He laid her gently on the truck seat beside the pup, both wrapped in the same towel. The little one stirred, its nose nudging against its mother’s chest.
“That’s it,” Thomas whispered. “Stay awake, both of you.” He started the engine, heater roaring to life, fog steaming up the windshield.
The mother’s breathing was shallow but steady. The pup whimpered again, and for the first time, the dog turned her head slightly toward the sound.
Thomas exhaled in relief, wiping mud from his eyes. “You’re fighters, huh?” he said softly. “Both of you.”
