"There it is! That's his house. He stole my dog!"
Krista Brody held tight to her young son's hand. He was understandably upset, since his new puppy was involved. "Why don't we go knock on the man's door and ask him?" she suggested.
"No, Mom!" Bobby tugged on her. "He's real mean. My friend Josh said."
"Nonsense. Just because we haven't met all our neighbors yet doesn't make this one some kind of a monster.
"He is so."
Krista bent down to meet her son on his level. "We have to introduce ourselves and ask the man if he's seen Puddles. You want to find your puppy, don't you?"
"Uh-huh."
"Then we have to look everywhere. Including this house."
Tears were pooling in the child's blue eyes. Krista's heart ached for him. Getting Bobby the black-and-white pup had been her latest attempt at helping her son feel loved and accepted. Most of the children in Serenity had known each other all their lives. Bobby was clearly an outsider, even though his paternal grandparents still lived on the farm where his father had grown up.
She straightened. "Trust me, honey. I'm just going to knock on the door and ask whoever lives there if they've seen Puddles. Okay?"
The child nodded solemnly. "I'll go, too. I won't let him be mean to you."
"Good," Krista said, smiling. "I like having a strong man around for protection."
"Like Dad was?"
"Yes, honey, like your daddy."
"Why did he have to go to heaven?"
Answering the child's questions about his father's death was getting easier now that several years had passed since Len's accident. "Your daddy was driving too fast. He wasn't being careful." And he left me with a child to raise all by myself, she added silently, stifling a surge of exasperation.
"Dad would go get Puddles for me if he was here, huh?"
"Yes," Krista assured him. "But since he can't, I'll help you."
"You gonna beat that guy up? He's pretty big, Mom."
Krista stifled a laugh. "I don't think it'll be necessary to fight anybody for your puppy, Bobby. Puddles probably wandered off, that's all."
"Hey! What if he went to Gramma Brody's farm?"
"Puddles has only been missing since you let him out to play after school. He couldn't possibly have run that far in such a short time."
Krista led Bobby up the front steps of the modest brick house, then paused. There was no homey lawn furniture on this porch. Though the yard was well-kept, it too lacked a personal touch.
Beside her, Bobby tugged on her hand. "You scared, Mama?"
"No, honey." The front door stood ajar. She knocked on the frame of the screen and called, "Hello? Anybody home?"
Heavy footsteps echoed inside the house. Determined to make a good first impression, she smiled broadly.
The steps halted. The door swung open. A tall man with dark, tousled hair and a disconcerted expression confronted her. "Yes?"
"We're sorry to bother you, Mr...."
The rest of her words stuck in her throat the moment she looked into his eyes. Dark, inviting eyes. Familiar eyes. Eyes that had once sparkled with the joy of life and made her pulse dance when he spoke her name.
Eyes that had peered so deeply into her soul she'd almost called off her engagement to the man who was to become Bobby's father.
Puddles began to wiggle his awkward puppy body, quivering all over, the second he heard the boy's voice through the screen.
It's them, it's them! Yeah! I knew they'd find me. Humans are so smart about some things. Of course, none of them can find a squeaky toy in the dark like I can. And they don't seem to care one bit about important stuff, like the best place to bury a bone — or finding something really old and dead to roll in to make their fur smell good. They throw the best stuff in the garbage.
The man was heading for the door. Puddles followed, leaping and circling.
Faster, faster. Come on, slowpoke. There's a boy on the porch and we've got some serious playing to do. I'll bet he misses me. We're good buddies. 'Course he's not as much fun to chew on and fight with as my brothers and sisters were, but he gives me good-tasting stuff off his plate when his mother isn't looking.
He could hear two voices now, just on the other side of the door.
That's the mother human. Krista's her name. She's nice but kind of hard to figure out. One minute she's petting me and the next she's hollering at me and my boy, Bobby. He loves me already. I know he does. I took to him right off, too. He's gonna let me sleep with him as soon as his mama says it's okay. They were arguing about me. I know, because the mama kept mentioning my name and pointing to the floor. "Puddles," she said. "Look at those puddles."
His sharp, puppy nails slipped on the bare floor but he still managed to keep up with the man's strides. They arrived at the closed screen door together.
That's it. Open the door. Come on, mister. I'd do it if I was as tall as you are. Must be nice to have fingers. They're not nearly as good for digging, though. Just for scratching. Ooooh, I need my tummy scratched. Yessirree. A good tummy scratch is exactly what I need.
Outside, Krista stood beside her son and stared at the man's face, apparently not even noticing the little dog dancing and whirling at his feet.
It is them! I knew it. They wash themselves way too much, but I'd still know their family smell anywhere, even if they didn't say a word. O — pen — this — door! Now!
The man reached for the latch on the screen and released it.
Grown-ups. Phooey. They don't have the sense God gave a gopher. In the time he's wasting I could be rolled over at my Bobby's feet getting my itch scratched. Maybe he'd even wiggle his fingers under my collar and tickle me there as I like. Just thinking about it gives me the shivers.
The woman on the porch gaped, motionless. The man's mood brightened enough that the change impressed Puddles.
Ooooh, he likes her. That's good. She needs a human friend so she won't take up so much of my Bobby's time. When she makes him stay in the house and I'm stuck outside, we can't play. I get bored all by myself in my pen. I need something interesting to do, like sniff around and see what's hiding in the tall grass and under the leaves. I need fun. Adventure. I need to see the world.
The man threw open the screen door, caught the woman in his arms and swung her around with a joyful shout.
Hey, that's more like it. He left the door open. Look out, Bobby, here I come!
Puddles launched himself at the boy and licked his face. They tumbled into a joyful heap on the wooden porch.
Oh, he tastes good. Almost better than old shoes. Well, not quite that good, but not bad. There's salty water on his cheeks. Tears, I think the humans call them. The mother leaks that way a lot. I know, 'cause she hugs me sometimes when our Bobby's at school and I can taste salt on her face, too. Only, she's sad when she does it. My Bobby is really happy right now. Me, too. I was beginning to wonder if he was ever going to come rescue me.
Suddenly the boy struggled to his feet and glared at the adults. Puddles immediately sensed his distress.
It's okay. See? She's smiling at him. And he likes her. Almost enough to nibble her nose, just like my mother taught me to do when I want to make friends.
The puppy saw Bobby's hands tighten into fists.
Uh-oh. Trouble, he thought, cowering. Bobby's upset for no reason. Nobody stole anybody else's food dish or slept on the wrong blanket or chewed up a good shoe, did they? No. So why not be friends? One good face-licking will settle all their problems. It always works for me.
"Krista! I heard you were in Serenity but I thought you were staying out at the Brodys'." Mark Vanbruger was so elated to find his old friend at his door he swung her around one more time before setting her on her feet.
Stealing up behind them, the boy kicked the man's shin as hard as he could, shouting, "Let go of my mama!"
Mark's "Ouch!" surprised Krista. How could she have forgotten about Bobby for even an instant? She moved to deflect his next kick. "No! Don't, honey. This is an old friend of mine — and your daddy's."
"He stole Puddles." The pup had thrown himself down on the grass and rolled onto his back, tongue lolling, feet in the air, the picture of pure submission.
"That dog came to me," Mark explained. "I only kept him in the house so he wouldn't get hurt while I tried to find out who he belonged to."
"Of course you did," Krista said with relief. It was good to see Mark again. Maybe too good. Uneasy, she stepped away from him and smoothed her T-shirt. "I thought you were still in St. Louis. What happened?"
"Big-city life didn't agree with me."
"Me, either."
Mark sobered and reached for her hand, grasping it briefly, tenderly, then letting go when he saw Bobby glaring at him. Lowering his voice in deference to the boy, he said, "I'm sorry, Krista. I didn't hear about Len until I moved back home last year. I'd have been there for you if I'd known." He paused. "Are you okay?"
"We're coping," she said. "I thought it would be best for Bobby, and for Grandma Hannah and Grandpa Hank, if we moved closer. I didn't want to impose on them so I rented a house. It's just down the road from here."
"Good idea. Kids need the support of their extended family. Grandparents can be very important. I see a lot of evidence of that in my job."
She brightened. "That's right! You're a teacher, aren't you?"
