Page 49 of Saving Veronica
“Molly’s three. I’ve had her since she was six weeks old. Maggie told me that she told you I wanted to breed her. I really like the look of your dog.”
“God, I feel like a pimp.” Finn grinned and relaxed when Norm laughed.
“Me too.”
“I have to tell you, I’ve only had Major for three years. I became his handler when I arrived in Afghanistan, but we were together during those three years. Just before I was discharged, Major was injured and shipped out. I thought I’d never see him again.”
“Why? Wasn’t he your dog?” Maggie asked.
“No. He was property of the Marines. Because he was seven, and after he came back to the unit, he became depressed. My commanding officer worked it out to send him home to me. I knew nothing about it. Patch here worked with him, and when I arrived in Montana, Major was waiting for me.”
“So, he was a service dog?”
“You could say that. He was on the front line with me, looking for IEDs, and bodies after bombings. Saved my life several times. He even saved it when he was shot and had to leave,” Finn said, and rubbed Major down. “So, yeah, if you want to use Major as Molly’s baby’s daddy, I’d be okay with that, but I’d like one of the pups.”
“Why?” Patch asked.
“Grandpa steals Major from the office all the time, like every two hours. If he’s retiring after the first of the year, he’s going to need something to keep him busy while Dad and I are at work. Figured I’d get him his own puppy.”
“I can do that. But we’ll have to take them to the vet and get them checked out,” Norm said, and stood. He stepped back when Major and Molly touched noses. Then started rubbing their faces on each other. “And we have friends.” Norm smiled, then got a good look at the two men.
“Do I know you?” He frowned at Patch.
“Not that I’m aware of. Douglas Atwal, aka Patch.” Patch said, as he held out his hand to shake.
“I swear I’ve seen you before, but I don’t recognize your name. Norm Wilson.” Everyone introduced themselves and Finn grinned when the next vehicle arrived.
“Want to see a seventy-year-old man turn into a puddle of goo?”
“Not really,” Norm said, and watched as Major ran over to the new arrivals. Molly quickly joined them, and Eric took one look at Molly, dropped to his knees, and acted like a little boy. “Damn, if that’s your grandfather, yes he can have first pick of the pups. Hell, maybe he can be a babysitter.” They all laughed and decided not to tell Eric what they’d been discussing.
After about an hour, Finn looked around and frowned. “Where’s the birthday girl?”
“She’ll be over shortly,” Maggie said, as she brought several dishes out and set them on the table. “She’s working on something and said she’d be over by one.”
“It’s after that,” Patch said, as he looked at his watch, then looked toward the east. “What the hell is that?” He pointed and at least a hundred people turned and looked.
“She did it.” Gerald laughed, and put his arm around Maggie’s shoulder.
“Did what?” Finn asked.
“Watch.” Everyone turned and was confused by what was coming at them.
“Awk! Catch the wind! Awk!” Captain screamed, as he flew above Ronnie toward her grandparents’ house. It had been three weeks since she’d been released from the hospital. She still had a lot of healing to do, but she hadn’t let that stop her. Last Monday, she’d started her first day back to school, and after having only one problem with one professor, she settled down to her routine.
When she arrived home each day, she went to the barn, worked with the horses, and worked with Captain at the same time. She had decided to name him Captain, because he reminded her of the birds in the pirate movies. That and she kept with the military theme. Her grandfather was a former General, she knew a dog named Major, and had a horse named Sarge, so Captain seemed fitting. She laughed when she saw everyone stood around watching her and Captain. But all eyes were on the sky. Because his wings hadn’t been clipped to prevent him from flying, Ronnie worked with him so that when he was on the scooter with her, he had a tether. He could still fly, but he couldn’t get away.
Finn watched Ronnie as she rode a two-tone-blue scooter toward them, and suddenly Major was beside him wagging his whole body. Finn had to put his hand on his head to calm him down. “I know, boy. She’s coming.” After they had come home from the hospital, one night after Major seemed depressed, Finn had gotten the silk stocking out, and Major had taken one sniff and carried it over to his bed. Since then, he won’t let anyone touch it but him. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear Major was in love with her.
Ronnie laughed as she slowed down and Captain began circling overhead. She let out a whistle, and he slowly came down and landed on her right shoulder. The first person she saw was Patch.
“How much does he weigh? Is he pulling on your shoulder? Are you in any pain?”
“Good to see you too, Patch.” Ronnie was so excited she threw her left arm around his waist and hugged him. “No, I’m not in pain, no my shoulder isn’t pulling, and he only weighs three pounds.”
“Why is he on your right arm?”
“Because, when I get the cast removed, that’s where he’ll ride. So how have you been?”
