had survived worse and she was determined to get her hands on the little dog before it disappeared. Too proud to let the pain show on her face, she rolled off the bonnet, gritted her teeth and crouched down to see where the animal had gone after it disappeared between the front wheels.
Did you see it??Lauren yelled desperately, as Zara jumped out of the car.
Eee what??Zara steamed. Are you off your rocker, running out without looking like that? I nearly flattened you.?
T'll chasing after a puppy,?Lauren explained, as she stood back up.
Ttt in the bloody road,?Ryan yelled, as he raced around the passenger side of the car.
Zara and Lauren both looked around to see the small brown and white dog standing in the middle of the road, panting and turning its head around as if it couldn't decide which way to go. A second later, a small Nissan rounded the gently curved road and skimmed over the pup at more than fifty miles an hour.
So!?Lauren squealed, covering her eyes and expecting the worst. But Ryan kept his head and dashed on to the tarmac. The dog had been swept off its feet by the turbulent air beneath the car and Ryan grabbed the confused animal before it knew what had almost hit it.
Ryant momentum carried him on to the other side of the carriageway and a truck holding a loaded skip blasted its horn and swerved as he reached the verge and skidded down a slight embankment, crashing into a tangle of wild flowers.
Lauren and Zara let a couple more cars pass before running through a break in the traffic. Lauren was massively relieved to see that Ryan had managed to keep the wriggling dog clutched firmly between his hands.
Are you hurt??she asked.
TEl live,?Ryan puffed, as Zara gave him a hand up. But that truck aged me a few years.?
Tou know what??Lauren grinned. T recognise that dog: the brown face and the one eye slightly lower than the other. Itt the first one we cleaned last night.?
Ryan smiled as he turned the dog towards himself and looked into its eyes. The poor fella needs a good drink to cool down. I feel like I'll holding a hot water bottle.?
That are we gonna do with him??Lauren asked.
Can't leave him here on his tod,?Ryan said. TeEl have to take him back to the cottage.?
Ne can share my room,?Lauren grinned. T think this is fate ?Ire always wanted a dog.?
Mnly for a few days, until we can find somewhere else for him to go,?Zara said tautly. Mnly red shirts are allowed pets, so don't let yourself get too fond of him.?
And itt pretty dodgy,?Ryan added. Me living in a house with a beagle pup when the Alliance just rescued seventy-three of them.?
Meatball,?Lauren smiled, ignoring all the warnings. T'll gonna call him Meatball.?
22. JULY
Three weeks later
It was a beautiful July day and James came in from school with his shirtsleeves rolled up and sweat glistening on his forehead.
T'll home,?he shouted.
Zara yelled something back from the kitchen as James cut into the living-room. Meatball stood up and padded over with his tail wagging. Her almost doubled in size since Lauren had chased him around the stables and while there were various sound reasons for getting rid of the puppy, in the end nobody had the heart to do it.
Ney dude,?James grinned, as he crouched down and swept his hand through the dogt brown and white coat. Tou're hot aren't you? Never mind, youre had both your injections now. YouEl be safe to go outside for walkies in another week.?
Meatball rolled on to his back and let James tickle his belly.
Aren't you a cutie pie??James smiled. Theret your ball??
He reached under an armchair and grabbed a pink rubber ball. Meatball knew what this meant and sprang up excitedly as James lobbed the ball behind the sofa. The dog spun around and raced behind the furniture, emerging at the other end with the ball in his mouth.
Aren't you a clever boy??
While Meatball had grasped the idea of fetching a ball, he was less keen on letting go once he had it. As James tried prising the ball from Meatballt mouth, the little dog narrowed his eyes and growled for all he was worth.
Aood boy,?James grinned, when Meatball finally let go.
James leaned in close and stroked the dog, then let him lick his cheek. He couldn't help but love the puppy as he looked into his docile brown eyes. After another lick, James picked Meatball off the carpet