Page 101 of 15 Summers Later

Luke strongly suspected the man was admiring Leona as well. He had seen them together at a few community events and Simon’s usual taciturn features seemed brighter somehow around Madi’s grandmother.

“Dr. Gentry. Hello there.”

“Hello, Simon. Hi, Betsy.”

He waved to Ava and Leona as he reached down to rub the regal head of Simon’s Westmoreland terrier. “She’s looking well.”

“Thanks to you,” Simon said gruffly. “You saved her life. I’ll never forget it.”

“I’m glad we were able to find the problem and fix it.”

A few months earlier, Simon had reached out to him in a panic, with Betsy in extreme distress. Luke and Madi, his tech on call at the time, had met him at the clinic in the early hours of the morning, where he quickly rushed Betsy into surgery. The dog had a blocked digestive tract.

“I’m so happy to see her looking so perky,” he said, scratching the dog’s throat.

“Our Lucas is a miracle worker.” Leona beamed at him. “Look how well Beau is doing after he sewed him up. That dog was a sorry-looking creature when he was first rescued in the mountains, I’ll tell you that.”

“He’s a handsome lad now.” With a look of approval that was mostly aimed at Leona, Simon nodded toward the dog lying in the shade of the display table.

“Still no leads as to the owners of him or Gracie?” Luke asked Leona.

“Not a one.” Leona’s lips pursed, plainly giving her opinion about someone who would abandon their domestic animals in the dangerous backcountry. “Nobody has called the animal rescue or the county animal control officer looking for them, and we haven’t heard of anyone who has lost a dog matching either of their descriptions.”

“Darn shame,” Simon said.

“It is,” Leona agreed. “They’re both the sweetest dogs. No trouble at all, either one.”

“Any plans to make them permanent members of your household?” Luke had to ask.

She glanced pointedly at Ava, who was petting Gracie, the corgi. “We’ll have to see. I’ve been telling Ava here that she could use a couple of dogs when she goes home to Oregon.”

Madi’s sister raised an eyebrow. “And Ava has been reminding you that she lives in a two-bedroom apartment that doesn’t allow dogs over twenty-five pounds. Gracie might qualify, but not Beau.”

“I don’t think they should be separated. What’s your professional opinion, Dr. Gentry?” Leona asked him.

“I have to admit, I don’t think they will thrive well if they’re separated,” he answered honestly. “They obviously have a well-established bond.”

“Well, my Madi will figure something out. Have you been by to see the adoption event?”

Luke shook his head. “That’s why I’m here.”

“She set up on the other side of the market,” Ava offered. “They’re close to the dog park so prospective adopters have the chance to play with the dogs in a contained area.”

“Great idea.”

“That’s our Madi. She’s always thinking about what’s best for her animals.”

“She is, indeed.”

“I wish she would focus once in a while on what’s best for herself,” Leona said. To Luke’s surprise, she gave him a pointed look, as if he had any say in Madi taking better care of herself or any brilliant insight into how she should accomplish that.

“Don’t we all?” Ava muttered.

“Since you’re headed that way, can you do me a favor and take her one of these banana muffins I baked this morning? If I don’t nag her, she forgets to eat sometimes. And take one for yourself, too.”

“I wouldn’t mind a muffin,” Simon said.

“They’re two dollars apiece for everyone else,” Leona said primly.

---