Cathy lay sprawled on the kitchen floor, breathless from the pain. She knew immediately she had broken her pelvic bone, and possibly her hip.

"Damn, damn, damn, you old fool of a woman!" she said to herself when the pain had faded enough for her to begin to think again. She knew what a broken pelvic bone or hip could mean to a woman of her age. Duke whined anxiously while nuzzling her shoulder. He laid down beside her, restless, still whining, then went to the back door.