ruins along the road. Trees were washed away. Debris still littered some of the properties along the road. It was the same area that Calvin had once lived before the flood took his trailer and destroyed almost everything he’d owned. He had been forced to live on the streets until I talked to him one day outside the diner and realized I couldn’t just give him a dollar and walk away. His social security and military disability didn’t cover much, so I helped him into his new home - made sure it was furnished and everything. But I didn’t know where everyone else had landed. Hopefully they had homes too.
I also feared the worst for the rescue. The site had mentioned that it was closed, but it was hard to believe it was salvaged.
My GPS chimed, “Destination is on the right in half a mile.”
“I guess I’ll find out if it’s still operating,” I told myself.
There was a sign alongside the road, damaged and barely hanging on. I pulled into the driveway and drove up a steep hill, and I thought maybe the hill had saved the property - but all hope was squashed as soon as I saw the place.
The building was in piss poor shape, with only part of it still standing and extensive water damage to most of it. I had a feeling she was no longer operating and closed for business. In the distance, on the same property, I saw a house. I assumed the owner of the rescue lived there. It was even further up the hill and seemed to be in one piece, looking solid and standing, which was good.
I hesitated inside my truck, wondering if I should even bother. I heard a voice coming from near the building, however, and decided if Danielle was there, I could at least introduce myself. Perhaps she was still working.
I got out of the truck and walked toward the wreckage.
“Who’s there?” a voice called out a second before its owner came out from behind the damaged building.
I stopped in place, feeling like my heart had stopped along with my feet.
“Who are you?” she asked, her deep, sapphire blue eyes giving me a once over.
She was petite - only 5’4” or so, but she had curves that would give these mountain roads a run for their money. Even in her jeans and flannel jacket, I could tell she had a body many women would have killed for. A perfect hourglass, if I’d ever seen one. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, tendrils of hair falling around her soft, feminine face.
Her hands on her hips, she lifted an eyebrow at me.
“Uhh, sorry, are you Danielle?”
“Maybe. I asked who you were, and you’ve still not answered me,” she retorted.
“Oh, right,” I said, at a loss for words - a first for me. I reached out my hand. “Sorry, I’m Mason Harvey. I saw that you trained emotional support dogs online - one of the best in the business, according to your reviews.”
And I wouldn’t mind taking you out for dinner sometime, I thought to myself. It had been a while since anyone had captured my attention the way Danielle had. I didn’t typically date, but I was having second thoughts on that philosophy, thanks to one look at her.
“I do,” she said, her face softening a bit. “I’m sorry if I was a bit harsh. It’s just, well, not many people stop by without calling first, especially considering the mess and all. One second, please?” She turned and called, “Skyler, don’t wander off too far, ya hear?”
I don’t know how I missed it, but behind her, not far at all, was a little girl with blonde pigtails. I must have been so distracted by the beauty of Danielle that I hadn’t noticed the child. She looked up when she heard her name, and her blue eyes rivaled those of her mother’s in intensity. In her arms was a little black kitten.
“I found him, Mama,” the little girl said as she bounced toward Danielle. She held up the kitten as if to show him off.
“I told you she couldn’t have gone far,” Danielle said, kneeling to pat the fluffy kitten on the head. “Did you decide on a name for her yet?”
Skyler shook her head, pigtails bouncing around her head.
“I’m sure we’ll come up with something good soon,” Danielle said softly. She looked at her daughter with such love in her eyes. “You always come up