“Truth. Ask for something cool, like a Mustang. Or a Corvette.”
“I’ll take anything with four wheels and a roof at this point.”
“Be careful or he’ll get you a golf cart.”
Laughing, I run my fingers through my damp hair that’s starting to frizz. “So, where are we going?”
“I just got a call about a dog on the highway; they said he almost got hit a few times.”
“On the highway? Where? How are you even going to find him?”
He makes a left turn and turns the radio off. “They gave me a mile marker. They said he’s not moving, just huddled up against the cement divider.”
This doesn’t sound like it’s going to go well. “Oh, no. Tor, he’s probably hurt.”
Nodding, he pulls the truck onto the on ramp of the highway. “Can you climb in back and find one of my leashes? And there’s some treats back there; I’ll need those.”
I lean over the seat into the back and find everything he mentioned and then spread an old blanket over the back seat. The dog’s paws and coat will be wet from the rain and I don’t want Tor’s truck to get all muddy. I grab an old towel so we can dry the dog off.
“Shit, there he is.”
I turn back into my seat as he pulls the truck over onto the bumpy shoulder of the highway and throws it in park. He grabs the leash and the treats, shoving a handful into his pocket, and we both stare across the two lane busy road at the large off-white dog who’s got himself smashed up against the divider, his uncontrollable shaking visible from here.
Tor turns his attention to me. “Kenzi, listen to me. I want you to stay right here. No matter what, do not try to follow me onto that highway, okay?”
I look at him, to the dog on other side of all that traffic and then back at him. “Tor, you’re scaring me. This is dangerous. It’s pouring rain.”
“I can’t leave him there; he’ll get killed.”
“So could you.” I point out. It’s raining and foggy, and the cars are flying past us non-stop. He’s crazy if he thinks he’s going to get to that dog.
“I’ll be fine. If one of these assholes hit me, call 911 and stay in this truck.”
My heart seizes at his words. How can he say he’ll be fine and then talk about calling 911 all in the same breath?
“What? Tor, maybe you should let animal control come. Let’s just wait here for them.”
“And do what? Watch that poor dog scared out of it’s mind in the middle of a four lane highway? It’ll take AC too long to get here. I’m here now.”
“I know, but-”
He interrupts me, not hearing any of it. “Don’t worry. Stay here and wait for me.”
Before I can say anything else, he’s jumped out of the truck and is standing on the edge of the road, waiting for a gap in the traffic. I gasp when he runs across the first lane and then he’s forced to stop right in the middle of the two lanes, to wait for another break in the traffic. Cars continue to fly by him, blaring their horns. I hold my breath as he makes another mad dash across the next lane, and ends up about ten feet behind the dog. My hand clutches my cell phone, ready to dial 911 immediately if anything happens to him.
The shivering dog peers behind him warily and starts to belly-crawl further away, obviously petrified of not only the cars and trucks whizzing by but now a very large stranger creeping up behind him. Tor crouches to his knees and holds out his hand, offering treats, his lips moving. I know he’s talking softly to the dog, attempting to gain the tiniest amount of trust. Animals can always sense he’s a good person and they warm up to him quickly, but between the downpour and the traffic, the dog looks like it’s on the verge of mania.
Tor inches closer, and the dog’s ears perk up with a slight amount of interest. The leash is grasped in Tor’s other hand at his side, the end in a noose-style loop so he can throw it quickly over the dog’s head.
“Please stay, please stay,” I whisper in desperation as Toren moves slowly closer to the dog, just inches from being able to pet him, when an eighteen wheeler flies by, spooking the dog.
My body goes cold with fear as I watch as the dog stands and attempts to move further away from Tor, dragging one of it’s back legs, it’s eyes wild and darting from the stranger creeping up on him, to the busy road. The feeling of entrapment is bringing on a fight or flight reaction. Obviously, the dog got where he is by running through cars, and he’s thinking about doing it again.