Chapter 7 #2
Once beneath the trees, it was much cooler, and she let her thoughts wander.
Knox had told her he’d been interested in her a while, but she didn’t realize it had been as long ago as her sister’s wedding.
She’d always been aware of him, so how had she missed his attraction when Paul hadn’t?
She was so happy now that it annoyed her to think she could have been enjoying an intimate relationship with Knox so much sooner.
He was an excellent friend, but she much preferred his current position of her number one guy. Possibly only guy. Was it too soon for that?
They reached the picnic table, and Laylee inhaled a deep breath. She needed to stop fretting and just enjoy the day. Her relationship with Knox would happen naturally … or it wouldn’t.
Maybelline immediately flopped down in the grass and let out a loud, relaxed sigh.
Tank marked his territory thoroughly—at this point, Tank owned the park and every tree in it—and then he joined her.
Laylee loved the way the two dogs always cuddled together.
They were the cutest, most mismatched pair ever.
After she attached their leashes to a leg of the table, Laylee got out their water dishes and filled them, brushed off the table, and spread out the tablecloth.
Nearby, several clusters of black-eyed Susans grew, with bright blue chicory and delicate daisies.
The water in the creek was still rushing after the last big rainfall. Birds sang, a butterfly went by. …
Laylee got out her phone and took some photos of the dogs, as well as the scenery. Later tonight, she’d send them to Skye.
She was just sitting down, anticipating Knox’s arrival, when Maybelline jumped to her feet and went alert. She stared at the creek, tilted her head, and then began bellowing.
“What in the world?” For a second, Laylee feared that the pharmacy robbers had somehow followed her, but she didn’t see another soul, and there were no noisy footsteps or rustling through the woods.
Still, the dog wouldn’t calm down. Even Tank was confused. Maybelline strained against her leash.
“Hey, shh. It’s okay, honey.” Laylee jumped up to console the dog, still looking for a threat. Shaken, she asked, “What is it?”
Maybelline continued to pull at her leash in a way she’d never done before. Her behavior alarmed Laylee even more. “Calm down, baby. Maybelline, don’t …!”
The leash broke and the dog charged forward. For a split second, Laylee didn’t know what to do. Tank was still secure and fascinated by what Maybelline had done. Knox should arrive any minute. But if there was danger …
Without another thought, Laylee charged after Maybelline. The dog stopped at the edge of the creek and continued her panicked barking. With her heart stuttering against her ribs, Laylee finally saw it.
On the opposite side of the creek, a black plastic bag closed with a zip tie floated in the water, caught up in the overhanging branches of a honeysuckle bush—and something in the bag was wiggling.
“Dear God.” A living thing is in that bag.
With fear gripping her throat and her stomach in turmoil, Laylee looked around, but no one else was in sight.
No one to help, no one to take charge. She was entirely alone.
Indecision held her until she heard a noise that sounded like a mournful cry. It scared her to death.
She knew what she had to do.
“Maybelline,” she stated firmly, “don’t you dare move.
Do you understand me?” She rarely gave the dogs commands.
Ford and Skye handled that part of their training, along with help from Paul.
All Laylee ever did was feed them, clean up after them, walk them, and sometimes play with them.
As she hastily kicked off her sneakers, she said, “Sit. Stay.”
The dog glanced at her, sat her big butt down, and then went back to staring at the bag. She was blessedly silent now that she knew Laylee was heading in for a rescue.
“Good girl, Maybelline.” Even as the words left her mouth, she was stepping into the creek. The icy water rushed against her calves, but she ignored the chill. The entirety of her focus was now on the bag.
Did snakes make noises? Frogs? She’d still rescue the creature, whatever it was, but she wasn’t keen on getting near a snake. One thought led to another, and she looked at the moss-covered rocks beneath the clear water. Her heart punched harder.
What was in the water?
She realized she was gasping each breath and growled at herself for being a wuss. “Get the bag,” she said aloud as she picked her way across the slick rocks. “Get the bag, rescue whatever is in it—even if it’s a freaking snake—and then make sure Maybelline doesn’t run away.”
Glancing back, she saw that Maybelline was right where she’d left her.
Tank was even behaving, sitting still beside the picnic table as he watched the drama.
Reassured that the dogs were still safe, she continued her crossing.
Why hadn’t she realized the creek was so wide?
Or so deep! The water reached her upper thighs now.
Swiping sweat away from her eyes, she stared at the bag, saying as calmly as she could manage, “It’s okay now. I’ve almost got you.”
The bag was only a few feet out of reach.
The sound of her voice caused the creature to move more and she could swear she heard panting—and then a faint meow. A cat.
It was still alive, although someone had surely meant for it to drown. Fury pressed her forward the last few feet. It took her shaking hands a few seconds to free the bag, and as she got it loose, she realized it was heavier than she’d expected.
The poor animal had likely floated downstream and gotten stuck in the branches of the bush. With the heat of the day, Laylee was half afraid to open the bag until she got it on dry land. If the cat fell into the water, she doubted it’d have the strength to swim.
On her hurried trip back across the creek, she slipped once, almost going under and soaking her pretty romper all the way to her boobs.
To keep the bag out of the water, she straightened her arm, holding it as high as she could while she regained her footing. She was just crawling out of the creek when Knox rounded the bend, stalled at the sight of her, and then raced forward.
“What the hell, Laylee!”
She’d never been so happy to see him.