by A. J. Wells
I put my arm around her shoulders “You’re strong enough to make happen what you want to happen. If you want to wait, you will.” She smiles, nods, and puts her arm around my back. Her head comes up and she looks stronger as we walk out to join the guys.
The rest of the night we dance, talk, and dance some more. Our dancing’s getting better, fewer toes are stepped on. At one the band’s about to quit so we leave to beat the traffic. Since nine the bar has steadily filled to standing room only. Bob’s driving and Maria’s sitting in the middle. Steve and I are sitting in the back seat next to each other. Steve has his arm around my shoulders across the back of the seat, playing with my hair and sending chills down my spine causing me to shiver. “Cold?”
“No, just a chill.” He wraps his arm tighter around me, pulling me against him. A gust of wind whips against the side of the truck, pushing it into the other lane. Bob fights to bring the truck back to the right side of the road.
“Wow! We haven’t had any wind for four months. I hope it means rain, we can sure use it.” Bob’s happy at the prospect of rain. Steve, on the other hand, is looking out the window at the sky for lightening since we can hear thunder in the distance. The wind’s picking up and it’s getting cooler. The moon’s back lighting dark clouds, casting them as silhouettes. We get a few splatters on the windshield, but nothing more. Steve’s still watching the sky. Suddenly there’s a cracking sound, like a package of firecrackers in the distance, with a loud clap of thunder right behind it. No lightening, yet, but the thunder indicates its presence…somewhere. Bob drives faster trying to get to town before the down pour, or the lightening starts a fire.
Just as we get to town the rain starts, coming down in sheets of big drops making it difficult to see the road. Bob gets us to Maria’s and we get inside, drenched in the few feet we have to run to get in the door. Steve grabs the phone to call the station. There’s been no report of a fire, just a severe weather watch. I tell Steve I have to get to the office to check on the dogs. He won’t let me leave in the heavy rain. I tell him I have to be sure the electricity’s on. He calls the station back and tells me there’s been no report of the electricity being out. I tell him the office is closed up, that includes the windows. There’re forty dogs in close quarters, they’ll need fresh air soon if the air conditioning goes off. I have to check on them. I run out the door to my truck, Steve right behind me. I drive as fast and as carefully as I can to the clinic, a five minute trip took fifteen minutes. It’s almost impossible to see the front of my truck. Steve’s out of the truck and darting toward the door as soon as I stop. He works his way around to the compressor, that isn’t running, and comes back just as I get the door open. We almost jump through the open door, the rain is pelting us and it hurts. I check the light switch, nothing. We make our way to the door of the kennel room.
The dogs are restless. I grab a flashlight, open the door and Chief’s up, moving around restlessly. I know that means a real storm. Steve must think so, too. He finds the phone to call the station again, Bob answers. There’s a tornado watch in effect for the area, and Steve’s needed at the station. Steve tells me and says Bob will be by for him soon. He tells me to move the kennels to the middle exam rooms and to stay put. A tornado watch in August is nearly non-existent, but I’m not gonna argue after being out in the storm.
I ask about Miss Lili and while he’s telling me she has an underground shelter the sirens go off with the warning of the approaching tornado. Bob comes through the door hollering for Steve, “A tornado’s touched down ten miles outta town, come on. The weather on the radio says there’s three forming in the area. Sher, move the dogs to the center of the building and get over to Aunt Lili’s and stay in the shelter with them. Maria and Shay are there now. Go.” With that the guys run out the door and are gone.
I’m shoving the kennels toward the middle of the building when I hear someone in the waiting room. Maria’s here to help me get the dogs as safe as I can. We make sure they’re under every strong hold and steel table in the exams rooms. The dogs are restless, but we have no choice but to leave them. I grab Chaucee, Chief and José to take with us. Maria drives her car with Chief back to Miss Lili’s and I drive my truck with the other two dogs.