"Not anymore. I'm in administration." Mark purposely smiled at the little boy. "Actually, I'm the principal of Bobby's school. I was hoping to run into you when you came to register him but I guess I missed you."
"I guess so." Krista was surprised to see her son back farther away, dragging Puddles with him.
"See, Mom? I — I told you," the boy stammered.
Mark's brow furrowed. "Told you what?"
"That you're a really mean guy," she said with a light laugh. "The bad reputation must come with your position as principal."
"I'm afraid it does. Kids who need discipline don't like me much. Makes me feel like everybody's grumpy father."
Sighing, Krista nodded and glanced at her son. The boy was clinging to his dog's collar as if he still expected terrible repercussions and needed the animal's protection. Amused, she smiled at Mark. "I know what you mean. It's hard trying to be a dad, especially when you're being a mom, too."
He chuckled. "I hope I don't ever have that problem."
"You never married?"
"No. I never found a girl as perfect as Len's."
His voice was low, vibrating along her spine with an unexpected tingle. Krista was taken aback. She and Mark had never spoken of anything beyond their mutual friendship. Older than her late husband and much more mature, Mark had never stepped out of the role of wise mentor, even though she'd been attracted to him when she was still single.
What was he saying? That he'd shared her hidden feelings? Before she could decide how to reply, Bobby edged closer and tugged at her hand.
"C'mon, Mom. I wanna go home."
Blinking to clear her muddled head, Krista looked down at her son. He was glaring at Mark Vanbruger as if he were face-to-face with the devil himself.
Puddles fought being dragged toward home.
Hey, Bobby. Enough already. This collar's too tight. Ease up, kid.
"Honey, you're choking the poor dog. Give him some slack."
Whew! About time. He coughed. Bleah! Grass in my throat. That stuff looks good but it sure makes me sick. 'Course, if these humans would feed me more often instead of wasting their energy running all over the neighborhood, I wouldn't get hungry enough to eat whatever I find. That crunchy green bug I just found was pretty good, though. All but his prickly legs. Ooooh. Queasy me.
"Mom! Puddles threw up!"
Of course I did. You would, too, if you had an itchy bug-leg caught crosswise in your throat. Maybe I need more grass.
"I'm not surprised, Bobby. You shouldn't drag the poor puppy behind you like that. He's not a toy on a string. He's an animal."
Hey, just because I lost a little lunch is no reason to call me names. I'm no animal. I'm a Border collie. That makes me a sheepdog. My mother and father told me so. We guard baby lambs so no wolves can sneak in and grab them. I'm gonna be real brave when I get big like my folks. Brave and smart and...
Oooh, Krista's picking me up. And she's hugging me so the collar doesn't pinch anymore. What a sweet mother she is. Bobby's so lucky to have her. Me, too.
"I wanna move again," the eight-year-old declared. "I hate it here."
We could go back to the farm where you got me. I think I remember seeing some sheep there. We could sit out in the field all day and watch them eat. Then we could chase wolves together at night.
"Why? We just got to Serenity," Krista said.
"I don't care. I wanna go back to the city. So does Puddles."
Speak for yourself! I've heard about city life and I don't want any part of it. Well, maybe I'd like to check out the Dumpsters, but nothing else. Dogs get run over and lost and…and... Ummmmm, that feels good.
Krista was absently scratching the pup's ears. "You asked Puddles for advice?"
No, he hasn't. Not a word. It isn't the boy who needs most of the advice around here, anyway. It's the mama. And that guy down the street. His porch isn't very interesting but he's got tasty, fun stuff in his closets. Wish I could've brought some of it home with me.
"Sure. Puppies are real smart. They know who to like and…and..."
Now, you're talkin'. 'Bout time you realized who's got the brains around here.
Krista crouched beside the child and took his hands. "I know it was a surprise to you that I already knew Mr. Vanbruger but I'm glad Puddles went to his house."
Yeah, me, too. And I'm going back. He's got cookies in the cupboard and he knows how to make great scrambled eggs. He's not real cuddly like the two in my family but he's okay. I can teach him plenty.
"Glad? Why?" Bobby asked.
"Because it makes me feel good to know we have a friend nearby."
Hey, me, too. We need to visit his house a lot. I didn't get a chance to check out his backyard. Maybe he's got some sheep.
"The other kids will make fun of me if they find out. I told you what Josh said."
Josh is okay, if you like big boys. Me, I'm partial to smaller ones, like my Bobby. He's just right. Kind of moody, sometimes, but I'm getting used to him.
"You and Josh only met a few days ago, Bobby. I've known Mark for years. He really is a nice person."
Isn't that what I've been trying to tell you? Why doesn't anybody listen to me? I can decide with one sniff and maybe a little nip if a human is worth bothering with. My mother says some of them are almost as bad as wolves, but she said I'd be able to tell which ones to trust. She was right. I sure wish Bobby and Krista were as smart as my wonderful mother. And me.
Krista could tell her son was brooding over her refusal to consider moving to another neighborhood, so she kept trying to make him understand. "You know, Bobby, people don't stop being special just because we haven't seen them in a long time."
"Oh, yeah? What about my dad?"
"What about him?"
"We haven't seen him in a long time. Is he still my daddy?"
How could she answer that question truthfully, yet preserve the sense of family security she'd worked so hard to foster? "Oh, honey, we'll always love your father. But we have to go on with our lives, too."
Before her melancholy thoughts could take over, she straightened and forced a smile. "I have a good idea. Let's drive out to Grandma Hannah's and surprise her. Maybe she and I can bake some cookies for you and Grandpa Hank."
"Yeah! And dog biscuits for Puddles! I'll go get him."
"This time make sure you have his leash fastened to his collar before you let him out of his pen. Okay?"
"Okay, okay." Muttering to himself, the unhappy child left her.
Krista was still mulling over everything her son had said about his father as she drove toward the Brody farm fifteen minutes later. She remained concerned, yet she wasn't sure it would be wise to discuss the problem with Hannah. Len's accidental death had hit the older woman hard. Still, who better to give advice about a boy like Bobby than a woman who had raised his father?
She pulled up in front of a quaint old wood-frame house. Bobby jumped out of the car and hit the dirt running, Puddles at his heels. The Brody home had always radiated such a sense of welcome. It made Krista feel as if she were coming home.
Hannah met her at the door and opened her arms to share a hug. "Well, well, I thought I heard a car." She peered at the yard. "Where's that little boy of ours?"
"Headed for the barn. Probably looking for Grandpa. He'll be in as soon as he gets hungry or thirsty."
"I 'spect they both will," Hannah said, chuckling. "Come on in, honey. You look like you could use a cup of tea. Hard day?"
"So far. It's been quite an afternoon. I'm glad it's Friday." She plopped into a chair at Hannah's kitchen table and sighed. "I'm glad I have the weekend to convince Bobby to go back to school on Monday."
"Goodness. What happened?"
"It's a long story. Puddles ran away. Then, while we were out canvassing the neighborhood looking for him, we ran into an old friend. You remember Mark Vanbruger, don't you? He and Len used to be buddies."
"'Course I remember. Real nice fella."
"Exactly," Krista said. "Only Bobby has decided he's dangerous."
"What? Where'd he get such a notion?"
"One of his new friends told him Mark was really mean. When Bobby and I found Puddles at Mark's house, Bobby jumped to the conclusion Mark was a dognapper. Now Bobby insists he wants to move back to the city."
"You're not going to, are you?"
"Of course not. I'm just worried about living so close to Mark. I appreciate the reasonable rent you arranged for me but I may have to move to keep peace in the family."
Hannah was shaking her head. "I wouldn't do that. The Good Lord fixed you up where you are and that's where you ought to stay. Mark's a good man. It won't hurt you to be a couple doors down from an old friend like him."
Krista's eyes widened. "A couple doors down? Wait a minute! You knew where he lived when you found me that house?" Her jaw dropped. "Shame on you, Hannah Brody. You set me up!"
Trailing behind Bobby, Puddles ran as fast as his short legs would take him.
Hey, wait for me! I'm coming.
A yellow-and-black butterfly flitted past, diverting his attention.
