Page 33 of The Cowgirl's Forever Love
“Looks like a girl,” Josiah told her. “Hey, darlin’. Give me a chance to come help you out.”
He reached forward a hand, and the terrier sniffed it. Her stubby tail thumped a couple of times before she reached back and grabbed with her teeth at her ankle, worrying at whatever had her trapped.
Josiah slid closer, moving cautiously, but when the dog did nothing more than glance at him, then go back to work to free herself, he relaxed.
He ran a hand over her head and caught hold of her scruff. “My turn to try and get that off you.” He examined it for a minute, the terrier eyeing him but staying remarkably still. “Lisa, come closer. I need another set of hands.”
She bent around him, making soft noises. “Hey, pretty girl. What’d you get yourself into?”
“Looks like a stupid accident. That’s a mole trap.”
Lisa was pulling on her gloves. “How’d you get tangled up in this mess?” she cooed at the dog before glancing at Josiah quickly. “You got a good hold on her? Because she’s probably not going to like it when I get this off.”
Josiah stretched an arm across the terrier, pinning her against his body so that she couldn’t struggle while Lisa went to work. “I got you, little one. Hang on. Lisa’s going to help.”
It only took a moment for Lisa to detach the trap, laying it aside. “Her leg doesn’t look broken, but I’m not the vet.”
He adjusted his grip and rearranged the dog to examine her paw. Lisa took over scratching the dog’s ears and holding her for Josiah’s examination.
“Nothing’s broken, but she’s been trapped for a while. She’s been trying to gnaw herself free.” Josiah turned over the nametag on the collar. “Ollie. Okay.”
The dog wiggled, and Lisa loosened her grip enough that Ollie could adjust position and lick her back paw.
“She’s not the same breed as the others,” Lisa said.
“No. She looks like a purebred terrier, and she definitely wasn’t in here for breeding. Thank God, because I don’t think she’s more than a year old.”
“She seems well-trained for a dog that young. She must belong to someone.” Lisa stroked a hand over Ollie’s head. She sat up, nuzzling closer until she was nearly sitting on top of Lisa and Josiah. Her tail thumped as she looked between the two of them.
“They’re a smart breed, but yes. She’s definitely someone’s pet.”
He scooped Ollie up, rising to his feet and bringing Lisa with him. “Come on. It’s time to get out of here.”
“Will you send Ollie to Sonora’s as well?” Lisa asked.
That was probably the smartest thing to do, but as he held the dog against him, and she laid her head on his biceps, it was too easy to give in to temptation. “I think I should bring her home with me. I’ll put out some inquiries to find who’s missing a purebred. She looks the type to have been on the show circuit. I’ll probably only have her for a week or so before her owners show up.”
Lisa swore softly as they walked back into the main shed, the smell barely diminished even though the animals were all removed. “I think we were in an office. I hope there’s something in there that identifies who did this. I hope they get caught and punished.”
He felt the same way, yet that was no longer where he needed to focus his energy. “Let’s do what we can to get Sonora up and running. I think she’s bitten off more than she can chew. If she can make the rescue center a reality, though, it will mean the world not just to these animals, but to the entire community.”
They were nearly at the door when Lisa smacked her hand against her forehead. “I didn’t think this through.” She turned and grimaced as their eyes met. “I sent Ashton home with Sonora on my ride. I figured I’d go home with you, but you rode as well. And we have Ollie to deal with.”
He grabbed an additional blanket left by one of the Silver Stone hands, then wrapped Ollie up tightly. “We’ll make it. Do up your coat,” he ordered. “It’s going to be cold out there.”
He waited until she was bundled up then passed over the swaddled dog. Ollie took complete advantage and slid her tongue along Lisa’s face from jaw to forehead.
Lisa turned her face away, laughing as she made a sound of disgust. “No. No kisses,” she said firmly.
“Damn. That’s not what I wanted to hear.” Josiah put an arm around her shoulders and guided her outside.
“I didn’t expect you to be able to tease,” Lisa said.
“There are moments when if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry,” Josiah admitted. “Come on. There’s room for all of us on my horse.”
8
Lisa climbed into the saddle. Josiah handed up Ollie, then mounted behind her.
