Authors: Sydney Allan
Raphaela's Gift (38 page)
The dog froze and stared at her. Then, like a viper, the animal lunged at the meat, snatching the tidbit from Hailey's fingertips and scrambling over the rubble to disappear through the hole in the wall.
"Damn!" Hailey stood.
"We're going in after her, aren't we?"
"No, I think we should call the local authorities. If she can move that fast, she can't be so bad off." Hailey glanced at her watch, certain it was malfunctioning. Precious minutes flew by at quantum speed. "I have to get back to the hotel."
"But we can't leave the dog here. What if it gives birth? This place is a hellhole, too hot for puppies."
"I know, I know." Hailey silently admitted she wouldn't be giving up if she didn't have the appointment with Mrs. Barrington. "But it's tough on animals that don't want to be rescued. The process could upset the dog--make her vulnerable to injury or early labor." Hailey knew how bad that sounded, a cheap excuse.
Yes, the dog's situation tugged at her heartstrings, but she couldn't afford to be late.
However, when Amy's doe eyes turned her resolve to mush, Hailey murmured, "Okay. We'll go ahead, try to catch her, but we only have fifteen minutes. If we don't have her by then, we'll call animal control and let them take over."
Amy smiled. "Once we get Mommy Dog checked out by a vet, I'll keep her in my room at the HoJo's."
"You won't get an argument from me about that, especially since we're not sharing a room." She sighed, feeling like she owed Amy an explanation. "If only I hadn't scheduled the appointment. Stupid! After five years of this, I should have known nothing goes according to plan."
"Don't worry, we'll get back to the hotel in plenty of time."
The thud of Amy's boot striking wood sent guilt, and then determination, through Hailey. Darn it all! Hailey was no less stubborn than that animal. She could get the obstinate dog out of that hole.
And when she did, she'd name it Jensen. After all, the animal could be her twin.
With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she helped Amy, kicking until the hole was wide enough to wiggle through. She sidestepped down the narrow corridor inside, some kind of hallway between the wood inside wall and the metal outside one, whistling and calling. The heat in the tiny area was stifling, worse than the ninety-plus degrees outside, making her lightheaded.
Jensen lay at a dead end, upon a pile of shredded rags and paper. A low growl rose from her throat. When her teeth bared, Hailey drew back.
"You mean business," Hailey whispered, dropping to a squat and slowly offering her hand. "Come on, Jensen. I'm not going to hurt you. This place is awful. Let me take you out of here. We'll give you a nice soft bed and a safe place to have your babies." Then a squeak told her what she hadn't expected. "She's already had the pups--at least some of them," she called to Amy, whom she assumed was waiting outside. "It's going to be tough getting her out of here."
"It's hotter than hell--," Amy said behind Hailey, catching her off guard and making her jump.
The dog lunged forward, her teeth bared, a savage growling bark warning her back.
Hailey fell on her bottom and threw her hands over her face. Teeth clamped onto her forearm, and she swallowed a feral howl. She knew nothing but the tug of strong jaws as her heart hammered out ten, fifteen, twenty beats.
Then Amy screamed.
Hailey tucked her head lower. The dog hadn't bit down completely, but it had a firm hold. She couldn't look up, didn't wish to aggravate the animal and welcome a more vicious attack. Never had she felt so powerless and out of control.
And never before had she vowed to quit rescue for good.
Between growls and snarls, she listened to her breathing, gasping fast and hard. Her arm grew numb, and she guessed the dog's teeth had punctured the skin, or at least left huge bruises.
And then the pressure eased.
Hailey heard panting, nothing more. Her arm throbbed. Reluctantly, she raised her head, knowing she could fall prey to another attack if she made direct eye contact with the dog.
Two dark eyes met hers.
A strange energy charged between them.
Hailey braced herself, cowering behind her good arm. But the expected didn't come. Instead, as she dropped her hand, she caught the dog turning and nestling down with the tiny sleeping pups.
Scared, knowing she should back away, and yet strangely drawn toward the animal, Hailey leaned forward and reached to the dog. She was crazy. She knew it. But for some reason, she believed they'd connected.
Gut reaction or possibly the effects of shock?
"It's okay. I'm here to help you." She slipped the leash she'd dropped in her lap over the dog's neck then glanced at the tiny pups, still wet from birth. "You're protecting your babies. A good mother. But we're going to take you somewhere safe and clean." She reached to the nearest pup, but when a low growl promised more of what she'd just received, she paused and instead offered her hand to the dog again.
"Are you okay?" Amy whispered.
Hailey nodded.
"I have the carrier for the puppies."
Hailey slowly turned. "Thanks."
"Oh, my God!" Amy gasped, her lips milky white. "Your arm!"
Hailey refused to look down, despite the steady throb coursing from her wrist to elbow. "I'm fine." She took the carrier from Amy and returned to her task. "What time is it?"
"Quarter to eleven."
Darn! "You'd better leave. I don't want to upset the dog more." Once she heard Amy's retreating footsteps, she gathered some loose bedding and dropped it in the carrier, then reached for a puppy, reassuring the mother dog as she lifted it. "Easy, Jensen. We're going to help you."
The puppy was shivering and limp. Worried about heatstroke, Hailey carefully placed it in the box, then reached for the next one. Before long, she had four wet and shaking puppies, near death, in the carrier, and an apprehensive dam beside the container, alternately peering in and pacing.
Hailey stood, handed the carrier through the hole to Amy, and led the dog outside to the car.
Only after Amy started the car and drove down the street, did she look at her arm. She saw a brief flash of red then stars. She dropped her head between her knees.
So much for the meeting. Hopefully Tonya Barrington would have an opening in tomorrow's schedule.
"The hospital is only five minutes away," Amy said, after calling the local police station about the cats remaining in the warehouse. "You did the right thing. Thanks."
Hailey didn't respond. The soft whimper of a puppy said it all.
As soon as her head cleared, she asked for the phone and called Mrs. Barrington to reschedule. Luckily, the woman had an opening first thing tomorrow morning. Hailey apologized once more, thanked her and hung up.
Tomorrow, nine o'clock, her dreams would either become a reality or be dashed. She didn't know which was more frightening.
Sydney Allan is the alter-ego of erotic romance author Tawny Taylor. Like Tawny’s books, Sydney’s stories are sexy, and sassilicious. The only difference-- Tawny’s characters get to play in dungeons.
But that doesn’t mean they get to have all the fun...
Sydney, an animal lover, has fostered dozens of stray and neglected animals for the Michigan Humane Society, and is currently proud parent to three rescued dogs, a cat, a rabbit, and several toads.
About Monday (writing as Tami Dane)