Page 11 of Mountain Rescue
“No. Everything’s good.” Noah gave Dallas’s shoulder a slap. “Don’t bother fighting against the dog. Won’t do you any good. How about we get together for dinner tonight?”
“We could throw some steaks on the grill at my place,” Jack said.
“Can I take a raincheck? I’m jetlagged from flying all night and just want to crash.” He’d actually like to get together, do some catching up, but he had a wildcat to tend to. Besides, he couldn’t call her to let her know he’d be late returning. He’d neglected to get the number of her burner phone, which he’d correct tonight.
“No problem,” Jack said. “Let’s do it tomorrow night.”
“Sounds good.” He didn’t like the thought of leaving Rachel alone at night, but it would be suspicious if he didn’t agree.
“Let’s go introduce you to Bella.”
“I don’t want a dog,” he said as he walked alongside Jack after Noah left. There were dogs all over the ranch, working dogs and pet dogs like his mother’s shorkie, Oliver. The schnauzer Yorkie mix was a cute little thing, totally devoted to Dallas’s mother. Dogs were okay. The cattle dogs played an important role at the ranch, and he liked seeing his mother’s laughter when Oliver acted silly. But horses were his jam, not dogs.
“You’re used to being around animals.” Jack opened the door to a large metal building, and they walked past kennels, coming to a stop at the last one. “This is Bella. I’m hoping you can help me out with her while you’re here.”
Dallas eyed the black dog quivering in the corner, looking like it wanted to disappear into the wall. He knew the feeling. “What is she?” She was hiding her face and curled in such a tight ball that he couldn’t tell what breed she was.
“Labrador retriever. Animal Control took her away from the owner. She’s been terribly abused.”
“And I’m supposed to do what with her?”
“See if you can get through to her. No one else has been able to.”
“Why is she even here? She doesn’t look like she’d be much of a service dog. More like she needs her own therapy animal.”
“We’ve tried that, too. Even the puppies scare the shit out of her.”
Dallas narrowed his eyes at his friend. “You didn’t answer my question. Why do you have her?” He was getting an uneasy feeling, and when Jack glanced away, it confirmed his suspicion. “You think a dog can straighten out my head? A damaged one like me? The hell, Jack?”
“I think dogs can do a lot of things, and yes, healing is one of them.” Jack stared straight into his eyes. “But I didn’t get her specifically for you. I was looking for possible candidates when I came across her. The shelter had her scheduled for euthanasia because she’s so damaged mentally, and I saw a brief spark of hope when I stopped in front of her kennel before she decided a panic attack was in order.”
“I repeat. What am I supposed to do with her?”
“Hopefully save her life. Spend a few minutes with her, and if you’re not willing to work with her, we’ll put her out of her misery.”
“Fuck you,” Dallas yelled as his friend walked away. What? Two damaged souls save each other? This was a setup, no other way about it, and it seriously pissed him off that the animal’s future was in his hands.
Bella had whimpered when he’d yelled, and he cursed himself for scaring an abused dog half to death. He studied the dog that might have endured as much torture as he had. She wouldn’t meet his gaze, and that bothered the hell out of him. A Labrador should be proud, friendly, and a little full of herself. This dog wanted to die and have any future tortures over and done with.
He’d lost count of the number of times he’d wanted to die while cruel men had devised new ways to torture him. Maybe he and Bella did have something in common, but still... Damn Jack for this.
“So, Bella, if you were an abused horse, I’d know what to do with you.” He kept his voice soft as he slipped inside her kennel and lowered his ass to the opposite corner from her. “Well, about Jack. I love the man. He’s my brother. Not in blood, but still. He’s also a devious son of a bitch, otherwise I wouldn’t be sitting here on a hard concrete floor talking to you.”
The dog whimpered again, and the mournful sound wasn’t unlike some he’d made more times than he liked while a guest at Hotel Hell. “You don’t like me talking to you? Okay, I’ll just sit here and make sure no one hurts you again. That work for you?”
He got the impression she wished she could climb into her own skin and fade from sight. He needed her to know one more thing before he stopped talking. “I get it, Bella girl. Been where you are myself.” He made a decision. This dog wasn’t going to die. He might not be able to save himself, but he’d damn well save her.
Chapter Four
Rachel ran up the trail until the muscles in her legs burned and she was close to crawling back to the cabin. Dallas had barely broken a sweat on their run this morning, and no way was she going to beg for mercy if he decided to go farther up next time.
Why was she even thinking about running with him again? So she wouldn’t think about that kiss, that was why. That incredible kiss! There hadn’t even been any tongue, yet it was the best kiss she’d ever had. How she’d managed to put a stop to it, she didn’t know. It couldn’t happen again. She’d used up all her willpower where a certain Montana cowboy was concerned.
He needed to find someplace else to stay because he was distracting, and that was something she couldn’t afford. Back at the cabin, she showered, then put on body armor—loose jeans, socks, and a sweatshirt, pleased that she felt and looked far from sexy.
Armored up, she wondered if she had time to call her grandmother before Dallas returned. As she walked down the hallway, she glanced in his room and frowned. There was no way his six-plus feet fit on that twin bed.
Twenty minutes later, after trading rooms with him, she called herself a fool for her soft heart. Hadn’t she just decided he needed to stay someplace else? She was especially a fool for giving up the bigger room’s attached bathroom. She got her things put away and then called her grandmother.
