Page 234 of Mountain Daddy

I don’t want to hurt him more.

And I don’t…

I don’t know if he’s…

He can’t be gone.

I glance up at the road. Checking for traffic. Checking for help. But all I can see is Buddy.

“Please…”

I rest my hand on his side.

I try to stop shaking.

I hold my breath.

He can’t be.

And I feel his rib cage move.

Alive.

A sound I don’t recognize leaves my chest.

He’s alive.

As carefully as I can, I scoop him up.

“Just hold on, okay?”

I cradle him to my chest, and I run.

Chapter 142

Luther

“Hey.”I answer the phone with a smile.

“—mergency… Buddy.” Kendra’s distressed voice cracks through the speaker.

My heart drops into my stomach. “Say that again, Baby.”

The line cracks.

I stride across my living room.

“Stay on the phone and say it again.”

Fucking shitty mountain service.

I grab my truck keys and shove my feet into my boots.

The line clears, and I can hear the sound of rain and windshield wipers.

“Kendra.”

“I’m here.” Her broken inhale is audible over the background noise.