Noel stopped to sniff around the luscious grass, halting their movement. Gus sat by Avery’s side as they waited for the other dog.
Avery was about to tug on Noel’s collar when Gus went to attention.
Looking around, Avery tried to spot what had grabbed the shepherd’s attention. “What is it, Gus?”
Gus rose onto all fours and started to lead Avery closer to the cabins. Noel, always down to follow the other dog, trotted along so Avery decided to see what Gus was curious about. Normally a walk with the trained canine was quite boring. Gus would do his business and then walk for as long as Avery wanted. This was the first time that Gus was deciding their direction.
The front of the cabins came into view and Avery wished they were all full. It meant more work for him since Avery oversaw getting everything set up for their guests. He didn’t mind the work. And he wanted all of the dogs to find their forever people. There just seemed to be such a long process for approval. Not that Avery understood that part of the company. Not yet anyway.
He’d only met Clint’s brother once. Cody was one of the doctors that worked for the VA, or Veterans Assistance, program that found the applicants that needed a service dog. Sometimes it was just for companionship. Others needed trained dogs like Gus that were certified for certain jobs.
In the three years that Avery had been working there, he’d seen veterans that had needed dogs for so many reasons. And it always made his heart happy when the veteran was finally able to take his canine companion back home.
Spotting someone on the cabin six front porch, Avery paused, stopping both dogs.
Normally he wouldn’t approach one of their guests on his own, but Avery had spoken to Thomas on the phone and Gus’s attention was completely on the figure standing with a blanket wrapped around his head and shoulders on the porch.
Avery wasn’t sure what to do.
Gus pulled on the leash and the decision was made for him. Avery allowed the leash to slip through his fingers and Gus walked straight up to the cabin. Avery watched from the side as Gus climbed the steps with the leash trailing behind him and pressed himself against Thomas’s leg.
Thomas jumped but Avery could hear him laugh, then Thomas was glancing around and spotted Avery.
Avery waved.
Thomas waved back before motioning Avery closer.
Avery was relieved as he would have had to retrieve Gus eventually. Or call Clint.
“Hey,” Avery said quietly as he approached. “I’m Avery.”
Thomas smiled shyly. “Hi. I talked to you on the phone.”
“You did.” Avery bounced a little as he spoke. “I’m glad you made it. If you need anything for the cabin, just give me a call. I can take care of it for you.”
Thomas tucked the part of the blanket covering his head back. “Everything is just as you described. It really helps to know what to expect. Sending the walkthrough video gave me an idea of where everything would be. Thank you.”
Avery bounced some more. He liked how soft and friendly Thomas’s voice was. It had been the same on the phone when they’d been working out the details of Thomas’s stay.
“Would you like to sit?” Thomas asked, motioning toward the chairs on the porch. “I think your canine has decided to hang out with me.”
“He’s not mine,” Avery said quickly. He hoped that Gus would be Thomas’s soon. “I was just walking him.”
‘What about that one?” Thomas asked, pointing at Noel who’d decided that rolling around on his back in the grass was fun.
Avery laughed. “This one is mine, but he’d not trained. Not like Grumpy Gus there. Noel just likes to come to work with me and Clint lets him.”
“He’s adorable.” Thomas laid his palm on the top of Gus’s head. “And I wondered if this was the same dog I met before. I wasn’t sure how many you have here.”
This was a subject that Avery could talk about all day. He moved up the steps to take the invitation to sit with Thomas.
Thomas sat in the chair that allowed him to see most of the yard, so Avery took the one closest to their steps.
“This is Noel.” Avery grabbed his dog’s bottom to scoot him back against Avery’s legs. “He’s super special to me because he was a Christmas present from my Da…partner after I got a position here. Clint helped me train him so he knows basic commands but Noel is…a free spirit.”
Thomas laughed again. “And maybe a little spoiled.”
“Maybe.” Avery shrugged.
