Sleeping Dogs

Chapter 3: Throw a Bone

Chapter Three:
Throw a Bone

Caroline woke up a couple of minutes before her 7 AM alarm and couldn't help but feel like she woke up on the right side of the bed. She dressed quickly for her morning run and her day only brightened when she found Charlie downstairs standing in the doorway waiting for something outside. It took her a few moments to realize that the surprise Sue had for Charlie wasn't sexual afterall.

"Oh my god, is that a dog?" Caroline exclaimed, running past Charlie to the eager mutt in front of her. The dog started lapping at her face immediately, rubbing itself up against her to maximize her petting. The dog looked like the prison dog from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Caroline mused happily. A scruffy old lady.

"Apparently I spend too much time on the couch," Charlie grumbled, grabbing a brand new pooper-scooper off the front porch and grabbing the dog's morning business.

"What's her name?" Caroline said between dog kisses.

"His name," the older man rolled his eyes, "is Charles."

"Isn't he the cutest," Sue said from the doorway as Caroline burst out laughing. "He's a little older but the shelter couldn't hold him anymore and I thought he just reminded me so much of my Charlie that I just couldn't leave him!"

"You could have left him," Charlie argued.

"No," Caroline shook her head, she wrapped her arms around the mutt's neck. "Look at him, Charlie!" The dog barked. "I know you love him!"

Charlie's radio went off and he went inside to grab it. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Aunt Sue, this is amazing!"

"I think the dog will be good for Charlie. He has been so stressed at the station lately and ever since Bella..." She trailed off before making eye contact with her. "I also think he would be good for you." Sue joined her in her petting much to Charles' pleasure, relishing four hands instead of two. Caroline would be lying if she said she didn't suspect the dog to have a part in Sue's imposed therapy for her. The dinner last night was surely a part of it as well. Sue was trying to surround Caroline with people - and now animals. "I think you should take him on your runs. I don't like the idea of you going alone. Especially after what happened last night."

Caroline frowned. "What happened last night?"

Charlie walked back out the front door and towards his cruiser. "Animal attack. A hiker was attacked last night. She was attacked near the rez and people reported hearing howling throughout the night."

Caroline froze. "Howling? Like wolves?" She remembered listening to them last night. At the time it made her feel like she wasn't as alone as she thought, but now it made her blood run cold.

"Exactly. She's okay now - the hiker is. She made it out with a couple of scratches and a concussion but she's going to live."

Sue shook her head, "I don't think it was those wolves. Probably another bear. In fact, it's probably the same bear." Sue said in a stern voice.

Charlie gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "You never thinks it's the wolves. Guess we won't know anyways, just got a call saying she doesn't remember anything."

"And so far, it never has been!" She called out to him as he pulled out of the driveway. She shook her head, "I have some doggy bags inside you can take with you. Just stay out of the woods today." Sue was the master at changing subjects on a dime.

"In case I run into any wolves?" Caroline grinned, trying to play at a joke but Sue's face was grave and she couldn't help but shiver.

"It's not the wolves I'm worried about."