Free Rescue (Emily and Mason) by Nadene Seiters Page B

wouldn’t welcome the touch.
    She meets my eyes and immediately takes the opportunity to
remove herself from the situation. If I weren’t fuming right now about the way
Taylor tries to gain her attention back by actually putting his hand on her,
I’d be ecstatic that she actually looked at me for help. Before I can get fired
by intervening with a fist, Gail clears her throat to get Taylor’s attention
and make him realize why Emily looked away from him.
    “We’re going to do Baby now. Emily, would you like to help?”
The relief on Emily’s face is obvious, but Taylor’s hand doesn’t leave her arm.
    “Emily and I were discussing what to do with Baby. My
professional opinion is that she’s ready for a home now, but Emily seems to
think that Baby needs a few more weeks.” I would bet a million dollars that’s
not what Taylor was trying to get at with Emily, but she won’t meet my eyes
now. She takes a step back from the veterinarian and busies herself with
opening up Baby’s pen.
    “She’s not ready to go home with someone, not yet.” I nod in
agreement with her, looking at Gail for confirmation. The woman just stands
there, unsure of what to say. She’s under Taylor Warren in the chain of
command, and apparently before I got here it was what he says goes. So when
Gail doesn’t say anything against Baby being put up for adoption, Taylor takes
that as an acceptance.
    “Regardless of two nonprofessional’s opinions, we’re taking
down the sign.” I bristle at his statement, but a warning look from Gail has me
keeping my mouth shut tight. When we’re done giving Baby her shot and move on
to the next pen, Emily stays with Baby. She looks concerned about the sign
being taken down for tomorrow.
    Taylor has long left the scene by the time I arrive back at
Baby’s cage, telling Gail I’ll catch up with her shortly. Emily’s face is
forlorn as she rubs the German shepherd’s ears, her fingers fumbling along in
the fur. I think before I got here she might have been crying.
    “We’ll figure something out,” I tell her softly, leaning my
shoulder against the pen frame as I cross my arms over my chest. I have to do
something with them to stop from pulling Emily into a hug again. She hasn’t
said she’s see me tomorrow at lunch yet.
    “I should just call the owner of this place and let him know
that Taylor’s walking around like a bulldog ever since-” Emily cuts herself off
quickly, glancing up at me with a worried expression.
    “Ever since what?” I have a feeling I’m not going to like
the answer.
    “It’s nothing,” Emily tells me quickly, shrugging one
shoulder. I’m about to push the issue, but I remember that Emily doesn’t like
to be pushed.
    “Alright, like I said, we’ll figure something out.” I have
one thing in mind, it’s drastic, but it’ll have to do if I can get it all
together by tomorrow. Right now, Emily has to tend to the puppy back in one of
the empty medical exam rooms, and I have to find Gail. Just as I’m about to
leave, Emily puts a gentle hand on my arm. She looks at me with a flush on her
cheeks, but her eyes never waver.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow at lunch,” she tells me, and then she
lets me go. I don’t show her how relieved I am of that statement, not wanting
to frighten her off. I just nod and leave the room to find my supervisor.

Chapter Eight
    Emily
    I’m lying in bed, the sunlight hitting my sheets that are
over top of my head. I’ve had this dream so many times that I know what to
expect when I turn my head to my left, so this time I don’t. Instead, I close
my eyes in the dream and focus on breathing in and out, trying to ignore the
smell of Gain. I feel someone touch my shoulder hesitantly and try not to
cringe at the physical contact.
    “I’m sorry,” I hear her voice whisper all around me, echoing
off the walls gently, quietly. It’s strange how our subconscious tells us
exactly what we want to hear. I squirm away from the bony hand and