Page 49 of Montana Bride By Christmas
“Thank you.” She fairly beamed at him, making him feel eight feet tall and able to fell massive trees with one blow of an ax.
She released the pup, and he sniffed about her feet and then about Hugh’s, Then raced across the floor, and paused by Grandfather’s chair to get a pat on the head. He noticed Evan in the corner and bounded toward him.
Hugh heard Annie suck in air. His own lungs froze. What would Evan do?
The pup stopped and gave Evan a sloppy kiss, then frolicked about the boy.
Evan grabbed the pup, buried his face in the fur, and laughed.
“Well, I’ll be,” Hugh said, unashamed at how husky his voice had grown.
Annie squeezed his arm. “Praise God. I wasn’t sure he knew how to use his voice.”
Evan and the pup tumbled over in a tangle of limbs.
Hugh patted Annie’s hand where it lay on his arm. “It appears that God has sent an answer to prayer in the form of a rambunctious puppy.” Without Annie’s “unsuitability” this pup would not be here. The acknowledgment kicked out every support he held on to. He was grateful beyond words, but he couldn’t silence the warning voice in the back of his head reminding him of how unsuitable she would find him once she got to know him better. For now, with her hand warm beneath his palm, he refused to let such concerns rob him of the moment.
The storm continued outside, the storm threatened in his head but neither kept him from the joy of watching Evan and the pup playing together.
“What are we going to name him?” he asked Evan, then shifted his gaze to the woman at his side.
“How about Stormy? Seeing as he came in during a storm.” She smiled at him, her eyes twinkling, making him forget everything else. “Or we could call him Happy because of what he’s doing for Evan.”
Hugh couldn’t think beyond the feeling between him and Annie.
“Let’s see what Evan wants.” She pulled her hand away, leaving a cold spot on his arm and a barren spot in his heart. She knelt in front of the dog and the boy and ruffled the puppy’s fur. “He sure is soft, though I think he needs a bath. Just like you.”
Evan studied the dirty dog then looked at himself and nodded.
“Would you like me to heat the water? You could bathe to show him how, and they then help me bathe him.”
Evan eyed her warily.
Hugh watched the trio. Would she succeed in getting his little son to have a bath? Somehow, he felt she would. She’d already accomplished so much with him.
“Let’s do that before lunch,” she said as if Evan had agreed. “Now, about a name. Which do you like better? Stormy or Happy?”
Hugh definitely liked the latter better, but it was up to Evan. Longing to be part of this exchange, he knelt beside Annie. “Son, this dog is yours. You can choose the name. You’ll also have to help take care of him. He’ll need to be fed and bathed. And we must keep water down for him to drink. I’ll help you with that, but first, let’s name him.”
Evan met Hugh’s gaze. At the look of trust in the child’s eyes, Hugh vowed yet again that he would do everything in his power to be what the boy needed.
Even marrying someone Hugh thought unsuitable for him but perfect for Evan? Yes, it was the only reason he sought marriage.
“Do you want to call him Stormy?”
Evan shook his head.
“Happy?”
Evan nodded and buried his face in the puppy’s fur.
“Happy it is then. Shall we get water for Happy?” He held out his hand. When Evan took it, Hugh’s eyes burned with joy and gratitude. He dared not look at Annie for fear his feelings would pour out unfettered.
They went to the cupboard and filled a bowl from the pump. Hugh helped Evan put the bowl on the floor next to the stove.
The puppy drank eagerly, sloshing water in a spreading puddle. Evan squatted beside the pup, watching him drink.
Annie brought a rag to mop it up, then stood at Hugh’s elbow. “There is not a doubt in my mind that God sent this puppy to help Evan. Happy is the perfect name for him.”
