Sara Sue huffed. “Depends who you ask.”
That didn’t sit well with Josh. He knew how hard losing a K9 partner hit a soldier. He’d seen good men go into depression, PTSD, lose their edge. Others got right back into the thick of it with a new dog, but none ever stopped worrying about their former partners.
“He checks in on Raider as often as he can. Psych eval says he’s ready to get back in the thick of things. His CO says the relationship isn’t there yet. He’s not sure that the handler isn’t masking his own issues.”
Nodding his head, Kade tsked. “It’s like having a brother your whole life, then one day the brother has to go away and a new guy shows up and says he’s your brother now. Your dog is not a favorite toy, he or she is family.”
Katie’s gaze flicked quickly to Josh, then away. He’d done his best not to think about the explosion that he knew had injured the dog in the first place. Not think about how he too was sent to the Sweets to heal. Not show signs of how unsettled the unknown was for him. Much like Raider, he had no idea if he’d ever be able to go back to work or if he’d be on the sidelines for the rest of his life. And he had no idea if Katie was somehow reading all of that or if she’d just happened to glance his way. Another place, another time.
“Same for the dogs.” Sara bobbed her head. “They don’t understand what has happened to their humans.”
“Poor baby,” Alice spoke softly.
Yeah, and Josh knew exactly how that poor baby felt.
Katie couldn’t help but notice the tension in Josh’s shoulders. Every so often, he seemed to squeeze his fork more tightly. Sometimes, he’d watch the folks around the table, and then other times, he’d look down at his plate as if interacting with humans was painful.
“Because of the recent issue with his wound re-opening,” Sara Sue continued, “he needs to be assisted outdoors with a belly band.”
“We can do that.” Alice reached for the basket of biscuits.
“There are plenty of us around to help,” Carson added while beside him his wife bobbed her head.
“Exactly. Not only do y’all have plenty of hands-on help, tending to injured animals is nothing new to anyone aroundhere and the cherry on top is that y’all understand working dogs, both ranch and military.” A smile spread across Sara Sue’s lips. “And of course, you have the added asset of a retired military dog to help show Raider the way.”
Under the table, Brady thumped his tail once, as if he knew he’d been volunteered.
Josh cleared his throat. “Any anxiety meds?”
“Not yet,” Sara Sue replied. “We’re hoping if he comes here, we won’t have to.”
Everyone at the table was keenly aware of the situation with the injured dog and eager to help, but she wondered if anyone had noticed Josh’s reactions to the situation, or was she the only one worried about him? Which made no sense, she’d barely met the man.
“So now what?” Alice asked.
“We transport him.”
“We?” Clint spoke up.
Sara Sue’s gaze darted to Kade. “We move dogs about all the time, but I’ve convinced the vet that having an experienced handler would be an asset if we can get the paperwork done before you return to base.”
“I can tag along, but I should not be the one to work with him. He needs to bond with people who are going to be caring for him.”
“That would be me.” Alice raised a finger.
“And me,” Clint added and Katie’s heart shifted at the precious way that Alice smiled over at the man in her life.
The muscle in Josh’s jaw began to pulse. She could almost see him grinding his teeth as he worked something over in his mind. Setting down his fork, Josh looked up at his buddy. “I’d like to tag along too.”
Kade eyed his friend a long moment before finally nodding.
That settled, the conversation shifted to other things, mostly around ranch business, an occasional mention of a unique customer at the candle store, or the challenges with Carson’s latest projects.
Having grown up an only child, all this teasing and laughing and general shenanigans was out of the norm for her. She’d obviously had friends with siblings, but none with this many. Even though she’d been exposed to all of them at Jackie’s wedding, everyone had been more focused on their tasks for the big reception. Tonight, things were much more low-key, and Katie found herself enjoying it even more than her last visit—despite her concerns for the Sweet’s other houseguest.
After supper, everyone moved around the kitchen and dining room, clearing plates, wiping tables, rinsing dishes, storing leftovers. The typical after dinner chores only multiplied on a larger scale for a gathering that would rival many dinner parties in size. The kitchen nearly sparkling, the siblings who lived outside the main house, one by one, kissed their mother and made their way to their own homes. Carson and Jess were upstairs reading to Mason; Katie had learned last night that this was a ritual that could often last an hour or more as they worked their way through another Louis L’Amour book. Kade and Cassie had wandered out to the barn to check on a new foal. It was Katie’s understanding that Cassie had grown up in the city but had taken to ranch life like a pig to mud.
Finishing up drying a few stray pots and pans, she noticed Josh walking very slowly toward the back door. His hands not quite extending, but not quite at his sides, no doubt trying to keep his balance.
