straw, like a stiff wind might blow her over, shatter and scatter her across the night sky. Why did he have to be so understanding? Why couldn’t he simply let her deal with this in the way she knew, the way that would keep her safe and intact?

  She glanced at her watch as if just noticing the time.

  “It’s late. Thank you for . . . everything.” Her traitorous heart surged into her throat again. She swallowed. “You’ve been great, Aiden.”

  For a moment, he was quiet and in the play of moonlight, his expression was hidden from her. Then he caught her hand in his. “I’m not tired. Let’s go see the pups again.”

  Immediately she felt that spark arc between them, as if they were two electrical wires humming along quietly, waiting for a brush with the right contact and the right moment to burst into light and heat.

  She shivered, recalling the sensation of his warm body curled around hers on the couch, how he’d made no demands of her, just held her until the shaking had stopped and exhaustion had overtaken her. Had he slept then? Or had he been awakened by nightmares, even before he’d been called to the hospital?

  “You must be tired. You’ve got work in the morning. You should try to get some sleep.”

  He led her to the barn and she didn’t resist.

  “I slept better the other night, with you, than I have for months,” he said.

  The muscles in her chest weren’t cooperating. She tried to take a deep breath but her ribs stuttered. He was running his fingertips over the mound of her thumb, back and forth, over and over. An owl hooted in a nearby tree and the grasses rustled as some small animal dove for cover.

  “I told you.” Her voice shook and she started again. “I told you my dogs would help.”

  He was near enough that she felt the silent chuckle that ran through him. “I like your dogs, Haylee. But that’s not why I’m here.”

  Here in Sunset Bay ? Here on the ranch? Here next to the barn ?

  Here, with her?

  “Why are you here, then?” She could feel her pulse beating fast and hard, sending blood and heat throughout her body. So why was she still shivering?

  “Tonight?” He smiled and drew her closer. “Maybe I’m planning to compromise your virtue. The two of us, alone, at night, in a barn. It could happen.”

  She ducked under his arm, through the door, and pulled it shut behind them. “Alone but for a bunch of animals, including rodents the likes of which I’d rather not discuss.”

  He laughed. “So no comment on the compromising of your virtu
e then? Excellent news.”

  “No virtue to compromise. But don’t get your hopes up.”

  “Too late. It’s already . . . up.”

  “You’ll recover.”

  He nudged her with his shoulder, and the spark went full body this time, alerting every cell, every tiny hair on her body that her hope was also . . . up.

  Damn it. She recalled the conversation at the dinner table, when Gayle had first touted the new doctor’s attributes and everyone had jumped on the match-making bandwagon. If they hadn’t planted that tiny seed, she’d never have thought of Aiden like this, never felt this dangerous attraction.

  If he knew how broken she really was, he’d run screaming for the hills. He was broken, too.

  But even on that first night on the moonlit beach when she’d caught a glimpse of the weight he carried, he’d made her laugh. Life had damaged him too, but he refused to lie down and quit.

  They tiptoed to the stall in the dark. The mother dog lifted her head wearily at their approach, flipped her tail in the straw twice, then went back to sleep. All eight puppies were lined up at her flank, nursing, twitching, and sound asleep.

  “What a picture,” whispered Aiden. “How do you resist something like that?”

  You don’t get attached, that’s how.

  Haylee swallowed. “Join me for kennel duties in the morning and you’ll get a deeper understanding. Those little sweeties are pure poop factories and right now, Mom is doing most of the cleanup. Once they’re eating real food, the shit show turns truly craptastic.”

  Aiden lowered himself to a straw bale and pulled her down beside him. “Why are you so determined to ruin the mood here? The puppies are an excuse.”

  “You’re looking for a roll in the hay, then? Literally? Is that it? Why didn’t you say so? We’re both reasonably attractive, healthy consenting adults.” She was babbling. She knew it and she couldn’t seem to stop. Not with the way he was touching her.

  Aiden chuckled soundlessly, just a breath of warm air and a shudder of his chest. “Reasonably attractive, huh?”

  “You’re not a troll.”