Thomas ran through the rain, jacket held close to his chest. The puppy barely moved, its tiny heartbeat fluttering weakly against his palm.
He reached the truck and turned on the heat full blast, placing the pup inside a dry towel from his toolbox. “Stay with me, little one,” he murmured.
Then he sprinted back toward the mother dog. Each step sank deeper into the mud, the rain cutting sideways across his face.
When he reached her, she hadn’t moved. Her eyes met his again—pleading, trusting. He knew she wouldn’t last much longer if he didn’t act now.
