Page 30 of Love It or List It
The dog didn’t get up.It was whining now, panting.The whites of its eyes showed when it looked at them, obviously terrified.
Austin dropped to his knees too as Joe ran a gentle hand along the dog’s side, making hushing sounds.“Hey, girl,” he murmured.“Hey, hey, it’s okay.We’ve got you.”He ripped his sweatshirt over his head, covered her with it, and wrapped one of the sleeves around the injured back leg.The dog cried like it was being murdered.Austin’s heart squeezed.“Help me get her up?We’ve got to get her to a vet.”
“Better idea,” Austin said.He worked his hands under the dog’s head and neck, surprised when she didn’t try to bite him.Instead, she licked at his arm.“We bring the vet to her.”
Joe blinked at him.
“Linda,” Austin said.“Come on, her car’s in the driveway.She’s gotta be home.”
Chapter Seven
THE NIGHTwas a bit of a blur after that.
Linda must’ve heard the noise too, because Austin had barely touched his knuckles to the back door before she threw it open.She had her hair pulled back in a no-nonsense ponytail, and she took one look at the dog in Joe’s arms and said, “Put her in my back seat and we’ll take her to the clinic.”
Joe and Austin didn’t argue.Joe got in the car with Linda and the dog, and Austin followed them into town, then into a tidy little building that certainly was not normally open after eight o’clock on a Sunday.They’d been there only a handful of minutes before the door swung open and a harried-looking young woman came in wearing scrubs and Crocs.She spared them a quick look and then disappeared into the depths of the building.
Austin had no idea how long they sat there.He’d left his phone in the trailer.He was barely aware of the press of Joe’s shoulder against his.
Finally the door to the clinic opened and Linda stepped out.Austin stood automatically and was peripherally aware of Joe doing the same.
“Well,” she said.“That was more excitement than I expected for a Sunday night.”
That sounded—good?That didn’t sound likeI’m sorry.Austin swallowed.“Is she—”
“Stable, for now,” Linda said.“But we need to talk seriously before I go much further.”
That sounded… less good.
Something touched Austin’s hand.He looked down.It was Joe’s.Their fingers laced together.Joe squeezed.
Austin looked back up again.He didn’t think Joe knew he’d done it.Maybe he just needed someone to hold on to.
He nodded for both of them.“Sure, yeah,” he said.
“Most of her wounds are superficial,” Linda said.“But I’m not going to lie, her leg’s a mess.It’s possible I could save it, but it’ll be multiple surgeries, and even then, she could lose the leg.My recommendation is to amputate.”
Fuck.Jesus.
Joe said, “Can she—I mean, with just three legs…?”
“Lots of dogs live healthy, fulfilling lives on three legs.There’s no guarantee, but she can still have a good life.”She paused.“But it’s a long recovery.She’s going to need help, antibiotics, attention, dressing changes.We don’t know how long she’s been on her own, if she ever did have people—there’s no microchip.She might not be housebroken.That’s going to make it harder to find her a home.And sheneedsa home if she’s going to have this surgery.It would be cruel to amputate and leave her to recover in a shelter.”
Suddenly Austin understood what she hadn’t said.
This dog needed a home, needed a family, right now—or the kindest thing would be to end her suffering.
He didn’t even have time to think about it before he said, “I’ll do it.”
Linda locked eyes with him and asked seriously, “Are you sure?”She held up a hand.“This is a commitment.She’s going to need extra time and extra money.”
“She makes a good point,” Joe put in.“Not sure the house has enough old dishes to cover the cost of renosandvet bills.”
“I’ll figure it out,” Austin said stubbornly.He couldn’t stand the thought of doing anything else.Especially not if it meant that poor creature would have to be put down.
Joe shook his head and turned to Linda.“I guess we’re getting a dog.”
Austin jerked and stared at Joe.We?
