Marnie nods. “I tried. There’s a tab on the website, but it doesn’t give any clear guidelines on how to report neglect. I left a message last week, but no one called me back.”
I pull out my phone and take pictures of Bandit, including close-ups of his coat and rear end. Then, I take more shots of the house and yard. That’s when the front door flies open.
A stocky man in his sixties charges toward us. Bandit skulks away down the fence as Marnie and I both back away.
“Get off my property!” The man spews in a gravelly voice.
Marnie retreats further down the sidewalk, but I don’t. I’m not leaving Bandit to suffer any longer. “Your dog needs medical attention. I’d be happy to help. I do physical therapy for animals, and I think?—”
He juts his arm out, pointing down the street. “I said, get off my property.”
I pull my shoulders back and put my fists on my hips. Classic bear defense technique—make myself appear larger. This grump may be stocky, but I’m taller. “The sidewalk isn’t your property.”
His face turns red, and I think he may have snorted like a bull. He fiddles with the gate in his angry rage.
I lift my hands. “Fine, I’m leaving.” I’m tempted to threaten him with my intention to call Animal Services, but I’m concerned he’ll do something to Bandit, like dump him off somewhere in the woods.
I join Marnie, where she’s standing in front of her house.
She gives me a sad smile. “At least you tried.”
I discreetly hand her one of my business cards. “Oh, this isn’t over. I have a contact at Animal Services. Do me a favor, though. Keep an eye on Bandit and call me if you notice he’s gone or if that wonderful neighbor of yours does anything to him.”
She takes my card. “Thank you for helping Bandit, which is definitely an upgrade from Dog.” She rolls her eyes. “That’s what Marcus calls him.”
“Sure thing. Feel free to text me updates, too, okay? Hopefully, I can get someone out here quickly.”
I wave to her as I drive off, heading to my first appointment with an equine named Solomon. Then, an afternoon booked with human patients, one of whom is Nick. Just the thought of him brings my mood up a few notches from my disheartening encounter with Bandit’s owner and makes me smile.
Now, isn’t that interesting…?
“Take your time,Nick. This isn’t a competition.”
Nick frowns at me, creating a dent between his eyebrows that I want to push my pinky into and massage away. He’s rushing through his armband exercises like he has a hot date or something.
He nods and slows down.
Maybe he does have a date, and if so, why does that thought irritate me?
“Good. That’s better.” I refocus my attention on his movements instead of how his bicep ripples under his lifeguard tattoo. Good thing it’s his right arm because I can only imagine what these curls would do to those baby turtles swimmingthrough swirls of water on his other arm. Talk about captivating animation.
I mentally shake off thoughts to the ground like a dog shaking after a bath. The mental comparison makes me smile. Especially when I transpose Nick’s face on the mutt. Maybe that will put a furry-sized dent in my attraction to him.
“Am I that amusing?” Nick’s question snaps me back to full awareness.
“What? No, just thinking about a dog.” If he only knew…
One side of his mouth ticks up a notch. “You really love animals, don’t you?”
I nod. “All types. Even without fur.”
His smile spreads, telling me he understands my meaning. “Then I have another question.”
If I had hackles, they’d be standing up right now. “Which is?”
“Do you prefer working on the furry variety?” He finishes his reps and moves to the next sequence I showed him.
“Sometimes. Especially when cruelty is involved.”