It’s eerily quiet. No wind, no rain, nothing. We have to drive around the trees and limbs blown down across the road by the wind gusts. Just as we get to Miss Lili’s, the wind starts howling like a freight train, announcing the tornado. We grab the animals and head for the storm shelter. Miss Lili lets us in and is glad to see us and the animals safe. Shay’s asleep, oblivious to the whole situation. There are cots for all of us so we settle down and, eventually, fall asleep. In the morning, Shay wakes us up, hungry. The shelter is stocked with cereal, dry milk, water, dishes and utensils, so we feed Shay and Chaucee. Not wanting to concern or upset Shay, we leave him playing with the animals, as we venture outside. There are limbs down, a few shingles on the lawn and her flowers are beaten down, but Miss Lili’s house is standing. We go into the house with her to check things out. A broken window, a little debris and things scattered, but the house is in tact.
Now I have to check on my office and the dogs. I run out to my truck, jump in and head for the office at the top speed of five miles an hour. The roads are more littered, blocking my way, and I have to weave through the debris to make it to the office. The windows are blown out, the shingles are blowing around on the roof but the building is still standing. I go through the front door and can see the back yard through the other side. I run for the dogs. They’re fine, but they’re wet and cold because the back wall and corner of the kennel room is gone. Thank goodness I moved them.
The business office and the x-ray room are in tact and dry. The records are fine and so are the electronics and the supply room. I find the puppies, the older ones are fine, but the new puppies are cold. I have to find something to cover them with to get them warm, but my blankets are all wet. I step out the front door and look down the street to see the hardware store still standing. I jump in the truck and see the store windows are blown out when I get there, but I ask for dry blankets anyway. They have a few that are dry so I buy them and hurry back to the clinic. As I’m covering the puppies, Mom, Dad, Miss Lili and Maria come in. I haven’t had time to check the back yard so I can let the dogs out. Dad checks it for me and declares a small army is needed to clear the debris before its safe.
Several people come through the front door to see if they can help. I can’t take the time to notice who they are, but if they’re willing to help I’ll put them to work. They start clearing the back yard and the kennel room. I ask Maria if anyone has heard from Steve and Bob. She answers a low no and keeps clearing the debris from the room.
Chapter 4
Miss Lili and Dad disappear with my truck for about two hours. When they get back they have supplies to put things together across the back of the clinic and the roof. I hear saws going, but I’m too busy with the animals to see what’s going on. At lunch, there’s a delivery from the Burger Barn with enough food for all of us, thanks to Miss Lili. We sit out back on the concrete patio in the waiting room chairs to eat, my first time sitting down all day. I notice the yard is cleared of debris and the back of the clinic is being framed in for a wall. The roof has new tar paper on it and there’s shingles sitting on it, waiting to be nail on.
I can’t believe so much has been done, and remember my insurance agent hasn’t been out to survey the damage, or has he? When I ask, Dad says Dave, my agent, has been here and is still here, working. Everyone here knew about the dogs and came to help. They want this put back together as quickly as possible…for the dogs.
A H.P. car stops in the drive, beside the building, and I go to meet them. They want a final count of dogs and I tell them forty, since the last puppies were born. They found the owners of the dogs and have them in jail and they have papers saying the dogs are wards of the court and in my care, until further notice. That’s good to hear. I ask if these were the
only dogs he had. It wasn’t, but the others are being taken care of by a Vet near Austin, where the puppy mill’s main facility is located. These were being transported to a branch at San Angelo when the accident happened. The family of the driver doesn’t want the Shepherd back. It was strictly the driver’s dog, not a family dog. So the dog is mine to do with as I see fit.
They survey the damage and notice the town is helping me put the clinic back together, so they don’t feel the need to move the dogs. Lili steps up when he says that and tells them the dogs will be spoken for as soon as the court lets them go. They’ll want for nothing as long as they stay here. When he asks who she is and hears her name he becomes very polite, assuring her the dogs will be staying. She smiles and goes back to work. The patrolman leaves and I go back to work, too.
The dogs are made comfortable and blankets and towels are hung out to dry from the storm so we can wash them once the electricity is on. There’s a wall with a sliding door, like a barn door, when supper is delivered. The roof is finished, too, I notice as I sit down to eat. There’s no glass to fix the windows so they’re covered with plywood.
