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Jodie elbowed him lightly and reached for her shirt. By the time she dressed and unzipped the tent, dawn had begun to lighten the camp. Goblin lay several feet from the entrance, curled tightly, staring at the opening. His head came up as his stumpy tail wagged.

“Hey, you.”

His ears shifted toward her. Jodie stepped out slowly and crouched as Goblin watched her every move. She held out her hand and waited for him to decide whether to come closer. For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then Goblin stood. He stretched first, front legs extended, rear end and stubby tail high in the air, as if he hadn’t been sleeping outside her tent for half the night waiting for her to emerge.

Then he took one step. Stopped. Then he took another. Jodie kept her hand where it was.

Come on, sweetheart.

Goblin reached her and stretched his neck far enough to sniff her fingers. She didn’t move. His nose touched her palm. Jodie turned her hand slowly and brushed her fingertips along the side of his muzzle.

Goblin flinched and she stopped immediately.

“It’s okay.”

He stilled and Jodie tried again. This time her fingers reached the spot just below one of his bat ears. His eyes slid half closed.

“Good boy,” she whispered as she scratched behind his ear.

Mac watched right behind her as Jodie stroked Goblin’s cheek once more, feeling for any swelling, just in case his flinch was from a cavity. He didn’t flinch again, so she scratched lightly beneath his jaw, then felt the other side.

The dog leaned into her hand and sighed.

Well.

Her eyes suddenly stung. This was the same dog who stole an entire breakfast burrito yesterday. Now he’d finally decided she was allowed to touch his face.

Goblin leaned harder. Jodie laughed softly and brought her other hand up to scratch behind both ears. He sighed contentedly.

“Okay. You win.”

Mac crouched beside her, grinning. “What did he win?”

Goblin glanced at Mac, then back at Jodie.

“If he’ll let me, a new home in Lyons.”

Goblin stayed for breakfast. Not close enough to join the cluster of volunteers eating around the folding tables, but near enough to make his intentions clear. Jodie cut up some sausage over scrambled eggs and put it on a plate, which she set beneath the edge of the shade canopy. Goblin watched Jodie with complete concentration until she stepped away, then he attacked the food with gusto.

“Chewing remains optional, I see.”

She filled her own plate and sat down between Mac and Sandra.

“Good morning,” she told Sandra, who nodded as she chewed her food.

“I hope it will be,” Sandra answered her after she took a swig of coffee. “I’m…worried.” She looked out at the vast landscape.

“We all are,” Jodie said quietly.

“I’m documenting it all. People need to know.”

Jodie nodded while she ate her scrambled eggs and toast. “Can I see some of the photos you’ve taken already?”

Sandra brightened. “Sure.” She picked a camera bag off the ground beside her and unzipped it. She pulled out a camera, turned it so Jodie could see the screen, and showed her how to scroll through the pictures. She’d gotten some good ones of Hank’s ranch and his horses—all purchased from auctions after roundups—and several of FHDH and BLM members arguing. As Jodie scrolled back, she saw Sandra’s early shots of horses in the Basin taken the day before she and Mac had arrived. She searched the horses for any sign of Luna, Lucky, or Sagebrush, but no luck.

“These are great.” She smiled at Sandra as she handed the camera back to her. “You’ll do today justice, too.”