Page 6 of Serving my Dragon
“Not exactly,” I muttered. “She kind of adopted me.”
“Hi, little lizard.” Kayleigh waved and my scaly companion uttered a low growl.
“Be nice,” I softly chided, to which my lizard rubbed her head against the underside of my jaw and made a noise.
“What’s its name?”
Name? I blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Pollita.”
With Pollita cradled to my chest, I dumped my bag and discovered she’d been busy. Only one protein bar remained. Being a gentleman, I split it in half. Half for Kayleigh, and the other half for Pollita, apparently, seeing as how she reached for it.
Guess for the first time in my life I’d be going to bed hungry. Mama would be horrified when she found out and then would likely try and stuff me to the point I’d have to roll myself home.
My grumbling belly couldn’t wait.
Chapter Three
Despite my vow to remain awake because I didn’t quite trust Kayleigh, I woke as dawn lit the sky with Pollita tucked under my chin on my left side and Kayleigh sprawled partially across my chest on the right. Understandable since my sleeping bag, even unzipped, didn’t have that much room to spread.
At least I hadn’t been attacked while I slumbered. Perhaps Kayleigh truly had suffered a mishap and wasn’t part of a plot to rob me because surely something should have happened by now.
Kayleigh yawned and stretched. “I needed that sleep, but boy would I kill for some bacon and eggs.”
The comment made me think of Mama’s breakfast spread: chicharrónes, fried sweet potatoes, tamales, and fresh bread heavily buttered. As if reading my mind, a hungry Pollita mewled and held out her paws.
“Sorry, I have nothing left in my bag,” I said loud enough for both my companions. “But if we get going now, we can be at my car in two to three hours and eating not long thereafter.”
“Guess I won’t die if I have to fast a few hours. My best friend, Sally, swears by it.” Kayleigh wrinkled her nose. “But she’s always been more of a health nut than me. I love my food.”
“The faster we move, the quicker we eat,” I quipped.
While Pollita still didn’t appear to be a fan of Kayleigh, judging by the side eye she gave her, she chose to ride on my shoulder. I led the way and as we neared the exit of the canyon, we encountered a group coming in.
When I would have called out to them in the hopes someone would take Kayleigh from my care, she must have guessed my intent because she clutched my arm. “Please don’t send me off with strangers.”
How could I deny her request, especially so close to finally being done with my part in her rescue? What a strange turn my vacation had taken but at least I’d emerged unscathed.
The parking area had a mix of vehicles. My reliable blue Kia Rio remained where I’d parked it. Pollita scented the air and glanced around with curiosity as I unlocked my car but it wasn’t until I turned the key and started the engine that she squawked and crawled inside my shirt.
I patted her lightly. “It’s okay, Pollita. It’s just the motor.”
Kayleigh plopped herself in the passenger seat and sighed. “Oh, this feels so nice after all that walking.”
“Traffic permitting, I should be able to drop you at a hospital shortly,” I stated, getting us on the road.
“Will they even see me? I don’t have my wallet to pay nor any ID.”
“I’m sure they will accommodate.” I had no idea, actually.
“Will you stay with me while they check me out?”
I wanted to say no. She wasn’t my problem. But Mama hadn’t raised me to be an uncaring ass.
And so, with Pollita tucked away in my bag, happily munching the tamales I bought for us on the way, I stuck around with Kayleigh in the emergency room until the doctor saw her. Although I did draw the line at being in the examination room when they checked her over.
Given a lizard would cause a commotion if brought inside the hospital, I tucked Pollita in my bag since she insisted on staying close to me. How could I tell? When I went to leave her in the car, saying, “I’ll be back soon,” Pollita uttered a screech and reached for me. Who knew a reptile could be so needy?
When the exam was complete, the doctor emerged and saw me sitting in a chair, my knapsack in my lap.
