buzz. Iâll stop by first thing in the morning to see how she is.â
âDo you think I should call the police?â
Graham snapped his bag shut. âMight not hurt to give Sheriff Douglas a heads-up. But Iâll warn you now, nonfatal dog poisonings probably wonât be a real big priority with him. Especially when we donât have any proof a crime actually occurred.â
Joe showed Graham out of the family room. âSo whatâs the prognosis?â he asked quietly once they were out of Annieâs hearing. âDo you really think sheâll make it, or were you just saying that for her benefit?â
âI think sheâll be okay. Itâs lucky you found her when you did before she went into full-fledged seizures. Iâll keep her snookered for a couple days until the toxin works its way out of her system but I donât anticipate any lasting effects.â
âAnd youâre sure itâs slug bait?â
Graham nodded regretfully. âI wish I could say it was something else, something that just imitates all the symptoms. Maybe Iâll find something else when I run the tests, but I doubt it. I hate the idea that somebody might have done this to her on purpose.â
He shrugged into his coat. âOf course, thereâs alwaysa possibility she found a stash somewhere on one of the neighborsâ places, but I really doubt it. Like I said, itâs pretty rare around here.â
After Joe said goodbye to the vet, he returned to the family room to find Annie in the same position, hovering protectively over the sedated animal. She looked up when he came into the room and he frowned when he saw how pale and frightened she looked.
Still, she forced a smile. âI really appreciate all the help youâve given me.â Her voice had clear dismissal in it. âI think I have everything under control now so you can go on back to the cottage and get some sleep.â
He crossed his arms across his chest. âSave it, Annie. Iâm not going anywhere.â
âYou need some rest.â
âAnd you donât?â
That soft cupidâs bow of a mouth tightened. âGo home, Joe.â
âIâm staying. We can take turns. One of us can watch over her while the other one sleeps.â
âYou donât have to do that. I can take care of her.â
He started to argue, then he saw the defeated exhaustion in the droop of her shoulders and the fine lines bracketing her mouth, and he decided to take another route.
âI want to help,â he answered. âIf you wonât accept it for yourself, at least take it for Dolly. Youâre not going to do her any good if youâre completely worn out.â
âYouâve done enough. You already gave up your whole evening to help me and I want you to know I sincerely appreciate it. But I canât keep turning to you every time something goes wrong in my life.â
He would give anything he had to fix things so nothing else ever went wrong in her life. Since he didnât have that kind of powerâand she wouldnât have let him use it, even if he hadâhe focused on what he could do.
âNot every time,â he agreed quietly. âJust tonight.â
She opened her mouth, probably gearing up for more arguments, but whatever she planned to say was lost amid a giant yawn she tried unsuccessfully to hide.
Joe pressed his point. âYouâre exhausted and even though you might want to, you just canât stay up all night with her. It wouldnât be good for either one of you. Besides, Dollyâs completely out of it. She wonât be waking up any time soon and she wonât even know either one of us is here.â
He pointed toward the couch. âIâll take the first watch. Why donât you stretch out and try to get some rest?â
âI couldnât possibly sleep.â
âTry. For me.â
She sent him a sidelong look and he