Ooooh... Look! Look, Bobby! We need to go chase that funny-looking thing. Don't you see it? Don't you care? Maybe it's a sheep. Bobby? Hey, where'd you go?
Fascinating odors and unfamiliar sights distracted the pup further.
What a wonderful place this farm is. It's so smelly my nose can't decide where to start. Look at that mushy mud. And all that straw and stuff in that big pile. I'll bet there's a sheep in there. Yessirree. There's gotta be. My mother said I'd find my true destiny if I just followed my heart. This must be what she meant.
He looked up, suddenly remembering Bobby.
Now where did that boy get to? You'd think he wasn't paying attention the way he wanders off and gets himself lost. No wonder humans need to stay with their mothers till they're practically grown up. They need to be watched all the time. Not me. My mother said I'd do fine on my own, almost as soon as I could walk.
Plunking himself down in the shade of an enormous barn, Puddles rested, panting and reminiscing.
It was a place like this where I last saw my mother. She was so kind, licking my ears and teaching me stuff I'd need to know when I grew up. Being on a farm again really makes me miss her. Bobby's lucky. He can stay with his family for years if he wants to. I don't know why he acts so unhappy all the time. I try to get him to play so I can cheer him up but he must want something else. He's already got a mama. Maybe he needs more friends like me. Then we could all play and have fun together.
Yawning, the puppy rested his chin on his paws.
Too bad Bobby doesn't have a daddy like mine, somebody brave and strong, who's not afraid to face a hungry wolf and protect the flock. His would have to be a human daddy, of course. That's too bad. Sheepdogs are much more loyal than men. My mama told me so. Still, humans are used to their own kind so Bobby'd be okay if he had a regular people dad.
I heard him talking to Krista about it. They had a daddy once. He went away. She told my Bobby that everything would be okay but she had salty cheeks afterward, when she and I were alone. Got my fur all wet, too. That didn't bother me. It was worth it to get all the extra hugs from her. I licked her under the chin and she laughed. Said something about doggie kisses, I think.
In the distance, Puddles heard his master calling his name. He stood, stretched and yawned, looking in the direction of the voices.
Sounds like the boy found another human, the one they call Grandpa. He's sort of like a daddy, only really old. I thought he'd do, though, till we left here and moved to town. Guess Bobby and Krista didn't like him enough to keep him.
His tail started to wag as he sensed someone approaching.
The man with the tasty house might make a good father,Puddles thought. Bobby doesn't seem to like him much but Krista does. And I know he likes her. I wish my mother had explained more about people to me. I know how to keep a flock of sheep happy and calm but I don't know nearly enough about humans to take proper care of them.
"Puddles!" Bobby came around the corner of the barn, dropped to his knees and held out his arms. "I thought I lost you again!"
No way, kid. You couldn't lose me if you tried. Here I come!
The pup leaped and landed on the boy's chest, rocking him back on his heels. They fell backward into the dirt. Bobby was giggling.
That's better! I missed you, too. You should've stayed with me. I found all kinds of great stuff to taste and roll in. And a yellow thing that I thought was a sheep till I remembered my mama said lambs couldn't fly.
I was real tired, too. But I feel much better now that you're here. I missed you bunches. More than my chewy toy. Well, almost. And I figured out how to make you happy. Mama said to always follow my instincts so I will. You'll see.
Krista would have asked Hannah to clarify her reasons for practically plunking her down in Mark Vanbruger's lap if Bobby's boisterous return and wild story about losing track of Puddles again hadn't interrupted their conversation.
When Hannah invited Bobby to spend the whole weekend at the farm, dog and all, Krista readily gave permission and drove home alone. This respite from motherhood would give her a perfect opportunity to finish unpacking. Once her son was surrounded by familiar objects, she hoped he'd settle in and accept small-town living without too much more fuss.
Except that the poor kid believed an arch villain lived practically next door. Maybe that was where she should begin. She certainly owed Mark an apology for the sore shin!
This time, she brushed her hair and touched up her lipstick before heading down the street. Not that she was primping. "Yeah, right," she muttered, disgusted. If she didn't care to impress him, why was her heart beginning to thump like a pocketful of rocks tumbling in a clothes dryer?
Krista chuckled. Leave it to the mother of an eight-year-old to think of an analogy like that!
As she approached Mark's house she thought seriously of turning tail and heading home. That notion was so out of character it dismayed her. In two years of widowhood, she'd learned how to face anything life threw at her — with the help of prayer. She'd stopped going to church after being widowed but perhaps it was time to start attending services again. Bobby could use a serious dose of Christian love — and so could she.
Before she could climb the front porch steps, Mark appeared, startling her. She smiled. "Oh, hi."
"Hello again." He leaned to one side to look past her. "No bodyguard this time? No attack dog?"
"Nope. You're safe. I'm all alone. They're visiting Grandma."
"Poor Hannah," Mark quipped. "Oh, well, half the time she has a house full of foster kids so I suppose she can cope with your Bobby." Seating himself on the top porch step, he gestured to a spot beside him. "Join me?"
"Sure. Thanks." She settled herself as far away from him as the narrow stairs would allow, then asked, "Have you lived here long?"
"Not really. After I left St. Louis I worked in California but the pace was way too fast for a country boy like me. The more I thought about coming home, the better it sounded. So, I took a pay cut and here I am."
"At least you had a position lined up. I'm still looking. I did manage to get my Emergency Medical Technician certification and do some volunteer rescue work for the fire department after Bobby started school, but that isn't considered real job experience. It's harder for me to find work because I never finished college."
"That's Len's fault. He talked you into marrying him and then got you pregnant."
Krista smiled. "Bless you. You're just about the only person, besides Hannah, who hasn't assumed I had to get married because I was already expecting."
"I know you too well to ever think that." Mark reached for her hand.
"Thanks." His comment made her feel good. His touch made her feel even better. Realizing how much better, she pulled away. "I don't suppose you know where I might find a waitress job."
"I might. What're you doing later tonight?"
"Going to bed," she said without thinking how her comment might sound to him. A blush warmed her cheeks. "I meant I'm exhausted. As soon as I unpack the rest of my kitchen stuff, I expect to collapse in a heap and sleep till morning."
"In that case," Mark said, "why don't we go out for coffee and homemade pie right now. There's a little café on the Serenity Square that can usually use an extra hand. If you decide you'd like to work there, I'll introduce you."
"I'll have to change first. I'm not going out in shorts and a T-shirt."
"You look fine to me just as you are."
Getting to her feet and hurrying down the stairs so he couldn't see how deeply his compliment had made her blush, Krista called back, "Give me ten minutes."
"I've given you nine years," he said wistfully. "I think I can manage to wait a few more minutes."
Bea's Family Café was almost deserted by the time Mark and Krista arrived. The waitress greeted Mark with a broad smile. "Hi, stranger! The usual?"
"Not tonight, Annie. What kind of pie do you have?"
"Fresh, or just any old pie? The apple's fairly new."
He laughed and looked to Krista. When she nodded, he said, "Apple's fine. And two cups of coffee, please."
Guiding Krista to a table in the corner, he seated her then took a chair opposite her. "Annie's the one you'd be working for if you decided to apply here. She has an odd sense of humor but folks seem to like it. And the food's good. She was kidding about the pie. They don't serve anything that's not first-rate. Her mother does most of the baking. She and her husband handle the rest."
"She's married?"
"Yes. Why?"
"It looked to me like she might be interested in you. That's all."
Mark was smiling. "Trust me. Annie and I have nothing going except that she keeps me from starving to death. I never did like to cook."
"Hannah's a great cook. She can get Bobby to eat all kinds of things besides hot dogs and burgers — even vegetables."
"He'll be more open-minded as he gets older."
"Which reminds me," Krista said, lowering her voice for privacy. "I want to apologize again for the way he kicked you. I've never seen him get violent like that before. I hope it didn't hurt."
"Only my pride. I don't like being beat up by an eight-year-old."
"He still swears you kidnapped Puddles. He even wanted to move again because our new house is so close to yours." Her brow furrowed. "Did you know Hannah had a hand in finding me that place? She seemed awfully smug when I questioned her about it. I think she threw us together on purpose."
"Would that be so bad?" Mark asked.
