She couldn’t put her finger on it. Yes, the man was drop dead gorgeous with deep set eyes, high cheekbones, a five o’clock shadow worthy of a magazine cover and muscles that could probably crush nutshells with his bare hands, but there were lots of good looking, strong men in this world. None had her so sucked in only a few minutes after being introduced that she was almost oblivious to everything else around her.
Not wanting to be caught peeking at the doorway, she’d just shifted her seat at the table and did her best to focus on the food on her plate when the two men returned to the kitchen. Kade took a seat beside his wife, the two smiling at each other like a couple of smitten teens. Josh sat across from Kade, beside Jackie. As Alice scooped out warm casserole for Josh, Sara Sue came through the back door. “Morning.”
“Just in time for a late breakfast.” Alice smiled.
The way Sara Sue grinned, Katie got the impression that was exactly what Alice’s first daughter-in-law was hoping for.
“There’s eggs too.” Alice spun around holding a large frying pan with one hand and a serving spoon with the other. “Who wants some?”
Every voice at the table spoke up with a resoundingme.
Moving about like someone perfectly at home in the kitchen, Sara Sue grabbed another bottle of juice from the fridge, and with her free hand transferred the platter of bacon from the counter to the table. “One of these days I’m going to figure out how you get the bacon just right every time.”
“Wait till you’re my age, you’ll have perfected the art of bacon too.” Alice took a seat between Jackie and Sara Sue. “Not that I’m complaining, but what brings you by this morning?”
“Well,” Sara set her fork back on her dish, “I need a little help.”
Alice nodded in silence.
“I’ve got a dog that is recovering from a shrapnel wound after a convoy explosion.”
Casting the occasional glance in Josh’s direction, Katie noticed an almost imperceptible tightening of his jaw at Sara Sue’s comment. She had an inexplicable urge to reach out and pat his hand or brush his shoulder. Instead she stabbed at her food and considered sitting on her free hand.
“The wound was healing fine, but his behavior indicates that he’s most likely also depressed.”
Again, Katie spotted Josh’s response, his finger tightening around the fork. Again she refrained from reacting.
“We’ve tried a couple of foster homes, but the dog was not bonding. Last placement, he tore at his sutures and set his recovery back.”
Alice leaned back, a concerned frown giving way to a knowing smile. “So we get him.”
“If you’re still interested in fostering.”
“You know I am.”
For the next few minutes Sara updated her mother-in-law on the dog. Another German Shepherd, closing in on retirement age but who still had some work left in him before this incident. Apparently, he saved several soldiers by alerting to the situation before the firestorm. Poor dog had lost quite a bit of weight between the recovery from surgery and loss of appetite.
“If he can’t thrive here, I don’t know where he will.” Sara Sue sighed.
Alice reached across the table and squeezed her daughter-in-law’s hand. “Don’t you worry. If we can’t figure out how to help him, Brady will.”
Katie followed Alice’s gaze toward the dog sprawled out on the floor, looking totally relaxed, until upon further observation a person could see he was actually focused on the door. More than focused, he was strategically resting between his people and any potential danger coming through that door. Smart dog.
“When can we expect him?” Alice reached for her cup of coffee.
“As soon as I can arrange transport.” Sara Sue’s gaze darted over to Kade and smiled. “An experienced handler would help.”
Fork in hand, Kade returned the smile. “As long as it’s before I have to report back for duty, you’ve got yourself a handler.”
“Good.” Sara Sue pushed to her feet, lifted the plate of untouched food. “I need to go make some phone calls. The sooner I get Raider here the better.” She turned to Alice. “Mind if I take this with me?”
Alice waved to the other side of the house. “Why don’t you use Charlie’s office. At least the food won’t get cold heading back to your cottage.”
“That would be great.”
“If you need a ranch vehicle, I’m sure something can be arranged.”
Sara Sue stopped short, set the plate back on the table, and threw her arms around Alice. “I love you. Thank you.”
