Page 39 of Sweet Beginnings

“It gets worse. Yesterday, a volunteer dropped a bowl near Samson. The clatter of the metal dish spooked him and he lunged at her. Thankfully, she was close enough to the gate to escape unharmed, but…”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she muttered “oh hell” and closed her eyes. She shouldn’t have let the wedding rush distract her from placing Samson herself. Strong fingers curled around her shoulders. So caught up in the phone call, she hadn’t noticed Preston push away from the table and come stand behind her. This man was simply too good to be true. If only he were really hers. “Aaron, buy me some time. We can fix this.”

“I’ve bought this boy as much time as I can. All we’ve got is twenty-four more hours.”

A few more words were exchanged and she disconnected the call, knowing she had to move fast to save Samson—and she was going to need Alice’s help to do it.

Chapter Fourteen

“Though difficult, Samson wasn’t deemed dangerous,” Sarah Sue explained. “But now, he’s crossed the line.”

Alice Sweet frowned at her new daughter-in-law. Oh, how she liked those words. Daughter-in-law. Though everything happened unusually fast, and Alice had had her share of doubts along the way, deep down she was a romantic at heart who believed in love at first sight—maybe—but for now they had a new problem on their hands. “But he didn’t bite the woman.”

“He might as well have.” Heaving a deep sigh, Sarah inched forward. “Samson doesn’t do well with other dogs. As you know, none of the former service dogs that fail out of Lackland AFB can be placed in a home with young children, so that eliminates a good many foster wannabes, and after this fail with an experienced GSD owner, the Sweet Ranch is his only hope.”

“Agreed.” Leaning back in her seat, Alice had a determined look on her face. “I’ll round up the boys and we’ll get a place ready for Samson that will keep him apart from Brady, at least for now. But you’d better hurry, the forecast for tonight isn’t good.”

“Don’t I know it.” Sarah sighed. “First thing I did after speaking to Aaron was check the forecast. We need to rescue Samson before the heavier storms reach the rescue ranch. If he’s regressed, even the smallest of thunderstorms could be a nightmare for the poor dog.”

“Like I said,” Alice pushed to her feet, “you’d better hurry. I think we have an old kennel in the garage if you need it. You also might want to grab a blanket off your bed. Maybe a shirt too. Things with your scent that might help keep the pup calm on the long drive.”

“Good idea.” Sarah Sue bobbed her head quickly. Alice didn’t have to be a mind reader to know that her new daughter-in-law was mentally running through what she might need.

“I’ll get the keys to the Suburban.” Preston took a step back. “If we’re going to bring Samson home in a kennel, we’ll need a vehicle big enough to transport him that way.”

“Perfect.” Sarah Sue let go of the door handle. “I’ll run up and grab a blanket. Riding home surrounded by our scent will help with the transition.”

Grabbing the keys off the hook by the kitchen door, he leaned over and kissed Sarah Sue on the temple before hurrying out of the house.

The tender gesture made Alice smile. How she was loving watching those two together. “Go save that baby.” She shot Sarah Sue a thumbs up moments before the door closed behind her son and Sarah Sue bolted up the stairs.

Waiting for Sarah Sue to hurry downstairs again, Alice gathered Brady’s spare collar and leash. Just in case. The poor dog might not be thrilled with the scent of another animal, but a blind introduction couldn’t hurt. As soon as her son’s bride scurried through the kitchen, Alice gave her the collar and leash. “Just in case Samson doesn’t already have one. And here.” She shoved two bottles of water at them and a small bag of treats. “As you know, water and treats can work wonders to making fast friends with a stressed K-9.”

Arms full, Sarah paused and leaned over to give her mother-in-law a peck on the cheek. “You’re the best.”

“Ditto.” Ever since Sarah Sue lost her mom, Alice had felt a responsibility to her friend, neighbor, and their daughter. Having Sarah Sue hanging around the house often with Jillian and Rachel had been like having a third daughter. Stepping in to help Doc when he had no idea what to do with a heartbroken teen or burgeoning young woman, had come as naturally as dealing with her own daughters. She’d hoped that one of her sons would fall for the incredible woman Sarah Sue had become. Troubled dog and thunderstorms aside, Alice couldn’t be any happier for Preston. “Well, Charlie. One down and five to go. I just hope they all find someone as perfect for them as Sarah Sue is for Preston.”

Every few minutes, the tendrils of lightening stretched across the sky, illuminating the road ahead for miles. For Samson and Sarah Sue’s sake, Preston prayed the storm didn’t reach the rescue ranch, or dealing with a traumatized dog was going to be twice as hard as he already anticipated.

Another hour into the drive, and rather than the heavens clearing up, the sky sounded as angry as it looked.

“Poor baby is probably totally freaking out with this storm.” Sarah stared upward as if willing the storm to pass them by sooner than later.

“I’m sure Aaron is doing all he can to keep the dog from stressing.”

“Sometimes,” her gaze remained on the light show ahead, “no matter how badly we want it, no matter how hard a person wishes it away, the invisible scars of war can’t be controlled. Every flash of lightening and roar of thunder grabs hold of good service men and dogs deep in their gut and drags them back to a living nightmare.”

Preston’s mind flashed over to his brother. Every leave, every trip home, there seemed to be a small part of Kade that changed a little here, then there. Usually, after spending time with the family, Kade almost seemed his old self, but there was always a bit of harshness that still broke through, reminding everyone of the career their brother would be returning to. Preston couldn’t help but wonder how much longer before they lost all trace of the tender-hearted side of the older brother who’d seen too much of the ugliness in the world.

“Worrying about Samson?” Her gaze had shifted to him, and a concerned softness seemed to have settled on him.

“A little, but mostly I was thinking about Kade.”

“What about him?”

“Life. War. And someday coming home for good.”

Her head leaned back. “Someday soon, I hope.”

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