Page 235 of Mountain Daddy
“What happened, Baby?” I keep my voice as calm as I can while jogging through the garage.
“He… He was hit by a car. His leg…” A sob cuts her off.
I climb into my truck, and I wait until I close my door before I hit the button to open the loud overhead door.
“Where are you?” I turn my engine on.
“I…”
“Take a breath.” I shift into drive and roar out of the garage. “I’m coming to you, okay? It will be okay.”
I listen as she takes a breath. “O-okay.”
I try to think of what’s closest to her. “Are you heading to the vet in Lonely?”
“I think so. I just typed emergency vet into my GPS, but…” She hiccups through another sob. “What if they won’t help him?”
“They’ll help him.”
“But he’s a wild animal.”
“They’ll help him.” I turn onto the main road. And floor it.
“Promise?” Her plea is so quiet, but I hear it so loud.
She’s asking me to promise her something.
She’s trusting me to promise her.
After everything.
After what I did.
She’ll still believe me if I promise.
“I promise, Baby.” I swallow, forcing myself to stay composed. “I need to make a call. What’s your ETA?”
“Twenty-two minutes.”
“I’ll meet you there, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Have you called Joe?”
She sniffles. “No.”
“I’ll call him. You focus on driving. Okay?”
“Okay.” My girl sniffs again. “Thank you.”
“I’d do anything for you, Baby. That includes Buddy.” I swallow down the urge to tell her I love her. But it’s not the time. “I’m going to make that call now. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Keep your eyes on the road.” I use my commanding tone. “Be careful.”
I wait for her whispered okay, then I hang up.
