Running Wild(Wild #3)(86)

“That never happened with the other dogs.” Reed sits across from me, his face grim, his arms tucked around his body. This experience has rattled him.

“You’ve seen a lot of puppies born?” Tyler mentioned Reed’s parents—Mila’s father and stepmother—being avid mushers themselves.

“Fair amount. They always just came out.”

“I’m sure the dogs giving birth didn’t think it was so easy. But you were right to call me.” I reach out and gently scratch Nala’s head again. She doesn’t so much as twitch at my invasion of her space. “She’ll be fine.” Aside from the first pup, the others delivered without issue.

“You don’t have to stay. I mean, I know you’re busy with people and animals and stuff,” he stammers. “I just mean, if you have to go, it’s okay. I’m good now. I can take care of them from here.”

“I know you can.” I sense that Reed takes great pride in his responsibility for these dogs while Tyler is away. And Jed Carling is expecting me. But Cory’s already warned him I’ll be a few hours late. “Tyler’s almost back, though, right? I might as well wait a bit longer.” I mock cringe. “How mad do you think he’ll be about the whole gate thing?”

Reed frowns, as if seriously considering this question. “He can replace the gate. He can’t replace Nala,” he says with a degree of finality that makes me smile.

“You’re right.” And if I know Tyler like I think I do, he won’t value anything above these dogs.

“He should be home any minute.” Reed checks his watch and brushes a hand through his mop of curly dark hair to sweep it away from his eyes. It’s gotten long in the last few weeks and could use a cut. If I could get him to my place, I’ll bet Vicki would love to take her scissors to it.

Reed’s cheeks flush, and I realize I’m staring at the poor kid.

“Tyler told me this was your sister’s team?”

He nods toward the exhausted new mother. “She was Mila’s favorite. Her and Tank.”

“Did you get to see Mila a lot, growing up?” How well did they know each other, living on different sides of the world, years apart, sharing nothing more than a father?

“Not a lot, no.” Reed smiles then, and it’s such a boyish, genuine grin, with a hint of a dimple in his left cheek. “She used to call me all the time, though. And I went to Finland to visit her once. Tero and Anja invited me. That was a good time.” The words tumble from him now, that veil of timidity that normally holds him back lifting. But the smile slips away as easily as it came, replaced by a pensive look.

“I’ll bet you miss her. I can’t imagine losing either of my sisters like that.” No matter how big a thorn in my side Liz may be, her absence would leave a gaping hole ten times larger, filling up with regret for all the ways we should have been better to each other.

He bobs his head, the move sending his hair falling into his eyes again. He pushes it away.

“Tyler told me you want a team to mush? Maybe these pups will end up on your team.”

“Yeah, maybe.” His lips purse, as if weighing the possibilities.

Ten minutes later, a truck door slams outside the barn, and a chorus of dogs howl in greeting. Footfalls approach in a rush.

My blood pulses in my ears just at the anticipation of seeing Tyler again.

The door creaks open, and he pokes his head in cautiously. His eyes go first to Nala and then to the suckling puppies, and then to me, on the floor, my legs stretched out, my rain boots crossed at the ankles. He’s still in uniform, though missing the vest. His pant legs are soaked from the rain. An odd mix of relief and panic fills his face.

“Where’s Reed?” he asks as he pushes the door farther open until it bumps into Reed’s leg, matching my position but against the other wall. “There you are.” He studies his brother-in-law’s face a moment, and they seem to share unspoken words before he asks, “You good?”

Reed hesitates but then nods.

Nala hears Tyler’s voice, and her tail swishes in greeting.

“Hey, girl.” He eases in and shuts the door behind him, then settles between me and her.

I shift over to give him room, but there isn’t much to give, and we end up sitting side by side, our shoulders pressed against each other.

“You did good,” he murmurs.

She rests her cheek on his palm and watches him through tired eyes.

With a heavy sigh, he leans back against the wall beside me. “I was out looking for a lost hiker all day. I didn’t get any of your messages until I drove to a signal spot.”

“Did you find her? The hiker?” Reed asks.

“Yeah. She got chased off a trail by a bear and couldn’t find her way back, but she’s fine.”

Reed hoists himself up. “I’m gonna go check on everyone else.” He stalls at the door as he brushes his hair aside. “See you around, Marie.”

“Soon enough, I’m sure.” I smile at his retreating back until the door is shut tight, keeping the damp air out.

But Tyler’s not smiling. “We knew when I left this morning that she was going to have them. I was going to call in sick, but Reed said he could manage it. I shouldn’t have left him here alone like that. I’m an idiot.” His jaw is taut with tension.