Sunday morning, they were awakened by the sound of a thumping in front of the cabin, it seemed to be coming from the door, but was definitely not a human knock. Starke said, "stay here to Candy" as he shot out of bed and drew his jeans and a shirt on quickly and he went to see what the noise was all about, as he slowly opened the door a crack it startled him to see, Apples the deer standing up on the porch at the door, he had never done that before, hey big guy what's this all about?
With that the deer leaped down to the ground in front of the porch very animatedly making circles then he walked a few paces and again making circles. Starke struggled into his boots, and shouted to Candy, only to discover she was right behind him, I'll be right back, I think he wants me to follow him, and he went out and did just that as Apples started off at a trot.
When they had gotten into the wooded area of his property, there in a clearing he saw the Doe laying on the ground, she had been shot, Apples sniffed her and made a sound that was clearly a grieving sound, Starke dropped to his knees checking her over and he saw that she was alive, and the wound did not appear close to her heart, he gently picked her up, while talking to his friend and telling him she will be alright, I'll take care of her, he carried her to the cabin, with Apples right with him, watching him gently loading her into his pick-up truck.
By then Candy was dressed, and outside waiting, she said, "I'll ride in the back with her in case she gets upset, I will calm her," and they set off slowly for the veterinarian clinic, Apples stood and watched them go, it was clear he trusted these people. Starke was on his cell phone as they were heading slowly down the road, the clinic would be closed on Sunday, but Ed his old friend from school days lived behind the clinic, and he knew he'd open up for him, so he gave him a heads up that they were on the way in.
Starke glanced into his rear view mirror and saw Candy had her head bowed over the doe's head and was speaking into her ear, while stroking her head ever so lightly, and the doe lay very still, listening. The clinic was about three miles past the B&B, so they would be there soon. As they pulled into the gravel driveway, he saw that Ed was waiting for them outside, with the door standing open behind him. Starke got out quickly, and Ed was already lowering the tailgate, he said, "I see we have a gunshot deer here" Starke said, "yeah, Ed and on my property no less, my next stop will be to the ranger station, and also animal control" this was clearly done by poachers. Well let’s get her inside so I can get to work saving her, and together they carried her inside.