“I’ll stay with him,” India said, climbing into the back with the dog. “You did good, Tanner. You did good, baby.” Tanner lay with his head in her lap while she rubbed her hand along his black-and-brown fur, crooning softly to him.
Brody’s heart hurt, the tears on her cheeks gutting him. “It’s going to be okay,” he promised, closing the doors. He drove to town in a blur.
The arrival at the vet clinic, his mom arriving to take the girls to the Soda Shop, India going back with Tanner... Now, nothing. Waiting in an empty room.
“Is Tanner gonna be okay?” Cal asked, his legs swinging.
There were times Cal seemed so much older than he was. But now, sitting next to the boy, it was impossible to miss how small and young and scared he was. Brody wanted to comfort him, to tell him that his dog would be fine, but he knew giving the boy false hope would only hurt more. “I don’t know, Cal,” Brody answered honestly. “He’s a big dog. That’ll work in his favor.” As far as he knew, snakebites were rarely fatal if they were treated early. Still, that damn snake bit Tanner right on the eye.
“He’s tough,” Cal said, his hands clasped in his lap.
Brody nodded, draping an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “He is.”
Cal looked up at him then, his big green-blue eyes so like his mother’s. “He was protecting me.” Those eyes flooded with tears.
“Of course he was,” Brody agreed, patting Cal on the back. “You’re his boy.”
Cal nodded, sniffing loudly.
Brody squeezed Cal’s shoulder. If Cal wanted to cry, he should cry. If he needed to be brave, Brody would sit quietly at his side. Whatever the boy needed. But, dammit, he felt like he should do something—say something. Just what that was, he had no idea. When India stepped out of the examination room, he could breathe a little easier.
“Cal,” she said, squatting, her arms outstretched. “He’s sleepy, but he’s okay.”
“Momma.” Cal barreled into her arms. “Tanner’s not gonna die, is he?”
“No, baby,” she soothed. “He is not
going to die.” She hugged him close, burying her face against the side of his head and closing her eyes. She held him that way, a deep furrow forming between her brows, as they hugged. Sitting there, watching Cal and India cling to each other, was hard. He had room in his arms for both of them. Room in his heart, too.
Her eyes stayed closed but she said, “Thank you for keeping Cal company, Brody. Truly.”
“Anytime,” he murmured, his voice thick.
“Can I see him?” Cal asked. “Is that okay?”
“You can.” She eased her hold on him and stood. “He’s real sleepy from the medicine and he needs to stay still and quiet, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am. Coming, Brody?” he asked.
He glanced at India, not wanting to overstep. Her nod was all the encouragement he needed.
“Yes, sir,” he said, earning a smile from India. Damn but he loved her, more than she’d ever know.
“Hey, Cal.” The veterinary tech was India’s cousin, Tandy Boone. She greeted them with a sympathetic smile. “You’ve got yourself one good dog, you know that?”
“He’s a hero. Mom said he’ll be okay?” Cal wanted reassurance.
“Yep. That tube gives him medicine and water—stuff to help him get better. It was good you got him here so fast.” She hugged him. “I can’t make any promises about his eye, Cal. We’ll keep it covered and hope for the best, okay? But the rest of him will be just fine after a nice long rest.” Tandy led them through the door at the back of the exam room. Brody stared around at what resembled a large surgery center with cages on each side. It was dated and old, but clean and orderly.
Tandy pointed. “There he is.”
Tanner lay on a massive dog bed, his cage door propped open. Brody thought the dog was asleep until Tanner’s long tail thumped in greeting.
“Hey, boy. Thank you. You’re the best dog in the whole world,” Cal whispered, dropping to his knees. “I love you, boy. You stay real still, okay?” he pleaded, placing his small hand on Tanner’s side. “Me and Mom will take real good care of you.” It was a promise.
India sat on the floor by Cal, one hand on her son, the other on the dog. Brody swallowed back the lump in his throat. Tanner was family. The three of them relied on each other—loved each other. And today had shaken that.
“He needs to stay with me tonight,” Tandy said. “Just so we can keep an eye on him. Okay?”