Chapter Four:

Pissing off a Winston's Puppy

When Ashley called on Monday morning I was more than ready to go out so she said she'd be over in about 20 minutes. I left my dad a note on the bathroom mirror, the fridge door, and the back of our front door when I saw that he was once again passed out on the couch. After pulling on my favorite pair of black cowboy boots, I reached over and pulled the door open hoping to spot Ash. Instead I saw a man I barely recognized and couldn't remember how I knew him.

Even when he spoke it didn't trigger anything. "Hey, Baby Girl," He said.

"I don't know you." I answered. I stared up into his big, cold, blue eyes, graying, blond hair, and faked, happy demeanor and suddenly knew how I knew him.

"I know you remember dear, old Dad." He answered.

"My dear, old Dad is passed out on the couch." I spat.

His eyes sparked with true, vindictive happiness for a moment then suddenly went stony again. "Is this really the way you're going to treat the man who gave you life."

"Considering the restraining order my mother had filed against you that doesn't expire until I turn 18, two years from now, I think the answer to that is yes. Especially when you take into account what you did to me."

"You are my little girl, not his."

"By law, I am his."

"This isn't over, I will get you back." He narrowed his eyes and then turned on his heel and got back in his car.

"Doubt it." I muttered under my breath as he started his car. I was still watching the drive as he roared out of sight and Ash's Jeep pulled up.

"So, what do you want to do?" Ash asked as I climbed into the passenger seat.

"Something mind numbing." I answered.

"Ok, TV with the bros then horseback riding." Ashley grinned and backed to the end of the drive. "It numbs the mind and makes you happy at the same time."

I shook my head at the thought of Ashley's two brothers. "No, thank you. Don't mean to offend but right now I need to be as far as possible from horses. I've ridden so much in the past week that it's driven me crazy."

"Then town it is."

"So I can sit back and watch you drool over DX boy?"

"His name is Sodapop and you get along just fine with him. Like you do most boys," Ash said.

I rolled my eyes. "Ash, a boy like that, one that hot, has to have a girlfriend."

"He doesn't, I asked." She backed out of the drive and drove towards the city.

"And when he asks why we're stopping by? What's your excuse for that?"

"Something sounds funny in my engine. I give him a bit of country twang and have him eating out of my palm in no time what-so-ever." Ashley smiled widely.

"Ok Miss Desperate. Never say that I've never done something crazy to help you win a guy over." I answered knowing that there was nothing I could do to change her mind. She was going to go whether I said yes or not. I flipped on the radio to our favorite country station and it came on just in the middle of my favorite Loretta Lynn song as the lush green pastures faded into houses everywhere.

"'Cause you ain't woman enough, to take my man." Ash and I sang as she turned heading to get lunch and the song came to an end.

"I love that song." I said.

"Only because you practically live it," Ashley grinned.

"Whatever." I shrugged. It was true though. I had a few boyfriends in the past that other girls had tried to steal from me but it never seemed to work.

After lunch we headed for the DX and I prepped myself not to say anything and allow her to take the lead in our interaction with Soda that afternoon.

Soda grinned when he saw us pull up. He walked over and stopped by Ashley. "And what can I do for two fine girls who probably should be in school? Ditching? My kinda girl," Soda said.

"We actually got out a couple weeks ago. Some kind of bovine disease," I answered.

"Can you take a look at my engine?" Ashley asked shutting off the engine and twirling a blonde strand around her finger. "There's something not soundin' right up in there and I was hopin' you could fix it." She even went as far as batting her eyelashes at him. Soda grinned then told her to pop the hood. She did so then climbed out and walked around the front end of the car to stand next to him.

I sat there for a while toying with my fingers then got out and walked around the DX. I noticed the garage was closed and figured the mechanic had gone to lunch or something as it was still only just afternoon. Then I spotted the Pepsi Machine. I walked over to it poured over the selection trying to find something. Finally I spotted root beer at the very bottom and paid for it. I cracked the bottle open and slowly drank from it hoping it wouldn't take much longer for Soda to declare there was nothing wrong with the car.

Finally Soda looked up at her and shook his head. "I'm sorry, darlin' but I can't find a single thing wrong with this car. If you want to bring it back in a couple of hours my buddy Steve can take a look at it. He's a whiz with cars. Real natural," Soda said.

"Naw, if you say there's nothing wrong with it, I believe you." Ash said a bit put out. Then she smiled and her flirty smile was back. "I bet you're as smart as you are handsome."

"Well thank ya, darlin'." Soda grinned. "Hey Tore."

