“Hey, easy now,” Ethan said softly, crouching down. But the puppy lunged forward, barking furiously, its tiny body trembling with adrenaline. When the station master reached out, it darted sideways, slipping clean between his legs. “Fast little devil!” he hissed, spinning around.
Two workers jumped down from the platform, calling out to help. But every time someone got close, the puppy twisted away, ducking under boots, kicking up pebbles, snapping at pant legs. It stayed stubbornly near the rails, never stepping onto the gravel beyond.