Page 22 of Sweet Beginnings

This time, Preston pressed his lips tightly together and nodded his head. A few more minutes of total silence and he cleared his throat again. “I don’t want anything to hurt our friendship. Anything.”

On that they could agree. “Ditto.”

“This may be harder than I first thought.”

What? Kissing her, being affectionate, lying to his mother, working the ranch and his day job, the dog?

His gaze shifted to hers and his shoulders deflated. “I’m sorry. I’m just realizing the enormity of what we’ve gotten ourselves into.”

Wasn’t that the truth? Suddenly hiding the charade from their parents seemed like the least of their challenges. “Do you want to back out?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, he shook his head. “This is our best chance of saving the ranch.”

“Then save the ranch we shall. Maybe we can save Samson too.”

The rest of the drive was filled with mundane chatter intertwined with memories and twenty questions. By the time they reached the shelter, they knew each other’s favorite colors, favorite foods, favorite movies, most pleasant memories and most embarrassing memories. They discovered they both adored having Mr. Wheeler for history and could have done with anyone but Mrs. Mahoney for biology.

“I’ll never forget the day I walked into her office to buy the tickets for the school play.” Preston chuckled. “I was a freshman and had no clue who this woman was, other than one of the biology teachers. I did as I had been taught, smiled charmingly at her and asked for two tickets. When she stared at me a moment and then said, “You’re a freshman, aren’t you?” I wondered if she was psychic or if someone had pinned akick me I’m a freshmannote somewhere that I hadn’t noticed.”

“Did you? Have a note on you?”

He shook his head. “Nope. I asked her, ‘Do I look that clueless?’ Then she frowned and replied, ‘No, you’re smiling at me.’”

Sarah couldn’t hold back the burst of laughter that erupted. “Oh, I can so picture Mrs. Mahoney saying that. She really did have a mean streak.”

“I considered that perhaps it was just my perspective as a student and I’d understand better once I grew up.”

“Did you?”

“Nope. After a decade I concluded she was just plain mean.”

“Honestly, your charming smile can be quite persuasive. If that didn’t win her over, nothing would.”

“Thank you.” He reached over and touched her hand. “We’re going to be okay, aren’t we?”

She grinned. “I really do think so.”

The rescue organization allowed Preston to sit on a bench outside a chain link fenced area to watch Sarah Sue’s interactions with the dog in question. From what he could see, the animal was a stunning specimen of a German Shepherd. Thick neck, mixed coat, and dark face that would have scared the bejesus out of any ferocious creature.

In complete contrast the dog was stiff, unresponsive, almost trying to hide in the dirt beneath his feet. The temperament looked nothing like what Preston expected from a military dog. The man holding the leash, Aaron, had to practically drag the canine to meet Sarah. Finally, the man sat on the ground, made a tsking noise to call the dog, and head down, not making eye contact, slowly the animal crept toward the trainer. When Samson was close enough for the man to touch, he scratched at the dog’s scruff and though still clearly apprehensive, the dog seemed to relax at least a little.

Sarah immediately squatted where she stood, her gaze riveted on the animal. Finally, pushing to her feet, she called out to the man, “Where do you kennel him?”

Leaving the dog where he laid, Aaron walked up to where Sarah stood, still watching the animal. “He has his own area.”

“So this is not familiar to him?”

Aaron shook his head.

“Can I see him in a familiar to him setting?”

Hefting one shoulder the trainer shrugged, then cast his gaze in Preston’s direction. “Just one of you?”

Sarah glanced over her shoulder at Preston and he could tell she was debating her next move. When her shoulders relaxed and she momentarily blinked her eyes shut, he knew exactly what she’d been thinking: if he was to help retrain this dog, how the dog interacted with Preston was potentially more important than how he reacted to Sarah. Her head bobbed. “Both of us is best.”

Aaron hesitated so long that Preston thought he might say no. Finally, he looked to Sarah. “If you’re sure.”

As Preston crossed the yard toward Sarah, he got a better look at the dog. Once he stopped by Sarah’s side, he smiled. “I thought Brady was a handsome boy, but this fellow is gorgeous.”

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