Two hours later the dog was awake again, sedatives wearing off. Cleaned and bandaged, he lay in a stall in the barn on a blanket that had been tossed over hay spread on the floor. The barn was air-conditioned and comfortable.
Keane had helped Tony with the dog and, later, Doc Williams had stopped by. Now Tony was alone, sitting on the blanket by the dog and scratching its ears. He pulled out his phone and called Lindsay.
Warmth heated him at the sound of her voice. “I’m glad you answered.”
“I’ve been in Dallas,” she said, a cautious note in her voice that he’d never heard before.
He let her answer go without comment even though her phone had also been in Dallas. “Remember the howls and the coyote/wolf/dog?”
“Yes,” she said, curiosity filling her voice so she sounded more like herself.
“He’s in my barn. He was hurt, with lots of cuts. He may resemble a wolf, but he’s actually just a big, furry gray dog that has been hurt. I thought you’d want to know.”
“Oh, Tony, will he be all right?”
“Yes. Doc Williams has taken care of him. When the sedative completely wears off, he’ll get a little steak. He’s had some water. I held his head and sort of spoon-fed it to him. Want to come visit my patient?”
There was a pause. “Yes, I’ll be there soon. Thanks for calling me. I’m headed to my pickup. By the way, how did you catch him?”
“I didn’t catch him. He woke me in the night and when dawn came, I found him by the barn lying in the bushes where it was shady.”
“I never thought about going to look for him. His howling just gave me the creeps. But I’m so glad you rescued him. And it’s a dog, huh?”
“Definitely. Mixed breed and looks like a wolf, but it’s domesticated.”
“It’s wonderful that you saved him.” He picked up the emotion in her voice.
“Well, well, Miss Tough Rancher is a real softie for dogs? How about men? Men named Tony?”
She laughed. “Maybe dogs.”
He didn’t press the point. He needed to slow down and just be happy that she’d taken his call. He brought the conversationback to the dog at his side. “Well, our patient already looks much better. Keane has a nice touch, and Doc said we did a good job. He said the dog has wounds from a fight. He’s not sick, but Doc said he would stop by again and check on him.”
“You’re a good guy, Tony.”
“I’m glad I can impress you,” he said, brushing the dog’s head as he talked. Despite his resolve, his eagerness to see Lindsay grew by the second. “We’ll let you name him, Lindsay. Doc said no one had inquired about a lost dog that fit this one’s description, and I’ve checked some ads and I don’t see anything. I think he’s homeless.”
“I hope not any longer,” she said breathlessly. “I hope you give him a home.”
“We’ll see how he fits in with the other dogs the guys keep on the ranch. I don’t know what he’s been fighting, but if he fights my dogs, I can’t keep him.”
“If you don’t keep him, let me know.” He heard her fumbling on the other end of the line, then she said, “I gotta go so I can drive.”
“I’m in the first barn. Come on in.”
“See you soon,” she said and ended the call.
Putting away his phone, Tony smiled at the dog. He was happy because Lindsay would soon be at his ranch. “Lindsay is coming to see you,” he told the animal. “I hope she loves you and keeps coming to see you. Don’t look too well too soon, okay, boy?”
The dog thumped its tail a few times. “I’ll feed you in a while. Doc said to wait. Lindsay’s going to love you and you’re going to love her. Maybe you’ll end up at her house and then I can come see you. Just be nice to all the ranch dogs. That’s all that’s required.”
Big brown eyes looked up at him as the dog thumped his tail. Tony petted the dog’s head gently, talking to it softly until he heard a motor. “Here she comes. Be a very nice dog now.”
A pickup door slammed and Lindsay rushed in to stop in front of the stall. She had her hair in her usual braid and was in jeans and a blue T-shirt. She looked wonderful, and he fought the urge to get up, put his arms around her and kiss her.
“Hi, Tony. Oh, my, look at this beautiful dog,” she said, coming into the stall to sit on the floor by Tony and reach out slowly to hold her hand in front of the dog, a treat in her palm.
He thumped his tail and raised his head slightly. His tongue licked out to take the treat.