When a woman moves into the sleepy town, it rouses everyone's tongues to start wagging. She is strange and distant in her manner. Tia Frost is blissfully unaware of the townsfolk's discomfort with her. With Burt at her side, she wonders about the wo...
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Two days since the last time Tobin and I went to town, and today we have to go again. I don't want to go there but... Tobin stroked Burt's head as he lay whimpering.
I picked up the phone and dialled. "Hello?"
"Is this Roland?"
The voice on the other end sounded confused. "Yes, who is this?"
"Tia.. I hate to ask but, can you come and pick us up?"
There was a sound on the end of the line like he covered the handset to talk to someone else and then he answered me. "Of course. Can I ask why?"
"Burt... I think he's been poisoned."
I heard him yell at someone in the background. "On my way!" He said to me then the line went dead.
He hung up and I dropped the phone. Tobin looked up at me, his eyes were puffy from crying. "Is he dying?"
"Not if I can help it. Now go get ready and pack up his things." Tobin ran off to do what I'd asked. I knelt stroking Burts fur. "Hang on Burt. We will get you help, no matter the cost." He whimpered again and gave a single wag of his tail.
After about 20 minutes I heard a car screeching to a halt on my drive and two doors open. The front door flew open as Maverick and Roland ran in. Maverick laid a blanket over Burt and lifted him. Tobin came over with a bag he had made, full of Burt's things. "He needs his things." Tobin said.
Roland took the bag from Tobin. "Of course, I'll put them in the car."
Maverick walked out carrying Burt. Roland took my arm gently as I stood to follow. "Maverick and you can take the car. I'll stay here with Tobin if you're alright with that." Roland said.
"Good idea." He handed me the bag and let me go, then followed me outside. "Tobin, Roland is staying here with you. I need you to listen to him and explain the rules."
"I know the rules. Maverick told me. I understand children come first" Tobin nodded and took his hand.
They both walked into the house and I hurried to the car. Maverick drove off almost before I had closed the door, and headed to the local vet like a madman.
He was waiting for us outside the veterinary office. The vet ran over as soon as the car stopped with one of his nurses. I didn't want to get in the way, so I sat in the passenger seat until Burt was rushed past me.
I got out and the vet walked up to me. "I'll do anything I can to save him."
"No matter the cost! I'll pay anything for his recovery." He nodded and hurried off after his nurse.
"No matter the cost huh?"
Maverick was holding my door. "He's more than just a dog Maverick."
"I know that Tia. I'm just worried about how much it will cost."