"In my case, yes. My son is all I have left. I don't want him to think I've turned against him."
Mark reached across the narrow table and took her hands. "You said you were worried about being both mother and father to him. I can understand that. But I think you're making a mistake if you try to be his friend, too. Kids need strong parental guidance. If you let Bobby make all the decisions, who's he going to look up to when he needs an authority figure?"
"Me, of course." She pulled her hands away and clasped them in her lap. "I may not have a degree in education like you do, Mr. Vanbruger, but I know my own son. He might be a little headstrong but he knows I'm the one in charge."
"Glad to hear it. Considering what's happened already, I'm not looking forward to having him sent to my office for discipline." He shot her a wry smile. "I'm afraid his mother might hold it against me."
Before Krista could reply, Annie arrived with their pie and a steaming carafe of coffee. "Who's holding what against who?" the waitress joked.
"That's whom," Mark said quickly. "And never mind."
"Oh-ho! So that's how it is. Well, well. What a surprise." She filled their cups then grinned at Krista. "You have your work cut out for you, ma'am. This guy's about as slippery as a greased pig. I don't believe I've seen him pay serious attention to any of the single gals in town. How'd you get him to take you out?"
"This is not a date," Krista insisted. "My son and I moved to Serenity to be near my late husband's parents." She stood and offered her hand. "I'm Krista Brody. I'm an experienced waitress. A hard worker. Never late. And I need a job."
"Sounds good to me. We're closed Mondays. Come in then and I'll show you around."
Krista could hardly believe how easily she'd gotten the job. God must have had His angels working overtime. She'd just started to relax when Annie added, "You'll like it here. Mark usually shows up for at least two meals every day."
Puddles jumped out of Hannah's car the moment Bobby opened the door.
Race you to the house! Ha-ha. I win!
Bobby almost tripped over the dog as he dashed into his mother's open arms. "Gramma drove me home. She took me to Sunday school, too. It was awful!"
That's because you didn't let me go with you. Serves you right for locking me in the barn with all those nasty-tempered chickens. I could have starved to death if I hadn't figured out what was inside those boxes the hens were sitting on. I don't know why everybody got so mad at me. All I did was bite them open and eat the runny stuff inside. How was I supposed to know it was wrong? Mark broke some and cooked them for me when I was visiting his house.
Startled, Bobby's mother bent to look him in the eyes. "Whoa. I thought you loved Sunday school."
"Not the one at Grandma's church. The teacher is that guy who stole Puddles. But I showed him. I didn't talk at all. Not once."
Well, now, that's interesting. Why didn't you say so? No wonder you came back to the farm and hollered at me. I should have known it wasn't really my fault.
Sighing, Krista said, "That wasn't very nice, honey. I think Jesus would have talked to Mr. Vanbruger, don't you?"
Bobby's lower lip quivered. "Not if he stole his dog, too."
Right on, kid. Nobody should get away with puppy-napping. But you're wrong about that Mark guy. I like him. Matter of fact, as soon as I grab a little dinner I think I'll head over to his place and see what's up. I can still taste that leather stuff in his closet. Yummy!
"Speaking of dogs, it's time to feed Puddles and put him in his pen."
Food? Yes! Wait a minute. Did she say to put me in my pen? No way. Not again. It's lonesome out there. I'll be good. I promise. Just give me a bowl of kibble and I'll never touch another shoe or flower or little white hen ball. Well, maybe one of those, but only if my buddy Mark gives it to me.
Bobby made a face. "Okay. C'mon, Puddles. Time for jail."
I think we should go back to Gramma's farm instead. She let us sleep together. It was like being with my brothers and sisters when you cuddled up under the covers with me. And I didn't do one bad thing, did I? No sir. Not unless you count the mess in the kitchen — and that wasn't my fault. I told you I had to go outside and I couldn't get the door open, but you wouldn't hurry, would you?
The rattle of dry dog food in the plastic scoop was too compelling to resist.
Okay, okay. Here I come. I'll eat that because I'm half-starved. Just remember, I like table scraps best so be sure to save me some. Hey, if you left the scoop in my pen it might make a nice toy. I'd like to taste it, anyway.
Bobby opened the gate to the dog run and dumped the kibble into Puddles's dish, then knelt beside it. "Here you go, boy."
Thanks. Want your face washed again? Yeah. I thought so. Don't look so worried. I've got it all figured out. Just leave everything to me. I'll have a better family rounded up for you and Krista in no time. Which reminds me — have you seen any sheep lately?
Smiling, the boy stood. "Yuck. Your breath smells awful."
Puddles wagged his tail so hard and fast it made his whole rear end shake. I know! Isn't it wonderful? I found this big pile of weird stuff in the barn. I rolled in it, too. Even squished some under my collar so it would last. Can you tell? My brothers and sisters would be so proud of me.
"You'd better stay out here for a while or Mom'll make me give you a bath."
A bath? Like my mother used to give me? Ooooh, I'd love that. But first, I've got a bowl of food to eat. It's not as good as what Mark feeds me but it'll do till something better comes along.
To the delight of Puddles, Bobby forgot to take the plastic scoop with him when he left the pen.
As soon as Hannah joined her in the kitchen, Krista told her about Bobby's assumption that Jesus and His disciples must have had a pet dog.
"Well, why not?" She sobered. "You heard about what happened this morning?"
"In Sunday school? Yes. Bobby just told me. It must have been interesting."
"That's a fact. I haven't run across anybody that stubborn since his daddy. Too bad that boy didn't inherit some of your good sense."
"He does remind me a lot of Len," Krista said wistfully. "I know that's normal but it's still a worry. I wish he wasn't quite so obstinate."
Hannah laughed. "Ha! You aren't the only one. I thought Mark was going to bust a puckering string. He did everything but stand on his head to make up to that boy. I had to put my foot down to get him to stay in that classroom."
"Who? Mark or Bobby?" She couldn't help giggling.
"I meant our boy. But now that you mention it, Mark didn't look real happy to be there, either. You and he gettin' along okay?"
"As good as can be expected, in view of his reputation as a dognapper," Krista said with a grin. "Actually, he took me to Bea's café the other night for coffee and I wound up getting a job there. I start tomorrow." She paused. "I mean, I'll start if your offer to watch Bobby is still open."
"No problem. I've got a new foster girl comin' next week so he'll have somebody to play with. Her name's Samantha. She's an orphan."
"Oh, dear. Can you handle Bobby, too?"
"Two will be easy. There've been times I've had up to six all at once, and it still wasn't nearly as bad as the time Mark had this morning."
Krista knew that the more contact she had with her old friend, the harder it would be to keep her emotional distance. Still, what was right was right. The man deserved another apology and if Bobby wasn't ready to offer it, she was.
Resigned to act, she asked Hannah, "Can you watch Bobby a few minutes? I want to go tell Mark I'm sorry for my son's behavior in his class."
"You aren't takin' the boy with you?"
"Not this time. There's no sense pushing him and making things worse."
"Then again," Hannah said, "if you let it fester, a sore can get real painful. Sometimes it's best to get the poison out right away so healin' can start. That is, unless you don't care whether Bobby ever learns to like Mark or not."
Krista's heart clenched. No amount of denial would change the fact that she did, indeed, care very much. Still, taking one day at a time was what the scripture said to do and it was excellent advice, especially in this instance.
Anxious to get it over with she hurried to Mark's and knocked. When he came to the door his dark hair was tousled and his eyes shadowy.
"Sorry to bother you," she said quickly.
He joined her on the porch, rubbed his hands over his face and blinked to clear his head. "Hey, no problem. Guess I must have dozed off."
"Rough morning? Hannah told me what happened. I came to apologize for Bobby's behavior. He's still positive you're a terrible criminal and I can't seem to convince him you're really a nice person."
Mark gave her an endearing, lopsided smile. A jolt of emotion made Krista feel unsteady, as if her legs were about to buckle and dump her in an embarrassing heap at his feet!
"Hey, if that's what it takes to show you how wonderful I am, then that's okay with me," he said. "Bring on the challenges. I'm ready."
"Bobby can be a challenge, can't he?"
