When she knocked at the door, a chorus of barks started on the other side of the door.
Tater Tot’s growling grew louder.
“It’s okay.”She petted him.“You’re safe.And those dogs are going to be your new friends.It’s okay.You’re okay.We’re okay.”
The barking stopped, and then the front door swung open.Colin smiled at her.“I’m so glad you made it.”
“Thanks for the invite.”
She could see past him.There were two, no…make that three dogs behind him.One looked to be a brown lab.The second was a white mid-size dog.Maybe a bull terrier.She wasn’t sure.And the third one looked to be some sort of St.Bernard mix.
Colin took a moment to fuss over each of them.The tails were going like crazy.And then he made them sit.She was impressed with how well they listened.
Tater Tot stopped growling as he watched the other dogs.She petted him, hoping to calm him.
She stepped inside, not sure what to expect.Tater Tot smashed himself against her chest as he looked down at the other dogs while they stared up at him.
“It’s okay,” Colin said.“They won’t hurt him.”
She hesitated.“Are you sure?They look so big compared to him.”
“He’ll be fine.I promise.”Colin’s voice was soft and soothing, like she remembered when they were kids.“They are used to having various animals pass through the house.”
She recalled when they were kids how he had tried numerous times to get her to pet one of his stray pets.They weren’t always dogs or cats.Oh no.Colin didn’t discriminate when it came to loving animals.He loved them all, including toads and snakes.Ugh!She drew the line at snakes and spiders.Eww!
His current adoptees were cute and fuzzy, not creepy, crawly, or scaley.Still, they were awfully big.She continued to stand there with Tater Tot clutched to her chest.
“May I hold Tater?”Colin held his hands out to her.
She hesitated.She knew she was being silly.Colin was the one person she trusted above anyone else in this town.She handed over Tater Tot.Then she wasn’t sure what he wanted her to do.
“Go ahead.Pet the dogs.”
She looked at the dog closest to her.He was the biggest of the bunch.He was the one that looked as though he had a lot of St.Bernard in him.It was only then she noticed his back legs were on wheels, like a wheel chair.Aw…Poor baby.
“This is Thor.He’s in charge.”Colin’s gaze moved to the dog.“It takes a lot of work to keep those other two pups in line, huh?”
Thor barked once, as though he was in total agreement.
She couldn’t help but smile.Her pulse raced as she held out her hand.Thor sniffed her before approaching her.He moved on his wheels as though they were a part of him.
Crouching, she ran her hand over his head.The next thing she knew, he was licking her cheek.She hadn’t been expecting that.
“See.”Colin smiled.“I knew he’d like you.”
She smiled.“I like him too.Can I ask what happened to him?”
Colin nodded.“He has hip dysplasia.”When she sent him a confused look, he said, “His hip joint didn’t develop properly.So, he needs a little help getting around.”
“He seems to do well on the wheels.”
“You should see him run around in the backyard.”Colin nodded to the side.“And next to him is Spuds.”When she went to move to Spuds, Colin rushed on to say, “Wait.You need to know that he’s deaf.”
“Oh no.Poor baby.What happened to him?”
“He was born that way.So, with him you have to be careful not to startle him.You want to make sure he can see you at all times, and when you touch him that you do it gently.”
“I can do that.”She held her hand out to Spuds, and he licked it.She couldn’t help but smile.“He seems nice.”
