“Yay! I always take Betsy out for a walk. Do you think Bob wants Betsy for afriend?”
“Maybe.” Linx bent down and gave Jessie a hug, unable to help kissing her. “You’re my best little helper. Want to help me open thegates?”
Jessie headed for the first gate as Linx unlatched it. She motioned to Jessie to push a button to open the wheeled gate nearest the barn. Cedar followed close behind, but her ears perked and she pranced toward the front gate, barking and pantingexcitedly.
Car doors slammed, and a horde of footsteps and voices advanced up the gravel path with Grady leading theway.
It was the entire Hartfamily.
“Are you saying that’s your dog?” Grady’s father pointed to Cedar who whined and turned circles, eager to get toGrady.
“She was,” Grady said, then turned to wave at Linx. “But Linx saved her from a forest fire, and since I was out of the country, she took care of her forme.”
That was certainly a nice way of puttingit.
Giving Grady an appreciative smile, Linx opened the gate and Cedar charged forward, leaping all overhim.
If the Harts resented Linx for keeping Cedar or the even worse crime of giving Jessie away, they didn’t showit.
Cait waddled up to Linx and hugged her warmly. “I’m so glad you’re talking to my brotheragain.”
Jenna, Grady’s twin, gave her an air kiss. “My brother needs someone likeyou.”
His two brothers, Connor and Dale, shook her hand and complimented her on the dogcenter.
Everyone had something nice to say to her, shouting over the chorus of barks and yips. They surrounded Linx with questions and invitations to lunch, dinner, and getting together. Even more unbelievably, they seemed genuinely happy to see her, acting like she was someonespecial.
“Would you like something to drink? Tea or orange juice?” Linx to the kitchen door. “Or atour?”
“We’d like to see the dogs,” Cait said. “I’m still looking for one big and strong enough to handle thesebackwoods.”
“I might want one too,” Melisa agreed. “A small one who won’t scare mybirds.”
“I’ll need a few dogs for the teen center,” Dale said to Linx. “Did Grady tell you I’m volunteering at Salem’sKids?”
“Great, follow me to the barn,” Linx said. “We’re going to let the dogs out for exercise and that’ll give you a chance to look atthem.”
As the Harts headed for the barn, Jessie came running out, waving her hands. “I opened all of the gates and let the dogs out! Wannasee?”
“On no!” someone shouted. “She opened the front gate,too.”
“Woof, woof, woof,woof.”
Linx’s hands flew up as a tidal wave of dogs made a run for the front gate andfreedom.
Two things happened at the same time. The male Harts, Grady, Connor, Dale, and their father chased the dogs, and the female Harts, Cait, Jenna, Nadine, Melisa, and their mother gasped and gaped atJessie.
“Sorry.” Jessie shrank behind Linx’s legs. She peered shyly at the female Harts who clasped their hands and bit theirlips.
“It’s okay,” Linx reassured the little girl. “All those guys are firemen and they’ll round up the dogs in notime.”
Melisa was the first to stop staring. She got on her knees and said, “What’s your name, sweetie? I’m Mrs. Reed and I teachkindergarten.”
“I’m Jessie and I’m five and a half.” Jessie put up five fingers. “My birthday’s July Fourth just like Uncle Sam’s and I’m going to besix.”
“Born on the Fourth of July, that’s awesome,” Melisa said. “Do you likefireworks?”
Jessie nodded enthusiastically. “I like to wear red, white and blue, and when I grow up, I’m going to be Wonder Woman just like MissLinx.”