"Kids are kids. Sometimes we forget how immature they are, especially when they're bright, so we treat them like we would an adult. Even grown-ups make mistakes in judgment — and we've had years to learn how to behave in stressful situations."
Was he trying to tell her how to raise her son? Krista thought. Fidgeting, she muttered, "Yeah. Like right now."
Puddles did his best to dig out of his pen in time to follow his young master to school Monday morning. He failed. Weary and disheartened, he finished his breakfast, laid his chin on his paws and went back to sleep.
Krista dropped her son at his bus stop, then drove to Bea's café. She was thankful she had the new job to keep her mind occupied. Otherwise, she knew she'd keep reliving her most recent conversation with Mark and chastising herself for not speaking up on behalf of her parenting choices. He seemed to think that their friendship gave him the right to tell her how to raise her son.
Bea answered her knock at the rear door. "Hi! Glad you decided to show."
"You had doubts?"
"Some. You looked kind of peaked when I mentioned how often your friend ate here. I thought you might've changed your mind about workin' for me."
"No way. I need this job," Krista said flatly. "I've served plenty of difficult customers. Mark Vanbruger can't be any worse than most."
The older woman cackled. "Worse? Honey, I saw the way he looked at you the other night. I wasn't kidding when I told you he's had to beat 'em off with a stick. There's more than one lonesome woman in Serenity who'll be fit to be tied when she hears how he feels about you."
"Mark and I are just friends. That's all there is to it. Honest."
"On your part, maybe," Bea drawled. "But nobody'll ever convince me that guy isn't crazy about you just the same."
"Crazy, is right. I don't intend to get serious about any man. I was married once. I'm cured."
"Kind of like being vaccinated against the measles?"
"You could look at it that way. I was a naive kid with dreams of the perfect family when I quit school to get married. By the time I realized how stupid I'd been, I was expecting. After Bobby was born I was sure my husband would settle down but he never did."
"I heard about what happened. The whole town did. You'll find that folks here will understand, even if they don't come right out and say so. They'll help you, too, if you'll let 'em."
Krista shook her head and sighed. "I needed a job so I could stand on my own two feet and you took care of that. I can handle everything else by myself."
"If you say so," the older woman replied. "Just remember, living in Serenity is like being part of a big family. We've got our sweethearts and stinkers and enough crazy cousins to keep the whole shebang real interesting."
"Good. The way I've been feeling lately, I should fit in nicely."
"I'd be bumfuzzled, too, if I was in your shoes."
"You'd be what?"
"Bumfuzzled. It's like gettin' picked up by a tornado and spun around till you can hardly see straight, let alone make any sense of what's going on."
"Perfect! I have days like that all the time!"
"Well, now you know what we call it." Bea smiled. "Anything else you need to know, all you gotta do is ask. I'm tickled to help out."
"Thanks. Speaking of helping, don't try to match me up with any single men, okay? I already have enough trouble with Hannah doing that."
Bea patted Krista on the shoulder. "I'd be flattered if I was you, hon. That shows how much she loves you. It must be hard for poor Hannah to think of her only grandson bein' raised by somebody who's not born kin. If the Brodys didn't trust you to let them keep bein' a part of Bobby's growing up, no matter what, they'd never encourage you to find him a new daddy."
Thoughtful, Krista nodded. Bea's rationale made sense, especially since the Brodys were deeply involved in providing foster care for displaced children. It was understandable that Hannah would want the best for Bobby, even if that included the addition of a replacement father figure.
The image of Mark's dear face immediately filled her mind. Just as quickly, she rejected that idea. Any paternal advisor for Bobby would require a man the boy looked up to. Sadly, the one she might once have chosen was now the least likely to qualify.
Puddles was so rested and ready for anything when Bobby came home and let him loose, he jumped up and down then ran circles around the boy.
Yeah! You're home. I was so bored without you. Bet you were lonesome, too, huh? I heard there aren't any dogs allowed at school. Talk about silly. We sheepdogs could keep all those kids rounded up and in one place better than any old human. Look how fast I can go!
He paused, sniffed the air, then checked out the boy's shoes as if he were a detective on a case.
Hey! No fair. You went to the farm, too. Without me. How come you didn't take me along, huh? I was good this morning. Except for the plastic scoop, I mean. That was your fault for leaving it in my pen. I wasn't gonna eat it. I was just chewing on it and it broke into all those little pieces by itself.
"C'mon, Puddles. Mom's busy talking to Gramma and they don't want me around. Let's go see if Josh is home."
You wanna go where? Why? He snapped his head around, ears erect, senses on alert. The good guy is over this way, remember? We can go see Josh anytime. I just heard Mark's car drive up. We need to go to him.
Dashing around the boy's legs and barking, Puddles suddenly dropped into a crouch, his forequarters down, his rear in the air.
Oh, my! Now why did I do that? It seems right, though. Natural. Maybe it's a sheepdog trick. Mama said I might surprise myself sometimes. This feels really good, like I'm supposed to behave this way. I don't care if I look funny with my tail sticking up. As soon as Bobby moves, I'll chase him again!
Laughing, the boy stepped past his puppy and started for Josh's. Ignored, Puddles felt dejected.
Well, fine. Be a stupid old human if that's what you want. I have more important things to do. Places to explore. People to see. And I'm gonna start with Mark's house. Maybe he's got more treats for me. Puddles headed for Mark's front yard.
Gamboling across the grass, the puppy stopped to relieve himself and chase elusive insects on the way to his goal. He bypassed the front porch and padded eagerly around the side to check out the backyard.
His spirits fell. No sheep. What kind of place is this? Everybody's supposed to have sheep. Otherwise, what good am I? What am I going to herd? Grasshoppers? That's no fun. It's impossible to get them into a circle. There's Mark's car. I told my Bobby he was home. Oooh, nice tires. Real dirty. And here's the trail his shoes left when he walked to the house. It's fresh, too.
Nose to the ground, Puddles ran across the lawn and onto the porch. The trail disappeared at the closed door. He scratched with a front paw.
Yoo-hoo. Hello in there. Wanna play? Wanna feed me? Wanna...
The door was jerked open. Mark glowered. "What're you doing here?"
Play! Food! Scratch my tummy? I don't care. Anything is fine. I'm ready.
Startled, Puddles was picked up and tucked under the man's arm.
Hey, take it easy. Not so rough. Put me down. I can walk just fine, thanks. Where're we going? He tried to wiggle free. No, mister. I don't wanna go home. Bobby's not there and his mother will stick me back in my kennel if she finds out I went to your house. Let me go! Hey, what've I ever done to deserve this? Besides the plastic scoop and the chicken problems, I mean.
Mark stomped onto Krista's porch and banged on the door. When she responded, he held Puddles out and said, "Here. I believe this belongs to you."
Scowling, she looked past him to scan the yard. "Where's Bobby?"
"I haven't seen him. His dog showed up at my door all by itself. I don't have a clue how it got there."
Well, I kind of went across the grass, by the trees and then up the driveway by your car. I think you ran over a dead skunk a while ago. Or maybe it was a squirrel. It was hard for me to tell. I don't have a lot of experience yet.
Mark thrust the wiggling pup into her arms, smiling. "Keep your dog home, will you?"
Hey, not a chance! I know you like her. And she likes you. Any pup worth his kibble could tell you that. If you people were half as smart as sheep, you'd realize how much happier you'd be belonging to a flock.
Krista had settled into her job and was counting her blessings, partly because Bobby seemed to be adjusting so well. Then, the restaurant phone rang.
Bea held out the receiver. "It's the school."
"Oh, dear." Her first thought was for the boy's well-being. The moment Mark said, "Hello, Mrs. Brody," she heard the stress in his voice.
She gripped the phone. "What's happened?"
"Don't worry. Bobby's okay but he has been sent to my office. He was apparently antagonizing some older boys and his teacher had to intervene."
"May I talk to him, please?"
In the background, Krista overheard Mark speaking to her son. Then, she heard a faint sniffle. "Bobby? Are you there? Talk to me, honey. I need you to tell me what happened."
Instead, Mark came back on the line. "Looks like he's not talking to anybody. Not even you. I can't send him back to class while he's in this kind of mood but I will have a talk with the other boys."
