Chapter Five
The sun shining through the window meant Josh had slept longer than he should have.
This family was up and about before sunrise seven days a week.
Since he couldn’t really do much with physical labor, he didn’t see any real reason for climbing out of bed and rushing to dress and leave his room.
Besides, he was enjoying replaying last night on the porch with Katie.
There was nothing spectacular about the quiet evening.
Nothing earth shattering or mind boggling.
Except for the blanket of stars, that was pretty impressive—as was the company.
What made the time together even nicer was that for the first time in weeks, he felt almost…
normal. Katie didn’t treat him like someone who needed to be coddled or pitied; she just hung out, as if they were friends.
And right about now, a friend seemed like a really nice perk.
Though he knew she could be called back to work any day, the idea of having her around actually made him smile.
And wasn’t that an interesting twist of fate.
His usual response to a night out with a pleasant female was more like Mark Twain’s views on company: after three days it starts to stink.
In Josh’s case it was more like after three dates.
He couldn’t remember when he’d actually looked forward to spending more time with a woman, especially fully clothed.
A rap on the door dragged him away from the memories of the porch and back to his room.
“You up yet?” Kade’s voice carried easily through the door.
“Yeah. Come on in.” He didn’t bother to sit up.
If he moved too quickly, that could bring on a dizzy spell and he was getting seriously fed up with them.
If he eased up slowly, then he’d be showing his weakness.
Not that it mattered in front of Kade, there were no pretenses, but his pride just wouldn’t let him.
“Listen, I heard from Sara Sue. There are a couple of trauma cases coming in to the veterinary facility and they can’t keep Raider. We’re leaving to pick him up in thirty minutes if you still want to tag along.”
“Absolutely. I’ll be ready.”
Once the door latched shut, Josh eased himself up, slowly swung his legs over the side and taking a couple of minutes to make sure he wasn’t going to tip over, proceeded to stand.
Feeling almost proud that he was still on solid ground, he went ahead and showered and dressed and took his meds.
The doctor had said these pills could work in as little as a few days or as much as a few weeks.
So far a few days didn’t seem to be the answer; if he was still wobbly after a couple of weeks, they’d regroup.
He wasn’t going to let himself go down that path, wondering what if this would become the standard for the rest of his life—today he had a dog to help rescue.
Dressed and in the kitchen, the house seemed oddly quiet.
“Mom’s working with Clint on the never ending repair of fence lines.” Kade came in the back door. “I’ve got the Suburban set up. Lots of blankets and pillows.”
“Pillows?” The blankets made sense, but pillows?
“Yes. Lots of dogs enjoy a good pillow, just like people.”
“You’re kidding?”
“I am not.”
“I’ve never seen a K9 using a pillow.”
“Give me a break.” Kade rolled his eyes. “Where we usually are, the men don’t even get pillows!”
“Point taken.” He turned slowly, stiffly, looking for Katie.
“She’s already in the truck.” Kade waved a thumb over his shoulder toward the back door.
“Who is?”
“Katie. Isn’t that who you’re looking for?”
Sometimes having a buddy who could read your mind was a real pain in the backside. A lifesaver when deployed on a less than easy mission, but a real pain when you don’t want someone to know what you’re up to. “Sara Sue.”
Kade stared for a minute as though ready to call his bluff and then gave a quick bob of his head. “We’ll pick her up.”
Following his buddy, when they reached the SUV, Katie was already in the back seat.
“Sara Sue will ride shotgun. She knows where we’re going. You ride with Katie.”
He almost nodded and then quickly caught himself.
“10-4.” The challenge now was to climb in without triggering a dizzy spell but still looking totally normal and at ease.
Grabbing onto the handle, he put one foot on the running board and taking special care not to look down or move his head much, he swung himself into the seat, more than a little delighted that he didn’t sway or keel over.
“Good morning,” Katie spoke softly.
Again, he almost nodded, but instead simply smiled. “Morning.”
“Sleep well?”
“Very.” Great. Single word answers. Anyone would think they had only just met, in a bar, under awkward circumstances.
And even then he could usually come up with a suave line that would have the ladies eating out of his hand…
so to speak. Leaving him tongue tied was not something he’d experienced, even as a hormonally driven teen.
Thankfully, his momentary lack of eloquence didn’t seem to bother Katie as her smile reached her eyes. “I don’t know if it’s the air, the house, the food, or the mattress, but I have never slept as well as I do here.”
“I know what you mean. I felt the same way when I visited a few months ago, and if last night is any example, I’m going to continue to sleep like the proverbial baby.” He just hoped whatever magical powers the ranch held over sleep bled over into restoration of an inner ear.
In the front seat, Kade and Sara Sue chatted about the dog. Raider was stable enough to move but from what Sara Sue said, he was uncooperative. More so than when they’d released him the previous time.
“I’m not sure if the foster couple were simply in over their heads with his medical needs and temperament, or if they did something to aggravate the situation.” Sara Sue frowned and Josh wondered if she’d already decided on an answer.
“Won’t be too hard to tell. Military dogs are extremely well trained. Even injured, they have certain instincts and responses. I might be able to draw a few conclusions once I see him face to face.”
Sara Sue smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
The drive didn’t take long. The veterinary facility was larger than Josh had expected.
He had no idea why he’d assumed that being so far out in cattle country surrounded by mostly small towns that didn’t even qualify as cities, that it would mean a veterinary clinic would be small scale.
