A huge sense of relief rushed in. “I don’t know how he made it this fast, but we have backup. Josiah Ryder is just around the corner.” She stuck her finger in Sonora’s face and gave a retaliatory warning wiggle. “Stay here. No heroics.”
She said it forcefully. The older woman’s lips twitched into a smile before she nodded her agreement. “Josiah is a good man.”
Lisa stumbled back through the deep snow, figuring it was easier than responding.
She was just about out of the trees when she reached him, the worry on his face softening as he spotted her. “It’s a little cold to be playing hide-and-go-seek, isn’t it?”
“It’s a bit of a treasure hunt, but not necessarily the good kind. Sonora found something,” she explained, motioning with her head to where the older woman waited. “She swears the barn up ahead should be empty, but we watched a truck leave just five minutes ago.”
A crease formed between his brows. “She’s right. Come on, let’s see what’s going on.”
They inched through the snow at the very edge of the tree line, keeping the visible snow undisturbed until they could follow a deer track to the packed-down ruts left by the van.
The area was clearly abandoned. The quiet stillness of the remote winter wilderness was only broken by the sound of dogs barking.
Lisa and Sonora stayed back for the first moment as Josiah peered in the window.
He shook his head in disgust and motioned them forward. “We’re not going to get shot, but this is an unpleasant surprise.”
He picked up a piece of metal that was propped against one wall and used it to pry open the lock. As the door opened and light poured in, the barking and whining got louder.
Lisa gingerly followed Josiah into the building, the waft of putrid scents in the air hitting like a slap of mud to the face.
The barking got more frantic.
Sonora made a noise of distress herself as she stepped beside Lisa. “My word, how many dogs? Oh, the poor things.”
Pens had been formed out of wood nailed into rough squares. In addition, crates and baby playpens were jammed together in tight rows with barely enough room for a person to walk between. Each space held three or more puppies, some with bitches that showed their teeth, but didn’t have the energy to do more than growl menacingly as they moved past.
“It’s a puppy mill,” Josiah said softly. “A poorly run, mismanaged, fucking abusive puppy mill.”
He stopped beside the nearest pen. The mama dog was lying on her side nursing a couple of pups who were whining piteously. The bitch didn’t move as Josiah drew his hand down the back of her head, petting her carefully.
“She’s so dehydrated she doesn’t have any milk left to give.” His voice was an angry rumble.
Sonora had her phone out. “Who do I call?” she asked Josiah. “The RCMP?”
“Yes. I’ll call the clinic.” Josiah stood, furious tension in his body as he looked around the building. “What a mess.”
Lisa stepped to his side and caught his arm. “What can I do to help?”
The whimpering around her was breaking her heart, but she steeled her spine and searched for strength until she could meet his gaze as evenly as possible.
He glanced quickly at Sonora before twisting, pulling Lisa closer so he could speak in low tones. “There’s plenty of things you can help with, but when it’s time, can you make sure Sonora leaves? She doesn’t need to be here while…”
His grip on her arms tightened, and Lisa swallowed hard. “Some of them aren’t going to make it, are they?”
Josiah hesitated, then shook his head. “Truth is, finding this many animals at one time creates a hell of a situation.”
He excused himself, calling in to the Heart Falls veterinary clinic. He turned his back and spoke softly.
Lisa didn’t want to make him say it, but she’d already figured out the trouble. She’d dealt with it often enough when one of the cats or dogs on the Whiskey Creek ranch had an unexpected litter. Placing four or five animals in new homes when you knew the animal’s lineage was one thing.
This was an entire building full of pups, indeterminate breeds, none of them with shots or basic inoculations—
There weren’t a lot of people who would take that kind of risk, introducing unknown animals to their own well-cared-for pets.
Sonora finished giving directions to the RCMP. She put her phone away and walked straight up to where Lisa stood. The place stunk of wet dog, feces, and piss. Somewhere, something was rotting.
