Moving quickly but methodically, he bent and placed his mouth over Sam’s nostrils and blew into her five quick breaths.
“Her chest moved.” Jori was crouched down beside him, watching.
Law placed his free hand lightly on her chest, waited three seconds, and repeated the five quick breaths.
He needed to get her to a vet. But that wouldn’t help if she wasn’t breathing. And she was so cold. He’d read that resuscitation of a hypothermic dog could take up to an hour. They needed to move while he gave her CPR.
Five quick breaths. Her chest moved with his hot breath.
“I can’t find a pulse.” Jori sounded scared.
Law looked up. “Go to the ambulance. Get me a dextrose drip.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. His three seconds were up. He blew another short blast of breaths into Sam’s nose.
All around him he felt and heard people, and then more people. At some point an EMT bent down next to him. “What do you need?”
“A ride to the vet. Or an emergency room.”
“I know just the vet.” The EMT slapped him on the back. “Let’s get you into a squad car.”
“I can’t stop.”
The EMT nodded. “Bring a stretcher over here.”
Law stopped listening. He was minimally aware of being lifted, along with extra hands to hold Sam, while he continued mouth-to-mouth. Once started, he couldn’t stop until they got to the vet.
He and Sam were hand-delivered into the back of a cruiser. He was only dimly aware that Jori had scooted in beside him, holding Sam in her lap.
The sound of the siren surprised him but he was grateful.
“Damn ice.” The trooper driving threaded her cruiser around several other vehicles. “You both buckled up? Then hold on, we’re going to get your dog help as fast as humanly possible.”
Law didn’t say a word. But in his head were all the words he couldn’t say aloud as he continued CPR.
Come on, Samantha. Don’t go all squirrelly on me now.
You’re a brave girl. Strong and courageous. As much a self-starter as they come.
I’m sorry I doubted you. I’m sorry for every slight. Every single thing I ever did wrong by you. I’m sorry.
I couldn’t have gotten a better dog. I see that now. You’re the best damn Cheez Doodle dog ever born.
Today you put your life out there for me. As much as any K-9 I’ve ever owned. And you did it without your Alpha with you for backup.
You’ve got a strong heart. You make it keep beating.
Don’t you die on me before I can thank you. Don’t you die.
They were near Springdale, the streets abandoned to accumulating snow, when Jori spoke for the first time on the drive. “Law, I think I feel a pulse.”
Her voice was only a whisper as she massaged Sam under the blanket. “No. Maybe.”
Law shut out her voice. It took concentration to keep up the rhythm.
As he came to the end of the three-second rest, Sam’s body jerked. Then again. She opened her eyes, stared at Law, and then moved a paw to place it against his heart.
“I’ve got a pulse!” Jori’s voice was as excited as any kid on Christmas.
Law nodded. “I know.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
“I’d like to thank you, Detective, for going out of your way for my dog.” Law sat in a chair in the waiting room at the vet’s.
The detective smiled. “You can thank your dog. She found us. We were about three miles away. We’d received a tip about two of the suspects we missed during our night raid and set up roadblocks, hoping to catch them. You even did part of our job for us.”
“Glad to help.”
The detective nodded. “When you’re feeling up to it, I’d like to talk with you. I won’t say you’re wasted where you are. But you’ve got the kind of skills we could use. Two captures in less than two weeks? It’s getting so the rest of law enforcement in northwest Arkansas feels redundant.”
“Just doing my job.”
“I can up your pay grade. For now, I need to go to the hospital. I plan to interview Mr. Becker as soon as he’s out of surgery. Ma’am.” He smiled at Jori, who occupied the chair next to Law, before walking away.
Law watched the detective through eyes of exhaustion. Sam was going to be fine. The vet doctor said she was making a remarkable recovery. They were still warming her up and giving her IV fluids and nutrition to replace what she’d lost on her trek for help.
Yes, there were some signs of frostbite, but they’d keep her until they had assessed that, which would be a few days. Even so, she’d be fine.
Maybe. But Law wasn’t going anywhere until he saw his K-9 again.
Law drew in a breath, his shoulders arching, as the sound of voices rose at one end of the hall.