Page 9 of Honest Neglect

Until a shape lunged at me out of the woods, and everything went black.

Chapter Six

Lily

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“SILVER!” I EXCLAIMED as I wrapped my arms around my dog and squeezed her in close. I couldn’t believe it. I buried my face in her fur, inhaling her familiar scent.

Her fur was stained with soot and smelled of smoke, a sure sign that at least the story Mark had told me about the animal shelter was true. How long had she been out on her own like this? How had she found me? I had no idea, but I didn’t care. As long as she was here with me, I could just let everything else go and revel in the relief for a while.

She lapped at my face for a few moments, nuzzling into me as though she could hardly believe that she had found me. And then, she dipped her mouth down to the river, gulping from it just the same way I had earlier in the day.

“That’s it, girl,” I murmured to her, petting her gently as I spoke. “You drink up. Have as much as you want. You’re okay now.”

She lapped at the water for a little longer, then turned around and butted her head into mine happily. I pulled her close to me again, planting a kiss on her head.

“I’m so sorry I let them take you,” I told her, even though I knew she couldn’t understand me. “If there was anything I could have done to stop it...”

I was saying it more for myself than for her. I just needed to get it off my chest. I had always promised myself I would look after her, but I knew I had let her down in a way she might never recover from.

She began to lead me toward the road, and I tried to call her back.

“No, Silver, that’s not a good idea,” I protested. She wouldn’t turn around, though, and I caught up with her. Maybe there was something she knew that I didn’t. Dogs were perceptive, right? She could have been leading me to food or even help.

I followed her all the way up to the road, where I paused to catch my breath. I was so exhausted and I felt dizzy from the lack of food. Silver rushed over to me and nuzzled into my side, making sure I was okay.

“It’s alright, sweetheart,” I promised her, rubbing her head. She panted happily and then continued along the road, letting me lean on her when I needed to stop for a moment and gather myself again.

She was headed down toward the small town I had seen before, but I wasn’t sure if heading there was really a good idea right now. We had no idea what was waiting for us down there, and I didn’t want to lead her right into a trap when she had so miraculously just survived the last one.

I tried to come to a halt, but Silver continued, leaving me no choice but to follow her. What other choice did I have? I was too tired to go back to the river and rest again, and I wouldn’t be safe this close to the road. Maybe I just had to bite the bullet and accept help from someone, if they were willing to offer it.

But people in these small communities could be jumpy at the best of times, and a woman appearing in the middle of the night babbling nonsense about being kidnapped likely wasn’t going to land me in their good books.

Silver headed toward the porch of a small farmhouse with the lights off inside. I hung back as Silver skittered up the steps, nudging her nose against the door. Well, this was it. There was no way whoever was inside wouldn’t have heard that. The best I could hope for was that they weren’t a complete and utter homicidal maniac.

A man stood behind the door, a gun in his hand outlined against a glow from inside the house. I took a few steps back, holding my hands up.

“I’m not here to hurt you!” I called out to him as though that would make it any better. As though someone would just announce when they were going to come to someone’s house and cause trouble.

“I hope not,” the man called back. I could see someone else moving in the house, too, what looked like a female figure. An older couple? They had to be safe, right? No way someone all the way out here would want to get involved with Mark or Tony.

“Who is it, Leroy?” the woman asked, and the man held his hand out.

“Stay back,” he replied, but then Silver rushed up to him and his face lit up when he saw the dog.

“It’s the dog we saw the other day,” he exclaimed to his wife as he got down to greet Silver. “Not doing so well then, were you, buddy?”

I took a step toward them tentatively, not sure if this was a bad idea or not. I had to try to find help anywhere I could, and if Silver would get me in the door, I had to take it.

“What are you doing here?” Leroy asked as he looked up at me. Silver was nuzzling into his wife’s hand now, like they were old friends.

“My dog led me here,” I admitted. “I don’t know where I am. I know it sounds crazy, but...”

Emotion got the better of me, and tears started to course down my cheeks. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I crumpled to the ground and felt the world shift around me once more.

“For heaven’s sake, Leroy, go help her!” the woman exclaimed, and I heard them rushing down toward me. A moment later, they each had one of my arms and were steering me inside their home.