AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We get to the intersection. To the right is the downtown area. The left leads outside of town. “We should probably split up,” I suggest. Even on three legs, Jackie could be quite a distance by now. Thunder rumbles but it’s farther away now and the rain seems to be getting a little lighter.
The Chief stands at the intersection, his body tense. “I don’t like the idea of you wandering around in the dark by yourself,” he says.
“I think the rapists and the murderers are all inside where it’s dry,” I point out. “There’s really not much point in me coming with you if we stay together. We can cover more ground apart.”
Honestly, I’d much rather stay with him, even though it’s not nearly as practical. I tell myself that it’s because I don’t particularly fancy walking around on a rainy night by myself, but really, I just like being near him, working with him toward a common goal.
It’s nice not to be rivals, at least temporarily.
There’s a flash of lightning that lasts just long enough for me to catch a glimpse of his expression. He’s got just the hint of a smile. “Yeah, but you’ve got the turkey.”
“You could have half,” I suggest reluctantly.
“Forget it.” His voice is gentle. “I dragged you out here. I really appreciate you coming with me and I’m not going to let you wander around in the dark by yourself. Let’s try this way.”
He heads toward town and I hurry to keep up with his long strides. My rain boots are doing their job of keeping my feet dry but they make walking a little clumsy.
“I’m sorry,” he says as we go. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into this, but the little guy was abused by his last owners, and I just can’t stand the idea that I’ve let him down too.”
“It’s fine,” I tell him. And it is. I like being helpful. “We’ll find him.”
We walk toward town taking turns shouting for Jackie every few steps. The rain is starting to ease up and hopefully, that will make it easier for Jackie to hear us or smell us or whatever it is that dogs do when their people are trying to find them.
“Turkey!” I yell, waving a slice of meat in front of me. Fortunately, downtown Welkin’s Ridge is pretty dead once the Cantina closes at midnight and there’s no one around to wonder what on earth we’re doing.
The Chief suddenly stops.
I look at him. “Do you see him?” I whisper. I’m not sure why I’m whispering.
“I thought I heard something. Jackie? Jackie, boy, where are you?”
And now I hear it, a faint whimper. I suddenly have visions of Jackie having been hit by a car and lying somewhere hurt and helpless.
I think the Chief has the same thought at the same moment because he becomes newly animated. “Jackie!” He’s trying to keep his voice loud but gentle. In it, I can hear both hope and fear.
Another whimper.
“Down here!” I dart down the alley between Joyce’s cafe and the hardware store. “Jackie?”
We find him squeezed between a dumpster and the short flight of concrete steps that leads to the Flying Saucer’s back door. He’s trembling and cowering and we coax him out with a bit of turkey. The Chief hands me the flashlight and swoops him up.
I turn the flashlight on the little dog. He’s still shaking but when I offer him another bit of turkey, he gobbles it eagerly, which I take to be a good sign. “Is he hurt?”
“I don’t think so.” The Chief’s voice is heavy with relief. “I’ll have a better look at him when we get home. Hey, boy. You gave me a good scare.” Jackie licks the Chief’s face in apology. “Good dog.”
Together, we head back toward the little duplex. It felt like it took ages to get here, but we’re home again in just a few minutes. I direct the flashlight toward the steps as we climb up to the porch and then stop midway between our two doors.
“Thank you,” the Chief says. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you helping.”
“I didn’t really do anything,” I point out.
“You brought the turkey,” he replies. Jackie ate the rest of it on the way home. If his appetite is anything to go by, he’s fine. “Anyway, thank you. Sorry I woke you. Hope you can get back to sleep.”
The truth is, I’m wide awake now, exhilarated by the rain, the walk, and the excitement of finding Jackie. And maybe by walking side by side with the Chief in the night.
I’m not quite ready for the evening to end.
“You want to come in for, I don’t know, a drink or something?” I ask, just as the Chief is turning away. “I mean, if you’re not too tired.”
