Between the evenings I’d been pulling with my family at Everly’s and the hours I’d been logging on both Cammie’s case and the fire, I needed this outlet. The only thing I’d seen progress on was cleaning up the barn. The rubble was gone, and the ground leveled, ready for whatever structure Ev wanted to put in its place.
We’d hit a dead stop on Cammie’s case. No one had seen a man who fit the description we had. And I wouldn’t deny that a large part of me hoped it was someone passing through. That we wouldn’t have to deal with any other calls like hers.
We’d come to the same crossroads on Everly’s fire. Only this time, I had a real guess as to who was responsible. I’d asked Ev if I could put up a couple of game cameras on her drive to give her some additional security. She’d reluctantly agreed, and I’d made sure that word of cameras going up got around. In truth, they wouldn’t do much—there was simply too much land to cover. But I hoped that they would make someone who wanted to stir up trouble think twice.
Koda bounded across the trail we both knew by heart, and I couldn’t hold in my chuckle. It was the sheer joy on his face. Apparently, we’d both needed the run.
He took off into the trees, while I stayed on the path. These summer evenings that allowed for post-work runs were some of my favorite things about the season—that and time at the lake, which I’d had far too little of this year.
A howl split the air, and I almost tripped over my feet. It wasn’t the sound of one animal calling to another. It was one of pain, and it was coming from my dog.
I ran off the path towards the sound. “Koda! Where are you?”
He let out another pained cry, and I picked up my pace. I didn’t hear sounds from another creature, so I hoped it wasn’t anything bad. I called his name again and picked up the sound of a whine.
I caught sight of his crumpled form, my chest wheezing. “Koda. What is it, boy?”
He tried to move towards me and then cried out. I sank to my knees. “Stay still. You’re okay.”
I froze. He sure as hell wasn’t okay. My dog’s hind leg was caught firmly between the jaws of a trap. I let a slew of curses fly as I took in the blood oozing from his leg.
Koda whined and pressed his body against my leg. I sank my hands into his fur, scratching behind his ears to try and calm him. “We’ll get you out of this. It’s gonna hurt more before it gets better, though. Can you stick with me?”
Koda licked the side of my face. “Okay. I’m taking that as a yes.”
I did my best to examine the trap without jostling Koda. As I did, anger slid through my veins. No trap like this was humane, but this kind was the worst of the worst. I wouldn’t be surprised if the force had broken Koda’s leg.
“Here we go, buddy.” With one swift move, I pressed down on the levers on the sides of the trap. Koda howled in pain but pulled his leg free. Once he was clear, I released my hold, and the jaws clanged closed.
I wrapped my arms around my dog as he whimpered. “All right now. I got you.” I slowly ran my hands down his body to his leg, but Koda wouldn’t let me near the wound. “Okay. I won’t touch it.”
I pushed to my feet. “You think you can stand?” Koda tried to follow but cried out, holding his leg off the ground.
I ran a hand over my head, thinking about my options. Pulling out my phone, I held it up. One bar. I tried Hadley first, knowing she had the day off. The call wouldn’t connect.
“We’re gonna have to get creative, buddy.”
Koda looked up at me with sorrowful eyes.
“I know. I’m gonna get whoever did this.” With that promise, I noted in my phone where we were on the trail so I could come back to investigate. Then I slid my phone back into my pocket. “I hope Hads and Shy haven’t been giving you extra treats.”
I groaned as I lifted Koda into my arms. “They definitely have.” It was going to be a long five miles to the trailhead.
“It’s all right, buddy. We’re here.” I pulled to a stop in one of the parking spots in front of the vet. Koda let out a whine from the backseat.
I’d oscillated between pissed and worried the entire drive to the vet. Thankfully, my adrenaline had carried me most of the hike back to my SUV at the trailhead. But that had melted away as soon as I started driving, replaced by anger and fear.
Pushing my door open, I jumped out of my vehicle and rounded to the backseat so I could get Koda. My arms shook just a bit with his weight. “I’m telling you. It’s diet time once you’re all fixed up.”
The only noise Koda made was a groan of pain. I hurried up the walkway, and just before I reached the front porch, the door swung open. Everly’s eyes widened as she took us in. “What happened?”
“A hunting trap off Bear Creek trail.”
A blue heat, the sharpest of flames, filled those wide eyes. “Anyone who uses those traps deserves to get stuck in one. Come on inside. I was just locking up. Miles is gone, but I’m sure he’ll come back.”
I hadn’t even considered that it was already after five. I’d only been thinking about getting here as quickly as possible. Everly ushered us into an exam room, and I carefully laid Koda on the table. She stroked his face with one hand while pulling out her cell phone with the other.
“Hi, Miles. I’ve got Hayes Easton here with Koda.” Her hand moved gently but efficiently down Koda’s side to his injured leg. She barely grazed the limb, but he still let out a whimper. “He got his leg stuck in a trap, and I’m worried it might be broken.”