"Thanks." Krista cast a weary glance at her boss. "Maybe I can get away right after the lunch crowd leaves." When Bea nodded, Krista continued, "I'll pick Bobby up as soon as I can. In the meantime, I know you'll do your best."
"Hey, I always do," Mark told her. "I have to confess, though, this situation would be a whole lot easier to handle if you and I weren't old friends."
"Don't even take that into consideration," she replied. "Treat my son just like you would any other student. He doesn't deserve special favors on my account."
"He does if I don't want him to hate me till I'm old and gray."
Laughing at the humor in Mark's tone, she felt some of her tension draining away. "Hang around with us Brodys enough and you'll be gray in no time. I guarantee it. We have that effect on normal folks."
She heard a shout from the kitchen. "Order up!"
"Oops. Gotta go," Krista said quickly. "I don't want to get fired my first week on the job."
"You like working for Bea and her family?"
"Love it! They're fun to be around, always joking and kidding each other. It makes my day really fly by."
"Well, mine will be passing like a tired turtle till you come and get your offspring," Mark said. "I had a sneaking feeling this management position was way too simple. Now that I've met Bobby, I realize how easy I used to have it."
"See? We've been good for you already."
"I doubt you mean that the way I wish you did."
She was chuckling softly. "Hey, if my son's problems make you count your blessings, then Bobby's being helpful, even though he doesn't mean to be."
"I hope you'll mention that to him when you get him home."
"Oh, I'll mention plenty," she drawled. "Starting with who gets to go out to play or watch TV and who doesn't."
"Meaning, you'll be stuck in the house with him while he sulks?"
Krista nodded and grinned at the receiver as if Mark could see her through the telephone connection. "Yes, but I don't intend to let on that it's punishment for me, too. It won't be so bad. I never did like afternoon cartoons anyway. Too much conflict and violence."
As she hung up, she could hear Mark's rich laughter. It warmed her heart almost enough to make her forget her frustration with her problem child.
Puddles heard a commotion long before he spied his young master.
Uh-oh. Bobby looks like he got spanked for chewing up a shoe or something. I don't know if people munch stuff like that but they should. My mother said it's very good for you, especially if you're trying to shed baby teeth.
The boy kicked at a rock. "I hate him."
Oh, bad feelings. Sad and mad and more. This isn't good. Not good at all. I wonder what happened to upset my favorite boy so much.
"He made everybody laugh at me, Puddles. Then he called Mom and made her come get me. I'm never going back to that school. Never."
I'm not jumping up on you. See? I know better. But I'll give you a lick on your face if you pick me up and hug me and show me everything's okay.
Bobby sat down on the ground next to the unusually subdued dog. "I tried to tell Mom. She won't listen to me. Nobody ever does."
I do. I listen to everything you say. And most of the things you think, too. I love you. So does your mother. Is it okay to crawl into your lap? I worry when you act funny like this. I don't want to make you feel worse. Will you bite me if I come closer? I'll be real careful not to scratch you with my nails. I won't even chew on your shirt. I promise.
"I'm gonna run away if she makes me stay here," the boy said, reaching out to ruffle the soft fur behind Puddles's ears. "And I'm gonna take you with me. You're the only friend I've got."
The puppy laid his head on his master's lap. Am I your only friend? Really? Sorry, but with your attitude I'm not surprised. You're lucky that dogs love you no matter what. We know you don't mean to treat us badly. Not that you've done that to me. But you're going to make your mother very sad if we go away.
"C'mon," Bobby said, getting to his feet. "I'm taking you into my room."
Your room? In the house? Are you sure that's a good idea? I want to go and all but won't we get into more trouble if we do that? I've already been in trouble once today. Or was that yesterday? Or maybe the day before?
His tail wagged tentatively. I remember now. It was all of those days. They kind of run together when I don't get to do anything exciting. I wish I could find a sheep to herd or a lamb to guard once in a while.
The boy led the way. Puddles followed, head held low as if sneaking up on a marauding wolf.
This is how I'd do it if I saw a lamb in danger. I'd be real careful. And quiet. Instinct drove him into a crouch. Then I'd jump up and run! Like this. Watch. I'd go around and around till I knew the time was right, then I'd run in next to the baby lamb and bite the bad guy.
To the eager puppy's delight, his master laughed. "What do you think you're doing? You're making me dizzy."
I'm showing you my attack plan, silly. You'd be glad I was so brave if there was a real wolf around. Go on. Get in the middle of my circle where I can watch you, and stop giving me trouble. That's better. You make a really dumb lamb, you know that? Any sheep worth guarding knows it's smart to pay close attention to the herding dog, especially if a Border collie is the one on duty.
Bobby headed for the back door.
Hey, stand still. I'm herding here, I'm herding here. Why are you so stubborn? No wonder your mother has so much trouble understanding you. I can practically read your mind and I can't figure you out half the time, either.
"Shush. Stop that barking."
Why? Oh, yeah. I remember. We're sneaking into your room. I can do that. Watch how low I can crawl. I like visiting your room. It's got dirty socks and lots of stuff to chew. We should go over to Mark's so I can show you the treasures I found there!
That made Puddles remember his master's earlier mood. He lagged back. Somehow, I've got to get you over those dumb ideas about poor Mark. I don't want to run away. I like it here. Even without any real job to do, this neighborhood feels like my home.
Bobby? Bobby! Wait for me. I just stopped for a sec to check that interesting spot on the kitchen floor. I'm coming, I'm coming!
Worried about her son's dour mood, Krista decided it would be best if she took him all the way to school the next day rather than trust him to ride the bus. When she pulled up to the curb in front of Serenity Elementary, Principal Vanbruger happened to be standing on the lawn.
"Here we are," she said cheerily. "I put your milk money in your backpack with your lunch. Have a nice day." The boy didn't make any move to get out of the car.
"Yes, I see Mr. Vanbruger, honey. We talked about this at home, remember? He has to be here. He works here. You can't skip school just because you don't like one person."
The sulking child folded his thin arms across his chest and pouted.
Krista got out and circled to the passenger side. "Okay. It's your decision, not mine. If you want your mother to walk you to class like you're a kindergartner, then I will, even if it makes me late for work."
She jerked open Bobby's door and reached for him. The look of astonished disbelief on his face would have made her grin if she hadn't fought down the urge. Clearly, her son wasn't used to taking orders he didn't agree with. Had she been as soft on the boy as Mark had implied? At first hearing, his opinion had seemed ludicrous, hurtful. Yet perhaps there was a seed of truth in it.
To Krista's relief, her son undid his seat belt and shuffled out of the car. Gaze cast down, he was studying the toes of his sneakers as if they held the secret of the universe. He wasn't happy but at least he was moving in the right direction.
Smiling, she looked over at Mark, caught his eye and waved. He waited until Bobby was out of sight before joining her with a joyful "Good morning!"
"Good morning."
"Looks like Bobby isn't thrilled to be here."
Krista laughed. "That's an understatement if I ever heard one. I thought I had the upper hand when I got him into the car. Getting him out just now was even harder. I'm beginning to think you may have been right."
"Hey, that's what they pay me for." Mark's grin widened. "Which of my learned opinions are we talking about?"
"Discipline," she said. "After Len's accident, Bobby and I both felt miserable and lost. It's possible I allowed myself to lean too heavily on Len. You know, relying on his opinion rather than making necessary decisions myself."
"I wouldn't be surprised." Stepping closer, Mark grasped her hand. "You were under a lot of stress. You craved sympathy and your son commiserated. Mutual support was what you needed. But that's all in the past. He's still a little boy. It's not too late to make some positive changes and assert your authority. Kids say they don't want rules, but they flounder without proper guidance."
She tried to pull away. "Now wait a minute. I may have been a bit lax from time to time but I always set sensible rules."
"There's more to it than that. If you don't believe me, ask Hannah." Mark released her reluctantly and stepped back. "No parent is perfect, Krista. Not even you. If I didn't care what happens to Bobby — and to you — I wouldn't be trying to help. Is that so bad?"
Disgusted with the way her imagination had immediately taken his innocent mention of caring and blown it all out of proportion, Krista purposely concentrated on the discussion she and Bea had had regarding her turbulent first marriage.
