Renegade (Tin Star K9 Series Book 1) by Jodi Burnett (literature books to read .txt) 📗

he dug his fingers into Renegade’s fur. He didn’t find a pulse, but he could feel the dog breathing. “Renegade’s here, right next to you, Catie. He’s alive. You’re both going to be fine.” He didn’t have the right to make that promise. But he said it anyway.

“Water?”

“Sure, let me get you some.” Colt jumped to his feet and attempted to turn on the kitchen light. When it didn’t respond, a puzzle piece fell into place. He had been to a lot of these small cabins and knew the breaker box was usually on the back porch. Colt made his way outside and found what he expected. Someone had switched off the electricity. No surprise there. He flipped on the lever, and light flooded the tiny cabin. On his way back to Caitlyn, he filled a glass with water.

Kneeling beside her, Colt helped her sit up enough to take a small drink. “You have a head injury. Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“Just scrapes and bruises, I think.”

“Do you know who did this to you?”

“No. I never saw his face.” Caitlyn’s scrunched her eyes against the pain and a tear pushed out the corner of one eye and tracked down her bloodied cheek.

“Whoever it was, left you both for dead.”

Caitlyn’s head barely bobbed in agreement. “We need to help Ren. Call the emergency vet number.” She opened her eyes and turned her head. Colt followed her gaze to the refrigerator. The vet’s magnetized business card was the only thing stuck to the front of the appliance. Colt laid her head softly on the carpet and went to get the number. He made the call and described what he could of Renegade’s injuries. Then he told the vet he’d bring the dog in as soon as possible.

By the time he finished speaking to Dr. Moore, Caitlyn had climbed to her feet. She was testing out her limbs when she clutched her forearm. “Ah!”

Colt rushed to her side. It gutted him to see her in such pain with dried blood on her face and in her hair. “I’m calling an ambulance, whether or not you want one. They can take care of you while I drive Renegade to the vet. You need to sit down. I’ll call the sheriff and he can start an investigation.” Seeing Caitlyn weak and vulnerable, knowing she could have been killed, stirred a feral sort of protectiveness in him. He didn’t want to leave her side, but Renegade needed emergency care too. At least that was something Colt could do for the brave woman he held in his arms.

Caitlyn protested, but he dialed the paramedics, anyway. Helpless to do anything more, he started a pot of coffee. Caitlyn refused to leave Renegade’s side, so he brought her a steaming mug when it was ready. The sun seeped into the morning and warmed the day.

“Help will be here soon. How’s Ren doing?” Caitlyn’s dog lay propped on his forelegs and he raised his head. His ears perked straight up, though blood caked his fur. “He looks like he’s feeling a little better, anyway.” Colt stroked the dog’s battered head and checked over the rest of Renegade’s body the best he could. The fur on his head was sticky and matted with blood, the same red glistened at the side of his mouth. Slivers of glass pierced his paws. “Poor guy. I’ll have you taken care of as soon as they come to get your mom.” Renegade whined in response. “I called the sheriff. He wasn’t in the office yet, so I asked dispatch to tell him to meet me here. He should be here soon.” Minutes later tires sounded on the gravel drive.

Sheriff Tackett knocked once on the already open door. “What happened here?” he said speculatively as he scanned the destruction. He stepped into the room, adjusting his jacket, and Colt stood. “Are you all right, Ms. Reed?”

“An intruder was hiding inside Caitlyn’s house when she got home last night, and he attacked her. Renegade was outside, and he broke in through the window to protect her. An ambulance is on the way. As soon as it gets here, I’m taking Catie’s dog to the vet. Then I’ll come back here to help you investigate the crime.”

The sheriff ran a hand down the length of his face. “I’m still in charge around here, Deputy.”

Colt ground his teeth and looked away so Tackett couldn’t see his irritation.

“No matter. Sounds like a good plan, except for one thing. I’ll be following the ambulance to the clinic, because as soon as Ms. Reed is well enough to leave there, I’ll be taking her to the jail.” The sheriff shifted to a wide leg stance. He crossed his arms, grimaced, and slid his hands to his hips instead.

21

“What?” Caitlyn and Colt shouted together.

“What are you talking about, Sheriff?” Caitlyn limped one step toward him. Her body was on fire.

“I got the preliminary ballistics reports back and they show the bullet that killed Wendy definitely came from a 9mm pistol, and the casing found at the scene has a partial print on it. I’m betting it’s yours. I need to take you in for questioning and to get your fingerprints. I think this additional evidence explains why you’ve been sticking your nose into this investigation. You’ve been hoping to distract us from the truth. Right now, I want to figure out if you were trying to frame your brother, or if you’re in cahoots with him.”

Caitlyn felt as though someone had run her over with a semi, and Colt looked the same. He gaped at her. “Catie?”

“That’s not possible, Sheriff.” She turned to Colt and held out her uninjured arm in a plea for understanding. “You don’t believe this, do you?”

“That report comes from the crime lab, Caitlyn. It’s not just the Sheriff’s opinion.” Colt’s face paled under his dark blond morning whiskers, and he dropped his gaze to the floor. He swallowed several times, looking as though he might be sick.