“That dog stinks!” Twitch says as we get out of the truck.
I sigh. “Yes, he does. The tap is at the back of the house, isn’t it?”
“It sure is,” he replies with a screwed-up face, watching my dog jump out of the truck.
“I purchased some doggy shampoo, so I might give him a wash.”
“Do you want some help?” Elena asks.
My eyes scan over Conan’s body. “Yes, please. I hope he’ll let us wash him.”
Elena’s eyes widen. “He better not bite me!”
My heart is beating faster, hoping Conan won’t be a problem. We walk out the back and toward the tap.
“Can you connect the hose, and I’ll get the shampoo?”
Elena gives Conan a wry glance. “Okay.”
I dash through the house and into the kitchen. My shoulders drop at the mess already. My fingers itch to clean it up.If Beau saw our kitchen in this state... I cringe, then shake my head. Beau isn’t here. I open the cupboards underneath the sink and grab the shampoo and comb. After walking over to the fridge, I pull the door open and get out some ham. I walk back to hear Elena laughing. She is trying to wet Conan, but he keeps chasing the stream of water from the hose, trying to bite it.
Elena looks at me. “Your dog thinks it’s a game.”
I smile at Conan as he bolts one way, chasing the water, and when Elena dashes the hose the other way, he follows it, barking.
“Conan, I have some food for you.”
He pauses and looks at me, back to the water, then back to the ham in my hand before running to me.
Elena giggles. “The food is obviously more important.”
When Conan gets to me, he jumps. “No. Sit.”
“He probably doesn’t know what sit means.”
“Sit.” I press down on his back near his tail, and he sits. His eyes never move from the food.
“Good boy.” I pass him his well-deserved piece of ham, and he gently takes it from my hand and practically swallows it.
“Did he even chew that?” Elena asks.
I laugh. “No, he’s a pig!” I pull out another piece of ham. “Try with the water now.”
I hand the ham to him as Elena directs the water over his back. It trails down his body and drips from his belly.
“Pass me the hose and I’ll do his chest.”
She does, and he sits there with his doggy smile while we take turns making sure we get his coat wet. He stands, and before we can step back, he shakes himself. I close my eyes as he flicks the water all over us. We both burst out laughing.
“It’s shampoo time.” Conan backs away, so I quickly pull out another piece of ham. He steps toward me. “At least he’s food motivated.”
Elena cocks a brow. “Aren’t most men?”
I smile back at her. “True!” I give the ham to Conan, then lean down, grab the shampoo, drizzle the bright yellow liquid all over his back, and put the container on the ground. We both lean down and rub it into his coarse coat.
“Look at the color of the suds,” Elena points out. It’s a light brown, showing just how dirty he is.
I frown. “He’s probably never been washed. Make sure you get his legs.”
