“She’s so cute.” Jessie squealed at the side of the playpen. “I want a baby sister just like her. Look, she’scrawling.”
Linx picked the puppy up out of the playpen and handed her to Jessie. “Go sit on the sofa and I’ll bring abottle.”
The little girl carefully walked with the puppy to the sofa, stepping over Cedar’s doggy bed. She climbed on and then looked around, blinking. “Where’s Cedar? Doesn’t she want to help feedGinger?”
“Cedar went home to be with her daddy,” Linx said. She filled a bottle with warm puppyformula.
“Who’s Cedar’s daddy?” Jessieasked.
“He lost her a long time ago, and I kept Cedar safe. Now he’s back, and she has to be with him.” Linx shook the bottle and handed it toJessie.
The little puppy squirmed and wiggled, nosing the bottle before latching onto thenipple.
Jessie giggled. “She’s sohungry.”
“Yes, she is.” Linx sat next to Jessie and stroked the puppy’s soft downy fur. Even the puppy missed Cedar, nosing around and sniffing forher.
Yes, Linx’s heart was broken, but she had to carry on. There were so many dogs needing love, and once the dust settled after the adoption event, she’d adopt one of the guests who was leftbehind.
In the meantime, she had to hang up banners and put up educational materials for the visitors coming for Gold Rush week, maybe even set up anactivity.
“Do you think Betsy went to live with someone else?” Jessie’s expression turnedserious.
“I think Betsy’s out there waiting for us to find her,” Linx said. “Want to go on a walk with me and look forher?”
“Okay. I wish we could find her right now. Can you wear your Wonder Womancape?”
Linx was glad she only asked for the cape and not the costume. But then again, this was California, and the town’s residents loved dressing up incostumes.
Footsteps sounded on the wooden porch and the screen dooropened.
“Yoohoo, can I come in?” Cait Wonder peeked through the door. She stood at the threshold with a plate of steaming hotmuffins.
“Sure, come on in.” Linx opened thedoor.
Cait greeted Linx with a half-hug, then turned to Jessie. “Hello, are you Linx’s little helpertoday?”
“I sure am. I’m JessiePatterson.”
“Nice to meet you.” Cait glanced from Jessie to Linx and back. “I bet you’re a big girl now. How old areyou?”
“I’m five and a half.” She took the bottle out of Ginger’s mouth and put up fivefingers.
Cait gave her a highfive.
“Hi, Cait.” Tami waved from the desk. “You brought usgifts?”
“I sure did.” Cait waddled over to her. “Fresh from the oven. Mrs. Burris lets us use her kitchen. Isn’t that sweet of her? Maybe instead of a wedding business, I should set up a bakery, or I can doboth.”
“Good idea,” Tami exclaimed, taking a muffin. “By the way, are you up for a few showings today? There’s a lovely Victorian that’s come on themarket.”
Linx heaved a sigh of relief, thankful that Tami had distracted Cait from interrogating littleJessie.
Now that she and Grady were sworn enemies, a visit from Cait was like harboring a spy in their midst. What was Cait snooping aroundfor?
Then again, there was no reason to keep the two retrievers from Grady. He was free to come and pick them up—fromTami.
Linx sent him a text message.The adoption for Molly and Rex is approved. Tami will process the finalpaperwork.
She might as well get used to having Grady in town. He was rebuilding his cabin. He got his dog back, and it was only a matter of time before he found himself a woman. He’d marry and have a family, and she would have to watch from thesidelines.
She would never make anyone a good wife, nor would she be a goodmother.
She was too much like Minx, but unlike her mother, she wouldn’t make the mistake of starting a family only to abandonthem.
She was better thanthat.
