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He was busy. That was a big ask considering I didn’t know how long it would be. I liked the Elliotts. Pepper trusted them with their dogs.
But I trusted my brother more.
“Of course.”
“If Burke is still around, get his phone number. Have him find out what hospital Pepper and Miss Adeline are in.” She needed me. Hell, I needed her. But I was sure this was what she’d want me to do.
She’d never forgive me if I didn’t do all I could for these three.
“Where can I contact you?” His unflappable voice soothed me.
“I’ll be at Dr. Lyons’s office with Sadie, Muffy, and Ash until I get the prognosis.”
“And Dad is taking you?” he asked carefully. Hell had frozen over twice in one week.
“Yes.” I switched ears.
“Why the hell was he there?”
“I have no idea. You ask him.” I took another angry breath. “Get the dogs to the Elliotts, and tell Beau to go to the hospital. Miss Adeline and Pepper need family around. I’ll be there when I can.”
The irony wasn’t lost on me that I’d hustled to the hospital when I’d gotten the news about my father, and I’d stayed by his side until he was released. And I hated the man.
The woman I loved had been taken away in an ambulance, one I should’ve been in with her, and I’d left her alone.
It wouldn’t be for long.
I twisted around and touched Ash’s head. She was still breathing . . . barely.
“Anything else?”
“Not for now. My phone is at the station, but I’ll check in when I can.” I pulled the phone away from my ear.
“Teague?”
I pressed it back to my face when Lincoln called my name. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
I swallowed hard. I knew he did. He showed me by being there for me, being my support. My rock. My best friend. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d said that. But hell, did I need to hear that right now.
“Love you too.”
I hung up and offered the phone to my father, who was ashen.
The driver pulled to the curb in front of the vet’s office.
“Help me carry them inside?” I asked as I opened the car door.
My father moved to pick up Sadie, but I stopped him. “You can’t lift heavy things.”
He snarled but stayed put. The driver lifted Muffy. I grabbed Ash and burst into the clinic.
The technician behind the reception desk rushed to open the door to the back. “This way.”
I deposited Ash on an exam table and ran to get Sadie. My father held the door to Dr. Lyons’s office. I shoved down my shock and hurried to get her to the exam room.
Dr. Lyons already had a stethoscope against Ash.
