Rescue Me (a quirky romance novel about secrets, forgiveness and falling in love) (2 page)

What more could she want?

She approached the brown smeared window at the building's back, tripping on overflowing litter boxes, empty food dishes, soiled rags and cardboard containers. Spellbound, she stared beyond the trash-overrun yard. Such a short distance away, the ocean kissed the land.

Her new life lay at that juncture.

A shout from behind jolted her to the present, and she glanced at her watch. No time for reverie. A malnourished dog, and who knew how many cats, needed her. Her dreams would have to wait a few more hours.

"I found it," Amy called from the building's opposite side. She tipped her head toward a shadowed corner as Hailey neared. "The dog looks bad. I got a quick look before it hid again. I think it's a she, and I think she's pregnant, though she's skinny as hell."

"Darn," Hailey whispered before stooping down. With a soft voice and the sausage, she managed to lure the dog, barking, yet timid, from its hiding place.

Amidst unmentionable filth stood the black, mangy dog. Every rib showed. Hipbones and vertebrae protruded under a dull coat, making Hailey want to scream in rage. The dog shivered, its head held high, but its stubby tail remained tucked against its rump.

"Pathetic," Amy whispered.

"Problem is, she won't come out of here. I can tell from the way she's standing. She'd rather fight us than leave this dump."

"You'd think she'd jump at the chance."

"I know," Hailey said as she studied the dog's body a second time. "It's hard to understand, but I'm not surprised. She doesn't know who we are, or what we're going to do. Poor thing." The abdomen was swollen. Either the dog was pregnant, or she was sick. "We have to get her to a vet, but I don't think the leash'll work. I didn't bring any control sticks. Didn't think we'd need them for a whale rescue." She searched the room. "I looked in this corner once. I wonder where she was hiding."

"In there, I think." Amy motioned toward a small hole in the back wall.

From Hailey's position, she couldn't tell where the opening led. "I definitely don't want her to go back in there. We'd have to knock the wall down to get to her." She waved the sausage closer to the animal, pleased when the dog's nose lifted to sniff the air. Ever so slowly, the fearful animal crept closer, desperation in its eyes.

As Hailey peered into the dark depths, her heart raced. "Come on, baby. We won't hurt you."

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.

Two hours at a veterinary hospital and then four hours in the emergency room left Hailey exhausted, yet sleep remained elusive that night. After several hours of lying awake, she gave up on sleep, showered, dressed and packed her bags. Her pitch to Mrs. Barrington was still shaky, so she took the time remaining to rehearse, changing a word here and there, and doubting everything that came out of her mouth.

Her brain was hazy from lack of sleep and painkillers, and she couldn't think straight. She'd lost all objectivity, but couldn't let a little tiredness get the best of her. By six o'clock, she was so frantic she woke Amy and asked for her help.

Rumpled and blinking, Amy sat on the bed as Hailey performed her speech over and over. Amy didn't offer much feedback, but for some reason her presence helped settle Hailey.

With the final version getting Amy's stamp of approval, Hailey thanked her and called for breakfast as she went to dress.

"I'm going with you," Amy said, a half-hour later, chomping on a bagel coated with cream cheese.

"No. It could take an hour, maybe longer. I don't want to make you and the dogs wait in the car for that long, and we can't bring them inside."

Amy grinned and picked up a pup. "Maybe seeing these beauties would convince her--"

"That we're nuts," Hailey finished. "No way. This is downtown L.A.."

"Heck, some of the people around here wear their dogs like jewelry." Amy set the puppy down and shoved a bagel at Hailey. "You'd better eat or your medicine'll make you sick. Nothing like puking all over a fancy office to leave a lasting impression."

"I'm not taking my medicine. I need to be sharp."

"How are you going to think straight with pain shooting up your arm?"

Hailey glanced down at the bandages. "I'll manage. This is big--the biggest thing I've ever shot for. I can't mess up."

"You'll do fine. You're sharp, witty. You'll have her eating out of your hand in no time."

"God, I hope you're right."

After eating, Amy helped load the luggage and dogs into the car, and they drove to the downtown office. The entire time, Hailey wished she hadn't eaten the little bit of bagel she'd forced down. Her stomach roiled like angry storm clouds, and she had to force her breathing to slow. She'd never been so nervous.

When they parked, Amy gave her one last encouraging smile. "Go get 'em!"

"Thanks for your help." She walked to the building's plush lobby, thinking her legs would give out at any moment. She didn't belong here, in this foreign world of designer clothes and staggering wealth. With every step, the urge to turn tail and run grew stronger, until she wondered how she'd make it to the penthouse suite. The elevator ride alone was intimidating. But she managed.

Moments later, she swallowed her breakfast for the umpteenth time and sat in the suite's lobby, waiting for Mrs. Barrington to fetch her. The bandages wound around her arm, and the limb's steady throb, didn't matter so much anymore. Only getting through the next hour.

The receptionist stood and led her to a set of double doors at the end of a short hallway. "Mrs. Barrington is ready to see you now."

"Thanks." She stepped through the door.

Mrs. Barrington remained seated at the most massive desk Hailey had ever seen. Cold stone. It was as frigid as the expression on the woman's stern face.

"Good morning. Thank you for seeing me. Again, I apologize--"

"Please, take a seat, Ms. Jensen."

Hailey sat in a high-backed chair across from her and prepared to launch into her pitch. "As I stated in the written materials--"

"No need to proceed." The woman rested her elbows on the desktop, fingers steepled under a pointy chin, brows furrowed, and mouth set in a grim line. "I've reconsidered."