Page 56 of Through the Fire
“Th-hat’s k-k-kind of a pr-private q-question, Tio.”
His gentle correction reminded Wes of something that Leila would say to him when he overstepped, and he smiled at Sam as he said, “I don’t mind answering. I don’t really need the money. I have patents on a few gadgets I designed, and I do some wildlife photography. It’s good that I can stay out here, since, like Ty and Tio, I don’t think I’d do very well working in a typical office job.” Inwardly, he shuddered at the thought of being trapped in a cubicle all day, surrounded by coworkers who thought he was strange. He’d never experienced it, but he assumed it would be similar to the hell that was high school, only with adults.
“Agreed.” Kit looked amused, but Wes wasn’t sure why, so he asked.
“Why?”
“Why do I think you’d hate an office job?” When he nodded, she continued. “Because you seem to fit here, out in the wilderness. An office job seems like it would be too confining for you. Wouldn’t being around a lot of people all the time wear on you?”
“Yes.” He didn’t even have to pause and consider that. As he studied her, he felt a now-familiar warmth bloom in his chest. Although they hadn’t spent much time together yet—certainly not as much time as he wanted—Kit always seemed to get him. In the past, so many people had misinterpreted what he’d said or meant or felt, but Kit usually understood right off the bat. He was suddenly and intensely glad that she’d moved to Monroe.
Tio looked around the space again and gave Ty a nod. “This job will definitely go on the list.”
Kit appeared a little flushed as she clapped her hands together. “Okay, let’s get to training before Jules sends a search-and-rescue team after us.” With a final smile at Wes, she headed for the stairs, herding the kids in front of her. Now that Wes knew they weren’t her children, he was even more impressed by her ease with them. “We’ll come back for snacks once we’re done working with the dogs, if that’s okay?” she said, and Wes nodded, just glad that he’d get to see her up close again.
As soon as the door banged closed behind them, Wes hurried to the windows to watch. Each time he saw Kit, he worried that this time would be the last. After all, he rarely saw anyone in town more than a few times a year. The idea of never seeing her again made his tower in the woods, which was normally his safe haven, seem lonely.
As she and Sam leashed up one of the bloodhounds that had been waiting in the back of her SUV, Wes pushed away his depressing thoughts and concentrated on Kit. He’d enjoy every second he could have with her—even if that meant watching her from his tower like he was a big, hairy-faced Rapunzel.
Chapter 17
Kit couldn’t stop smiling. Every time she saw Wes, he seemed smarter and more interesting and even more attractive than the last. She knew she was developing a mega-crush on him, but she was also aware that there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Justice gave an excited whine, drawing Kit’s attention back to the three kids and two dogs waiting for her instructions.
“Let’s work with Fifi before and after we train Justice,” she said to Sam, who was listening so intently it was both flattering and rather nerve-racking. “With bloodhounds—especially at the beginning—it’s important to do frequent, short sessions and always end on a positive note.”
“Ok-kay,” Sam said, moving to leash the dog, who was excitedly trying to jump out of the SUV. After retrieving a huge bag of training treats from the floor of the front seat, Kit joined him.
“Here. Let me take her for a second, and you stuff your pockets with these. Lots of them.”
Although he quickly traded leash and blocking duties for the bag of treats, he gave her a questioning glance. “Theo and the others use t-toys, rather than f-f-food,” Sam said as he filled his pockets.
“I use a toy for Justice now, too, but it took a lot—and I mean truckloads—of treats to get to that point.” Using her body, Kit blocked Fifi from jumping out of the back. Even though Justice was shaking with excitement, he stayed sitting like the well-behaved dog he was, and Kit felt her usual warm glow of pride. “All stocked up?” Sam nodded, patting his bulging pockets. “Great. Let’s start with waiting to get out of the car.”
After fifteen minutes of working with Fifi on sitting and not jumping out of the SUV until Sam gave her the release word, they gave her loads of praise and pats. Returning her to the SUV, they got Justice out. A little mournfully, Sam eyed the dog as Justice sat fairly calmly next to Kit.
“He’s so m-m-much easier,” he said, and Kit snorted.
“Yeah, after a year of training. Do you know how many swear words I yelled in my head during that year? A lot.” When Sam still looked unconvinced, Kit continued. “Fifi picks things up much faster than Justice did. She’s less confident and more sensitive than him, so it’s important you don’t get impatient or harsh. If you can keep training fun and interesting for her, though, she’s going to progress really quickly.”
“Y-you think so?” Sam looked through the window at Fifi, who’d curled up to take a nap.
“Absolutely.” Kit looked around and spotted the twins examining something on the side of the tower. Putting two fingers in her mouth, she gave a sharp whistle, and they both whirled around in a way that just shouted guilt. Nothing seemed to be on fire or broken, though, so she put it aside to ask them about later and just called over to them, “Come help us with Justice.”
Ty and Tio trotted over willingly.
“What will we be doing?” Ty asked curiously.
“Well, I’ll be the handler, Sam’s observing, and Justice is tracking, so you two”—she pointed back and forth between Ty and Tio—“get to play the victim. Who wants to be lost in the woods first?”
* * *
After Justice found Ty and Tio several times each, they worked on his off-lead obedience skills for a short time before switching dogs again. This time, Kit had Sam start Fifi on tracking. Ty and Tio only moved a short distance away, and she caught on quickly, hauling Sam toward whatever twin was “lost” as soon as he gave her the command to find.
“You’re right,” Sam said, lavishing treats and praise and ear scratches on Fifi after the last successful “search.” “She’s so m-much b-better at this than ob-bedience.”