If being married to Len Brody had been the equivalent of a vaccination, as she'd professed, then she truly was immune to another man's charms. Even Mark Vanbruger's. However, that didn't mean it was safe to let her guard down when she was with him.
"Well, I have to get to work," she said. "Hannah will pick Bobby up after school as usual. Bye!"
The smile Mark gave her in parting was so captivating it practically curled her toes. It wasn't merely unwise to spend time with him, she concluded — it was downright dangerous!
The sound of the metal gate latch awakened Puddles.
Bobby! Hooray! I didn't know it was time for you to come home. What are we going to do today? Where shall we go? Huh? Huh? I'm ready!
A nylon strap dangled from the child's left hand. His backpack was in the other.
Do you want to put my leash on? Are we going to the farm? I like the farm. Even the chickens. As soon as I get a little bigger I'm going to herd them. That should be loads of fun, huh?
Running circles around his young master while also diverting to explore interesting natural phenomena, Puddles nevertheless kept up. They'd gone a long way on the rural roadside before the boy got tired. Puddles was panting and ready for a break, too.
Whew! We've never been here before, Bobby. Are you sure it's okay? Your mother might not like us to go so far away from the house. How about taking me over to Mark's later? The grass under his trees is cool on my tummy. We could stretch out and take a nap. Yeah, that sounds good. I'm bushed.
He plunked down at the boy's feet. Bobby? Why are you acting so funny? What's the big hurry? We've passed all kinds of delicious smells. Slow down and let me check 'em out.
Suddenly, the boy jumped into the shallow ditch beside the road, dragging the puppy with him. "Hush. Hold still. We have to hide."
We're playing hide-and-seek? Oh, goody. My brothers loved that game. I used to always be "it," though, 'cause I was the smallest. Everybody would pretend to be sheep lost in the forest, and I'd have to go find them and bring them back.
Do you want me to take you home, Bobby? I know the way.
Tears gathered in the boy's eyes, spilling out onto Puddles's fur.
Hey, don't cry. I'll get you home faster than you can say "Baaaa."
"I don't really want to run away," Bobby said. "I just want everything to be the way it was before. I want my mama to be happy like she used to be." He sniffled. "Whatever I do is wrong."
Puddles lunged, nuzzling the boy's cheek. There. Better? I know how you feel, kid. I haven't been doing such a great job of cheering you up lately, either. Maybe you should go lick your mama's nose. Mine always liked that a lot. She said it made her whiskers tickle.
The sound of the car's motor faded into the distance. Bobby straightened. "I ate all my lunch at school. I'm hungry."
Me, too! Did you bring my food? Water? No? Well, what're we waiting for? Let's head for home and chow down. C'mon. Follow me.
Standing at the shoulder of the deserted country lane, Bobby looked left and right while the puppy waited for a sign from him. Instead, the boy began to cry.
Oh, brother! You're lost, aren't you? I knew it. Mother told me humans could be more stupid about directions than sheep. Well, don't worry. I'll lead you home.
He trotted off, then paused, waiting for his master to comprehend. Bobby continued to stand there and wail.
Okay, if that's the way you want it. I know what to do, but you'd better pay attention to me and move when I run around you or I'll have to nip your heels to get you to go. It won't hurt. Not much. I'd never do anything to hurt you, except maybe for your own good. This is a serious job, you know.
Barking repeatedly, the young Border collie dashed at the boy until he finally paid him heed. "You want me to go that way? Is that it?"
Arf! Arf!
To the immense relief of Puddles, Bobby began to follow. Good thing, too. It would be awful to have his first rescue thwarted just because the victim was too slow-witted to understand simple instructions.
"What do you mean, he's gone?" Krista was astounded. "How could he be gone? I drove him to school myself. You saw me."
Mark held her trembling hands. "He apparently left the school yard around noon. His teacher missed him when class resumed after lunch."
"Don't you have anybody watching the playground?"
"Of course we do. We're not sure how he slipped away but we suspect he went to your house."
Krista's eyes widened. "How do you know? Is he there now?"
"No. I already checked. Puddles is missing though. Unless the dog is an escape artist as well as a wanderer, somebody had to let him out of his pen."
"Bobby."
"Most likely. It's only one-thirty. He hasn't had time to walk far. I've asked the volunteer fire department to help us search. We'll find him."
She whipped off her apron and handed it to her boss. "Sorry, Bea. I can't stay here while everybody else is out looking for Bobby."
"Of course you can't. No mama worth her salt could sling hash while her baby was missin'." She gave Krista a parting hug. "I'll be prayin' for you."
"Thanks."
Mark escorted her toward the rear door, his hand at the small of her back. "I figured you'd want to go along. I brought my car. You can ride with me."
"No. We can cover twice the area if I drive separately."
"And get yourself lost? I used to explore Fulton County as a teenager, and I was forever discovering dirt roads I didn't know existed, even though I'd been over that same ground before. Besides, you're upset. That's no time to be behind the wheel."
She made a disgusted face at him. "I hate it when you're right."
"I'm glad you haven't lost all your sense of humor. I have a feeling you're going to need it when we find your son."
"What am I going to do with him, Mark? This kind of thing can't go on."
"Counseling, maybe? We just hired a fella named Bates. He seems pretty knowledgeable."
"That would be the same as admitting I've failed as a mother." Adding to her chagrin, Mark shook his head and laughed.
"Not hardly," he said. "Your family had already been through some tough times when you moved to Serenity. I'm not saying that was a mistake. But you have to remember that Bobby probably feels more like an outsider than you or I would if we were in his shoes."
"So what do I do now?"
"Well," Mark said, reaching over to give her hand a quick pat. "The first thing we do is locate your son. Then we go from there. It's possible he just let his dog out to play and followed it when it ran off."
"Nice try, Vanbruger. Bobby could take alibi lessons from you. Would you care to explain what you think he was doing home in the middle of the day?"
"In my expert opinion," Mark said, "he was ditching school."
"You had to go to college to learn that?"
"No. That I learned growing up here. This town is so small you can't get away with a thing, especially when you're a kid. No matter how hard I tried to hide my bad behavior, my folks usually knew I'd gotten into trouble before I got home."
"Len used to say the same thing. Is that why you two were such good buddies?"
"No. We were never close as kids. Too much difference in our ages. When I ran into him in St. Louis, I could see he'd gotten pretty wild. I was worried."
"That he'd hurt himself?"
"No," Mark said softly. "That he'd hurt you."
Limping, Puddles had slowed to a walk by the time home came into sight.
There. See? I told you I'd save you.
He followed Bobby around the house, made a beeline for his water dish and began to lap.
Oh, that tastes wonderful! My tongue was starting to feel yucky, like the time I licked Krista's slippers and got that pink fuzz stuck on the inside of my mouth. Thought I'd never get it all spit out. Bleah!
Glancing up from his dish, he noticed the weary boy sitting beside him.
You can have a drink. I'll share. It's kind of warm but it's good and wet. That's all that counts when you're this thirsty, right?
Bobby was fighting back tears. Sympathetic, Puddles crawled into his lap, cuddled up and closed his eyes. He was already dreaming of herding sheep when shouts awakened him.
Oh, no! While I was napping we were surrounded! Is it wolves? Are we about to be eaten?
He scrambled off the boy's lap and managed a feeble growl before he realized he'd been mistaken. They weren't being attacked. They were being hugged. Krista had hold of Bobby and Mark was picking up his tired rescuer.
Hooray! Now I can go back to sleep. I don't think I've ever been this worn out before, not even when my brothers played a trick on me and led me on a chicken chase. Or was that a goose chase? Doesn't matter. Nothing does right now.
Puddles gave a big yawn and relaxed in the man's arms. Mark cradled him upside down like a human baby, much to the relief of Puddles's throbbing paws.
"Oh, no. Krista, look," the man said.
Puddles wanted to look, too, but he was simply too exhausted to open his eyes. He felt someone gently touching each of his legs in turn.
"Bring him in the house," Krista said. "I'll let the volunteers know we've found Bobby, and then I'll call a vet. I've heard the one in Peace Valley is good."
Oh, no. No vet. Don't want a vet. They have needles and medicine and ouchy stuff. Mama told me. All I need is a little shut-eye and maybe some dinner and I'll be good as new. Sheepdogs are tough.
