“Guess we’ll find out soon enough.” Sara Sue pointed to the front porch where Alice stood waiting with Brady faithfully at her side.
Doors opened and the three adults in the seats hopped out. Kade made his way around to the back and opened the doors.
Katie stood at Kade’s side, eager to help, though she didn’t have a clue how. Watching the continued tenderness with which Josh treated the dog, a complete antithesis to the image of big bad soldier armed to the hilt and ready to fight the world, had her feeling safe and warm all over even though none of that attention was directed at her.
Easing back from petting the injured dog, Josh stared at him a moment before deciding he wasn’t going to wake up quickly and scooted away from the pup until his legs hung over the tailgate. His feet dangling, Josh took a deep breath and hanging on to the side, slid out of the truck and onto his feet.
If anyone asked Katie, she’d say the man looked surprised to notice he was standing firmly on his own two feet. She sure hoped that meant he was getting better.
Alice slowly approached. “How’d it go?”
“So far so good.” Josh smiled at his hostess.
Brady moved closer to the vehicle, one paw lifted high as his nose twitched with interest. Raider was still sleeping, so much so that Katie wondered if the vets had given him something for the ride after all. Brady sniffed at what he could reach of Raider. A back paw, a front paw, the tip of his tail, then Brady lifted his head and sniffed the air inside the Suburban before taking a step back and sitting at Alice’s side.
All the adults were standing perfectly still, watching the family dog, Kade’s former military K9, sniff and evaluate his new charge. The dog seemed to bob his head at Alice’s side, as if he understood his new mission. Help this dog heal.
“Okay.” Kade stepped forward. “Let’s get this show on the road.” He turned to his mother. “We’re going to take Raider into the house.”
“My room,” Josh added.
“Is that all right with you?” Kade asked his mother.
“You know it is. Whatever is best for this boy.”
With a nod, Kade grabbed hold of two corners of the blanket under the dog and tugged just enough for Sara Sue to grab the other corners. As they tugged a little more, the dog lifted his head, gave a low growl, but as soon as Josh spoke to him, the dog stopped.
Balancing the dog in the blanket swing, the two walked briskly into the house.
Alice was already rushing ahead. “I’ll get a small mattress from the storage room.”
Katie felt like a third wheel. Everyone seemed to have a purpose, except her. She wasn’t quite sure what to do, but she wanted to stay close, so she continued to follow behind them. They were barely inside when Alice rushed across the kitchen dragging what looked like a mattress for a camping cot. From where she stood, she looked over to them. “Katie, would you be a dear and run to the barn a minute. Ask Benny for the dog bowls we left for Raider.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Delighted to feel useful, she dashed to the barn, found Benny, and a minute later was hurrying back to the house.
No surprise, Alice was scurrying about gathering old linens and towels for the dog.
“Where shall I put these?” Katie asked.
“At the head of the bed,” Sara Sue responded. “This way he won’t have to go far if he’s hungry or thirsty.”
Gingerly walking around the people standing back, she inched closer, nibbling on her lower lip. She’d seen the dog’s sharp teeth and didn’t want to do anything to raise his hackles again.
“It’s okay, boy,” Josh’s voice was soft and soothing. “She’s a friend.”
The dog’s eyes tracked her every step. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to put one foot in front of the other. She wassetting bowls down for a hurt and frightened animal, she wasn’t walking the plank. Too bad her stomach didn’t quite believe it and continued to roll and pitch with every nervous step.
She was only a few inches away from the dog when its lips began to twitch, causing her to slow her steps.
“It’s okay, Raider. All is well.”
The dog stopped twitching and laid his head back down on the bed, his nose hanging off the edge.
Katie managed to breathe more easily. Squatting, she set the two bowls at the side of the bed. Before she could ease away, the dog stuck out his tongue and caught the back of her hand. Not in a vicious bite, but in a slow lick. The rough sensation along the back of her hand almost had her toppling over from the surprise.
“At least we know one thing.” Josh smiled at her. “The dog has good taste.”
Chapter Seven
