A Breed Apart Trilogy by Ronie Kendig

Author:Ronie Kendig [Kendig, Ronie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-63409-152-7
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2014-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

“He’s dehydrated.”

“I’ll grab the water.” Timbrel jogged off.

Whimpering, Talon panted and paced, his tail flicking, but Aspen kept a tight lead on him to keep him in the shade and from wearing himself out. “Talon, heel. Sit. Stay.”

He complied, his belly jiggling in and out rapidly beneath the frenetic panting. She glanced back to the vehicles. Timbrel and Candyman were digging through a bag, searching. He must’ve made some comment because Timbrel shoved him. He grabbed the edge of the vehicle to catch himself. She was sure a smile hid beneath that gnarly beard.

Whimpering tugged her attention back to her partner. She smoothed a hand over his coat. “Easy, boy.”

Talon had all the earmarks of dehydration or heat exhaustion. Jibril’s sister, Khaterah, had warned her to watch for it.

Still whimpering, Talon lowered himself to the ground and lay on his side. His panting was ramping up. She checked his gums and cringed. Losing pigmentation. “C’mon,” she called to Timbrel.

“Here, here.” Timmy dropped the bottles.

Once she uncapped the bottle, Aspen doused Talon with the water, coaxing the liquid into his dense fur. Dogs only sweat through their bellies and the pads of their feet, which was why in this heat, she had avoided using the protective paw covers, though with the raw pad of his right foot, she feared they might have to use them.

They tugged out a collapsible waterproof nylon bowl and filled it so Talon could lap up the water. “It’s okay, Talon. You’re going to be fine.” He fed off her emotions, so she worked to stay calm and confident—two things she wasn’t feeling right now. As he drank, she doused him again. “It’s too hot.”

“I’d turn down the heat, but it seems the man upstairs likes it hot here.” Candyman stood over them, his headgear, keffiyeh, and vest making him look forbidding. When he spoke she wasn’t sure whether to laugh or what. She’d seen him in Afghanistan and the guy had been as cool and at ease as if he were back home at a barbecue—just like today.

Aspen poured another bottle over Talon and noted, with pleasure, that his panting had grown a little more regular and had slowed. “I knew you’d reset, buddy.” She rubbed the spot between his eyes, and he slumped back, totally relaxed.

“Here they come,” Candyman said.

Aspen swiped the sweat from her forehead as she looked toward the huts.

A group emerged with the sultan explaining something to Dane. The two had talked for more than thirty minutes beneath the shade of these trees. With one leg drawn close and the other hooked, Dane had seemed so at home. Was there anywhere he didn’t manage to fit in? Fresh waves of respect and admiration sluiced through her. And, of course, the younger, unmarried women—at least she hoped they were unmarried, or maybe it would be better if they were married—trailed Dane like lovesick puppies.

His gaze slid across the open area and rammed right into hers. She felt it. All the way in the pit of her belly.

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