Page 94 of Summer Love Puppy


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“You won’t know if you don’t try.” Tami’s eyes were large and sympathetic. “Besides, I’ve a feeling you’ll be the very best mom a girl couldwant.”

Linx forced a smile. “You have to say that because you’re mybestie.”

“Guilty.” Tami blinked. “The question is, do you want to be her mother? Better think fast because Jessie’s coming to spend the day with thepuppy.”

“Don’t say anything to her.” Linx took a deep breath, but couldn’t dislodge the tightness clamping around her chest. “I want her, but it would be a betrayal to the Pattersons. I signed longago.”

“Yeah, but Grady neversigned.”

Tami’s words hung in the air until midmorning, when Jessie and her mother showed up at the center. The little girl wore denim overalls and a pair of cowgirl boots and a straw hat with a red bandana, and she greeted Linx with a tighthug.

“Can I take Ginger for a walk?” she asked, bouncing up and down with a wide smile on herface.

“She’s a little young for a walk,” Linx said. “But she’s getting stronger every day. Would you like to brushher?”

“Yes! I love her!” Jessie shouted. “My birthday’s coming up, and I want a puppy, prettyplease?”

Mrs. Patterson cleared her throat and cupped a hand around one side of her mouth. “Have you seen how high the price is forGinger?”

“The highest bidder may not get the puppy,” Linx said. “We have to qualify the owner, check references, and make acall.”

“I hate for her to be disappointed,” Jean said, bending down to her daughter. “Mommy will be back later. You listen to everything Miss Linx and Miss Tami say. This puppy already has a special boy orgirl.”

“Awww…” Jessie’s face drooped. “But she’s socute.”

“Yes, she is. But you’re here to learn how to take care of a puppy. You already have Betsy. You wouldn’t want to take this puppy away from her special boy or girl, wouldyou?”

“No, they’ll be so sad.” Jessie shook her head resolutely. “I don’t want anyone to take Betsy away fromme.”

Linx swallowed and bit her lip as turmoil churned in her belly. How would Jessie feel if she and Grady took her away from the only parents sheknew?

“Bye, now, and be good.” Mrs. Patterson gave Jessie a hug androse.

“I will!” Jessie jumped up and down. “Bye,Mom!”

Linx had Jessie feed Ginger from the bottle, then brush her fur, and change herpapers.

Jessie played ball with the puppy, rolling it around and letting Ginger chase it with her tottering little steps, and she handfed Ginger soft puppyfood.

“You’re real good with dogs,” Linx praised Jessie when she cuddled the puppy and put her down for a nap. “Let’s go out back and visit the otherguests.”

“I love dogs, and I want to be just like you when I grow up.” Jessie hooked her thumbs around her overall straps and sauntered through the kitchen to the backdoor.

Linx showed her the kennels and the storeroom where they filled the food and water bowls. Together, they swept and hosed off the runs, and fed the dogs. Linx taught Jessie how to approach strange dogs and not to assume a dog was friendly. She understood the importance of giving a dog a friendly and safe distance and not patting it on the head or raising ahand.

Jessie was a quick learner, and soon, she understood doggy body language and posture, whether a dog was fearful or curious, and how to speak tothem.

Linx’s chest filled with pride as she walked around the compound with her little shadow, her “mini-me” following her around, chitchattingnonstop.

She didn’t want to lose any of this, but at the same time, her greedy heart yearned for more. She wanted to be the one who tucked this sweet child in at night, wanted to be the one she ran to for comfort, wanted to read her stories, to take her hiking, horseback riding, and be the one in the delivery room with her when she birthed her firstbaby.

“Come, let me show you the system of gates we open to get the dogs to their exercise yard,” Linx said, taking Jessie’s little hand. “I move them in between the zones by shutting this gate first, then opening this one, and shutting the one behindit.”

True, it was like the way they moved prisoners, but it helped her gather the dogs in an orderlyfashion.

“Can I go into the yard and play with them?” Jessieasked.

Linx shook her head. “Not right now. Some of them are new, so I have to watch how they behave. But later on, we can take the old bulldog, Bob, out for a walk. He’s slow but verylovable.”