Ninety Degrees Out

“Remember the husky Jazz brought home after we got back from burying the guy at the Markham place?” Alicia asked Chay as she continued to pluck weeds from in between rows of peas climbing a trellis she rigged a few days before.

“She was a shy one. Disappeared almost as soon as we spotted her.” Chay was piling rocks around raised beds which now covered the entire back yard. Paths of broken shale and mulch kept the weeds to a minimum.

“We’re going to have to catch her. I was sitting on the deck earlier, and she came out of the woods. She’s got some sort of chain or wire stuck around her neck. It might be digging into her skin. We can’t leave her like that.”

“Do we have the time before I head off on the long trail ride to Dad’s place?” Chay came over to stand beside her. “Where did you see her?”

“Just back of the fallen log, where Ursa was digging for grubs. By the way, we seem to have a beehive in the top of one of the broken rotten trees. The old cedar between here and the canyon. The one that broke down in the first thunderstorm after the flip.”

“Right, I remember the noise when it got hit by lightning. Honey is a good thing. I wonder if anyone has beekeeping skills?” Chay wondered out loud.

“I’ll ask when I’m down at the ranch next time. I’ve got Arimina doing lessons in math on her tablet. I’m astounded that we can still get on the net at all.”

“I never thought programming a telescope would give me the basics to figure out the cell tower and the routers. It isn’t that hard to do, and even if we’re spotty on getting information via computers, I’m glad it’s still happening. Those big solar cells your family brought up have kept our cell tower going. Your father is a genius with them.”

“Anyway, about Jazz’s friend. I got her to take some of his kibble from me. I think she’ll come to me in the next couple of days. I’d like to get Anya to take a look.”

“So, he’s found a mate? I kind of hope so. I want to try breeding them for moving carts. You know, instead of sleds.”

“Not sure yet. She might be spayed but I couldn’t tell. Her fur is pretty thick even though she’s shed her winter coat.”

“I’ll let Anya know I’m headed down there. Are you sure about letting Ari stay with Killika and Kanti while we’re gone?”

“Yeah, I’m just worried about getting this thing with Blue settled. She’s going to want to follow Jazz. I know you won’t let him stay behind,” Alicia stabbed her trowel into the ground as she spoke.

“You’ve already named her?”

“Her eyes are amazing. She’s a sweetheart. I’m sure she was someone’s pet.”

“No doubt, or she escaped from a sled dog team. They keep them chained up by their kennels during the winter. Outside too. Better for them that way. Might be more huskies and Malamutes running loose.”

“Look, there they are again.” Alicia grabbed the plate she left on the top of the rock wall around her section of the garden.

“I’m sure she’s hungry. I’m going to try luring her in. Do you have a leash?”

Jazz was nipping at Blue’s hindquarters, herding her toward them. The Malawolf cross, patiently pushed his friend forward between a bed of carrots and the peas she was weeding.

“I’ll be right back, I’ve got some rope, I can make a slip collar for her.” Chay disappeared into the back door.

Alicia stayed on her knees, holding the plate with half a chicken salad sandwich on her lap. She softened her voice into a croon, “Here, girl. Come on, I know you need to eat.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“Is that you Mr. Chay?” Arimina’s voice penetrated the air lock, and he suspected Alicia would hear it too.

“I’m not coming in. Are you done you arithmetic?”

“I figured out multiplication with multiple digit numbers. The site I was using is down now though.” Ari’s voice got louder as she came down the stairs into the great room. “Oh, look!”

“Don’t go out, Ari.” Chay eased his way through the great room fashioning a slip loop into the rope he picked off a hook in the air lock. It served as a mud room now, and storage for all sorts of gardening equipment leaned against the wall.

“Is that Jazz’s girlfriend?” Ari picked her way over to the sliding door. Open wide to catch the breeze the screens blurred their view of the backyard.

“Yeah, and she’s hurt. I think she might be an escaped sled dog. She’s got a chain caught in the fur around her neck.”

“Look, Mommy has her eating out her hand.”

“I’m going to try and get this leash around her neck. We want to get Dr. Anya to look at it. I’m not sure I’ll be able to convince Jazz to come with me up to Stargazer Homestead for the horse round up.”

“Maybe I could come with you and take care of her.”

Arimina’s wistful plea startled him. He slipped the screen open closing it behind him as he moved slowly toward the blue eyed husky eating pieces for torn up sandwich from Alicia’s hands. He turned back, and brought his index finger to his lips, warning Arimina to be quiet. She nodded; her eyes wide as she watched.

Stepping cautiously, he inched his way down the stairs into the back garden. Picking his way across the mulch he approached from behind Alicia, who had the husky laying on her side. Dropping into a crouch beside them he eased the slip lead around the dog’s neck, not letting it slide down to where the choke chain was tangled in and oozing mat of fur.

“Do you think she’ll let me pick her up?” Chay asked.

“She’s a lot calmer now. Pretty hungry from what I could tell. She would have gobbled the whole thing in one bite if I let her. But try walking her on the lead. We’re going to have to walk her down to the ranch. I don’t think she’ll put up with laying across Dolly’s withers.” Alicia maintained a calm tone, moving slowly to stand.

Jazz whined, licking Blue’s muzzle as Chay coaxed her to stand.

“We’re going to have to talk about leaving Ari behind,” Chay whispered in Alicia’s ear. “She already wants to come along so she can take care of Blue.”

“Damn, I never even thought about her wanting to come with us.”

“Me either. We’ll have to see if there’s room in the chuckwagon for a recovering dog and a kid. But I’m not going to say anything to Ari until I can confirm.”

With Blue standing and shaky legs, Chay called back to Arimina. “Bring a bowl and some water. I think she needs to drink before we start down to the ranch. Are you ready for a walk?”

Ari darted away, and he heard the water running in the kitchen. She was back in a couple of minutes, with Jazz’s water bowl. Putting it down in front of the strange dog, she backed away, putting her arm around Jazz’s neck.

“Her name is Blue,” Alicia told her daughter as the husky drank steadily.

“Can we get Dr. Anya to come here?” Ari asked. “Blue doesn’t look like she should walk all the way down there.”

“You know, I’ll just get on the radio. Great idea, Arimina.” He handed the slip leash to Alicia. “Do you think Blue is safe around Ari?”

“Jazz will stop her if she tries anything. Go call the ranch. Getting her to come here solves a lot of problems.” Alicia walked back, gently guiding Blue up onto the deck and into the shade under the awning they rigged over one corner. “Bring the water bowl, Ari. She probably still thirsty, but we won’t give her more for a bit.”

As he picked up the mic for his radio, he watched Jazz lay down beside the exhausted husky. He hoped they weren’t too late to save the bitch. Her neck was pretty bad.