I looked away from the newspaper stand and grinned at him. "Hello Soda."

"Why did Tim think you knew Dallas the other day at the rodeo? You know that blond haired cowboy I was sitting with." Soda said.

"I did, well, he reminded me of a boy I used to know. However the one that I used to know would never talk to a girl like that or treat her the way Dallas treated me." I shrugged. "Really, I don't know your friend Dallas."

"Oh." Soda said.

"Why you got to lie?" A voice said behind me as a hand gripped my shoulder. I shoved my elbow backwards into his stomach and then stomped on his foot before spinning around to punch him. My jaw dropped in shock as I saw Tim gripping his stomach.

"Sorry, Tim." I said.

"Remind me never to spook you again." Tim gasped.

"You didn't spook me. I just don't like guys walking up behind me." I answered.

"What are you lying about?" Soda asked.

"Nothing," I said.

"True, she doesn't actually lie. At least not that I've ever caught her doing," Ashley said.

"I didn't ask you little girl." Tim spat.

"Leave her alone, she didn't do anything to you." I answered.

"You stand up for socie girls now?" Tim asked.

"What?" I asked.

"Soc. Kids that live on the south side of town. Rich, preppy kids that think they own the world." Soda said gently.

"We don't live on the south side of town. We live out in the country. I have to admit we probably have a little more money than most but that's what happens when you race horses. I'm already in a bad mood Shepard, don't make it worse."

"Last thing I want to do is piss off a—" Tim started.

"Do you hear that?" I asked cutting him off.

"Hear what?" Soda asked as we went quiet.

There it was again; a soft, gentle whimpering. "There." I said.

"Sounds like a dog in pain." Ashley answered.

I downed the rest of my root beer then headed around the side of the DX to see three guys crowded around something I couldn't see but could hear. Sure enough the whimpering came from the group. The guy in the center drew back his foot and I knew something really bad was about to happen. So I reached up and grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him backwards as hard as I could. He stumbled and fell landing hard on his rear.

"Wanna know what it's like to get kicked when you're down." I kicked him a couple times then heard Ashley call my name.

"Tore, he's not worth it." Ashley said. I pulled away and looked back at Ashley as she knelt on the ground. In front of her was a dog that looked like a large Husky puppy.

"Is that ...?" I asked.

"He's hurt. Neglected too I think." Ashley said.

"Soda, do me a favor, go fill this bottle with water." I said handing him the empty soda bottle. I dropped to my knees, reached a hand out to the puppy, and waited. He bared his teeth and growled. So I held still but he didn't back down. "Tim, back up." I said gently. He did so and it didn't take much longer for the dog to settle. When he did he curiously reached forward and sniffed my hand.

Soda walked up slowly and handed me the bottle that was now cold.

"Ash, give me your bandanna." I demanded.

"What?"

"Now Ash."

She sighed and pulled the bandanna from her ponytail and handed it over.

I draped the bandanna over my hand then held out to the dog and slowly poured the water over the bandanna. The dog saw what I was doing and started lapping at the stream of water. When there was nothing left in the bottle I pulled the bandanna back and wrung it out and smiled as the puppy lapped at the falling water. "Ok buddy, let's see what's wrong with you. I promise I'm not going to hurt ya." I reached for him and though he watched me the best he could, he let me run my hands over him. I couldn't find anything broken and he wasn't bleeding anywhere so I scratched his ears. I also noticed he had very short fur for a Husky and that he was shivering.

"What's wrong with him?" Soda asked.

"Nothing. Might be a bit sore but I don't see anything bleeding or broken and he didn't bite so I think he's just malnourished. Not everyone can handle Siberian Huskies." I shrugged. "Can I borrow your shirt Soda? I think he's cold."

"Why would he be cold?" Tim asked.

"Because it's 69 degrees in May." I answered. "His coat isn't as thick as it should be."

"Don't think about it, Toria. Your dad will flip if you come home with another dog." Ashley said.

"I can't just leave him." I answered as Soda pulled off his blue and red plaid shirt that he was wearing under his DX shirt and over a plain white t-shirt. He handed me the short sleeve shirt and I held it out towards the dog. He sniffed it and lowered his head. I tossed the shirt over the dog. He slowly stopped shivering and I rubbed my hand along his chin.

"Why don't we take him to the shelter?" Ashley asked.

"Because I'll never hear about him again." I said. "You know that's how it goes. They give the owner four days to contact them and if they don't they offer him up for adoption for three days then put them down. They really don't have any room for strays."

