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“Just some pressure on my chest.”
“Do you feel it anywhere else?”
“Maybe… kinda… here.” He lifted his hand and rubbed his jaw.
Noah reached for his phone. “One last question. Scale of one to ten. How bad is the pain?” He was already punching in 911 when Gage responded.
“Ah, hell. I don’t know. Maybe a seven?”
Waiting for the operator to answer, Noah handed over the aspirin. “Take these now.”
In quick, succinct language, Noah requested an ambulance be sent to his address for a suspected cardiac event. Assured that help was on the way, he turned all his attention to his friend.
“I’m having a heart attack, aren’t I?” Gage asked, his tone grim.
“Maybe. Can’t know for sure without an EKG.”
“Unless I keel over dead. Then it’d be a pretty good guess.”
“Personally, I’d rather wait for the EKG.” Understandingthat what Gage needed now was distraction, Noah asked, “So, which of the pups strikes your fancy?”
Gage scowled at him. “You trying to distract me from the fact I’m at death’s door?”
“Yes,” Noah replied matter-of-factly. “This doesn’t have to be a heart attack, Gage. It could be angina. It could be something else. Maybe it is just too much pepper in the stew.”
“Damned good stew, though,” Gage said, attempting a smile.
Noah kept it light. “Glad you think so.”
“Hope it doesn’t kill me,” Gage quipped.
Noah chided him with a look, then tried to change the subject back to the dogs. He didn’t want Gage focused on death. “So, what about the puppy? You looking for a boy dog or a girl?”
Gage wasn’t buying the distraction. “What’s with the hard sell on the mutts when I’m sitting here with an elephant on my chest?”
“I’m attempting to help you remain calm. It’s in the handbook.” Noah made a show of pursing his lips in thought, then added, “I think. It’s been a while since I checked.”
Gage snorted. “Just my luck to get a firefighter instead of a doctor.”
“I thought you didn’t trust doctors.”
One corner of Gage’s mouth lifted in a half smile, acknowledging the hit. “What the hell is calming about puppies? They’re the biggest bundle of nerves in the world.”
“True, but look at them. They’re cute bundles of nerves. It makes me happy to watch them play. The thing is, they can’t be left to puppy-on all the time at this point. It’s time to start training them. Gotta get those good habits going before the bad ones set in. I know you know that. I’ve seen you with horses. I’ll bet your dogs were always well trained.”
Sitting hunched over with his hands on his knees, Gage stared toward the pups but gazed into the past. “They were. Emily wouldn’t have it otherwise. Dogs were a helluva lot easier to train than our kids. That’s for damned sure.” Gage paused a moment. Shut his eyes. “My kids. I think Zach’s the only one in town this week. Will you call him for me?”
“I will. Want me to call him now?”
Gage used his bandanna to wipe his brow again. “No. Wait. Maybe I should. If I croak…”
“I think you should be thinking positive about now, Gage. I’m not a doctor, but I will tell you that the fatal heart attacks I responded to went like…” Noah snapped his fingers.
Gage nodded solemnly. “Widow-makers.”
Noah was relieved to hear the wail of an approaching siren. “Slang term and only anecdotal evidence, but I’m not too worried that I’ll have to find a spot for one of these pups that isn’t the Triple T Ranch.”
Gage gave him a weak smile, then reached into his pocket and handed over his phone. “Maybe call him once I’m in the meat wagon?”
