Chapter 14

"...We did... all that we could do..."

Penny put her head back in her hands and started sobbing.
"...And she is going to be alright." Doctor Brinkman continued.
By this time, the associate had left to do her other duties.
Penny stopped crying and looked up at him.
"Really?" Penny asked.
"Yes, young lady." the doctor replied.
"Oh thank god!" Penny praised.
"But..." the doctor started.
Penny payed attention to this.
"But... What?" she asked.
The doctor hesitated.
"...she... She's in a coma." he finished.
Penny sighed.
"Yeah, I know that. That's the way I found her." Penny said.
"Oh." the doctor said.
"But... How long will she be in it?" Penny asked, desperately.
"...I can't tell you that because... Well... I-I don't know how long. It's hard to tell. She was hit... hard." the doctor answered.
Penny sighed.
"...but be patient. She should come out of it. I can't say that she will come out of it soon though." the doctor said.
"Okay." Penny replied.
Before the doctor walked away, Penny asked him a question.
"What went wrong in there?" she asked, her head gesturing to the ER room.
"Her right lung was deflated because she had broken ribs that had punctured it. The lung is okay now though." the doctor answered.
"And the bones... they will heal successfully?" Penny asked.
"They should." the doctor answered.
"If you would like to see her, you may. Remember, she is still in a coma. I have other things to do. I wish you and your dog good luck." the doctor informed Penny, and walked off.
"Thanks." Penny said quietly.
Then Penny's mother walked through the door.

(BACK TO BOLT)

The three Redbone dogs met Bolt...

...with their tails wagging.

"Well, howdy!" the first dog said.
"Hey! I was gonna say that!" the second one said.
"Too late!" the first one replied.
"Knock it off boneheads!" the third one interrupted.
The three Redbones have Southern accents (Southern United States).
Bolt tilted his head because he was confused.
"My name's Billy!" the first one said.
"My name's Bobby!" the second one said.
"My name's Ricky!" the last one said.
"Uh..." Bolt trailed off.
"Don't think we've seen you 'round here before." Bobby said.
"I-I'm from California." Bolt stuttered.
"Wow! You come all the way from California?" Ricky asked.
"Yeah... I'm Bolt." Bolt introduced himself.
"Well, it's mighty nice meetin' ya, Bolt!" all three said at the same time.
Bolt just looked at them, confused.
Then Bobby sighed.
"We do that a lot." he admitted.
"I am taking a guess..." Bolt started.
The three Redbone's ears perked up at this.
"...You guys are... in the same litter?" Bolt finished.
"Yup!" the Billy said.
"Damn straight!" Ricky said.
"Why'd you come all the way here, to Colorado?" the Bobby asked.
"Actually, I'm on my way to Maryland." Bolt answered.
"Maryland?" the three Redbones asked at the same time.
"What's in Maryland?" Ricky asked.
"I'm on my way to find my mate's parents." Bolt answered.
"You gotta mate? What's the gal's name?" Billy asked.
"Yes, well... no. She's not my mate yet. Her name is Maybelle." Bolt answered.
"Maybelle? Is she pertty?" Bobby asked, obnoxiously.
His two brothers stomped on his paws. Bobby yelped.
Bolt chuckled.
"Yes... but she's more than that. Maybelle is the most beautiful female I have ever seen in my life and I love her..." Bolt spaced off, thinking about Maybelle.
He was thinking of the way Maybelle's fur moves in the wind, and the way her tail curls up around her hind quarters, and her heavenly voice, and her beautiful eyes... Oh her twinkling, blue eyes just melts away Bolt's sadness and stress every time he looks at them...
"Well, she sounds lucky. ...To have someone like you to go all the way across the country, to Maryland, to find her parents. You bringin' them back then? ...To California?" Billy asked.
Billy's question brought Bolt back to reality.
"Yes I am. One way, or another." Bolt answered.
"Well... We wish you luck, Bolt. Hope you make Maybelle happier than a sow rollin' 'round in a mud hole." Ricky said.
The truck that Bolt was riding on started up. Bolt looked back at it then back to his new friends.
"Thanks guys. I gotta go. Maybe I'll pass by on my way back to California." Bolt said.
"Any time Bolt. ...Now go make your gal happy." Bobby said.
Bolt nodded and ran back to the truck. He hopped up on the truck, and got in his hiding spot, and they were on their way to Iowa, again.

Phew! Maybelle is alive!
And Bolt has made some new friends!
I reckon you come back now and read my next chapters to continue with Bolt on his new journey, ya hear?!

Please review!