"Then we'll take him to the city pound. They've got to have a bigger pound than the one at our wildlife vet's office." Ashley told me.

"Wildlife vet?" Soda asked.

"Our local vet deals with farm animals, wildlife, and domestic animals. The vet's office is also our pound. She's got 12 kennels out back for strays. If not claimed or adopted in a week they put them to sleep. And she can't keep in touch because she's one of three vets for over 50 farms. With how many livestock and domestics she takes care of they don't have time for it." Ash explained.

"Either of you know where the local pound or shelter is?" I asked.

"Yeah, follow me." Tim said. I had forgotten he was there.

"We are not walking." I said looking up. I jumped to my feet and scooped the dog up. He was lighter than he should have been but still not the easiest dog to carry.

"Hadn't planned on it." Tim said walking over to a deep blue or black car. I followed and spotted the name on the front and on the door and my jaw dropped.

"You have a Hudson Hornet?" I asked. "Those things are supposed to be like rare or something."

"1953. It was my dad's car. Know the right people and a little bit of prodding and you can get it looking brand new. Helps with racing it." Tim smirked.

"Personally I prefer a Plymouth Fury for any real driving. My daddy's friend has one and it has a lot of get up and go when you need it." I said. Tim rolled his eyes and climbed into his car. Ashley and I went to her car and climbed in gently settling the dog on my lap then drove to the shelter. Once there Tim followed me and Ash inside and the guy at the desk visibly swallowed then glared at Tim.

"What do you want, Shepard?" The guy asked.

"Now why would I come in here and harass an animal shelter? That's like harassing a day care. I don't do stuff like that. Her." Tim nodded to me.

"We're not a vet clinic, Shepard."

"It's not my dog." I spat. "Stop talking about me like I'm not here."

"It's not your dog?" The guy behind the desk asked standing.

"No, I found him down near the DX station. Nothing feels broken nor is there any bleeding. He needs help. He's a lot lighter than he should be for his size." I said putting the dog down on the floor. He whimpered but stood still.

"You know a lot more than you should kid." The guy said.

"Back off." I snapped.

"Leave her alone Miller, she's having a rough day." Tim warned.

"Listen, Zach, is it?" I asked seeing his name tag. The guy nodded. "I live on a farm. I have two dogs and four horses. I know how feral dogs act and I know how broken bones feel. How long do you keep strays?"

Zack backed up a few steps and swallowed. "A week. Owner doesn't contact us we put them up for adoption for three weeks. After a month if no one wants them we have no choice." Zach answered.

"Good. I'll be back in a week." I took the shirt off the dog then looked at Zach.

"Hold up." Zach said. He walked around to us and the dog went on the defensive again.

"It's alright, buddy." I said kneeling and rubbing a hand down his back. Zach handed me a soft cotton leash and I slipped it over the dog's head. "You're going to be ok, Zach's going to take good care of you."

Just then a vet came out. "Zach? What's going on out here?" She asked.

"I found this puppy beside the DX Station not far from here. I think he's been neglected but I can't find anything else wrong." I answered.

"Well we'll take him back and get him good and looked at then we'll hold on to him until he's either claimed or adopted." She said smiling.

"OK." I agreed. I talked to the puppy a bit more and then the vet took him.

"Now listen here Zach." Tim said as the other boy sat back down behind the counter. "In one week if that dog hasn't been picked up by his owner, you're going to give my girl here a call."

"And if I don't?" Zach said.

"I'll tell your grandma that you were almost arrested the other day. She still plays bridge with my mom, right? Now in one week you will give her a call and you will give her first shot at adopting that puppy."

"And if I don't? "

"You think the arrest is the only thing I have on you? Besides you really don't want to piss off a Winston do you?" Tim asked.

"I don't see Dallas and she's not really his type is she?" Zach asked.

"Enough, Tim. Look kid, no one else is going to care for that dog like I can. And remember I know where you work." I spat. "Later." I said setting a piece of paper with my name and number on the desk before walking out.

"Hey, I wasn't done." Tim said.

"Yeah, well I was, Shepard. I don't want everyone to know I'm related to some pig so do me a favor and stop spreading it around. My last name is Sanders, has been for years." I said.

"Sorry." Tim said. He backed off and Ashley took me home.

"You alright?" She asked as we pulled in the drive.

"Yeah, I guess. I've known Tim for a while but I never expected him to be so ... rough." I shrugged.

"Everyone changes when they grow up." Ash said. I nodded and then went inside.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are nice. So is all the editing I did.