most of the night. Amelia came out to talk with Stella around four in the morning, looking exhausted. She looked around the waiting room and shook her head.
“Bailey’s alive, Stella. He’s very strong and a fighter. That’s what we have going for us. That and, shockingly, the knife missed most vital organs. He lost so much blood, though. If you hadn’t gotten him here as fast as you did, he wouldn’t have made it. It was good thinking, tying your shirt so tight around him. That saved his life. He’ll need to stay. There’s one wound I don’t like the look of. He’s not entirely out of the woods yet. I’ll stay with him tonight around the clock. If I need a break, I’ll have Vincent stay. He’s volunteered, anyway.”
“I can stay if you tell me what to watch for,” Stella volunteered.
“No, hon, you go on home. Let me do this. I’ll stay in touch and you can call me anytime to ask questions,” Amelia assured. “Do you know who did this, or why?”
Stella shook her head. “I have no idea. None. It makes no sense.”
“He’s a beautiful animal. I’ll watch over him for you. You all need to go on home.”
Stella and Sam stood, knowing that if they didn’t, everyone would stay. The food and drink were mostly gone, but they indicated to the vet that she was welcome to have something if she wanted it. Stella was just grateful Bailey was still alive. She looked around the room at all her friends, friends who were like family to her. When she tried to thank them, she choked up.
Denver dropped a kiss on top of her head, held the door open for the others to file out and then said simply, “It’s Bailey, Stella.”
That really said it all.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Roy and Bernice Fulton, the only couple who lived and worked on the property full-time, had left a note on the front door for them. Stella was too tired to even ask Sam what it was about, although she should have, because poor Sonny might have been really injured. Although he seemed to be talking to the deputy, Mary Shelton, quite a bit by the time Griffen was helping her prepare Bailey for his ride down the mountain. Sonny even had a flirtatious note in his voice.
Stella collapsed in her bed and cried herself to sleep, vaguely aware of Sam sliding in beside her, wrapping his body protectively around hers. She fell asleep cocooned by his warmth. As always with Sam, she woke to exactly what she needed. He had her coffee and the latest news on Bailey. Her dog had lived through the night, had another blood transfusion and seemed stronger. He’d been stabbed four times, and each wound had to be stitched inside and out. Fortunately, none had been to his chest cavity or he never would have survived. The idea that someone had attacked him in such a vicious manner sickened her.
Sonny was fine. Mary had taken him to the hospital just to be certain he was okay. He had a small bump on the head and some bruising around it, but there was no laceration. He was told to go home and rest. That was a relief, that he hadn’t been really hurt. Bailey must have interrupted whatever the watcher had planned on doing to Sonny.
She showered and dressed while Sam made breakfast. “Scared me last night, woman,” Sam said as he put the plate with the egg scramble in front of her. “I detested the fact that I wasn’t home with you and couldn’t get to you and Bailey when you needed me most.”
She wrapped the scramble in the warm tortilla like a burrito. “You might have been stabbed instead of Bailey, Sam. Do you think this person watching us is the killer?”
“I’ve asked myself that a million times. It seems too coincidental for it not to be. The timing is just too close.”
“But that would mean he would know who I am.” She tried not to look or sound alarmed.
“Not necessarily. He could have other motivation for stalking you. The Fultons left us a note last night. It was pinned to the front door. The alarm went off while we were gone. Right after the deputy left with Sonny, which means the watcher was hanging around waiting for them to leave. He came up to the house and tried to get in. The alarm was on.”
She nodded, her mouth full of food. He was really