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The puppy did a few acrobatics, trying to escape from the rope leash by biting it. Without warning, Mr. Olson kicked her, and the young dog released a furious series of yelps.
Merry and Brianna gasped.
“Shut up, damn you,” he snarled, reeling back to kick her again.
“Hey!” Merry shouted, putting herself between him and the dog. “What the hell is the matter with you? You don’t kick animals!”
The man was only a few inches taller and stood nearly eye to eye. “It’s none of your business what I do with her, she’s my dog.”
Merry snatched the leash from him and backed away, keeping the puppy behind her. “Not anymore she’s not!”
“You can’t go around stealing people’s property! I’m going to call the police.”
“Go ahead. Brianna and I watched you abuse this baby and I’m sure at least one of the camera phones pointed at you right now caught most of it on video.”
Mr. Olson peered into the windows of the diner and down the street, where several people stood around with their cell phones up, watching. His rough hands curled into fists.
“That dog cost me six hundred dollars!”
Brianna, who had been letting Merry take the lead, stepped up. “Pretty sure first offense animal cruelty charges will cost you five thousand, but it goes up from there if you’ve got priors.”
Mr. Olson stabbed a boney finger at Brianna. “I’m going to speak to your boss.”
With one last sneer, he marched back toward the veterinary hospital and Merry knelt down to examine the puppy. Her pink tongue darted out to lick Merry’s hands as she ran them over the matted fur.
“God, she stinks.”
“Not surprising. None of his animals are well cared for. He tried to bring her in to surrender her, but when we told him there was a surrender fee, he changed his mind.”
Merry cupped the puppy’s cheeks, staring into her eyes. “How could he not want this sweetness?”
“A long list of stupid reasons. He was trying to put her in the car when she took off. Guess she didn’t want to go back with him.”
“I wouldn’t either.”
“I better get over there and defend myself. And congratulations on your first rescue.”
Merry stopped petting the dog long enough to realize what she’d done. “I have a dog.”
“Yeah, you do. Have you ever owned a Pyr before?”
Merry shook her head and Brianna grinned. “Give me ten minutes to square things away at the hospital and come see us. We’ll get you prepared as best we can.”
Brianna walked away, leaving Merry alone with the panting puppy. Everything happened so fast, and her protective instincts kicked in the moment she’d felt the dog’s reaction.
Merry sat down on the sidewalk, pulling the puppy onto her lap as she kept her eye out in front of the veterinary hospital. Several moments later, Mr. Olson tore out of the hospital and climbed into his old Ford pickup, burning rubber down the street toward Merry. He hollered several colorful names as he passed, black smoke billowing out of his tail pipe behind him, and Merry held her breath until the smell dissipated.
When she climbed to her feet with the puppy in her arms, she kissed the side of her head, ignoring the noxious smell in her fur. “The good news is you never have to see that evil man again. The bad news is you’re going to need a bath before you come into my house. If you’re okay with those terms, give me a sign.”
An enthusiastic tongue slurped across her nose and mouth.
“I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that’s an affirmative.” Merry headed down the street with the dog and Brianna met her at the door of the hospital, holding it open for her. Dr. Turner stood behind the counter, her peppery brown hair cut in a short faux hawk.
“I hear you’re the reason Mr. Olson read me the riot act?”
“I apologize for that, but I had to. That man is awful.”
“Yes, he’s something else.” Dr. Turner came around and scratched the puppy on her head. “Brianna says you want to keep her?”
