Thirty Seven

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Michael screeched into the driveway and turned back to Jessie and Charlie, who sat silently in wide-eyed fear. He instructed them to, "Stay here and keep the doors locked!"

He then ran into the house and disappeared. Several police cars with their red, white, and blue flashing lights were in the driveway too. They had been left unattended. Jessie unhooked her seat belt and moved closer to Charlie who was too afraid to cry.

"Where's Alex and Aunt Grace?" Charlie asked in a whisper.

"I don't know."

Another emergency vehicle arrived and two officers got out and ran into the house. "Come on," Jessie said as she unhooked Charlie's seatbelt.

"Where?"

"To find Alex and Aunt Grace," Jessie answered as she opened the car door and jumped out. Charlie sat still not wanting to go into the dark night. "Stay here then," Jessie barked as she turned to leave.

"No," Charlie cried, "wait for me."

Hillman and two other officers were trying to pull Reggie off Donny. He held him by the shoulder where Donny was bleeding profusely.

Michael got to the beach and ran towards the far end where a struggle with Donny was in progress. He kept an eye out for Grace and Alex hoping they were safe. He realized Reggie had a hold of Donny, but at the same time, he saw Grace wading knee deep in the water screaming Alex's name. He ran straight to her.

"Alex! I can't find her! She's here somewhere!" Grace screamed in a hoarse voice.

Michael began floundering in the water as he walked in circles feeling for Alex. He was becoming frantic.

"Michael, there!" Grace shouted pointing her finger.

He looked where she was directing, and he saw a streak of light hair in the water. He grabbed at it with his hand and in seconds he was walking towards the beach with a limp Alex in his arms.

Jessie and Charlie ran towards Michael and Grace as soon as they hit the opening to the beach. On their way, they saw that the policemen were holding a man down on the sand. The next sight was Reggie. He also lay on the beach, bloody and not moving.

"Reggie!" Jessie yelled as she began to cry.

It was Charlie who first saw Michael carrying Alex out of the ocean. "Jessie! Look!" Charlie yelled as she began to run faster.

"Oh no!" Grace cried following Michael away from the tide. "Is she alright?"

He lay Alex down flat on her back and began to perform CPR. Tilting her head back and clearing her airway, he attempted to breathe life back into her. He began compressions over her sternum as he coaxed in a deep husky voice, "Come on Alex!"

Grace stood over them crying as Jessie and Charlie arrived, and in silence took a place on either side of her. They were praying through their tears.

Breathing then compressing, Michael continued to plead, "Come on Alex! Open your eyes!"

Suddenly Charlie became aware of the movement to her right. Looking over she saw a terrible and a beautiful sight. Reggie wet and bloody had limped over to them. He pulled himself forward and licked Alex's cheek. He let out a weak whine and licked her cheek again. Alex began to gag and choke as Michael rolled her on her side.

Grace fell to her knees. Alex wretched several times emptying her stomach of the salty water she had swallowed. She coughed and struggled to breathe while Michael helped her to a sitting position. Grace reached out to hug them both. Jessie and Charlie threw themselves into the mix and even Reggie was able to wag his stubby tail.

The EMT's got Alex on the stretcher and hooked up to oxygen. She pulled off the mask and cried out for Reggie who again lay motionless on the beach.

"Keep the mask on, Alex." Michael said placing it back over her nose and mouth, "I'll take care of Reggie, I promise."

One of the medics looked over at the Airedale. "I think we have room for a hero," he said as he and his partner lifted Reggie onto the foot of the stretcher. They headed back up the beach.

Two officers led Donny, injured and handcuffed, behind them.

Michael, Grace, and the girls followed. They split up when they reached the driveway. Michael took Reggie in his truck to the vet and Grace and the girls followed the ambulance to the hospital.


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