As if I needed another reason.
With the grace of God, or perhaps from a little devil sitting on my shoulder, I managed to skid to a stop.
Maybe six inches in front of the mangy looking dog.
What I’d seen out of the corner of my eye had appeared like a statue someone had tossed out the window. Now I knew differently, the creature’s tail wagging. I glared out the window, fucking uncertain if I was still breathing.
“What in the hell were you doing? What?” While I doubted the pup could hear me through the closed windows, when he or she lifted their head, and it had to be a girl dog given the obvious attitude, I could tell the beast had heard every word.
He or shepeered at me with soulful eyes, one single mournful howl penetrating the closed-off cab of the truck.
Just a split second before he or she collapsed onto the pavement.
“Oh, hell, no.” I threw the gear into park, cursing under my breath before climbing out. This was the last thing I needed. There was no way I’d hit the poor thing. None. Even after a couple of years, I was still a decent driver. Plus, there was nothing on the hilly roads that could easily drag my mind off the awaiting adventure.
If I ever made it to my destination.
As I approached, I reminded myself that injured animals were unpredictable. Especially if the dog was a female, she would likely bite. I rolled my eyes, accepting that the thought was a horrible stereotype. However, since I didn’t have the best of luck with women, I doubted I could with female dogs.
Only I didn’t need to worry about that. As soon as I crouched down, I noticedhewas fully intact, his huge balls on display. That was the only thing about his emaciated body that appeared remotely normal. I had no idea how the dog could even be alive given how many bones were protruding from his side.
“Oh, you poor baby.” With all my movements slow, I reached out and gently rubbed my hand down his back. Instead of snarling either from agony or fear, he lifted his head, whining while his tail thumped once.
The beautiful black dog with the eyes of an old soul peered up at me, pleading with me to help him. Begging me not to leave him on this desolate road.
With no collar, no sign of human life over the last fifteen miles, and with the way he looked, even if he had an owner, I wasn’t inclined to give him back. “Okay, buddy, I don’t know what I can do here, but I’m not leaving you.”
I could swear the pup understood, his tail thumping not once but three times. At least the simple gesture offered hope.
But the rest of him and the dullness in his eyes didn’t provide any warm fuzzies. The pup was starving to death and God knew what other illnesses or injuries he was suffering from. His heavy panting was partially given the heavy humidity on the July day, but the poor pup had to be terrified out of his mind.
After raking my hand through my hair and scanning the area, I made a decision. “Alright, buddy. Just wait right here. I’m going to take you with me. I’ll get you some food. Just stay right here.”
His whimper brought an emotion I hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Sadness and deep concern. For a dog I’d never seen before. And here I thought my heart had been ripped from my body. I certainly had no soul. Taking long strides, I headed to the passenger side of the truck, grabbing a blanket I’d brought with me and making a little nest on the front seat. At least I had some bottled water and I’d fashion a makeshift bowl.
Even though I was obviously in Bumfuck, there had to be a fast-food joint around here somewhere. Yeah, money was tight, but he’d eat before I would.
Thank God, he didn’t struggle when I gathered him in my arms. But the boy needed a bath something fierce. I could see gratitude in his big brown eyes. As I eased him onto the blanket on the seat, he let off a huge sigh. He knew he’d at least be safe.
Maybe there was something decent left inside of me after all.
As I closed the door, I took a few seconds to glance toward the mountains in the background. Maybe I should call finding the pup in the middle of the road a moment of divine intervention. I’d had such reservations about heading to Missoula, but maybe this was the fresh start the warden had been talking about.
Everything felt different, and not only because I wasn’t locked behind cold steel bars. The air was distinctive even with the heavy haze as if a storm had recently rolled through. Every tree was full of leaves, but there appeared to be some snow on the highest mountain peaks. Or maybe I was merely hallucinating, a product of one of a half dozen memories appearing out of nowhere.
Memories that were no longer welcome.
Being Friday night, I had the whole weekend to get settled. Yeah, into the cheapest motel I could find, but at least I could begin figuring out what kind of dollars I’d need for an apartment.
No furniture.
Barely any clothes.
A few books.
Ugly memories.