In the background, Bobby was whimpering. "I didn't know. Honest. I didn't mean to hurt him."
"No, but you did mean to scare me silly," his mother said.
"Let me hold him. I can take care of him," the boy demanded, confronting Mark.
Krista stayed firm. "No. Puddles is asleep. Leave him alone."
"But — but he's my dog."
"Right. And you were so busy being mad and thinking about yourself, you let him walk till he hurt his paws. Puppies are babies. You have to treat them gently. I told you that even before we brought him home."
"I said I was sorry."
"And I said no. Your dog trusts Mark. Let them alone." She sensed the gentleness in Mark's touch as he tenderly petted and soothed the puppy, then blushed furiously when she caught herself wishing she were in its place!
I do trust him, Puddles thought. His arms are strong but he never squeezes me too tight or chokes me with my collar, not even when he's mad at me for visiting his house by myself. And his heart is tender. He doesn't let it show, but I know the truth. I can feel love all around him, especially toward Krista.
He sighed. This is wonderful. Here we are, all together in the same house. Even me! We're one big happy family. And I'm getting my tummy rubbed. Life is so-o-o-o-o good.
The veterinarian kept Puddles overnight for observation. Bobby was so subdued by his responsibility for the puppy's injuries, he didn't even argue when his mother sent him to bed a little earlier than usual.
Though his moral support was no longer needed, Mark had hung around all evening. He and Krista sat on her porch swing in the twilight, watching fireflies, listening to whippoorwills call, and trying to unwind. Their camaraderie was so unique she hated to move or speak for fear she'd break the mood.
Mark laid his arm across the back of the swing and caressed her opposite shoulder. "This has been quite a day."
"You can say that again."
"Can't. I'm too tired," he quipped. "Saying it the first time wore me out."
Krista laughed. "You make an excellent doggy daddy. I don't know if my son was impressed with the way you handled Puddles, but I sure was. That's a tenderhearted part of you I'd never seen before."
"Well, don't tell the kids I have to discipline — or my staff, either. I don't want them thinking I'm a pushover for that sad-eyed puppy look."
Laughing softly, Krista turned her head. She rested her cheek on his arm, purposely widened her gaze and batted her lashes. "You mean like this?"
Mark's initial surprise was followed seconds later by a hearty chuckle. "I think you need a little more practice, honey. That's more of a deer-in-the-headlights expression. Or maybe a calf with indigestion."
She elbowed him in the ribs. "Thanks a bunch, mister. You really know how to make a girl feel attractive."
"You don't need to try to look pretty," he said. "You just are. All the time. When I first met you, I thought it would be impossible for you to grow more beautiful the way you have. And it's not all on the outside, either. You're gorgeous...all the way to your soul."
"I have a long way to go, but I am trying. A lot has changed in the past two years. For a while, I was pretty mad at God for leaving me alone with a child to raise."
"I can understand that. I had trouble letting go of my dreams when the woman I loved married somebody else."
Krista's pulse sped up. Her hands trembled. She stared. This wasn't the first time Mark had alluded to being in love with her. This was, however, the first time she'd listened to him say it and hadn't had an immediate urge to flee.
What was happening? What about all her promises to herself to stay single? What about the heartache of marrying the wrong man? Who was to say life with Mark would be any different? Above all, what about Bobby? If she thought she had trouble with the boy now, what would he act like if she announced an intention to wed Mark Vanbruger?
Then again, Krista added, who said anything about getting married? Amused at the way her imagination had taken Mark's simple comment and turned it into a serious proposal, she smiled, closed her eyes and sighed.
"Maybe God doesn't want you to be alone anymore," Mark whispered. He leaned down and kissed her gently. "I know I'm probably rushing things, but will you marry me?"
Krista gasped the moment she felt the touch of his warm lips. Her eyes flew open. "Will I — will I what?"
"Marry me. I'm ready to take on everybody — you, Bobby and Puddles." He began to smile and drew her closer. "You already said I'm good with the dog. That's one down and two to go."
Krista felt as if an enormous stone was being lifted off her heart. Caressing Mark's cheek, she slipped her hand to the back of his neck and encouraged him to kiss her again. And again. Being in his embrace seemed the most natural thing in the world, as if they had always been meant for each other. They had each taken a long detour, yet the Lord had brought them back together. There was only one remaining obstacle. And it was a dandy.
Gazing at him with all the love she'd so recently acknowledged, Krista said, "That's two down and one to go. All we have to do now is convince Bobby. And I don't have a clue how we're going to do that."
Puddles's paws still hurt when Krista, Mark and Bobby brought him home the following afternoon. He was too happy to care.
Oh, boy, oh boy! Home. I was lonesome. I could see a cat in another cage. It hissed when I barked. Real unfriendly. Lazy, too. Bor-r-ring.
He sniffed the grass when Krista put him down, then he looked up at the humans.
All my favorite people came to get me. That's so wonderful. Bobby looks kind of sad but his mama and that nice Mark seem to be getting along really well. Look! They're holding hands. Ooooh! I wish he'd bite her nose or lick her cheek so I could tell if they're serious about each other. Wouldn't that be great? Imagine! Bobby would have a daddy and I'd have a whole family to take care of.
Wagging his tail and walking gingerly, he approached the little boy. Don't be shy, Bobby. I forgive you. The doctor says I'll be good as new soon. She was nice. I didn't know ladies could be vets. Imagine that.
Bobby smoothed the puppy's fur. "He's not mad at me, is he, Mama?"
"No, honey. Puddles loves you. I think he knows you didn't mean to make him walk too far. I'm just thankful you remembered the way home."
Tell her what happened. Tell her I did my job. Please? His tail wagged faster.
"It wasn't me," Bobby said. "I was lost. I followed Puddles."
Goody, you gave me the credit. Not that I want to brag, mind you, but we sheepdogs have a family reputation to uphold. I just hope I'm a little bigger and stronger before I have to rescue you from a wolf! Oooh, that's scary.
Reaching down, Krista petted him, too. Puddles wiggled all over.
Can we all go back in the house? Huh? Can we? I was too tired to play the last time. There's a lot of exploring I haven't done. And the rugs are soft in there. Grass prickles.
"This is a very smart dog," Krista said. "Not only did he help you when you were lost, he's also good at figuring things out. For instance, he can tell you who's nice and who isn't."
Now you're talkin'. How about a cookie for such a good dog? I love cookies.
The boy was nodding slowly, cautiously, and looking from his mother to Mark and back again. His eyes widened with awareness. "No way."
Oh, now I get it. C'mon, Bobby. This guy is just what we need. He's smart, and strong and, and... Hey, Bobby, where're you going? Wait for me!
Puddles struggled to follow. Falling behind, he barked for attention.
"Arf, arf!" Bobby, don't spoil our new family. Listen to me. Have I ever steered you wrong?
Bobby hesitated, looking back.
That's it. Good. Now watch closely. I'm gonna demonstrate. First I'll get Mark moving. Then I'll go after Mama Krista. I'll herd them together and bring them both to you.
Awed, the family watched Puddles's intense concentration. Forgetting to favor his feet, he circled around Mark, barking, and urged him closer to the others. By the time he started to herd Krista, she had apparently figured out his plan because she quickly went to her son and stood beside him. Satisfied, panting, the little dog dropped to the ground in a perfect herding pose and stared at the little group of humans.
There. Gotcha. Now stay where you belong so I don't have to go through all that chasing and barking again. It's exhausting!
Krista laughed. "Don't you get it, guys? We've just been rounded up like a flock of naughty sheep." She put one arm around Bobby's shoulders and slipped the other around Mark's waist. "They say the Lord sometimes works in mysterious ways. This is certainly one of those times, isn't it?"
She gave her son a hug and kissed him on the top of the head. "Cheer up, honey. You and I may get confused sometimes, but Puddles knows best. He obviously thinks we belong with Mark, and so do I. Permanently."
The look of bewilderment on Bobby's face was so funny Puddles wished dogs could laugh out loud the way people did.
Don't worry, kid, he thought, panting. Mark'll be a wonderful father by the time you and I get through breaking him in. I can hardly wait to get started!
The End