There’s still no word of Steve and Bob, so Dad goes to the station to see what he can find out. When he comes back he says they’re busy digging out a couple of ranch houses, looking for survivors. The houses are abandoned, but sometimes they’re used by transients. As a precaution, they’re going through the rubble. At least we know they’re okay.
We go back to work putting things away and by dark the dogs are out again and back in the kennel room. There’s still work to be done inside but we’re all so tired we call it a day. We’ll finish cleaning tomorrow and be ready to go back to work Monday. Hopefully the electricity will be on then.
I go home to a badly needed shower. Working in the heat and humidity today was more than any deodorant could handle. After my shower I sit down in my arm chair for a minute, two hours later I wake up and go to bed.
Before church I go by the office and let the dogs out. After church, I see Miss Lili walking home and stop her to ask about Steve and Bob. They made it home about midnight and were sleeping the last time she saw them. She asks me over but, I remind her, I need to get to the office and get some more work done. I tell her Maria’s supposed to meet me there after church. After the day we all had yesterday, she should stay home an’ take care of Steve and Bob. She agrees.
I get to the office and check the new puppies, their fine. That’s when I realize Chaucee, José and Chief aren’t here. I’ll have to go after them, but I’ll wait for Maria. She comes in ready to work. I tell her what I’d heard from Miss Lili and she’s relieved to hear the guys are okay. I tell her we need to get the dogs from Miss Lili’s, but first we’ll get a little more done here. About two thirty we head to Miss Lili’s in my truck.
Miss Lili’s glad to see us ‘til she finds out why we’re here. She doesn’t want the dogs taken away and says so. I tell her Chaucee needs to get back to nursing and José and Chief haven’t been checked out for a few days. She moves and Chief comes to me, he’s mobile, despite his ribs and José is close behind him on his three legs. I tell her I need to x-ray Chief. José and Chaucee are part of the court order so they have to stay with me. I’d like to leave them here, but a court order isn’t something I want to get caught disregarding. She understands. I tell her I can bring Chief back, because he’s not included in the order. Steve comes into the kitchen and Chief, tail wagging, goes to him.
Steve has on his jeans, but no shirt. Nice. I lower my head to keep from giving myself away. He squats to pet Chief, who’s more than glad to see him…too. Steve looks up “Did I hear you say Chief can stay? What about his broken rib?” I tell him Chief isn’t part of the court order covering the other dogs, so he can stay, but I need to x-ray him to be sure all his movements of the last few days haven’t caused any problems. Steve says he’ll bring him over in about an hour. Miss Lili brings Chaucee and I pick up José. I assure Miss Lili that as soon as I can, I’ll bring them home.
Bob comes into the kitchen as we’re going toward the back door, dressed the same way Steve is. I hear Maria catch her breath. Bob comes over to say “hi” with a kiss for Maria. She’s holding Chaucee, who I grab from her before the puppy gets squashed between them. There’s no doubt Bob’s glad to see her and isn’t afraid to show it. After the kiss and they come back to earth, Maria and I go back to the office and check out the two dogs.
They’re fine and Chaucee’s welcomed back by her foster mama. José is put in a kennel on the floor and the kennels are opened for the dogs to wonder in and out the back door at their leisure. Maria and I work on getting things back in order after the cleaning we did earlier. As we’re finishing Steve, Bob and Chief come through the door. I take Chief in for x-rays and Steve joins me to hold Chief still while I take the pictures. The x-rays look good and the incision is good. Steve can take Chief home, but he has to be kept quiet, no jumping or running and he’s to be lifted by two people, one at the front and one at the rear and the splint can be taken off if he’s not moving around. Steve nods while I let Chief into the kennel room to go out if he wants to. Steve and I follow him to be sure he doesn’t over do.
Steve comes up behind me, putting his arms around me. I feel myself starting to tear up so I don’t turn around. “How are you? You seem awfully quiet.”
“I’m fine. How are you? You were the one missing in action for over twenty four hours.” My voice sounds strange to me and my throat is constricted.
