It took a few secondsfor her eyes to adjust to the dim interior of the ramshackle building. Row uponrow of cages held an assortment of dogs. Most of them had puppies and all werein terrible condition. Tears welled in her eyes from the stench and filth theylived in. Rooney crouched down and put her hand out to a timid terrierinquisitive enough to come close to the wire.
"Oh pet, look atyou." Anger built up in her heart. She wanted to rip open the cages andrelease the animals locked in this desolate place, but things didn't work thatway. Determined to do this by the book, she swung around to leave and slammedinto the chest of Mr Stubbs.
"Oof, damn."She took a step back and plastered a bright smile on her face. "Sorry MrStubbs, I did call out to you when I arrived."
"What are youdoing here?" His mouth was set in a grim line and in the darkness of thebuilding he looked terrifying.
Rooney's heart thumpeda wild beat and she took a deep breath, doing her best to settle herself downand get out of this without confrontation. "I thought I’d pop in on my wayhome and let you know how the pup fared." She swallowed and tucked a hairbehind her ear. "Just as well I did that x-ray, he had a small fracture.But I've managed to set it and sew up the tear and I think he will be fine witha bit of rest and time to recuperate."
"Out." Hepushed her toward the door.
Fear snaked down herthroat and Rhian's words came back to taunt her. He's a mongrel. Shestopped outside and turned to face him. "Did you want me to check on anyof the other animals while I'm here?"
"If I wanted youhere, I would have called you. Don't go for people snooping around myplace." He wiped the spit from the corner of his mouth with the dirtysleeve of his shirt.
"Sorry you feelthat way. I only wanted to let you know what I found with the pup. If you needanything, give me a call." Rooney hightailed it to her car, holding herbreath until she had the vehicle started and her door locked.
"Filthy dirtymongrel bastard." She flew out of the driveway onto the main road, leavinga trail of gravel flying in her wake. On the way home, a plan began to form inher mind. She had to do something to save those poor animals, there was no wayRooney could turn her back on that kind of abuse.
She parked her car andheaded for the house. As she pushed open the back door, the sound of herdaughter doing her spelling words reached her ears.
"Sticks,s-t-i-c-k-s, sticks."
"Brilliant,Squirt. I told you it wasn't that hard." Cade ruffled her hair and lookedup when Rooney let the door bang behind her.
***
"I didn't think itwas your style to do homework, Cade." She put her keys on the hook on thewall and turned to him, smiling.
"Yeah well, thesquirt and me are great buddies. It's not like I have a heap of things I cando, so why not do this for her?"
"Thanks, that'ssweet of you. How did you go with the hospital visit today?"
"Mummy, can I gooutside for a little bit before dinner?" Tam smiled and waited.
"Sure." Sheturned back to Cade.
Cade looked into hereyes. How much did she know about him trying to save Kate from the feistyyoung colt? "It seems okay. Russ ordered a scan and it doesn't appearto be a torn ligament. He figures it's just more of the same and my surgeon inSydney agrees. Nothing to do for it but rest. He wants to see me in a few days,nothing to worry about."
"You wouldn't havetold me either unless I asked, would you? Rooney muttered. She walked over tokiss Essie before opening the fridge door and grabbing the bottle of orangejuice. She lifted it to her mouth and took a swig straight from the bottle.
Cade watched as her handstarted to shake. A line of juice ran down her chin and throat, soaking intoher white-collared shirt. Rooney wiped at it with the back of her hand andnoticed him watching her.
"What's wrong,kid?"
Tears welled in hereyes and he eased to his feet, hopping over to where she stood. He grabbed herby the shoulders and pulled her close, worried about the way she trembled."Tell me what's wrong, Rooney. I don't like to see you like this."
"I'll beokay." She heaved a sigh and gave him a wobbly smile. When he releasedher, she grabbed a tissue off the kitchen counter and blew her nose.
Essie placed a cup oftea on the counter and pushed her toward the stool. "Sit and tell uswhat's going on in that pretty head of yours before Tam comes backinside."
Cade perched himselfback on the stool and listened while she relayed the visit from Mr Stubbs andher consequent trip to his farm on the way home. "You have to file acomplaint against him, Rooney. He can't be allowed to get away with this kindof thing. It's inhumane."
"Yeah, it made mesick looking at those poor dogs locked up. I don't trust him though. Rhian saidhe's crazy and he sure gives off that vibe." She blew her nose again andsmiled. "I know Tam is going to love the pup. At least I can say I'vesaved one and given it a decent chance for a normal life."
"Yes, you can andit's a shame we can't take more. Who knows how long it will be before they getrescued." He started to work out things in his mind, going over how muchhe had in the bank and how long it would keep him afloat when everything wentpear-shaped.
"You sound asthough you want to go and buy something too. I didn't take you as an animalperson anymore, Cade."
"You know I lovethem. Hell,
