“No, they were crying. Like—”
The faraway sound of whimpering suddenly filled the room. Hadley exchanged a did-you-really-hear-that glance with Cam, then jumped from the bed. Jagger, who’d been asleep near the edge, lumbered to the floor. Bowie sat up and shook himself, ears flapping. Hadley ran to the window in a flash, throwing it open. “Like this.”
Distant strains of mewling drifted in from somewhere at the back of the house, brought in by the gentle breeze. Suddenly she felt the radiant warmth of Cam’s body right behind her. “What is it?” he asked. “Cats, maybe?”
She turned from the window to face him. He was adorably disheveled, his hair sticking out at odd angles. “Something newborn. Puppies or kittens would be my guess.” Grabbing her robe from a chair, she ran out of the bedroom, but Cam got to the kitchen first. By the time she caught up, he was standing at the door, his hand resting on the knob. Jagger was pacing back and forth, sensing something exciting out there. “Let me go first, okay?” Cam said, in full protector-warrior mode.
“Okay.” She found it easiest to give in to those tendencies, which she secretly loved.
“Sorry, guys,” Cam said, making sure the dogs stayed inside. “You’ll have to miss the fun, but we’ll be right back.”
He was the first one out, using his phone flashlight to illuminate the little brick walk, following the soft noises next door to underneath Gran’s patio table. Pulling out the nearest chair revealed a large cardboard box, the kind you’d use when you were packing up a house. They cautiously bent to see inside.
Hadley gasped as two flashes of silver shone back at them. The eyes of a dog, solemn and frightened. She was black and white, a collie mix with silky fur. And she was surrounded by five tiny nursing newborn puppies.
“Brand-new,” Hadley said incredulously, studying the naked-looking babies, some tan and white, some black and white and brown, all with eyes closed tight.
“Well, I’ll be.” Cam flashed his light around, then walked to the side of the house and peered at the road. “Someone must know about you. About the shelter.”
“Don’t even bother looking,” Hadley said. “I’m sure they’re long gone. This has happened to Gran over the years. People find a dog that’s given birth or else they can’t handle their own dog with newborn puppies, and they drop them off. I’m not judging. I’m glad they brought them here rather than let them die.” She bent to examine the mother dog, who appeared to be trembling. The pups were all still latched on, drinking. Except…her breath hitched. “Wait…Oh no. Can I see your light?”
She took the phone and shone the light. The five puppies were lined up against the mother dog. But off to the side was one more, a tiny black-and-white puppy curled up and shaking. She clutched Cam’s arm.
“What is it?” he asked, struggling to see in the pitch darkness.
“I’m afraid the mom has rejected that one. It happens sometimes.”
“What do we do?” It touched her that he was pacing the patio, poised to help.
“They need blankets and a heat lamp. I’ve got to get them to the shelter. The little guy needs milk replacer. And I need to call the vet.” Her head was spinning.
“Milk what?” Cam said, a little sleepily. “Never mind, let me get my keys,” and he was gone before she could even thank him.
Then he was back, quietly moving the chairs and gently sliding the box out from under the table. He gave Hadley a little shoulder squeeze and flashed her an I-know-you-got-this look. She certainly hoped so. “On three, okay?”
She nodded, and together they gently lifted the box without a word.
* * *
To Cam’s chagrin, Fuller came in a flash. But to his credit, he brought a big supply of milk replacer solution for the little runt puppy. “Don’t get your hopes up too high,” he said to Hadley. “Sometimes puppies don’t eat because they’re sick or frail or predisposed not to make it, you know? Sometimes the mama dog senses that and lets nature take its course.”
Cam saw Hadley tear up even as she took a tiny syringe from Fuller and stood next to him at the counter while he explained what to do with the puppy milk. Cam set up a chair so Hadley could sit near the heat lamp and try to feed the puppy, while Fuller set to checking the mama dog.
Cam, completely out of his element, had never felt so helpless in his life. “We’re going to think positive on this one,” he offered to Hadley, not knowing what else to say. “And just do all we can.”
Hadley shot him what he thought was a grateful look.
Still, Fuller and Hadley spoke a language he didn’t. With words he’d never heard before, like milk replacer, latching on, whelping pen, and rejected pup. Still, he was determined to do whatever Hadley needed. Even if all he could do was simply be there for her.
So when there was a knock on the door, he ran to get it. It was Maddy, standing there with a cane and a worried expression on her face. “Over here.” He gestured to where Hadley was struggling with the puppy.
“Oh, Gran,” Hadley said. “I’m so glad you’re here. It’s been a long time since I’ve done this.”
“You’re doing fine,” Fuller said as he stood next to Hadley and beamed. Ugh. Fuller should not count on staying fine himself unless he backed up a few paces. Cam crossed his arms and pasted on a friendly expression, but his muscles were twitching in readiness if Fuller moved one inch closer to her.
Gran, looking over Hadley’s shoulder, smiled and rubbed her back. “You’re doing a great job. Have you fed her yet?”
“The syringe is warming up in that bowl of water,” Hadley said, placing the puppy stomach-down on her lap. “Cam, would you mind getting it?”
Cam found a small syringe with a rubber nipple attached to the end floating in the bowl and handed it to Hadley.
“I think you should do it, Gran.” Hadley’s face was riddled with worry. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Maddy smiled a careful smile. “I’d rather watch you and be here in case you need me.”
Hadley gently held the syringe up to the puppy’s mouth.
The room had gone silent. Everyone seemed to hold their breath waiting to see if the puppy would drink.
“Point it toward her cheek,” Gran said. “And squirt in just a tiny bit.”
Milk promptly dribbled out of the puppy’s mouth. The puppy stirred then went limp. Hadley looked to her grandmother for help.
“Try again,” Maddy said. “Just squeeze out a tiny bit more.”
This time the puppy stirred but still didn’t suck. Milk dribbled down her chin and onto the towel again. But then she swallowed.
“Oh, you brilliant little girl,” Maddy whispered. “More now, Hadley. Just a little bit.”
More dribbling, but another tiny swallow.
The room’s collective sigh was audible.
“Okay, Gran.” Hadley held up the syringe. “That was a whole two cc’s.”
Maddy, who had walked over to the utility sink, clapped her hands. “A perfect first meal. You know what to do next.”
Hadley gently turned the puppy over and unwrapped the blanket. Gran handed her a washcloth she’d run under warm water.