Keeping Up Appearances

Panting from both pain and numbness in her legs, Amelie made a few heavy steps forward, slapping away Richard's cold, wet hands that still tried to pull her back to him. If it had not been for cold weather and sudden harsh gusts of wind, she would have reached the dog sooner, but the night was dangerously against her.

'I am not wearing a lot of clothes but my long dress is slowing me down; it is too heavy already...'

Whimpering desperately, Captain Pantaloons locked his big scared eyes with hers and Amelie's heart broke inside her chest.

How could that woman do something like that to a defenseless animal?

"Captain Pantaloons, hang in there!" She yelled out to the struggling dog and finally, with yet another heavy step towards him, she stretched her arms out, wrapping them around his wet fur.