Lindsay McKenna Read Online Free Page A

addition to him being levered up into a Fowler’s position, was putting less stress on Talon’s lungs. A little relief fled through her. The antibiotics should kick in shortly.
    “Hey,” Griff called from the door. “Safe to come in?” he teased.
    Cat headed toward the door. “Yeah, it’s safe. Come on in.”
    “Miss Gus is asking to see Talon.”
    “Oh.” Cat quickly went to Zeke, grabbing a hold of the dog’s leash. “Okay, I got him.”
    Griff opened the door.
    “Well,” Miss Gus said, holding a bowl of water in her hands, “can you make friends with Zeke for me?”
    Zeke was looking at the silver-haired woman, suddenly tense and alert.
    “Zeke, allow,” Cat told the dog firmly.
    Instantly, Zeke thumped his tail and began to pant.
    “Good doggie,” Miss Gus murmured, coming forward with a slight limp. “I got water for you, boy. You should be glad to see me.”
    Cat held on to the leash, worried Zeke might do something. But as Miss Gus slowly bent over and set the bowl of water down in front of the dog, he thumped his tail in a friendly fashion and whined.
    “Good boy,” Gus praised, reaching out with her parchment-thin hand and gently patting the dog’s head. “Now, you need to drink.”
    Cat was amazed when the dog instantly dipped his head, eagerly lapping up the water. She grinned at Gus. “You have a way with animals.”
    “I have a way with everyone!” Gus snorted, putting her hands on her hips, grinning widely.
    Cat chuckled and released the leash, allowing it to fall beside Zeke. Gus was dressed in a long-sleeved red blouse with a blue apron around her tiny waist. She always wore black wool slacks because of the chill of the long winter in Wyoming.
    “That you do,” Cat warmly agreed. Even though Cat’s grandparents were dead, Miss Gus had taken her under her wing and treated her like a granddaughter.
    Gus turned, looking over at Talon. “How’s he doing, honey?”
    “A tiny bit better. The oxygen is helping him a lot.”
    “Come around yet?”
    Cat shook her head. “He was very dehydrated, Miss Gus. And he’s got a really bad case of pneumonia. He’ll eventually become conscious, but I don’t know when.”
    Patting Cat’s arm, Gus said, “If anyone can pull him through, you can.”
    A fierce love for the old woman flowed through her. “He’s going to need a lot of prayers, too, Miss Gus.”
    “We can do that.” She crinkled her face and looked up at Cat. “Hungry?”
    Groaning, Cat said, “Yes, I’m starving.”
    “Go on out to the kitchen. I got a plate of vittles waitin’ for you. I’ll stay with Talon until you get back.”
    Griff set a bowl of kibble down in front of Zeke. “Val’s got the coffee poured for you, Cat.”
    Cat hesitated, not wanting to leave Talon. It was a silly, emotional reaction. Zeke dived into the bowl of kibble as if starved. “Okay. I’ll be back as soon as I finish.”
    * * *
    V AL MET C AT out in the kitchen.
    “How’s Talon doing?”
    Cat sat down and told her. She grabbed the cup of coffee and took a sip. “This is great. Thanks, Val.” The red-haired woman sat down opposite her. Val’s hair was pulled back in a long ponytail. She wore a heavy cream-colored fisherman knit sweater, jeans and boots.
    “Someone should call Sandy Holt,” Cat said between bites.
    “I’ll do it,” Val said. She frowned. “Sandy’s not in good shape. Should we tell her how bad Talon is?”
    Cat shook her head. “Just tell Sandy that Talon’s here and a little under the weather.”
    “She’ll want to know when Talon can see her.”
    “Sandy’s immune system is really down,” Cat warned. “As long as he’s sick, he can’t visit her or she could contract the pneumonia. It might finish her off.”
    Val nodded and picked up her cup of coffee. “That’s what I was thinking. Maybe we need to tell her he’s got pneumonia and she’ll understand why her son can’t see her right now?”
    “Yeah, maybe you’re right,” Cat said. “But