What was the old saying: Everything’s bigger in Texas. Certainly applied to this place.
Inside the building, most of the staff seemed to already know Sara Sue, no surprise there since rehoming former service dogs was what she did for a living. He suspected most of the folks at Lackland where the military dogs came through probably knew her as well.
“He’s in back.” An older woman with a smile that reminded him of Aunt Bee from the old Andy Griffith television show tipped her head toward a corridor.
The three of them followed Sara Sue down a long hall and around a corner to a large kenneled area.
No one needed to tell him which dog was Raider.
In one of the few large kennels, lying on his good side, a stunning German Shepherd zeroed in on them as they entered.
The animal was very obviously sizing them up, and when Sara Sue softly called his name, and the animal lifted his lip exposing rather large white teeth in response, followed by a deep, low growl, Josh was pretty sure the animal had made up his mind.
And he didn’t think any of them was going to like Raider’s conclusion.
Katie couldn’t help herself. The minute Raider snarled at Sara Sue, she found herself taking a step back and slipping behind Josh.
“Better let me.” Kade came out in front of Sara Sue. “If he had a bad experience with the fosters he may blame you.”
It was obvious by the tight press of her lips that the idea didn’t sit well with Preston’s wife, but she nodded and circled behind him.
“Easy boy.” Kade barely moved, his voice soft and low and with only two words, almost mesmerizing. “I bet it’s hard being in there, isn’t it fella?”
The dog didn’t cease to show his teeth and if anything, the growl seemed to rise in volume.
Kade crouched down to his level. “I promise, things will get better, Raider.”
At the use of his name, the dog’s ears seemed to twitch and his growl appeared to dim, but those big old fangs were still staring the three of them in the face.
“We’ve come to take you to a really happy place,” Kade continued.
Kade’s words brought the dog’s growl back and Kade heaved a deep sigh.
“This,” Kade slowly pushed to his feet, “is not going to be easy. He doesn’t like you, and I’m not winning any brownie points either.”
“So now what do we do?” Josh asked.
The three were talking, but Katie couldn’t take her eyes off the dog. The funny thing; while the three of them were discussing possible sedation for transport, she noticed something unusual. “Uh, excuse me.”
Kade turned first. “Yes?”
“Look.” Very carefully, she gestured with a finger toward the dog.
The three of them turned to face the animal.
“Hmm,” Kade grunted.
“What?” Josh asked.
“He seems to be watching…you.”
“And he’s not snarling,” Katie added.
Very slowly, maybe even slower than usual, Josh turned to fully face the dog and took a long step to the side, away from the group.
As expected, the dog’s eyes remained fixed on Josh, his teeth no longer exposed.
“I’ll be.” Kade narrowed his gaze in thought. “Try talking to him. Low and soft.”
“I know.” Josh took a single step closer to the dog. “I remember.” Crouching in place, he continued speaking slow, soft words of reassurance.
The dog heaved a sigh and Katie wondered what hold Josh had over him. Did he somehow remind the dog of his former handler? Or a special person? Or did the dog just know that he was a good person? But that made no sense. She knew Kade was a good person and the dog wasn’t having any of it.
His fingertips splayed on the floor beside him, Josh inched closer. “It’s no fun being hurt, is it?”
Raider shifted ever so slightly, almost as if trying to stand despite his injured leg and hip, his focus never leaving Josh.
“I bet about now you probably need to go outside, don’t you?”
Now the dog tried to push up in earnest.
“Whoa.” Josh lifted one hand straight out, his wrist flipped and his palm exposed with fingers tightly together, the other still on the floor keeping him balanced. “Stay.”
To her surprise, the dog did just that. He seemed to freeze in place.
Slowly, Josh turned his head toward Kade. “Is this medically all right?”
One of the techs came forward. “It probably is time for him to get a bathroom break and it’s good for him to get a little exercise, but…” the woman twisted in place and retrieved a large canvas band from the wall, “he’ll need some help. It’s too soon to put all his weight on that leg.”
“I’m guessing he’s not very strong yet, either.” Eyes closed, Josh sucked in an audible breath and pushed himself upright. When he opened his eyes she thought she saw a flash of surprise. “I’ll take that.”
“Good idea,” the tech said. “He hasn’t been very happy with any of us and he seems to like you.”
Silently, Kade and Sara Sue bobbed their heads in agreement. Kade carefully watched man and dog, no doubt looking for any sign of trouble coming.
With measured movements, Josh carefully unpinned the gate to the kennel and coaxed Raider to come forward.
Another couple of minutes and the dog was leashed with Josh holding the belly band under him for extra support.
Like a parade, the three of them and the tech followed Josh and the dog through the nearby door to an open grass area.
Josh continued to murmur to the dog, almost like a man whispering endearments to a woman.
All of them kept their distance, keeping an eye on the pair, hoping that the connection between man and dog would last. But Katie was the only one who seemed to be in awe.
The extreme gentleness that Josh displayed with the injured dog was nothing she’d ever seen before, except maybe from a nurturing mom.
The guy was so tall, and strong, and muscular, and, well, handsome—not that handsome had anything to do with anything.
From what she understood, he was a military man, a warrior.
And yet, the man was so tender, she couldn’t help but think she would very much like to know more about the real Josh Coleman.
For the first time since the stupid shutdown started, she hoped the politicians would take a good long time to settle their disagreements.