I shook my head, and a pain shot through my right arm as I sat back. I tried to orient myself. It was then that I heard Tango. My ears had stopped ringing, I think. Tango was whining and growling next to me. Before I could move he was jumping into the back seat and back. He was agitated. I shifted in my seat so I could see what was outside. What had run across the road? God, was some poor animal hurt? Was it a person?

“Tango, heel!” I snapped. As soon as I could get my bearings, I opened my door, but before my feet could hit the ground he was out. He was limping. His front shoulder must have hit the dash. Before I could panic he moved to stand before me, with his lips pulled back, and teeth glistening with saliva. I glanced around but couldn't see anything thanks to the darkness growing around us. We were in the middle of nowhere, literally, and I couldn't see ten feet in front of me. Great.

I heard faint voices and rustling in the grass beyond us. I started to freak out a little. Using my left hand, I grabbed my pistol from the holster under the seat of my truck. Don't worry, I have a concealed carry permit and know the laws. I've never had to pull it on anyone, or on any animal before, but out here a girl has to be safe.

As the voices grew louder I heard the sound of engines. ATV’s maybe? I wasn't sure. There was a grunting sound coming from the back of the SUV. I inched around, wincing as a pain shot through my knee. Had I hit it too? Or stepped wrong? Tango’s snarls grew as the rustling across the road grew and a shape darted out. I shrieked and lurched to grab Tango by the harness he wore.

“Tango! No!” I was ignored since he thought there was danger. I had to drop the gun into the seat and tug him back with both hands. Tears rolled down my face as the pain in my arm worsened.

“Tango! Bad dog! Heel your big ass!” Another body moved out of the bushes and I shrieked again when I was tugged out into the road. There were lights moving closer. That's when I saw it. There was someone on the ground, an ATV flipped over and the side of my trailer was smashed in.

“Oh my God,” I tried to move closer to the body on the ground. That's when the two dogs darted over the road and to the person there. It was a he, I could tell by the voice as he called the dogs by name.

“I'm okay, I think. Lady, Daisy, back. Sit!” They sat, though their gazes never left Tango. He was calmer now but his lips were still pulled back. His body was tensed and ready for an attack. When the guy’s helmet came off I got a look at him. He was about sixteen, seventeen maybe. God, I'd smooshed a kid.

“Hey, kid, you hurt?” I said, my gaze going to the vehicles that were now pulling up to us.

“I’m okay, I'm sorry, ma’am. Are you okay? Don't let him eat me, please,” the kid pleaded as I tugged Tango back. It's a damn good thing I was in shape - well sorta, at least I had a little more strength than I had, say, four years ago - or he'd have drug me across the road and been on that kid or his dogs already. They were sitting calmly, but alert. Jesus, why wouldn’t he just chill?

Three more ATVs joined them and I had to once again tug Tango back. His need to protect me was wearing on my nerves. “Tango, enough, goddammit! Sit!” He must have heard the anger, or pain in my voice because he sat, right on my foot. I sighed, relaxing my arms slightly but didn't dare let him go. I grabbed the door so I could shift and tugged his harness.

“Load up.” He didn't move at first but with a second tug he was up in the seat. I rolled the window down slightly and shut the door softly. Taking a breath I moved over to the kid slowly, stopping when his dogs both sat up and growled.

“I'm not gonna hurt him, honest. Good dogs,” I said, inching closer. He stood about the time I got to him.

“I'm okay, really,” He groaned. “Nothing busted but my pride…” he trailed off as we looked at my trailer. I wiped at my face and sighed.

“You shouldn't be moving until you've been looked at. You could have injuries you can't see or feel,” I said, looking him over. “Your lip’s bleeding.”

“Yeah, I bit it when I jumped off the ATV. That's what hurt. Well, that and this road isn't that soft.” He joked but I scowled. Were all men stupid or what?

“I could have run you over, or God forbid….”

“Daniel! Dude, I'm gonna kill you. What did you do?” A tall, well built man jumped out of a truck and ran over to the kid. I looked at the others as they got out and I stepped back.

“I'm fine, Tater. Did they catch him? The two sows cut to the left at the last minute and the bull went right. I went with him and cut in front of this lady. I had to jump off or be road kill,” his words were said with a laugh, but they hit hard. I could have killed someone's kid.

My stomach flipped as I took another step back. Oh, I didn't feel so good. Tango was losing his shit inside the truck, no doubt feeding off of my distress. I managed to get to the roadside beside my vehicle before I lost every bit of what was in my stomach. My stomach cramped as I jerked, trying to not fall over. A wave of dizziness had me leaning against the front of my SUV.

“Ma’am, are you alright?”

“Ma, she's puking!”

“Holy shit, that dogs gonna break the window! Move out of the way.”

“I saw what happened from the outlook. She could have killed you!”

“Tater, it wasn't her fault. I didn't see her until it was too late. There’s no way she could have seen me, either.”

