Page 236 of Mountain Daddy
I give myself thirty seconds to just breathe.
Then I search my contacts for the man I need.
It rings twice.
“Rocky.” There’s no hint of surprise in his voice, even though we’ve only spoken on the phone maybe once before.
“Ethan, I need a favor.”
“I’m not letting you fuck in my park.” His tone is so dry I almost crack a smile.
“Oh, I’m gonna fuck in your park, grump-ass. But that’s not the favor.”
He grunts. “What is it, then?”
I shake my head. He really is the least friendly bastard I know.
“I’m bringing an injured fox to the vet in Lonely.”
“You can’t bring a wild?—”
“It’s my girl’s. She’s practically adopted him, and… dude, I just need you to make this work.”
The line is silent, and I worry I’ve lost signal.
But then I hear his annoyed exhale. “The visitor area needs updates, and our funding just got cut.”
“Fine.” I press the brakes as I approach a turn.
“It’ll be ten grand at least.”
“Whatever.”
“Maybe fifteen.”
“I’ll write a check for twenty if you’ll shut the fuck up and go make whatever calls you need to.”
“Deal.”
The line goes dead.
This fox better fucking live.
Figuring I have about five minutes before I lose service for a stretch, I make another call.
It goes to voicemail. Which is probably for the best, because I don’t know how to explain why Kendra called me first.
“This is Joe from Joe’s Custom Furniture. Leave me a message.” There’s a long pause, some rustling, because Joe still hasn’t fixed his recording, then finally the voicemail clicks on.
“Joe, if you get this in the next twenty minutes, call me, not Kendra. She’s driving. Buddy was hit by a car, and she’s bringing him to the clinic in Lonely. I’m already on my way. And I’ve called in a favor.”
Hanging up, I tighten my grip on the steering wheel.
This fox has to fucking live.
Chapter 143
Kendra
