Page 78 of Lush

Walter growled again, making me look back at the trees. Then, Walter jumped out the window and into the bushes.

“Walter!” I yelled. “Walter, no!”

“What’s going on?” Reese shouted.

“Walter just jumped out the window!” I scrambled to chase after him, the phone still pressed to my ear. “I’ve got to get him!”

“Laurene, don’t go in there alone.”

I fought my way through those bushes, branches tearing at me, calling for Walter. His barks echoed in the distance, guiding me, but I could barely keep up.

“Walter!” I sprinted through the trees, the ground uneven beneath my feet. The dog was a blur in the shadows, moving impossibly fast—nothing like the senior dog I knew.

“Laurene! Laurene!” Reese’s voice boomed from the phone, but I couldn’t stop.

“Walter, come on!” I shouted, my breath ragged, lungs burning as I fought through the thick underbrush. The sharp branches scraped my skin, and the sound of my pulse pounded in my ears, the rhythm of my frantic steps matching the frantic beat of my heart.

I tried hard, but Walter still outpaced me.

How the hell was this old dog moving like this?

I tripped over a root, the rough bark scraping against my ankle, and then the world turned upside down. A gasp escaped my lips as I hit the ground hard, arms flailing, my body tumbling down the steep incline, the sounds of rocks and dirt crunching under my weight filling my ears. My phone clattered to the ground.

The impact knocked the air from my lungs. It all went black and silent for a bit, my head throbbing and my ears buzzing.

I flipped over, short of breath, muscles killing me. I couldn’t lose Walter.

Dirt and leaves flew out of my mouth. I made a face, and struggled to my feet, grabbing my phone.

Gigi would owe me big-time.

Walter barked again, closer. I used the trees and roots to pull myself out of the small alcove. Annoyance gave way to fear; I had to reach him.

“Walter!” I shouted again, my voice hoarse.

He barked in response, and I pressed forward, swiping at the leaves stuck in my hair, ignoring the sting of the branches that scratched at my skin. I burst from the trees, a wreck.

Bristling, Walter barked wildly at a nearby tree. Stiff and growling, he glared at the branches.

“Walter, I know you didn’t—” Following his gaze, I saw the cause of his frenzy.

On a branch, a fat raccoon stared.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, wiping a hand over my face, half laughing, half furious. “A fucking raccoon?Really?”

Walter continued barked, his whole body trembling, oblivious to the fact that our terrifying intruder was just a glorified trash panda. Fuming, I scooped him up.

“You scared the hell out of me forthis?”

Walter squirmed for a moment, still focused on the raccoon. I glared up at the animal that had sent us both into this ridiculous chase.

“You better stop, Walter. That thing can take you. You’re out of your weight class here.”

The raccoon gave us one more bored glance before turning and scurrying higher up the tree.

“You and your mama owe me a new Diamante skirt! You hear me? Five hundred dollars!”

I turned and started making my way back through the trees, my legs aching with every step.

---