“He’s a big baby.Even though he’s deaf, I still talk to him.He can feel the vibrations from our voices.”Colin shrugged.“I just like to think it helps him feel more connected.”
“Hello, Spuds.You’re a sweetie.”While she spoke, the dog’s tail thumped the floor.
She talked to him as her hand ran down over his short white fur.In the background, she could hear Tater Tot whining.Was it possible he was jealous?Surely not.They hadn’t been together long enough to form that sort of bond.It was more likely he just wanted some attention too.
She turned her attention to the chocolate lab.“And who are you?”
“This is Harley.He’s very playful.”
As the dog sat before her, she gave him a quick onceover.He looked healthy.“Do I need to be aware of anything with him?”
“Harley?No, he doesn’t let his handicap hold him back.He’s an overgrown puppy.”
She gave Harley a closer look, noticing he was missing a leg.The poor baby.“He looks healthy to me.”
“He is very healthy.But he got tangled up with a car and lost one of his back legs.He doesn’t let that stop him.He runs and wrestles as well as his four-legged counterparts.Sometimes, I think he’s even more agile.”
She knelt down and introduced herself to Harley as she held out her hand for him to sniff.“It’s nice to meet you.”
The next thing she knew, Harley lathered her face with puppy smooches.She was caught off-guard and there was something else.It took her a moment to figure it out.And then it came to her—she was touched by the dog’s sweetness.
“I forgot to warn you that Harley is a bit of a lover.”Colin stood off to the side, still holding Tater Tot.When she stood, he asked, “Do you trust these guys with Tater?”
Her immediate answer was still no.Tater was so small next to them.They could trample him without even knowing it.She knew that she was being overprotective.And this acknowledgment shocked her.
She’d never been overprotective in her life.There never had been an occasion for her to be overprotective of another person or animal.Wait.Did that mean she was forming an attachment to Tater Tot?
No.That couldn’t be it.Because he wasn’t staying.Merry was finding him a home, and then what would happen to her?She couldn’t lose anyone else she cared about.
Nope.She wasn’t going to let the silly little pup into her heart.It wasn’t going to happen.
And so she deferred the question to Colin.“You’re the expert.What do you think?”
He arched a brow.“You want me to make this decision?”
Her heart beat a little faster because she knew what Colin’s decision would be, and it made her nervous.Still, she couldn’t let herself get attached.“Yes.You decide.”
“Okay.I think Tater Tot will be fine with the other dogs.After all, he came from a shelter where he was around a lot of other dogs bigger and smaller than him.And then he traveled here with Tank and Odie.I think he’ll do fine.”He paused, as though waiting for her input.
She bit back all of her worries, and she was surprised by how many she had.Instead of speaking and giving those worries a chance to escape, she merely nodded her head.
Colin knelt down and placed Tater Tot on the ground next to him.Keeping the leash short, he let Tater Tot decide what he wanted to do.For a second, the pup stood still as he stared at the other dogs.
Then Tater Tot ambled over to Harley.They attempted to sniff each other.When Harley moved to sniff Tater’s butt, Tater scampered away and ran head first into a wall of fur, otherwise known as Thor.Tater Tot bounced back from the big dog and landed on his butt.
Tater lifted his head.A confused look appeared on his little face as he tried to figure out who he’d run into.Then he barked at Thor.Tater barked some more.
Holly grew concerned.“Why is he barking?”
Colin smiled at her.“It’s okay.He wants Thor to play with him.”
“Really?But Thor is huge compared to him.”
“Apparently, Tater disagrees.”
When Thor wouldn’t play, Tater moved on to Spuds.They immediately hit it off.They raced into the living room.It was the first time she paid attention to the details of the room.
It was a spacious room with big windows and a fireplace at the end of the room.There were two large couches and an armchair.In the corner stood a tall pine tree.It was trimmed in red and white decorations.
