That memory felt distant now, overshadowed by the afternoon’s terror. The silence that had followed Ranger’s growl was more terrible than the sound itself. Emily had snatched Lily up, clutching the sobbing child to her chest, her eyes fixed on the dog. He had gone utterly still, standing rigid in the middle of the yard, his head low, his muzzle pointing toward the back fence. A low, continuous rumble still vibrated in his throat, a sound that seemed to make the very air tremble.
“What did you do?” Emily whispered, the words barely audible. Her mind raced, reconstructing the seconds she’d been gone. The thud. Lily’s cry. Ranger’s growl. Had he knocked her over? Had he, in some frantic burst, hurt the very thing he was supposed to guard? The betrayal was a cold, sharp stone in her stomach. She backed toward the house, not taking her eyes off him. “Inside. Now.”
Ranger’s ears flicked at her command, but he didn’t move. He only turned his head slowly, his eyes meeting hers. They were not calm now. They were dark, intense, and held a ferocity that made her breath catch. But beneath that, unmistakably, was a flicker of what looked like… confusion. Or pain. Then his gaze snapped back to the fence line, and he took a single, stiff step forward, his hackles rising again.
“Ranger, *no*!” Her voice was a whip-crack, fueled by fear. “Heel! Now!”
This time, he obeyed. The fight seemed to drain from his muscles, leaving him looking oddly deflated. He padded toward her, his gait stiff, and stopped at the patio step. He did not try to nudge Lily or look up at her. He simply sat, staring at the ground, as Emily hurried past him into the house, locking the sliding door with a decisive click.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of nervous tension. Lily, after a few comforting cuddles, seemed no worse for wear, happily stacking blocks on the living room rug. Ranger, however, remained on the other side of the glass, a silent, brooding sentinel. Emily refused to let him in. Every time she looked at him, she saw the thrashing struggle, heard that savage growl, and felt a fresh wave of distrust. David, when she called him, was pragmatic. “Maybe a squirrel spooked him. Maybe he just got too excited and bumped her. We’ll figure it out when I get home.” But his reasonable tone did nothing to settle the cold unease that had taken root inside her.