Page 5 of Chasing Justice
“Come on, girl,” Maya encouraged her.The last time a dog made that noise... She stopped her thoughts there. She couldn’t go there. Not now.
The breeze once again whipped up and gusted to a steady thirty miles per hour, indicating a cool front moving in. The trees creaked and swayed in protest. Behind her, a branch snapped, the crack echoing like a gunshot. The tree limb crashed to the ground. Maya’s heart pounded as she flashed back to Afghanistan, pulling her fellow soldiers out of harm’s way as bullets flew around them. She stopped and closed her eyes, listening to the wind whistle as another branch shifted above her.
I’m in Colorado, not Afghanistan.
If she didn’t keep moving, it was likely that branch would fall right on top of her.
Don’t stop now. Keep moving. Don’t quit.
Maya’s breathing was short and hard, the exertion getting to her. She could see the meadow up ahead, the sun streaming in and illuminating the grass. She thought Doug stirred, but she held her grip and continued dragging him.
I love him. I have to save him.
“Just a little bit farther, Doug,” Maya said, not sure if he could hear her. “You’re going to make it. I promise.”
Just as Maya stepped into the meadow, a final gust of wind shook the trees, and behind her a limb collapsed down. Damn, where was Juniper?
Maya situated Doug on the grass. The tourniquet was doing its job, but more blood flowed from somewhere else. Maya examined Doug, only stopping to try to radio dispatch. There was no signal.Dang it. Figures we’re out of radio range.
A whine interrupted Maya’s thoughts. She stood and stared back at the forest.
“Juniper?” Maya said. Her chest constricted at the silence. From behind the trees came a faint cry.
Maya pushed the fear down, knowing that later all the emotions would hit her. Paralyze her. She didn’t care. She sprinted in the direction of the fallen branches. What if the dog was stuck under a tree limb? What if she was dying?
The high-pitched whine continued. Maya looked around the dark forest, her eyes taking a moment to adjust from the bright sun of the meadow and back to the dark from the canopy of the trees. She waited. The whimper came again. Over to her right.
Marines never leave anyone behind, no matter the cost.
Maya picked her way through the forest, dodging stumps just high enough off the ground to trip her, branches lying across the path and pine needles thick like carpet but slick enough to make her fall... But the real danger could collapse from above.
Another wind gust picked up, throwing dirt into Maya’s eyes. Wiping the grit out of her eyes, she searched the area desperately seeking the light brown of Juniper’s coat. The cries came again, and Maya followed the noise.
A widowmaker had missed Juniper, but the dog was trapped behind branches. Juniper held up her hind leg in pain. Maya didn’t know if Juniper would try to bite, but she didn’t care. Tears streamed down her face as the image of her old K-9 Zinger lying on the sandy ground again stampeded into her mind.
“You’re home. You’re safe.” Maya didn’t know who she was trying to reassure more—her or the dog. She hiked over to Juniper, staying quiet and calm, knowing this would help the dog more than anything else.
Maya rubbed Juniper’s head, massaging the triangular ears. She received a groan in response. Maya’s tears landed on Juniper’s soft coat, like trickles of rain.
“You have to trust me, girl,” she whispered.
She squatted down and ran her arms underneath the dog’s front end and hind end. With all the strength Maya had left, she lifted up and cradled the animal. Maya held Juniper close to her body, put her head down, and picked her way out of the forest.
Sunlight streamed into the meadow, and Maya saw Doug’s shadow. She had to climb to higher ground and get radio signal. Juniper remained limp in Maya’s arms, but Maya felt the in and out of Juniper breathing. The dog was still alive.
Now save Doug.
Maya laid Juniper down by Doug. The dog whined and moved closer to her handler, nuzzling him with her black nose. She licked Doug a couple times. Doug’s hand stirred and found its way to Juniper’s head. He stroked it gently.
“Doug?” Maya said.
He turned and looked at her.
“I’m radioing for a chopper. You’re going to be okay.”
Doug smiled but didn’t say anything, continuing to pet his dog. Juniper looked back at him, and every now and then, she licked Doug’s hand.
As hard as it was to leave, Maya pushed herself back to her feet and strode a few feet away. She kept testing the radio, but still, there was no response.
