Running Wild (Wild 3)

Her head jerks up and down.

“That did even more damage. He’s in a lot of pain right now, and it’s not the kind of pain that will go away.”

Rachel’s bottom lip wobbles as she looks first to her friend, and then to Tyler, who hovers nearby, his ranger uniform stained with the dog’s blood. “Are you sure?” She’s asking him.

I guess I can’t blame her. Tyler gave me the brief rundown of what happened—they were hiking on a trail in Nancy Lake when Beau wandered off and stepped in a trap. After a few frantic moments of struggling to release it from the thrashing dog, which neither of them had learned to do, Rachel’s friend called the emergency line. Tyler, who’s working the park this week, responded. One look told him it was bad enough to get them here, so he took over.

He’s the knight in green armor.

He crouches in front of her. “I have twenty-one dogs, and I trust Marie with them. If she says it needs to be done, then it needs to be done.”

She nods slowly, but she’s reviewing my little lobby, and I already know what she’s thinking—that I’m some sort of hack animal doctor operating out of a shack in the woods. “Maybe I should take him back to Anchorage to his regular vet?”

“Are they going to clear their schedule to fit him in as soon as you get there?” Tyler’s voice remains steady.

“I don’t know?”

“Well, you have one of the best surgeons in the state in front of you, and she already has.”

Those are Wade’s words. Tyler must have been talking to him.

“My guess is he’ll be recovering before you even get through the other door. But he’s your dog. If you want to put him in your car and drive all the way back to Anchorage to try to get him in today, that’s your call. I just want to make sure he gets the help he needs as soon as possible. But I can promise you that Beau won’t get better care anywhere than he will with Marie. They call her the Crusader because she saves animals all over Alaska. That’s just what she does.” His eyes shift to me, and there’s an odd, unreadable look in them.

I almost groan at the nickname, but it’s the confidence in his voice that amazes me. Aside from volunteering in the Iditarod, I’ve done little more than inspect his kennel. Where is all this faith coming from? It seems almost fraudulent, like he’s lying to this girl.

And yet my heart swells with gratitude.

“The only thing I hate more than amputating a dog’s leg is not doing it when it needs to be done. Another vet might tell you that they can try to save it. I’ve seen it happen before. But I can promise you’ll end up right back in this position, after spending double the amount, and Beau will be suffering. The leg has to go.” Sometimes I can be too bullish when it comes to sharing my opinion on an animal’s care, something my father has cautioned me about.

I take a deep, calming breath. Please don’t be a fool, Rachel. “It’s a major surgery, but I am a surgeon. I have all the equipment here, and I’ve done these types of procedures before. I don’t foresee any issues. But, if you prefer, we can call your clinic to see if they can fit you in. I can bandage him up, and we can help you get him into the car. I can even give him some pain meds to make him a bit more comfortable for the ride—”

“No, no … Do what you have to do.” She nods with steely determination. “Just fix him.”

“Good call, Rachel.” Tyler’s heavy sigh echoes my relief.

She falters. “But will he be able to walk?”

“Yes. He’ll have three other legs to keep him going. He’ll have to find his new balance, and for big dogs, it’s a bit harder to lose a front leg than a back one, but you’ll be surprised how quickly he adapts.” I stand. “If you’re good with this, then we’re going to prep him for surgery, and I’ll want to keep him overnight for observation. Cory will be out in a minute to get all your information and figure out a plan.” That she hasn’t asked how much it’s going to cost yet—a question that normally comes up immediately—is surprising, but maybe she has resources. It’s probably the bank of Mom and Dad.

Tyler is up now, too, answering a dispatch call on his radio with a quick code as he trails me. “I have to get a few details from them and then head back to the park to figure out who the hell set that trap and when.” He asks quietly, “You good here? He’s a big guy.”