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I stepped out and walked slowly to the dog. “Hey, there,” I cooed. He wined and hobbled closer to me, sensing I wasn’t a danger to him. “What’s wrong?”

He whined louder as I moved closer, lowering his head, but still watching me with his eyes. Holding my hand out, I let him sniff me, letting him know that he was safe now.

I moved my hand closer, stroking his head. “That’s it, I won’t hurt you.”

Tilting my head, I tried to get a better look at his paw. All I could see was what looked like dried blood, matted into his fur and he looked way too skinny. Made even more obvious by the fact that he was such a big dog.

Still stroking him, I looked up to the passenger window and saw Eli’s face pressed against it, his nose squished to the side of his face. I chuckled, the noise startling the dog, I looked back down to him so that I could settle him and found him staring at Eli, his head tilted to the side.

It may not have been the best idea but my gut told me that he wasn’t going to hurt us so I made a snap decision.

“Get back in your seat, Eli.” I watched as he scrambled back over the seats and sat in his booster seat.

Walking around the back of the truck, I pulled the tailgate down and waved at the dog.

“Come on,” I urged him. He limped around, looked at me and then at the truck. “Up you go.” I waved.

Whining again, I went closer to him and tried to help lift him. Even though you could see that he w

as underweight, he still weighed a ton. I didn’t know what made me think I’d be able to lift the giant thing, but I put all my strength into it and didn’t even manage to lift him an inch off the ground.

“Kay!” I startled at Ty’s voice, the dog turned around and growled, bearing his teeth. “Whoa!” Holding his hands up in the air, Ty stopped where he was with Evan behind him.

“He’s fine,” I said to them and turned back to the dog. “It’s okay.” Holding my hand out to him again, he let me stroke him.

Trying to keep the dog calm, I kept my hand on his back and turned to Ty. “He’s hurt,” I said. “I need to get him to a vet.”

“And you were just gonna lift that giant dog all on your own?” Evan laughed.

“I was trying,” I huffed and stood up straight. “I didn’t think he’d be so heavy?”

“Here.” Ty moved forward, holding his hand out to the dog in the same way that I did. “Come here, boy.”

“How do you know it’s a boy?” Evan asked, his eyes wide. He hadn’t moved from his spot from over twenty feet away.

“Can you not see that?” Ty shook his head and moved closer, his hand stroking the dogs head. “Help me lift him up and we’ll go and get him checked out.”

“You want me?” Evan pointed to his chest, his eyes wide. “To help lift that mammoth?”

“Just get over here,” Ty grunted.

“Nope.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked away.

“Come on, Uncle Evan!” Eli shouted from the truck.

“Fine!” He threw his hands up in the air, shuffling forward. “But if he eats me, I’m gonna sue your ass.” He pointed at Ty.

“If he eats you, you won’t be here to sue me.” Ty smirked.

“So, you want him to eat me?”

“Jesus, Evan, just help me lift him.” Rolling his eyes, he waited until Evan was closer and together they lifted him into the back of the truck.

Once I knew he was safely in the back, I walked around to Eli’s door and strapped him in. “Is he hurt, mama?”

“I think his paw is, sweetie. We’ll go and get him checked out. Okay?”

“Okay.” He turned in his seat, looking into the back of the truck.