But what a smile!
She still wasn’t sure what to make of the sudden spark she felt around him, but she couldn’t deny it was there.
“Both,” she said, as she closed the door firmly. “But let’s get our things unpacked first. And maybe check if Bash is planning to stay inside or go feral and live with the squirrels.”
Jake giggled and immediately crouched beside Bash, who thumped his tail and licked Jake’s cheek with sloppy enthusiasm. “He’s staying inside,” Jake said confidently. “He likes the rug.”
“Great, the cabin has the Bash seal of approval,” Doreen said with an indulgent smile.
“Hear that, Bash?” Jake asked, ruffling the dog’s fur before he straightened up. “Do I get to choose my room?”
“Why not?” Doreen asked as Jake ran to the first room, Bash hot on his heels.
“What do you think, Bash?” Jake glanced down at the golden retriever. “You’re right, we should check out both rooms before we decide.”
Jake darted down the hallway and into the second bedroom with Bash thumping after him with the single-minded enthusiasm of a dog who was clearly loving the adventure.
Doreen followed close behind, watching Jake open and close the closet door, testing the hinges with a serious expression. She fought back a smile at his methodical approach. So much like his mother, who had always been both practical and thorough.
“This one is bigger,” he announced, “but the other one has the best window.” He turned to Bash. “What do you think, boy?”
Bash woofed loudly and trotted back toward the first bedroom. Jake followed, and Doreen trailed behind, curious about his decision-making process.
Back in the first bedroom, Jake immediately went to the window that faced the back of the cabin. He pressed his nose against the glass, his breath fogging the pane as he peered into the gathering darkness. Bash stood beside him, front paws on the windowsill, tail swishing with interest.
“I choose this one,” Jake declared with certainty. “The window looks right into the woods.”
Doreen joined them at the window. Beyond the small cleared area behind the cabin, the forest stretched dark and mysterious, the outlines of pine trees barely visible in the fading light. A shiver ran through her that wasn’t entirely from the cold seeping through the glass.
She had spent little time in the wilderness, and although she admired the beauty of the forests that covered the mountainside, there was something intimidating about them. Something ancient and unknowable.
As if they could swallow you whole.
“Can you see any squirrels out there, Bash?” Jake whispered, his arm draped over the dog’s back.
Bash’s tail thumped against the floor in cheerful response, his ears perked forward as he stared intently at something Doreen couldn’t see.
“Aunt D,” Jake said without turning from the window, excitement making his voice rise. “Do you think we’ll see wolves? Dad said wolves are brave but shy.”
Doreen hesitated, not wanting to dash his hopes but also not wanting to encourage him to go looking for potentially dangerous wildlife. “I’m not sure they come this close to the cabins, honey. But the woods are their home, so who knows? We’ll just have to be careful.”
“I’ll ask James later at dinner,” Jake decided, scratching Bash behind the ears. “He’ll know.”
“Deputy Pike,” Doreen corrected automatically, trying to ignore the little thrill that shot through her at the thought of seeing him again.
“I like Deputy Pike,” Jake said, turning away from the window to ruffle Bash’s fur affectionately. “So does Bash.”
The dog looked up at Jake with adoring eyes, seeming to confirm this statement.
“Do you?” Jake turned around suddenly, fixing Doreen with a look so direct and penetrating that she felt pinned in place. His eyes, like her sister’s, seemed to see right through her carefully constructed composure.
For a moment, Doreen was speechless, her mouth opening and closing without sound. She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. “Yes, he seems like a great guy,” she managedfinally. “He certainly saved us from having to hunt around for Bash in the cold.”
Jake nodded, apparently satisfied with her answer. He patted Bash on the head. “He’s going to help me train you.”
Bash looked up at Jake with that warm, friendly expression golden retrievers were famous for, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. If the dog could talk, Doreen was sure he’d be saying something like, “Wanna bet!”
She smiled to herself, grateful for the moment of levity. “Okay, so this is your room?”
