Chapter 2
Katie glanced around the town square, trying to decide where to go next. An impossibly adorable dog was sitting in a booth labeled “Kisses - $1.” She smiled. No way was she passing that up. She walked up to the volunteer, one of her good friends. “Hi, Cheryl.”
Cheryl smiled. “Ready to get slobbered?”
“Always.” Katie handed her friend a dollar bill and leaned over. The white, poofy dog proceeded to love all over her face. It was hard to keep her mouth closed as she giggled. When she leaned back again, she asked, “Is this cutie up for adoption today?”
“Well, she was,” Cheryl began, “but Cuddles is my favorite and I’ve had my eye on her for a while. She’s coming home with me tonight.”
Katie laughed. “Can’t think of a better place for her. She’s adorable.”
“How’s Loverboy?”
“He’s doing pretty good, but I worry he gets lonely during the day. Business is picking up, which is great, but it also means he doesn’t get as much time with me as he used to.”
“The shop hours haven’t changed, have they?”
“No, but more business does mean having more work to do before and after hours.”
“Ah. Looking for a companion then?” Cheryl asked, rubbing the dog’s sides. When Katie nodded, she continued, “I happen to know the shelter just got a stray in the last week or so. She’s skittish right now, but I bet she’ll come right out of her shell with you and Aunt Viv.”
“If Uncle Earl doesn’t manage to scare her off,” Katie teased.
Cheryl laughed. “That big softie? He’s not scary. Anyway, pretty sure she’s got some lab in her so she’d definitely be able to keep up with Loverboy.”
“She in the tent or on a leash?”
“Brent didn’t want to have her out and about in case the crowds scared her,” Cheryl replied, pushing a dark curl behind her ear. “Just look for the dog with the most soulful eyes you ever saw.”
“All right, I’ll go take a look. Thanks for the tip, Cheryl.” Katie waved to her friend and walked to the animal tent. Volunteers were milling with visitors and walking dogs on leashes. She walked to the row of kennels. It didn’t take long to find the dog Cheryl told her about. The poor thing was shivering in the corner of her kennel. A volunteer tried to coax her closer as a couple shook their heads.
“Too timid. She wouldn’t enjoy living with us.”
“I know she seems scared now, but she’s been through a lot. I’m sure once she feels at home, she’ll be every bit as lively and fun as our other dogs.”
Still shaking their heads, the couple walked away.
Katie walked closer and knelt so she was eye-level with the terrified animal. The dog did look to be a similar mix as Loverboy, though smaller. “Hey there, pretty girl,” Katie said softly. “Life’s been tough on you, huh?” She turned to the volunteer. “What do you guys call her?”
“Most call her Wallflower. I don’t know what all she’s been through, but no one has been able to remove that fearful look from her since we picked her up.”
“She does look scared to be anywhere near people. Is she spayed?”
The volunteer nodded. “She was when we picked her up, so she obviously had an owner at some point. But it’s clear she’s been on her own for a while and her time with people wasn’t pleasant. I do know she’s up-to-date on her shots.”
“I figured. Brent’s always been really good about that sort of thing.” She looked in at the dog. “Poor thing.” Katie held her hand near the wires. “I don’t think Wallflower is the right name for you though. You look like a Roxette to me.”
“Does that mean I should get the adoption papers?”
The dog crept closer to Katie’s hand, sniffing cautiously. Cheryl was right, this girl had the most soulful eyes Katie had ever seen. So much hurt and sorrow, but a smidge of hope. “Yeah, Roxette’s coming home with me today.”
“Great! I’ll get you a leash and the papers.”
Katie opened the door of the kennel and watched as Roxette slowly stepped out. She gently put her arms around the shivering animal to calm her. “It’s okay, girl. You’re safe with me. No one will ever hurt you again. I promise.”
“That’s as close to happy as I’ve seen that dog since we picked her up,” the volunteer said, reappearing with a leash in one hand and a clipboard in the other.
“She’ll come around,” Katie said, gently rubbing Roxette’s head. She took the clipboard and began filling out the paperwork as the volunteer put the leash on Roxette’s collar. “Do you know if the pet store has a booth set up somewhere? I’ve been wandering around but didn’t see one.”
“Yeah, just around the corner from here. If you go out that way,” he said pointing, “you’ll see the photo booth and then just past that is the booth with pet supplies.”
