AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Oh, no—" Brit's cheeks flame red.
"Actually, she's—" Jared smiles fondly at Brit.
It's all very adorable, but come on already.
"For the love of all that's holy," I shout. "How is Skidmark?"
They all freeze and stare at me.
I stare back. Why are they looking at me like I've lost my mind? "The skunk. How is the skunk?"
"We had to amputate both of his back legs," Dr. Ellis says in a gentle voice. "We also removed his anal scent glands, so he can't spray anyone. Tonight, we'll keep him here to monitor him for rabies and to make sure he's healing well."
"I'm going to stay with him," Jared says. "Did he bite, scratch, or drool on you?"
"No. I wrapped him in an old towel from my trunk and kept him in that box I brought him here in. I didn't touch him with my bare hands."
"Good."
"I'm going to head out," Doctor Ellis says. "I'll see you in the morning, Doctor Reynolds."
"I'll walk you out." Jared pushes the door open for Dr. Ellis and they head outside together.
Brit stares after them.
"Why are you watching the door like you're never going to see Jared again?" I wrap an arm around her shoulders.
"Because I'm a selfish, selfish person, Dandelion. Do you want to check on Skidmark?"
"Do you know where he is?"
"No, but this place isn't that big. How hard can it be to find him?"
I bounce up so fast my hair flops into my face. I push it back and grab Brit's hand. "Come on, cousin. Let's find my baby."
Walking hand in hand through the clinic, we poke our heads into every room we pass.
"What are you two doing?" A deep voice startles us just as we're leaning into a dark room that smells of disinfectant.
Brit shrieks and I spin, my fists raised.
Jared's laugh echoes in the empty hall. "Do you think serial killers or monsters tour the clinic looking for victims?"
"The ghosts of dead animals," I say in a low voice because I don't want to scare Skidmark if he's listening.
"All our animals leave this world free of regrets and unfinished business. If you're looking for Skidmark, he's all the way in the back, in one of the horse stalls."
"A horse stall?" I ask, fists on hips. "That can't be sanitary."
Jared huffs like he's annoyed, but he's smiling. "Come on. I'll show you it's perfectly sanitary."
He leads us to the back of the clinic, through sliding barn doors large enough for two horses to walk through abreast, and to the stall nearest the doors.
Skidmark, in a bundle of towels, blinks up at us groggily and gives a half-hearted hiss.
"Poor baby." He bares his teeth at me when I kneel next to him. "I won't hurt you, Skidmark. I'm the woman who saved you."
"You should get back," Jared says. "You don't want to take a chance of being bitten."
