Page 28 of Cowboy's Sinful Bargain

The dog slowly stopped struggling, enabling Jos to pull him out from under the porch. I scrambled out behind them. Jos stood up and carried the dog directly into the house. I followed as quickly as I could with my much shorter legs.

Jos carried the dog into the living room and then sat down on the floor with him. "Axel, did you get the stuff I asked for?"

"Got them right here, Boss," Axel replied as he held out a pair of wire clippers and a first aid kit.

"Come help me hold him."

When Axel went to help hold the dog down, the little guy started howling, but it was the saddest, most frightened howl I had ever heard in my life.

"Please, stop," I begged as I moved closer.

"Miko, we have to get the wire off his leg so we can treat his wounds."

"Yes." I nodded enthusiastically. "Wait, please." I turned and looked around until I spotted Mrs. Gibbons. "Need long green leather cylinder in top drawer of dresser."

When Mrs. Gibbons hurried up the stairs, I turned my attention back to the dog and began speaking to him in Japanese again. I kept my tone low and didn't make any sudden movements as I approached the dog.

"Don't get too close, Miko," Jos stated. "Injured animals can be vicious. They don't mean to be, but they are scared and hurt and will lash out at anyone that gets too close."

"He won't hurt me." I made shushing noises as I scooted closer and then continued to speak to the dog in Japanese. Itseemed to calm him down, but every time someone in the room moved, he went off again.

I did notice that he was leaning closer and closer to me.

When Mrs. Gibbons came down the stairs with the item I had asked for, I held my hand out for it. As soon as I had it, I opened it up and pulled the medium sized bundle out.

I put the cylinder aside and laid the bundle down on the coffee table, untying the leather straps and rolling the material out. I glanced at the dog and then back at the needles secured in the material.

I grabbed one of the needles and reached out toward the dog. Jos grabbed my wrist before I could reach it.

"What are you doing?"

I so wanted to roll my eyes, but that would be disrespectful and I'd get punished. I needed to treat this dog before that happened.

"It's okay." I gave a gentle tug until Jos released me and then reached back for the dog. As gently as I could, I inserted the needle in the one spot guaranteed to make the dog go to sleep.

"What did you do?" Jos asked.

"I put him to sleep," I replied. "You can treat him now, but don't dislodge the needle. He'll wake up."

I scooted back out of the way so Jos and Axel could cut the wire and treat the dog. Jos barked some orders and a couple of the people standing there took off. Only one of them came back. He had an electric shaver in his hand.

I watched as Jos carefully cut the wire off the dog, my confusion—and a bit of anger—growing when I saw how perfectly the wire was wrapped around the dog's paw.

"Was done on purpose?" I asked.

Jos had a grimace on his face when he raised his head. "It looks that way."

"Why?" I couldn't think of a single reason why someone would harm a dog like this.

"Some people are just mean, Miko," Jos said as he went back to treating the dog.

I watched as he freed the dog from the wire, then shaved the area around the wound, and then finally treated it with medicine and wrapped it in gauze and medical tape.

I was a little confused when Mrs. Gibbons handed him some plastic wrap and Jos wrapped it around the gauze and tape before securing it into place.

"Miko, we need to bath this little guy," Jos said. "Will your needle stay in for that? It would be easier to get this all done before he wakes up."

"Can make no sudden movements."

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