Page 65 of Savage Ends

“You’ve got to go,” Doc said, suddenly banding an arm around her waist.

“No!”She fought against him.“There is a dog in there and I am not going to leave it to die.”

Doc glared at her, then he looked toward the cage and she saw his determination.She didn’t know how he was able to do it, but he landed a single kick to the cage, and it sprung open as if by magic.

She didn’t get a chance to go into the cage.Doc was there, he grabbed the tiny dog, and then two firefighters urged them out of the smoke.Stepping out, Pat was there, cupping her face, tilting her head back to look at her.

“Are you okay?”he asked.

“Yeah, I’m good.”She let out a cough and then looked to see Doc.Violet was there, taking the dog from him, and she looked to Pat.“Do you think that is a good thing?”

Pat wrinkled his nose.“It’s not my problem.My dad will do whatever the hell he likes, and I can’t do anything to stop him.”

“Ava,” Lauren said, coming toward her.“Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”She hugged her friend, and then she turned to Pat.It seemed to be the day for introductions.“Pat, I’d like you to meet Lauren.She is the genius behind the coffee and baked goods.”

Lauren went bright red.

“It’s great to finally meet you.”

Lauren looked so embarrassed.“I better go and help.”

Ava looked around at the dogs.“Who could have done this?”she asked.“What kind of sicko sets fire to a damn animal shelter?”

She noticed Pat didn’t have an answer, and when she looked over at him, his expression appeared blank.He was looking at the smoking building.

It was going to be some time before they would be able to rebuild the shelter, if they were ever going to rebuild it.The animal shelter was as good as gone.

Chapter Thirteen

Several days later, Pat stood in church.Rusty looked like shit, but he was moving around.He was pale but was attempting to tell jokes.Only, no one, including Rusty, seemed to be in a good mood.

The last couple of days, they had attempted to house the dogs, but it was a lot of fucking dogs.By some kind of miracle, Hellen was able to sound the alarm, and without any plan, just began to open the cages.Not all the dogs were accounted for.Some were found wandering around town.A couple had been taken by the families who were in the process of adoption.

It was a big fuckup.