Untrusting (Troubled) Read Online Free PDF Page B

They found him about noon when
the tow truck came to clear the wreckage.  It took them forever to get him
on the board so they could bring him in.”  I’m scrambling outta bed when
Steve hands me a bundle of clothes.  “Your Dad told your Mom and she
dropped these off.”
    Without thinking I’m pulling a pair
of panties out and putting them over my feet, when Steve backs outta the room
and shuts the door.  I finish dressing and run down the stairs slightly
disoriented.  Steve meets me at the front door with a cup of coffee and
leads me to his truck.  We get to the office just before the fire truck
arrives.  I get the x-ray machine turned on and start to prepare the
room.  Steve’s right there with me, helping when he can.  He hears
the office door open and brings them in.  I prepare the dog for the x-rays
so I can see what’s wrong and fix it, maybe.
    While I’m checking the dog by
feeling for lumps and bumps, he licks my hand.  I look at his eyes and,
instantly, fall in love.  I have to help him is all I’m feeling. 
Steve offers to help me, or call Maria if I want him to.  I have him put
on a shield and keep the dog’s attention just to be sure he doesn’t move. 
I take several shots and find the dog has a broken rib very close to puncturing
a lung, but definitely pressing against it and a concussion.  His spine’s
fine and his neck is okay.  I decide to operate to move the rib away from
the lung so the dog can breathe easier.
    Steve helps me move the dog to the
operating room.  That’s when I see Miss Lili in the waiting room. 
She offers her help so I ask her to pass me instruments.  I have to clean
spots on the dog so I can give him a couple of shots and shave the incision
area.  I hope a local pain kill will do the job because with the concussion,
I’m afraid to put him to sleep.  I need to make a two inch incision so I
can move the rib.  I explain all this to Steve and Miss Lili and that the
dog may move or snap when I do the procedure.  They’re prepared, but the
dog’s so weak that it whimpers, but is unable to move.  I get him stitched
up and onto a board built for animals and move him to the room with the cot in
it, putting him on the floor.  I need to stay with this one.  I want
to keep him comfortable, but I can’t give him a shot for pain yet.
    I stand to go to the meds closet, I
want to give the dog a shot to help with the swelling from the concussion, and
stagger.  Steve catches me and pulls me into a hug.  I sob, hearing
it for the first time.  He holds me ‘til I gain my composure, then loosens
his hold, kissing my head as he moves.  “You did great.”  I see his
shirt’s really wet.
    Miss Lili comes in with a cup of
coffee and makes me take a few sips.  She’s been crying, too.  “I
didn’t know if you would make through the whole process, crying as hard as you
were,” she says.
    “How long have I been
crying?”  I take a sip of the coffee, she’d sweetened it.  It tastes
good.
    “Since the first whimper the dog
made, almost two hours ago.”  Steve helps me to a chair.  “What else
do you need to do?” he asks.
    “I’ve got to give the dog a shot
for the swelling from the concussion.  About two hours after that, I have
to check the swelling and if I can, I want to give him something for the pain.”
    “I hope the owner is put before a
firing squad for this.”  Miss Lili is really upset about the dogs.
    “The driver was D.O.A. (dead on
arrival)” Steve says.  “He fell asleep at the wheel, as best the H.P.
(Highway Patrol) can tell.  There were no skid marks on the highway.”
    “That was too good for him.” 
Miss Lili is really mad.
    I get up after a few more sips, get
the supplies and medication and give the dog the shot.
    Bob comes in and Maria arrives a
few minutes later.  Steve tells them why we’re here and Bob and Maria want
me to go to Miss Lili’s for some sleep.  I refuse because I have to give
the other shot