“Thanks. I’ll pick some things up there and then bring you back your leash. I’m sure you’ll need it. Come on, Roxette, let’s get you home.” It took some coaxing, but slowly Roxette started moving away from the tent, her tail between her legs. Katie stopped at the photo booth. She wasn’t sure how the photo would turn out, but thought it would be a good memento. “A chance for you to have a happy life, pretty one,” she whispered as she cuddled the dog gently in front of the photographer. Roxette gave her a timid lick. Katie smiled and kissed the top of her head.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I took a picture of that. It was just too precious.”
Katie smiled. “I don’t mind at all. Can I get a copy of it?”
“Absolutely.”
After paying for her photos and leaving her name and address to have prints sent to her, Katie continued to the large booth with pet supplies. She bought a leash and new collar. The beds were tempting, but she didn’t want to hamper herself too much. Roxette’s shivering had resumed and Katie knew she needed to get her out of the crowds. She took off the old collar and put on the pink striped collar she’d just bought. Then she clipped on the new leash. “Time to head for home.” She walked back to the tent to drop off Roxette’s old collar and the borrowed leash as well as the extras she’d bought. “Just in case,” Katie said with a smile. She and Roxette were on their way to the parking lot when she heard the whinny again and this time, she made the mistake of looking. A gorgeous buckskin gelding tossed his head and pranced about. Katie shortened Roxette’s leash so she’d be closer as she walked toward the corral.
“Well, if it isn’t Katie Mackall. I wondered when I’d see you over here,” a tall young man wearing a cowboy hat said with a dimpled grin.
“I’m not adopting him, Marshall. But he is a looker, isn’t he?”
Marshall nodded. “Yep, I’d take him home myself if he wasn’t so difficult.”
“Difficult?”
“He seems to hate men. If no one adopts him here, we’ll probably see if one of the rescues nearby will take him. Space at Finding Forever is pretty limited for animals his size.”
Katie felt a familiar pull on her heartstrings as she looked at the horse, but tried to squash it. “Hates men, huh? Can’t blame him. Men are the worst.”
“Ach, ye wound me Miss Mackall.”
“Don’t pull that phony brogue with me, Marshall Duncan. You and I both know you’ve never set foot in Scotland.”
“Someday I’ll change that, just so you can’t call me out anymore. Besides, if you watched Brave as many times as I do, you’d be able to pull off a pretty good one too.”
“Still your daughter’s favorite movie, huh?”
“I don’t think she knows there are other movies in existence,” he laughed. “Anyway, you want to go see him? Since I know you can handle yourself around a skittish horse, I’ll let you go in. He’s called Chance.”
Katie knew she should say no and walk away. But that name! Chance? It was perfect for a horse in need of some love. “I guess I could go see him. Can you hold onto Roxette for me? And be gentle with her. I was told she’s had a rough life.”
“I wouldn’t be anything but gentle with such a lovely lady,” Marshall replied, winking. “If you’d go out with me you’d know that.”
She shook her head and laughed. “You’re awesome, Marshall. But to be honest, dating you would be like dating an annoying little brother.”
“Ouch, Katie. Go talk to the horse before my ego dies completely.”
Katie smirked before going into the enclosure. Chance stopped prancing and looked at her. She could see his suspicion. “It’s okay, I’m a friend,” she said gently. His ears twitched. She pulled a peppermint from her pocket and unwrapped it. “You like peppermint?” The horse stepped closer and took the candy as she stroked his neck. “There.” Katie enjoyed a few moments with Chance, just petting him and enjoying the quiet. She sighed. “Uncle Earl is going to kill me. You better be really nice to him when I get you home, okay? Hey Marshall, you know I said I wasn’t adopting him right?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already got the papers ready for you.”
“You tricked me,” Katie said as she led Chance to the fence. After tying the rope to the post, she let herself out of the corral.
Marshall laughed. “Katie, you couldn’t walk past a horse in need of a home if your life depended on it.”
“Better hope my life never does then. I do have a slight problem though,” she admitted. “I didn’t bring a trailer. Can you keep Chance here for me until I get back?”
“Well, the only problem with that is if someone else sees him and is interested. I mean, I’d obviously tell them he’s taken…”
“But that would confuse potential adopters and might make things difficult for Brent with other animals,” Katie finished. She chewed her bottom lip. “Could I borrow your trailer?”
“Sure, it should attach to your truck.”
Katie groaned, “I didn’t bring the truck. Dang it. What should I do?”
“Well, you could let me help you,” said a voice Katie hadn’t heard in five years.