“You helped save our fur babies,” Chip said. “We’re here to return the favor.”
They finished crating all of the dogs and managed to fit four in Charles’ vehicle and three in with Crank and Kahlo in Chip’s vehicle. Kenzie loaded Gabby and Gizmo into her truck without their crates, which left her room for three more pooches.
That left ten dogs.
“I’m going to see what Winona’s doing. Maybe she knows about someone who can help.” Kenzie sent a quick text message to Winona.
How are you getting your animals down?
Winona replied right away.
I’m staying. I don’t have any way to transport them all. I won’t leave Shota. Chase, Naomi, and Grandpa are still up there with the kids. I’m afraid something awful has happened. I can’t reach them.
Kenzie’s stomach sank. “Oh, God.”
Was that who Harrison had gone to rescue?
“What is it?” Chip asked.
“Winona says her brother and the rest of her family are still at their kids’ camp. She’s staying with the animals. She won’t leave them—or Shota.”
Chip’s jaw tightened. “Where are those two ripped and handsome boys who rescued Crank and Kahlo?”
Kenzie didn’t know. “Last I saw them, they were near the roadblock.”
Chip shot out the door, disappearing around the corner at a run.
“So, the point of this is to get the dogs to safety, right?” Charles asked.
Kenzie nodded.
“Come on.” He motioned toward the door. “I have an idea.”
She followed him to the roundabout, where traffic was inching along. What in the world was he doing? She didn’t have time to mess around.
He stepped into traffic, raised his voice. “Can anyone drive a dog to the fairgrounds?”
Kenzie understood now.
She stepped up beside him, her voice all but drowned out by car engines and a helicopter that passed overhead. “Does anyone have room for a dog?”
Traffic kept moving, heads shaking.
Then Hank stopped. He was the last person Kenzie would have expected to help. “You can fit a couple of dogs in my backseat. My house already burned down once, so I don’t have much stuff. Besides, I need the good karma.”
“Can you pull in behind the kennel?”
Horns honked, people angry at Hank for stopping.
He flipped them the bird out the window. “Sure thing.”
With Charles helping, Kenzie loaded Slate, an Australian cattle dog, and Loki, the little Jack Russell terrier, into Hank’s backseat.
“Drive them to Boulder County Fairgrounds and wait for me there. Don’t go anywhere else, and don’t let them out of their crates. Don’t leave them in the car, either. It’s too hot.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Kenzie watched him pull back into traffic and head toward the canyon.