Rescue (Part Three)

Rescue (Part Three)

Part Three: Side by side

My dog and I swam side by side, as we headed back across the ditch. Now, he seemed absolutely fearless. It was as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself and felt perfectly safe swimming along side of me.

As we reached the other side, we climbed out together. He stood beside the car and shook himself dry, acting as if absolutely nothing had happened. I pulled off my sopping wet jacket and wrapped him up in it gently, lifted him up and carried him to the back seat of the warm car.

I was very wet. I pulled off my runners and my wet socks to wring them out, as I sat in the car to warm up. My dog, starting to come to life again, shoved the green ski jacket off his back and started to lick himself dry.

Every once in a while, he would lick my face again, as if he knew that he had been rescued. It was as if he was saying 'thankyou' in his own way. Finally, I grabbed the sopping wet jacket from the back seat and tossed it into the trunk of the car and headed homeward.

We were still about ten miles or so from the motel. The warmth of the heater felt good. Butch simply fell asleep on the back seat of the car. As I pulled into the motel parking lot, I was hoping against hope that no one would see us. I was warmer by then, but rather bedraggled looking.

As luck would have it, the owner of the motel was right by the stairway to my second floor unit.

"See you and your dog have been out for the day!" he hollered, as we got out of the car. "How was your day?"

I didn't want to tell him what had happened.

"You are all wet!" he said as he looked at me a bit closer. I bent over to put on my runners, as he came closer to pet the dog.

"Have a really great evening," he said, as he walked away.

I think he was smart enough not to ask me any questions at that time. I was not about to tell him what had happened.

"You too," I replied. Little did he know what had transpired.

Someday, I decided, but not right now, I will tell the story of how I rescued my dog. Imagine the headlines..."WOMAN RESCUES DOG!"