Damsel in Distress (3 page)

And was hit by what felt like a truck.

He crashed to the sidewalk with the truck on top of him. The truck moved. Something pointed jabbed his chest. The thief must have come back to finish him off.

A third person arrived and dragged the thief off him. Shawn stood up. Dusted himself off and checked his chest for protrusions. He answered questions about his wellbeing. A female voice replied she was all right also.

What! The thief was a female? If so, she’d done a damned good job of disguising her voice when she demanded his wallet.

Shawn peeked around the rescuer. A wide Chiclet smile greeted him. Its owner dove into his arms and wrapped her legs around his hips.

“I guess you two aren’t hurt,” said the rescuer.

“Yes. No. We aren’t. Thanks,” Shawn said. “I can take care of this damsel in distress. She’s going to be my wife.”

Shawn leaned back in his recliner. He turned off the ballgame and turned on the DVD player. Sipping beer, he watched his family over his shoulder.

Carmen and Jason lay on the floor in front of the new fifty-five gallon aquarium, Jason on his stomach, Carmen on her side to accommodate her burgeoning belly. “See Jason, this one is a neon damsel,” she said, stretching up to touch a finger to the glass. “And this is a yellow tail.”

“What’s this one?” asked the small voice.

“See if you remember.”

There was a moment’s silence where the boy stood up. He squinted hard and leaned in close to the tank. “Golden?”

“Right. Very good.”

“Come on, you two,” Shawn called. “I thought we were going to watch this movie.”

“We’re coming, Daddy.”

“The credits are running.” When neither son nor Carmen moved from their places, he shouted, “Look! I rented
Finding Nemo
. How much better could it get?”

Two-and-a-half-year-old Jason turned from his spot in front of the aquarium and said in a resigned voice, “Let’s go, Mommy. Daddy wants to watch that movie.”

L
IZ

Thank you for reading. To read other books in the Tender Hearts Veterinary Clinic series, check out:

The Great Dane (Jannick and Rianna)

An American Bulldog (Taryn and Dolf)

The Long Haired Persian (Tonya and Gaspar)

The Bearded Dragon (Wanda and Carlton)

The Masked Lovebird (Devon and Fiona)

Liz Stafford is new to the world of short stories—and loving it. Being a pet lover and ex-dachshund breeder, introducing a clinic full of pets seemed only right, and natural. Adding men made it even more so…

Email Liz at:
[email protected]