“I’m fine, now that I’ve had twelve hours sleep. You weren’t worried were ya? I heard ya asked about us a few times and your Dad came to the station to see if we were okay.” He’s still behind me, just holding me.
“I was concerned when nobody had heard anything by noon yesterday.” He turns me around to look at me then holds me to him, tight.
“I couldn’t call anyone from where I was. Contact with the station was iffy, too. I’m sorry you were concerned.” He says softly then leans back to find me crying and bends to kiss me. I hang onto him like he’d been lost. When the kiss ends he says “I should have done this when I saw ya at the house, but Chief needed attention. I gotta get my priorities straight, and I want you to be a top priority. Forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive. Chief kinda got in the way and I would’ve been upset if he hadn’t gotten the attention he needed. He might have gotten over active and injured himself.” We’re still holding each other when Chief nudges at our legs. We sit down to pay attention to him. He’s licking me and wagging his tail while I scratch his ears.
Bob and Maria come out to join us. “Everything better?” he asks Steve. Steve nods and kisses my head, because I’m leaning back against his chest. Maria smiles as Bob puts his arm around her shoulders and draws her closer to him. Steve says Miss Lili is making dinner for all of us so we have to get back to the house and Maria needs to get Shay. We get up and Chief objects, but comes with us as we corral the rest of the dogs and get them kenneled. Chief checks on José and Chaucee by putting his nose against their kennels. Bob goes with Maria to get Shay and I go with Steve since he insists on coming back with me to let the dogs out at nine. Chief sat in the middle, but that’s okay since he hopped into the truck, with a little help from Steve.
Miss Lili’s glad to see us, and Maria, Shay and Bob when they arrive a little later. Over dinner we talk about the mess the tornado left in town, as it skimmed the town. Miss Lili’s going to hire people to put things back to normal. When we come out of the house, it’s raining, a slow soaking rain. Bob took Maria and Shay home, earlier, before it had started—Shay’s bedtime. He must have stayed because he’s not back yet.
Steve and I go back to the office to let the dogs out again, Chief stayed home this time. While we wait on the dogs, I check the new puppies again and all is well. The runt of the litter is growing fast and has caught up with the others so she can push her way in to demand her place at the “table.” These puppies are going to be bigger
than Chaucee soon. I’ll have to watch to be sure she’s not pushed away from the “dinner plate.” I go out to join Steve, he mentions we need seats out here, the grass is too wet to sit in. I agree with him, but then the seats would be wet, too, since it’s still raining. He calls me a “spoil sport”, grabs me and kisses me. We make out for a few minutes then realize we’re standing in the rain by ourselves. The dogs’d had enough sense to get in outta the rain. We laugh and go in to close up the kennels and the office.
Before we lock the office, Steve takes my arm to stop me before we step out the door into the rain. I turn and step to him for a goodnight kiss. It was amazing. I’ve gotten used to the lightening storm in my stomach, but this time my heart did a little flip, too. Steve says he doesn’t want to let me go but he knows he has to. I have about half an hour to drive home on muddy roads. He wants me to be careful going home. He asks for my phone number so he can check on me, to be sure I make it home. I give it to him and he kisses me goodnight again, just because he doesn’t want to let me go. We lock up the office and leave, going separate directions.
The dirt road hasn’t had much traffic on it so it’s not rutted. The truck slides once and I barely keep the back wheels out of the ditch at the side. After that I slow down some. The phone’s ringing as I’m getting out of the truck, but I don’t make it inside to answer it. I forget I have Miss Lili’s number so I don’t call Steve, who I’m sure called, to let him know I’m home okay. I call Maria to let her know, hoping Bob might still be there but he’s already left.
Maria says he’s a bit miffed at her because she won’t let the kissing go very far. I tell her to stick to what she wants for her and Shay. I listen to her for a while then tell her I need to go because I’m wet and need a hot shower. I tell her I’ll see her tomorrow and we’ll talk about it then. She should get some sleep now.
Just as I’m hanging up there’s a knock on the door. Steve’s there to check on me. “You didn’t answer the phone when I called so I came to check on you. Did you have any trouble?”