AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As quickly as Kate had hurried into the barn, she was just as quickly rushing back.
“What’s wrong?”
She hefted her hands onto her hip again, and spoke to him while staring up at the still soaring bird. “Usually mama owl sits on the nest for about twenty-three hours a day, but when she takes a break to get some food, papa owl comes and minds the roost.”
“Okay.”
She shook her head. “No one is minding the nest. Which means one of the parents is playing hooky, drunk, or both.”
Now he was completely confused.
“Something’s not right.” Frowning, she moved in the same direction the bird kept circling. When the squawks seemed to increase in pitch and volume, both Kate and he slowed their steps. Both scanning the surroundings. No one had said a word, and yet, they both seemed to know what to do.
“There.” Her arm shot out straight from the shoulder and she ran ahead with the speed of a medal winning sprinter. “Oh, no!”
The moment her heart had begun to thump in her chest like a hammer pounding a nail, Kate knew something was wrong. For days, her heart had been kicking up its heels whenever Craig was around, but this frantic pounding had less to do with animal attraction and everything to do with an overwhelming sense of dread. The mound of snowy white at her feet pulled a sudden screech from deep in her throat. The limp mama bird tore at Kate’s heart strings. Dropping to her knees, she hovered over the bird.
“How bad is she hurt?” Craig came sliding onto the ground beside her. Without waiting for a response, he laid his hand on the bird’s chest and turned to Kate. “It’s breathing, but I’ve no idea if it’s struggling to do so.”
“We have to get her to treatment.” Kate ripped off her sweatshirt, exposing her Go Green t-shirt. Gently, she covered the bird and swooped it into her arms.
“Here. Let me.” Craig wrapped the claws in the remaining shirt and retrieved the fowl from Kate’s arms. “If he or she comes to, I don’t want it scratching the dickens out of you.”
The thought of explaining, in clearly enunciated syllables, that she could handle a frantic owl with her eyes closed had crossed her mind, along with a flash of temper, but the look in Craig’s eyes stopped her short. Was this the same man who said business was business and the owl could live on someone else’s land? The care and tenderness the man showed for the sick bird smacked her on the chest and squeezed her heart.
“Where do we take her?” He was already hurrying toward the car.
“Peg’s wildlife rescue center isn’t far from here. I’ll call ahead.” She pulled out her phone and looked up to the owl’s mate still screeching overhead. “I’ll also see if we can pull some of the grad students to catch Papa and gather the eggs. We’ve got to keep them warm. Hopefully, Mama hadn’t been gone long.”
“Otherwise…” Craig looked toward the bird.
“Otherwise,” Kate finished for him, “your owl problem could be gone.”
His head moved from side to side. “I’d rather have the problem.”
“What are you doing?” Alan’s gaze settled on the clothing and bird in Craig’s arms.
“Taking this sick owl to the bird doctor.”
“Sick?” Alan moved closer and with one finger, pulled the sweatshirt away.
“We really need to go,” Craig spoke to the man now moving the bird gently about.
Alan’s jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed. “Damn. She’s not sick. She’s been shot. I’m going to have to call this in. A team of specialists will be sent, then we can move her to one of our clinics.”
“Sent?” Craig stared at the guy as if his brains had just fallen out his ears.
“Yeah.” Alan held the phone in his hand. “I can’t move the bird, I have to stay on site with those students.”
“We. Can’t. Wait.” Craig’s voice fell a fraction short of yelling.
Alan lifted the phone to his ear. “We have no choice. Rules are rules.”
One of the key things about environmentalism was that they tended to go hand in hand with the idea of a violence-free, peaceful life. Right now, Kate had little interest in peace, and the idea of violence against anyone who would hurt such a beautiful bird sounded better with every tick of the clock. Ignoring Alan, she waved one of the students over, told her what she needed, and then watched the eager young woman gather a larger crew, directing some toward the nest and others to track down the injured bird’s mate. Thank heaven others were here to help. Kate had a feeling if she wandered away, there might be bloodshed. From the daggers the students were staring at Alan with, it appeared the number of people willing to slug the guy was growing exponentially.
“Rules, my foot.” Rolling his eyes heavenward, Craig turned away from the by-the-book field officer and began marching toward the car in a quick clip, shouting over his shoulder to Kate, “I’m guessing if she’s been shot she’s not going to suddenly wake up. I’ll drive if you’ll take the bird.”
She lengthened her stride to keep up with him, trusting the students to save the eggs. “I can drive.”
