Washed Away Read Online Free PDF Page A

way.”
    “It’s not heading this way, though.” Mitch shook his head.
    His voice was firm, but something in his eyes told Noah that the chief didn’t believe his own words.
    “I’ve just been on to the weather bureau, and they’re still convinced it’s heading for Corpus Christi.”
    “ Still convinced? So you’ve already been on to the bureau and told them that you’re worried.” When Mitch didn’t answer, Noah persisted. “Which means you’re thinking along the same lines as me, doesn’t it.”
    “Yep.”
    “Damn, we’ve got the school filling with evacuees from Corpus Christi, we’ve got busloads still heading in….”
    “And my daughter’s out there.”
    Mitch never played the emotion card, and seeing the chief’s worried eyes, Noah felt as if he had been hit in the chest with an iron fist.
    “What do you want me to do, Mitch?” Noah respected Mitch, and if there was anything he could do to help, then Noah would do it. “Do you want me to call the bureau, tell them how the animals are reacting?”
    He half expected Mitch to laugh, to tell him that the bureau wasn’t about to listen to some veterinarian with a half-baked idea that his animals were talking to him, but when Mitch gave a worried nod, Noah’s heart sank.
    “It’s worth a try.”
    It took forever for Noah to get through. No doubt half of Turning Point was trying to contact the bureau, as well. These people knew their land, knew the shifts in the weather. They’d been through enough hurricanes and floods to know when trouble was in the air, and it was in the air now, Noah could feel it. The rain was pelting down and the wind howled angrily; even inside the fire station Noah was forced to shout into the phone just to be heard.
    “What did they say?” Mitch asked as Noah replaced the receiver in its cradle.
    “That by their calculations we’ve got nothing to worry about. That we’re to carry on with the evacuation protocol as outlined.”
    “Damn!” Mitch banged his fist down on the desk in exasperation. “We’re like sitting ducks. The storm’s getting worse by the minute, I’ve got teams out there doing rescues. I’ve even had an emergency team flown in to the area, when I should have been getting everyone the hell out. I’ve sent them on rescues—”
    “You didn’t know at the time the storm was headingthis way,” Noah said. “We still don’t know for sure, Mitch.” Taking a couple of breaths, he willed himself to stay calm. There was no point losing their heads. “We still don’t,” Noah said again, but more firmly this time, and Mitch nodded back, his face taut with tension but back in full control now.
    “Noah, I know your animals mean everything to you. And I know that at times like this you’re supposed to be at the clinic….”
    “They’re not humans, Mitch.” Noah knew what was coming. He loved his animals and his old house that was attached to the sparkling modern clinic he had built from the ground up. The veterinary clinic was his life. Every waking moment of his day was filled with caring for animals. But he was highly skilled and trained in medical procedures, and if he and Mitch were right and the storm was heading this way, then Noah knew that his skills would be put to better use right here in town.
    Saving human lives.
    “I’m going back to the clinic, Mitch. I’ll secure the animals that I’ve got in the van and make sure the rest are okay, then I’ll lock up and come straight back to town.”
    “I hate to ask this of you, Noah.”
    “You didn’t ask.” Noah gave a wry smile. “I offered. Let’s just hope I’m not needed. Let’s just hope we’re both worrying about nothing.”
    “Let’s hope, huh?”
    Noah was running toward the exit now, racing to get back to the clinic and tend to the animals so he couldreturn to town and help. But something stopped him at the door, a feeling he couldn’t identify.
    “What’s up, Noah?” Mitch asked, coming over to him.
    Noah