Words swirled around me until I was covered in them. I could hear Tango snarling and scratching at the window of the SUV. I pushed the hands on my arm away and shifted against the truck, using it to steady me. Once I got to the door I looked up at my poor dog, who was going crazy. “Tango, quiet!” My voice echoed through the voices around us. It was now quiet. I had yelled, yes, but now that I was being faced by a crowd I was starting to panic. Both of my weapons - Tango and my .45 - were in the truck. I took a deep breath and held up a hand as the man talking to the kid pushed his way forward.

“I'm so sorry, it all happened so fast,” I stammered.

“Lady, where did you learn to drive? You could have killed him. Are you dense?” He barked out at me. I narrowed my eyes and pushed myself to stand my entire five foot ten inches tall and poked a finger at him.

“Back off, Cowboy, or you'll be picking ya ass up off the ground. I did not cause this! I did not run into him, he ran into me. So back the fuck up,” I snapped. My stomach rolled again but I refused to let him see me squirm. His glare was met by my own.

“Sorry, Princess, I-”

“Nathaniel, stop it, right now!” An older woman, who was tiny and silvered at the temple pushed her way to him. He backed up. She gave me a small smile as I laid my throbbing arm over my chest. “Sweetheart, forgive my sons. Apparently they're both being idiots today.”

“Ma,” they both said with a groan. I had to bite back a smile when she gave me a cheeky grin. I leaned back against the SUV door so Tango was close. With my free hand I reached back and rubbed his neck. My eyes went wide as I pulled my hand back. It was wet and sticky.

“Tango!” I screeched and turned to better see my hand. Albeit, I should have stood still. I had moved too fast, causing me to list to the side, but I was able to catch my balance. “What did you do, dog?” I opened the door, blocking his escape. “Stay. Don't you test me, mister.” I griped at him as I grabbed his leash from the front pocket on the door and hooked him up.

“Down,” I said, backing up slowly. I needed him out of the dark truck so I could use the lights from the vehicles around us to get a good look at him. His ear was cut? When did that happen? I frowned.

“Oh Tango, what happened, buddy?”

“She's more worried about her dog than Daniel. That's kind of shitty!” The one she had called Nathaniel, or Tater - which was a weird name, by the way - said.

“Is he all right, honey? Mind if I take a look at him with my flashlight?” I looked up to glare at the asshole and then looked over to meet the older woman’s gaze.

“Please,” I whispered. “Tango, easy,” I soothed as I knelt on the ground and waited. My hand still held his leash. The woman moved slowly, but confidently to him, her hands out for him to sniff.

“That's a good boy. Did these big idiots scare you, huh?” The woman crooned and Tango lapped up the attention. He kept cutting glances around us but she had his attention. “He’s got a small cut on his ear and a possible gash on his shoulder. He seems to be moving okay, though.”

“Is there a vet around? Not that I don't appreciate your help, but he and I both slammed into the dash. I want to make sure he's okay. Really okay, I mean. He's all I have left,” I stammered, my tears once again rolling down my cheek. The bubble of emotions was about to pop. Adrenaline and pain were making me feel scattered. I angrily wiped my face free of the wetness.

“Jon, come help this young lady to my truck.”

“Sure, Ma,” I saw the man get off an ATV and come my way. I took a step back.

“I'll take her and her pup to the barn. Abe is still there with Jester so I won't have to look for him,” the woman said giving me an encouraging smile.

“I- I can drive my truck, let me undo the- the trailer,” I stammered. I didn't want to get in a vehicle with strangers.

“Ma, Tater and I can take her to the barn. This is my fault anyhow,” the kid - Daniel - said as he moved closer, his hands out for Tango to smell him. “I'm really sorry, ma’am. I should have been paying better attention to where I was running the cows.”

“No, it was my fault. I was looking for Border Road, or something like that. My attention was split. I've rented a cabin, just have to find it,” I said.

“You're the renter for Aunt June's cabin? Great,” the one they called Tater said. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Look, cowboy-”

“Nathaniel Joseph Cannon! You mind your manners or I'll crack you a good one!” The older woman snapped at him before looking back at me. “I'm sorry, honey, my son has better manners. Usually.” She held her hand out to me. “My name's Abigail Cannon. It would appear that you've rented the cabin at the back of our property. I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow morning.”

“I thought today was the first?” I said, confused.

“It is, the lease was to start on the second,” she said, once again smiling softly at me. Great. Now I looked like a doofus cause I can't remember things.

“Sorry, my days all run together.”

“It's all right. The cabin is cleaned and ready for you. Let me take you and your pup to be looked at. Nathaniel, call the Doc. Have him get to the house. He needs to check Danny too,” she snapped out orders. I sighed as she wrapped an arm around me. With each step the dizziness seemed to get worse.

Before I knew it I was in a truck, my things left in the truck and trailer until later. Seems Tango and I have a date with a doctor.