Beast by Debra Anastasia

Author:Debra Anastasia [Anastasia, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781543270853
Amazon: 1543270859
Goodreads: 34384644
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2017-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Dick

Hendrix had jumped right into the hectic-ness that was helping road kill. This little coon mama was in rough shape now, but I had some hope. The color of her gums was good and her reflexes were still intact.

I had tried to protect her spine and neck while I had transported her. But every bump and turn had concerned me. I was grateful to have help with the doors and the driving.

This raccoon was going to have cubs. If I couldn’t nurse the mom back to health, there was little I could do for newborns. And I’d hate for this rescue to turn gruesome for Hendrix. She acted like she’d been helping raccoons her whole life.

I checked the raccoon’s heartbeat and her breathing seemed to even out as she warmed up and got some fluids. My next concern came to light when the patient started blinking awake.

Raccoons with babies would be next level aggressive. I wasn’t sure if this one’s instinct would already be full-blown with how pregnant she was. My suspicion was that she’d had human contact in the past because of the way she had grabbed my finger at the scene of the accident.

When she came to again, she reached for my hand and I held it out. She grabbed my finger and made no motion to try and bite me.

Hendrix was over my left shoulder, watching. “So, sleeping beauty likes fingers, huh?”

I laughed a little. “So far so good.”

I could feel Hendrix breath on my bare shoulder. She was so close to me without my hoodie on to protect her from my muscles. I felt goose bumps go up my neck. She could see me. In the full light of the basement.

I waited for her to comment. There were so many things she could say. My brain preloaded the worst it could come up with so I would be prepared.

Disgusting.

Repulsive.

Caveman.

Animal.

“Beauty,” Hendrix whispered against my skin.

“What?” I almost didn’t understand what she said; I’d been so focused on waiting for the bad stuff.

“Let’s name her Beauty. Because she’s so sweet.” Hendrix put her hand on my shoulder.

I had to swallow. My guard was up and letting it down was never easy. “That’s fine, but be careful touching me. You might catch too many feelings. If you faint, I won’t be able to take care of Beauty.”

Hendrix removed her hand and stepped back. “Sure thing.”

I’d ruined the moment. It was for the beast…I mean best.

It was for the best.

***

When Beauty came around, we had her cage ready. She needed a safe place to give birth so Hendrix and I flipped a cardboard box upside down and put some pillows from the sofa upstairs inside.

She was close to the furnace, so I knew she would stay warm. I was sitting on the floor in front of the cage with my phone out Googling raccoon births. I needed to know if it was safer to keep Beauty here with me—in my gut it was --but still. I wanted all the information I could get.

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