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“Guys, we have a problem.” Aurora, Denali’s sister and the oldest of the four of them, rushed up behind Denali. “Reggie is sick.”
“What do you mean, sick?” Sadie followed them out to the kennel’s fenced yard where the dogs hung out.
They’d just gotten Reggie from his owner a week before for SAR training. The beagle showed real promise of being a much-needed asset to Search and Rescue. Sadie had begged her friend from Anchorage to let her train the energetic dog. If something had happened under her watch, she’d never hear the end of it.
“He’s throwing up and has the runs.” Aurora held the door open for Sadie and Denali, a look of horror on her face.
While Rory loved the dogs and North STAR Kennel’s mission, she stayed in the office. They would lose the business without her organizational and money skills. It worked out great for Sadie, who hated anything indoors or math related, even if it meant she had little in common with Rory.
“What if it’s parvo?” Rory whispered, like she worried the dogs would hear.
Dread slid under Sadie’s skin, chilling her like glacial runoff. If Reggie had parvo, that could ruin them. Sadie’s wire-haired pointing griffon, Coco, the matron of their SAR breeding plan, had just popped out her first litter. If they got sick, not only could North STAR lose puppies, but they’d lose the precious funds that litter would bring them.
“Have you called the vet?” Sadie snapped as she raced across the yard to the large shaded kennel Reggie was in.
“Yeah. Mark’s on his way.” For not being too involved in the training, Rory couldn’t stand seeing the animals sick. It was a good thing the local vet was Rory’s long-time friend and had a major crush on Rory, even if she didn’t see it. “I locked the other dogs in their kennels too, just in case.”
She scanned the yard like a dangerous animal waited to pounce. If it was parvo, Rory’s freak out wasn’t far from the truth. Parvo could wipe out their kennel, both in dogs’ lives and in money.
“Good idea.” Sadie stepped up to Reggie’s enclosure to go in, but got pulled back.
“You can’t go in there.” Denali tugged Sadie further away. “The people from Nature Channel will be here any minute. You can’t go in there then handle the puppies.”
Sadie swallowed and looked at Reggie prone on the other side of the chain-link fencing. She couldn’t leave him to suffer, but they also needed this break. If she handled him or even stepped on something contaminated as she’d crossed the yard, then brought it into the puppies area, all the puppies could catch it. She should just call her contact and reschedule.
She sighed. “I’ll call Drew.”
“No, you won’t.” Denali shook her head, crossing her arms. “The filming crew is leaving tomorrow. We can take care of this. You go do that interview.”
“But—”
“No buts, Sadie.” Rory pulled Sadie back toward the building. “We need the exposure Nature will give. Mark said he’ll bring a test, and we’ll know within fifteen minutes if its parvo.”
How could she possibly just leave Reggie without making sure he was okay? She stood staring at the poor, sick dog, her heart pounding in her throat like a drum. Taking a deep breath, she turned toward the building. Her cousins were right. Sadie couldn’t be in both places, and it would be better for the puppies if someone stayed clear until they figured out what was wrong. Sadie slipped off her sandals at the door, not willing to track anything in, and went to scrub her hands. She couldn’t risk bringing any of it to the pups.
“Hello, Sadie?” Drew’s Australian accent floated to her, and she quickly dried her hands.
She entered the big training room, a sweat breaking out at the sight of the cameramen and equipment being lugged in. She shook off the nerves. It wasn’t like she had a shy bone in her body, unless it came to her ugly scars covering her forearms and marring her collarbone. She loved meeting new people and having fun. She’d just pretend the cameras were the gateway to a ton of new friends.
“Hey, Drew.” She smiled as she crossed to him and shook his hand. “Are you ready to see what it takes to make super dogs?”
“I’m more than ready.” Drew rubbed his hands together. His bright blue eyes—that probably made his viewers go crazy—sparkled at her. “As soon as the crew gets set up, I’d like to start with a few questions about what you ladies do here at North STAR and then you can show us the puppies.”
“Perfect.” She watched Mark pass in front of the window as he headed to the backyard.
Drew’s chuckle snapped her attention back to him. “Is it a requirement for me to go barefoot?” His eyebrow lifted, and his gaze trailed to her toes.
“No.” She wiggled her feet. “We just have a sick dog out back, and I didn’t want to track anything in if its something that’s contagious.”
“Oh, no.” Concern splashed across his face. “Do you need to be out there? Is there anything we can do to help?” He glanced at his watch. “We could come back in an hour or so.”
She knew there was a reason she liked Drew so much. Not only did he love animals, but his consideration and easy-going personality make him fun to be around. He’d just given her a chance to take care of Reggie.
What if it was parvo, and then she couldn’t be with the puppies? Her sister Violet could do the interview, but she was so flighty, she’d probably mess up the entire thing. No, Sadie had to trust that her cousins and Mark could take care of Reggie. Sadie would get the interview done with, then assess the situation.
“No, it’s fine.” Sadie turned back to Drew, determined to make this opportunity benefit North STAR. “Denali and Rory are out there with the vet. I’d just be in the way.”
“Denali’s here?” Drew leaned to peer out the window.
Sadie nodded, stifling her smile. So the handsome Aussie had the hots for Denali? Too bad he had to leave the next day, otherwise she’d nudge him on. Though, maybe a date with a nice guy with no chance of it going further was just what Denali needed. Sadie’s eyebrow lifted as a plan formed. With the right focus and charm, she’d get this interview done, check on Reggie, and have Denali a dinner date within the next hour.
