Page 31 of Unforgettable Cowboy
“Of course not.”Bailey got out of the truck and waited for Hayes to walk around the hood to join her at the door.“I did notice that your ranch is very dog-poor.”
“The dogs that raised me and my brothers have passed on, and Wade never got another.I don’t know if he doesn’t have time or if he simply is fine doing without, but I miss having a dog.”
Chapter Eight
“I’m so gladyou came to meet the new kids.They’re going to need some socialization and I won’t let them go until I’m certain they can function in a family environment.”
“I understand.”She was also patient.“How long?”
“Depends on the dog.But…” Edna’s eyes crinkled at the corners as if she had a juicy secret she couldn’t wait to share.“If you are willing to get a younger dog, one of my contacts just dropped off a litter of puppies.”
“Puppies?”Hayes said in a way that had Bailey fighting a smile despite her disappointment at having to wait to get a companion.“What kind?”
“By my best guess they’re generic ranch dogs.”Edna gestured to a door next to the counter.“You can take a look.”
Hayes and Bailey followed Edna in the back area of the shelter, where three skinny short-haired dogs—one black, one dusty brown and one a mottled gray—huddled at the back of their respective kennels.Bailey’s heart immediately began the melting process as she stared into uncertain brown eyes.
“They’re very frightened,” Edna said as they passed.“But my foster parents do amazing work and I believe they will be transitioned into forever homes in a matter of months.I’ll introduce you after we see the pups.”
She rounded a corner where the larger kennels were situated and, in the one nearest to the rear door were three wiggling pups, two black with white spots and one white with a black head.When they approached, the puppies started paddling their way toward the sound of their footsteps, whimpering as they slid along the kennel floor.
“We think they are close to four weeks old.”
“How long until they can be adopted?”Hayes asked before quickly looking at Bailey.
“You can have first choice, of course.”
Bailey shook her head.“I can’t raise a puppy on the road.”She knew many vendors who traveled from show to show with their pets, but those were grown dogs.It would be harder to give a puppy the necessary attention while traveling.
Edna took hold of the kennel door.“I can’t let you handle them today.It’s simply been too stressful for them all, but if you come back tomorrow, you can.”
“They’ll probably be all spoken for tomorrow.”Hayes crouched low to get a better look at them, his mouth curving into a gentle smile as he poked his fingers through the mesh.
“There’s a chance of that,” Edna agreed, sounding quite satisfied with the possibility.
Hayes pursed his lips, studying the squirming black-and-white potatoes.He rose to his feet and turned to Edna.“I’d like to fill out an application.”
Edna smiled.“I like a person who can make a firm decision.But remember, a dog is a huge commitment, and you need to be ab-so-lute-ly certain as opposed to being blinded by puppy cuteness.”
“I’ve been thinking about getting a dog for a while.Missed having a dog, actually.”
“So not a first-time owner.”
Hayes let out a short laugh.“We had so many dogs on the ranch, but they got old and after my brothers and I left, Wade never got another.The thing is, I’m home now.”
Edna nodded as if he’d given the perfect answer.“Let’s fill out some paperwork.”
While Hayes filled out the application, Bailey lingered near the kennels, talking to the newly rescued dogs.They were all fearful, but the gray female—Storm, according to the hand-lettered card in front of the cage—inched forward on her belly when Bailey crouched down, her tail moving just enough to give Bailey hope that the little dog wanted to connect.
“Aren’t you a beauty?”
The tail bumped the ground a little harder, but when Bailey put her fingers through the mesh, the dog retreated.
“It’ll take time,” she said.She rose to her feet, moving on to the next two kennels.The other two dogs were larger, probably better for protection, which Bailey would appreciate traveling alone, but that little gray dog drew her back.There was something about her, a vulnerability maybe, that Bailey found touching.Kindred spirits, perhaps?Bailey took great care not to reveal her weaknesses, but this girl had no such qualms.She needed help and she was not above asking with her soulful brown eyes.
When Bailey stepped through the open door into the office, Hayes was on the second page of the application form.
“I would really like to meet Storm again after the foster period.”
