Page 14 of Honest Neglect

“So, how did Silver end up in the animal shelter in the first place?” she asked me.

“She attacked someone,” I replied. “Or that’s what he said, this guy who’s after me. He called animal control on her and got her taken away, but you have to believe me, she would never hurt anyone.”

“I believe it,” Grace replied. “She didn’t even flinch when I put in the saline drip. Not many animals would be so calm about that, especially after what she went through.”

She reached out to pet Silver’s head, looking at the dog for a moment.

“She came so far to find you,” she remarked softly. “I think there’s something pretty special about that.”

“Me too,” I agreed, and I felt tears well in my eyes again. I needed to stop crying, but every time I thought about what Silver had done for me, I was overcome with emotion again. How could I not be? She had escaped a fire and traveled sixty miles or more to find me, and I was never going to forget the sacrifice she made to do that.

“I think we should let her rest out here for a while, where it’s quiet,” Grace suggested.

I was reluctant to leave her side, but I knew she was right. My dog needed to get some sleep and let the drip work its magic. Hopefully, by the time she woke up, she would be back to her old self again, and we could take her home.

I had given Leroy Warren’s number, since my phone was nowhere to be found, and he said he’d call him for me. But I didn’t know if it would even get through to him. He could still be in prison for all I knew. They might not even be passing on calls to him. What if they had managed to get him in front of a judge, thrown together enough fake evidence that they locked him up somewhere more high security? I knew how people could get buried in the prison system, and Tony and Mark might be looking for a way to do just that.

I kissed Silver on the head and followed Grace around the paddock, where she fed her horses. They all greeted her like they were happy to see her, nuzzling their noses into her hand every time they got close enough to greet her. I helped her where I could, just wanting to do something to feel useful. They had been so kind in giving me their sanctuary when I had needed it most, and I didn’t know what would have happened to me if I had stayed out in the woods.

“So, how exactly does your husband know Warren?” I asked Grace. I knew about the medals, but that was about it.

“Oh, he’s one who Leroy talks about a lot,” she said. “Worries about him, you know?”

“Worries about him?” I asked.

“Yes, he said when he was discharged, he could tell it was going to be hard for him,” she explained. “Seemed like he had a lot of anger and hurt from what had happened to him, and, judging by the sound of it, I can’t say I blame him.”

My heart ached when I thought of Warren suffering like that. He hadn’t talked much about what he had been through in the army, but clearly, it must have been bad if it had made an impression on someone like Leroy.

“I think my husband will just be glad to see he’s still on his feet,” she continued. “And with a woman like you, too.”

“The kind of woman who turns up on stranger’s doorstep in the middle of the night begging for help?” I asked, raising my eyebrows in incredulity.

“The kind of woman who’s good to dogs,” she replied. “That’s the right kind of person in my book.”

I couldn’t help but smile. A vote of confidence from a woman like Grace felt like a powerful thing, and I was touched that she would say something so sweet. I hoped I would get a chance to prove her right about her instincts. One day, I would repay the kindness they had shown me here tonight.

Just after I got some damn sleep.

“You guys have been together a long time?” I asked.

“Forty years,” she replied without a pause, as though she was already ready to come out with that number. “I know. I can hardly believe it myself sometimes.”

“That’s amazing,” I told her. “It seems like you have such a nice life out here.”

“Oh, it’s quiet, but it suits us,” she replied. “We used to travel around a lot, but there’s something about here that just makes a good home.”

“Agreed,” I remarked with a nod. I knew that better than anyone. After so long on the road, fleeing from Tony, I had never imagined that I would feel truly safe anywhere again. But here? With Warren, with my mom, with Silver? It felt like I could finally start to relax.

And when Tony and Mark were dealt with for good, I could leave all of this behind.

“You come from Oakville?” she asked.

“Yeah, I lived there for most of my life,” I replied. “Just had to get out, that’s all.”

She paused for a moment before we stepped through the door, eyeing me. I got the feeling she had a much better understanding of everything that was happening here than she was letting on.

“That man sure has taken a lot from you, hasn’t he?” she remarked.