Page 14 of No Kind Words

“Hey there, little one. What are you doing in here?” I hold my hand out, but the dog shrinks farther into the hedge. I’m on my knees, the cold, damp from the concrete seeping into my jeans. “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.” I keep my voice soft as I reach in farther. “Come on, sweetheart. You can’t stay here in the cold and wet.”

Patiently I wait for the dog to come closer. I’m not sure how much time has passed before the cold, damp nose of the pup touches my hand. “That’s it, sweetheart. Come on out.”

Finally, it’s close enough for me to wrap my arms around it and lift it. The poor thing whimpers and snaps at my hands. I obviously cause it pain, but I don’t know where or how it’s hurt. Under the streetlight, I take a better look. Blood covers its back leg. I shudder when I see why. The leg is broken.

I clutch the dog to my chest and sprint home to my car. With the dog lying on the passenger seat, I rush to the driver’s side and start the ignition. I drive as fast but as carefully as possible to the vet’s. It’s not until I push the door open that where I am sinks in.

“I need help.”

The chatter stops, and everyone looks at me.

“He’s hurt. It’s his leg.”

The crowd separate, and Jethro stands in front of me.

I can’t believe how many people have come along to the opening or how so many are registering their pets. The welcome from everyone touches me in ways I never expected. They share memories of my childhood, many I’d forgotten. Some I preferred not to be reminded about, but the most surprising was the apology from the retired GP.

“I wish I’d stepped in to stop what was going on under everyone’s eyes. Your father was a bully to many people but the most brutal to you. And for that, I apologise. I should’ve stopped him long before you had to leave. I’ve never forgiven myself for that.”

It felt like a sucker punch to my gut. My cheeks heat, not with the anger that should’ve been my first reaction but with sadness for the old man in front of me. “You don’t need to apologise. I doubt anything you said would’ve made a ha’p’orth of difference. He was an evil old bastard, worse when he drank. I’m sure he’s got what he deserves.”

“You’re too kind, but thank you.” He gives me a look that has a wicked gleam in it. “You’ll find happiness here. You’re among a lot of like-minded men.” With a small smile, he wanders off to talk to someone else.

I’m left reeling at his parting words. He knows I’m gay. He knew I was gay. I glance around the room. Everyone who has befriended me is here. And I can see at least half a dozen gay men, and there may be more I haven’t met yet. Including the main reason I’m back—Ben, the elusive baker. The man known as Benny by the people in town, the one I’m too afraid to reach out to. He’s single and without any long-term partners, or so everyone says. Yet we’re both stubbornly ignoring each other.

The chatter and laughter quieten, and I look at the door that has just beeped open. Without being able to see who has just come in, I walk forward, ready to greet and thank them for coming along. The injured dog is the first thing I notice, and I rush forward to take it. “What happened?” I ask, then look at the person carrying the animal.

My heart stops—Ben. He looks like he’s in shock. His arms are shaking as he holds on tight to the wounded dog. “I…I don’t know. I heard the whimpers coming from under the hedge on the corner of Sandy Lane. He was hiding.”

“You’re soaking wet.” His dirty blond hair is plastered to his face, his coat drenched through. The drizzle from earlier must have turned into a downpour. As if proving my thoughts, thunder rattles the window of the reception.

He lets out a dark, humourless chuckle. “You don’t say. It took me a long time to coax him out. I can see his leg is broken.”

“I need to get him into an exam room. Maeve?” I call to her, but Ben shakes his head.

“I’ve got him. I’ll bring him through.”

Maeve follows us through the packed room and into the largest exam room at the rear of the building, where we have the X-ray machine. Maeve appraises the dog and gives me a look that she can see something I haven’t yet. Hopefully, they won’t have to move him around too much.

Ben slowly and carefully lowers the dog onto the examination table. There’s no doubt of the damage done. His femur, the thigh bone, is protruding through the fur. Which indicates he was hit by a car. He couldn’t have been under the hedge for long before Ben found him. Otherwise, the dog wouldn’t have survived with the amount of blood loss this had caused.

“Is it bad?” Ben asks with a wobble in his voice. He rests his hand on the dog’s head, stroking through the sopping fur.

“You may have saved his life. This is very serious. He’s lost a lot of blood. I’m going to X-ray the leg and check for any other injuries. It’s probably from a traffic accident, so his ribs could be damaged, and he may have some internal injuries. He’s very poorly, Ben.”

His name on my tongue retrieves memories I’ve kept locked away for so many years, and an emotion I’ve been guarding for as long breaks free. I have to clamp my jaw shut to stop me telling him how much I’ve missed him. Now is not the time. But will there ever be a right time?

“Do you think he belongs to anyone?”

“I can check for a microchip once I’ve got him stable. We’ve got him from here. You’ve done the right thing.” As I take over and get to work on her, he slumps. Shit, I’ve offended him by dismissing him. I didn’t mean to, but I must get the dog stable first.

“Okay.” He strokes the dog’s head again. It’s obvious how difficult it is for him to leave him. “Would you, um, I mean, can I wait? I won’t be any trouble. I want to know how he is.”

“Of course. You may want to go home, get some clean, dry clothes,” Maeve says kindly but stops short when she sees the determination on his face. “Or we have some scrubs here.”

A knock on the door is followed by Luke popping his head around. “Sorry to interrupt, boss. Everyone has done the clearing up and has left. Do you need me to stay?”

“Can you show Ben to the scrub room and find him something clean for him to wear? He’s going to wait while we operate. You’re free to go after that. Thank you for all your help tonight.”

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