The sky was gray blue when Meg loped up to the house in the final hours of daylight. Time was short. In the dark, she’d never find the dog again.
Dad’s truck wasn’t there.
“Not good,” she said as she slipped off Molly. He and her brothers were probably practicing for football at the high school. She’d have to find a way to do it herself.
“Meg!” Mom called from the barn.
Meg turned. “Mom, I need help!”
“Where’ve you been? I was starting to worry.”
“I found a dog. He won’t get up. He’s way out in the woods.”
“Is he hurt?”
“It’s on his side. I don’t know whose dog it is, but he needs help.”
Mom thought for a moment. “Saddle Sunspot. I’ll leave a note and fill a canteen. Dad and the boys won’t be back for a couple of hours.”
Meg led Molly into the barn and saddled Mom’s horse.
Minutes later they headed into the trees riding single file, Meg leading. In the meadows, they rode side by side, racing the fading light.
Meg found Banjo by following the trail she’d left coming out. “There. Just where I left him.”
They dismounted and hunched down to look at him. “There’s a tag. See? His name is Banjo.”
Mom reached out to let the dog sniff her hand. Banjo opened his eyes, but that was all. Mom stroked his head, then felt along his back, ribs, and legs. When she came to Banjo’s flesh wound, he looked up and nipped the air.
“Looks like he’s got a cut of some kind on his hip,” she said. “Get the canteen. Let’s see if he’ll drink some water.”
Meg got the water and poured some into her hand.
Banjo sniffed it and turned away.
“I tried to get him to come home with me, but he wouldn’t move. Wouldn’t even lift his head. Why’s he like this, Mom?”
Mom stroked Banjo’s neck.
“Could be anything. Maybe somebody drove him far from home and abandoned him. People get rid of unwanted pets that way.”
“That’s sick, Mom.”
“I’m not saying that’s what happened, but it’s possible.”
“Who would do something like that?”
“You’d be surprised.”
Mom sat back on her heels. “You know what I think?”
“He came out here to die?”
“Something like that, but no. Look at him. Look at those eyes. This dog has a broken heart.”