Page 28 of Mother Clucker

That would get people in here to adopt these animals.

And they needed a hashtag so visitors would post their visits to the shelter and spread the word for them.

And maybe an event. Like an adopt-a-thon.

The more I thought, the more the ideas bombarded me.

We had shows shooting right now. The crossovers and tie-ins would be amazing.

Celebrity endorsements promoting not just shelter adoption but also spaying and neutering. Posts on social. Episodes shot at the shelter.

With the sizzle reel for the chicken farm show a go, now was the time to approach Joanne with my ideas, while she still remembered who the heck I was.

Clay and Tasha on Hot House already had a rescue dog. What if they attended the adopt-a-thon and we shot it for a future episode? The cranky retired SEAL always turned into a big old softy around his dog. The female viewers would love seeing Clay at the shelter.

Gabrielle Lee from Trash to Treasure made a pet bed out of an old tire and posted about it on her blog just last week. We could shoot her presenting one to a family adopting a new pet at the shelter. Or maybe her and her hottie husband Zach wanted to adopt a pet.

This season of Cold Feet was still shooting. To give that show more of a point than just having hot people prance around half naked, they usually had the cast playing silly games. What if the bridesmaids and groomsmen had like a puppy race, or something using dogs provided by the shelter?

I was so keyed up by the time Anna returned with the woman I was supposed to meet, I could barely stand still.

When Anna introduced me to Emily I said, “Do you think we could sit somewhere and talk. I have some ideas I really want to run by you.”

Ha! I’d show David exactly what our silly little shows could do. And I’d enjoy every minute of it too.

10

David

The farm was overrun.

Cameras. Lights. Food service. A whole bunch of people who seemed to run around and shout things but not do a hell of a lot else.

They got there early in the morning and didn’t leave until late at night.

I raised the mug of coffee to my lips and watched the chaos from the picnic table where I could be out of the fray but still observe all the crazy.

We were beginning day two of this shit. How many more we’d have to endure I didn’t know. I’m not sure they knew.

And the worst part was, Heather hadn’t been here for any of it. The only reason I’d actually stuck around through all of this was the hope of seeing her again.

I thought for sure she’d be here. This was her baby, after all. Her brainchild. Or hers with Lucy, who wasn’t here either even though Drew would sure like her to be.

He watched who was getting out of the vehicles each morning like a hawk. All I could figure was that he was hoping for a visit from Lucy as much as I was craving one from Heather.

So far we were both disappointed.

“We need some close-up shots of the rooster.”

The comment came from a guy so young looking I had to wonder if he’d skipped school to be here today.

“All right.” I tipped my head, wondering why he felt the need to tell me about it.

“Can you, like, take him out of the cage?”

I drew in a deep breath. I hadn’t allowed Drew to let the chickens out to roam since putting Rowdy inside. I figured if he escaped, Heather would never forgive me.

The run was a decent size but the birds were overdue to stretch their wings and eat some bugs and fresh greens, like they were used to doing everyday until I showed up with Rowdy and messed with their schedule.

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