Page 51 of Jagger

But I pressed on, following the dog’s weakening sound. I knew when I was close, not only by his barking, but because I felt the little girl’s heartbeat. I knew it.

I pushed myself through a thick group of foliage, shining the light. A dog’s face appeared. Guarded relief rushed through me,but a tight tug at my heart followed. The dog led the way to a group of brush. I fought to shove it aside, the snow having drifted to partially cover it. By the time I freed an opening, the dog returned inside. The moment I flashed the light inside, I could see why.

The little girl had found the dog or vice versa, the pup doing what he or she could to keep her warm. I could tell neither were in good shape. My heart dropped when I touched Cally. She was so cold. The dog started barking again as if trying to tell me something.

“I found her. I found Cally.” My voice broke up as emotions swelled within me. “You did good, puppy. You did real good.” Her little body seemed so frail, so stiff as I pulled her into my arms, gently pulling us both free from the debris. But she was alive, her breathing rapid and ragged, but the soft blows indicated we hadn’t lost her.

With the wind still howling, I held her close, rubbing my gloved fingers across her face. The dog was jumping and barking, which alerted my brothers to our location.

Shephard allowed the light to flow across us while Hunter came forward.

“Jesus, brother,” Shep said. “You did it.”

“The dog did,” I told him. “I might never have found her. Cally’s breathing is shallow.”

“Let’s get her into the vehicle,” Hunter demanded.

“You drive. And the dog comes with us.”

No hero, whether in animal or human form, would ever be left behind.

My brother was a damn good driver, avoiding losing control as I cradled Cally in the backseat. The entire way, the dog refused to keep his head from my lap, his nose on Cally’s arm.

“No collar,” Shep said as we neared the resort. “Likely a stray or dumped.”

“Bastards. It’s okay, pup. We got you too.” I stroked his or her head, more grateful in finding Cally than I’d been with anything for a long time.

With the vehicle jerked to a stop minutes later, Shephard jumped out first, yanking open my door. By the light of the resort’s back entrance, I could see the anxious look on his face.

We weren’t out of the woods yet.

As the four of us and a hero dog walked into the resort, I was shocked to see at least a hundred people if not more standing in wait for our return.

Once they noticed the little girl in my arms, every single one of them started to clap, cheering for the heroes.

Only I felt like less than a hero than I had ever before.

With a group of people following us, I moved quickly down the corridor toward the office where Bella had been taken. The moment I walked inside, there was sudden hushed silence.

Bella struggled to rise to a sitting position, tears sliding down her face. She held out her arms, darting her eyes in my direction several times.

The dog pressed forward, moving to Bella’s side while I kissed Cally on the head before gently easing her into her mother’s arms.

There was another collective cheer from the crowd of guests before Shephard and Denise attempted to push them back. The dog was following closely behind.

I slowly lowered to my knees, offering a smile as the dog licked my face.

“You saved her,” Bella said as she immediately shifted again in her effort to check her daughter’s condition.

“I can only take partial credit. The pup kept her warm. He led us to her.”

“No, you’re my hero, Jagger.”

“Nah. Not true. Not by a long shot.”

She glanced down at the dog, allowing herself to smile before lifting her head toward my brothers. Her silent mouthed words of thanks nearly broke my heart. She continued rubbing her daughter’s face, fighting tears and my gut told me she was praying the little girl would wake up from her slumber.

We both had our hands on the dog’s head, his dark eyes confirming he’d been through the same horrible ordeal as well. In a few minutes of connection, something stirred inside of me that I’d long since thought dead.

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