dogs will get his forever home. Here’s a form to fill out.” She slid a piece of paper over the counter. “We’ll also add him to the list of newly lost animals in case anyone is looking for him.”
Mommy started scribbling, and Taylor got down on her knees and hugged Kirby tight. “You don’t have to come here yet,” she whispered. “So you’re still mine.”
“What’s a forever home?” Addison asked.
The white-haired lady smiled again. “That’s what we like to say when we place one of our dogs or cats with a new family. That they’ve found the home where they will live and be happy forever.”
Taylor thought Kirby had already found his forever home. Now if only she could make Mommy change her mind...
She’d already lost Daddy. It wasn’t fair if she had to lose Kirby, too.
* * *
HEATHER ARRIVED AT Flanagan Manor early after dropping off the girls at school. She got out of the SUV, brand-new leash in hand, and the dog rushed for freedom. It took all her strength to keep Kirby from wiggling past her.
The dog, she corrected herself. She didn’t want to think of him by name, didn’t want to get too fond of him, no matter how sweet and lovable he was.
“Hang on a minute,” she muttered, meaning to clip a lead to the collar she’d bought him after she’d learned there was no room at the shelter.
Yet.
He was on a waiting list to get in, and in the meantime, Heather would try to find him a good home herself.
“Okay, come on out.” She gave the leash a small tug.
The dog lunged out of the SUV and, in his excitement to stretch his legs, nearly jerked her arm out of her shoulder socket.
She slammed the door, yelling, “Hey, slow down!”
Having checked with Alex, she’d been assured no one had called the police station to put out an official alert for the little guy, which was a real shame. He so obviously loved people. He must be missing his owner. When she got some time, she and the twins would put up notices around town with a picture of the dog. Surely someone would recognize him.
Either that or offer to give him a new home.
She headed toward an area near the parking lot where the dog could relieve himself without ruining any landscaping. As she tried to figure out where she could tie him up while she worked, she heard footsteps behind her.
“Hey, who is this?” came the unmistakable voice that made her picture granite features accentuated by mirrored sunglasses.
Heather turned to see Rick coming from the general direction of the coach house. “This is a dog the girls found yesterday,” she said. “I tried the animal shelter first thing this morning, but no luck. It’s full, and I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving him in the pound where he’d have a week or two to be claimed before they would euthanize him, so I’m going to find him a home.”
“Here?”
“No.” Hope suddenly blazed through her. “Unless...if I can’t find his owner and you want him...”
Rick put up a hand to stop her. “Not what I meant.”
She sighed. “It seems no one wants this poor guy.” Except for the twins, especially Taylor.
Keeping the dog was out of the question. But it seemed finding any owner—old or new—was nothing more than a pipe dream.
“He’s a nice-looking dog.”
Rick crouched down to dog nose level and ruffled Kirby’s ears. In return, the dog threw his head around and licked Rick’s hand. Heather smiled at the instant bond. Rick was a nice guy, as he’d proved the day before by fixing the sod cutter for her. She thought about her sister’s suggestion to have a friend escort her to the wedding. But Rick really wasn’t her friend. She barely knew him.
“What are you calling him?” Rick asked.
Heather jerked back to the present situation. “Dog.”
The mirrored sunglasses turned up toward her. “Seriously?”
“Okay, the girls named him Kirby, but I’m trying not to think of him that personally.”
Giving the animal a last pat, Rick got to his feet. “Your bringing him with you to work is pretty personal.”
“It’s not like I had a choice. He was barricaded in the kitchen all night with a makeshift bed and food and water. And he still chewed one of the shoes I left by the back door. I can’t leave him in the house by himself. Who knows what kind of mess he would make? What he might ruin.”
“He seems pretty young to me. He needs a kennel. You know, a big cage.”
“Except that he’s not my dog.”
Rick grinned at her as if saying, Sure he’s not.
Flushing, Heather looked around. Anywhere so she didn’t have to connect with his know-it-all smirk. “Now I just have to find a place to tie him up while I work.”
“What about over there by the coach house?” He indicated the area he meant. “It’s nice and quiet. I’m the only one who lives there,” he said, “in the second-floor apartment.”
“What, no wife or partner?” she asked before realizing it was none of her business.
“Nope. I live a solitary life.”
She tried again. “Maybe you could use some company.”
“Maybe, but since my future is up in the air...”
Heather sighed. Too bad. Finding someone to take the dog off her hands this soon would have been too easy, of course.
She looked over to the coach house with its nice open expanse and a big maple tree for shade. And there was bizarrely long grass to make a comfy bed. Apparently, Rick hadn’t applied his mowing skills—or lack thereof—to that particular section of grass yet. Maybe it was because he couldn’t ride the mower under such low-hanging branches.
“Looks like as good a place as any. Thanks. I need to get stuff from the car.”
“Let me help you.”
“You can hang on to the dog for me.” She handed him the leash.
Taking it, he said, “Sure. Kirby and I are buddies already, aren’t we, boy?”
“So you’re a dog person?”
“I’m an animal person. When I was growing up, no matter where we lived, there were always stray animals that needed to be fed and taken care of. I took as many of them in as Mom would allow, which was quite a few, actually.” He quickly added, “I’m just not in a position to take on an animal now since I don’t know how long I’ll be here.”
Too
