Rock Harbor Series - 03 - Into the Deep by Colleen Coble Page A

loudly in her ears, and she felt faint. She reached out and touched the dog. Warm. And his chest was still moving up and down. Relief came in a sweet flood. “He’ll be okay, sweetheart. He’s just sleeping.” She saw the dart on the dog’s flank and pulled it out. She started to toss it away with an angry gesture, but instead laid it on the ground. Mason might need it for evidence.
    “Where’s Aunt Hilary?”
    “In the house with Uncle Mason.” Davy rubbed at his eyes. “I want to play ball with Sam.”
    “Dr. Meeks is on his way here. He’ll take care of Sam.” She needed to check on Hilary but couldn’t tear herself away from Davy and Samson until more help arrived.
    Why Samson? Did someone need to use him to locate something or someone? His tracking ability was the only thing that set Samson apart from other dogs. But if that’s what it was, all they had to do was ask for her help, and she’d gladly give it. And Davy could have been hurt as well.
    “Make him wake up, Mommy,” Davy sobbed again. He buried his face against her shirt.
    “The vet will be here any minute,” she said, hugging him.
    The ambulance screamed down the street and stopped in front of the house. Bree looked up from her intent concentration on her dog. “Was Aunt Hilary hurt?”
    Davy nodded. “She was holding her tummy and crying.”
    Bree winced and closed her eyes. Please God, let Hilary and the baby be all right. She stood with Davy in her arms as another car pulled in behind the ambulance. She recognized the vet’s car. The paramedics raced past her, and she waited until Dr. Meeks knelt by Samson.
    “I’ll take care of him,” the vet promised, opening his bag.
    She put Davy down. “You stay here in case Samson wakes up and needs you,” she told him. She dreaded to see what was happening inside the house.
    Hilary’s sobs, mingled with Mason’s deep, soothing voice, came through the bedroom door. A hopeless quality about her sister-in-law’s cries broke Bree’s heart. She walked slowly toward the bedroom. Reaching the doorway, she paused and peeked inside. Papers were strewn on the floor, probably from the book Hilary had been working on. The paramedics were taking Hilary’s vitals. Mason held her hand. Her mascara had run in rivulets down her face.
    “Hil?” Bree said softly.
    Hilary’s face crumpled still further. “I lost the baby, Bree.”
    “Oh no.” Bree closed her eyes, but the tears leaked out anyway. She went to the bed and sank to her knees. “I’m so sorry, Hil. Has anyone called your mom?”
    Mason nodded. “I did. She’s on her way.”
    Bree didn’t know what to say. She reached out and squeezed Hilary’s hand. The comforting words she wanted to say felt trite. Only God knew if Hilary could get pregnant again. It had been a miracle the first time, and Bree wasn’t sure if God would grant more than one of this type.
    “Di . . . did the man hit you, Hil?”
    Hilary just shook her head without answering. Mason slid a sidelong glance at Bree. “She ran outside when the guy tried to take Samson. The pregnancy was already pretty shaky.” His voice trembled.
    Guilt swept over Bree. If Davy and Samson had been with her, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
    “Not your fault,” Mason said.
    Hilary turned her head away, and Bree wondered if it was because she couldn’t bear to look at her. Maybe she was being too sensitive, but she could almost feel the accusation radiating from Hilary.
    “Kulta,” Anu whispered from the doorway.
    She went to her daughter’s side, and Bree tiptoed out of the room. She felt aimless and wished Kade were here to hold her. Wrapping her arms around herself, she went outside.
    “How’s Samson?” she asked the vet.
    “Drugged. He’s going to be okay, maybe tired and achy for a few hours. But he’s strong. I gave him something to counteract the sedative, and he should be rousing soon. See he gets plenty of water.” The vet