Page 90 of Operation K-9 Brothers
“Ditto, BFF.”
After hanging up, she grabbed her earbuds, then took Rambo out.As soon as he did his business, she’d shower, put on her prettiest sundress, and then she’d go get her man.
Rambo was sniffing a bush when a truck slowly passed, a heavy metal song blaring from the radio so loud she could feel the vibrations.Because she was standing behind a tree, she doubted the driver saw her, but she sure saw his passenger door open and then a small brown ball of fur tossed out.
“Hey!”she yelled as she took off running, pulling out her earbuds and dragging Rambo behind her.
The truck sped up and raced away.When she reached whatever they’d thrown out, she gasped at seeing a cowering puppy.The poor thing shivered as it tried to curl into itself.When it whimpered, Rambo answered with a whine.He plopped down on his belly in front of it, then he licked the little brown face.
Nichole glanced up at the road.“Asswipe.”
She picked up the quivering dog.“You poor thing.”What kind of people threw out an animal like it was garbage?“You’re better off without them, sweetie.”But what was she going to do with it?She could barely keep up with Rambo, and she certainly couldn’t take two dogs to the River Arts Center with her.
With a peek between the little thing’s legs, she saw that it was a girl.The name of the song that had been playing on her iPod when the truck drove by popped into her head.“There’s someone I want you to meet, Maggie May.”
Jack couldn’t have been happier with Trucker’s progress.The dog was smart.The Jacobys were taking him home for the night.He wasn’t sure that was a good idea yet, but he hadn’t been able to say no to Nigel Junior.One night wouldn’t do any harm, and even the boy’s father had accompanied them this time.Mother and son had visited Trucker twice before without him, which had been worrisome.
He didn’t have much experience with those dealing with PTSD, and he didn’t want to step wrong.Since meeting Brenda Jacoby and Junior, he’d done a lot of reading on the disorder.In doing so, he’d realized that he suffered from it to a degree, but blessedly not to the extent of Nigel Jacoby.
The man’s eyes looked haunted, and he didn’t smile.Those troubled eyes softened when Nigel had squatted to scratch Trucker under his chin.That was a positive sign that the dog would help the man to deal with daily life.
Jack sent Brenda and Junior to the backyard with Dakota and her ball.His dog could chase balls for hours on end.Alone with Nigel, he spent twenty minutes with the man on the basics of caring for Trucker and the commands the dog was learning.Nigel didn’t say much until Jack ended the session.
“You going back to the sandbox?”Nigel asked.
Jack lifted his arm and eyed it.“Nope.IED ended any chance of that happening.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“Only that I feel like I’ve let my team down.”
“It’s a fucked-up place.I’d put a gun to my head before going back.”
Jack tried to think of what to say to that.He met Nigel’s gaze.“Promise me one thing.If you ever think that’s the answer, call me.Any time of the day or night.”
“I’m good...Well, I’m not good, but I’m not that far gone.I only meant I’d do it if I got orders to go back.”
“Is there any chance of that happening?”
“No.I’m out for good.”He tapped his head.“Too messed up.I’m out on a medical discharge.”
“Not trying to pry here, but are you seeing a therapist?”
“Yeah, not that it’s doing much good.Still wake up screaming and sweating like I’m baking in the sun of that godforsaken place.Still see my buddy bleed out in my arms.”He lowered his gaze to Trucker.“I was against this, getting a stupid dog, but my wife and boy begged me until I agreed to give it a try.Funny thing, working with him now, I forgot to be mad, and when I touch him, that rage inside me gets calmer.”
“I get that, man.My dog gave me a reason to get up in the mornings after I got back.”Jack debated the next thing he wanted to say but decided to go with it.“I didn’t have a wife and child to live for, though.Seems like that would be a pretty damn good reason to want to get better.”
“They’re my world, but they just don’t understand.Not their fault.No one can unless they’ve been there.”
“Copy that, but maybe you could share a little of what daily life there was like.They don’t need to hear about the bad shit, but I think it would help your wife and son, and even you, if you let them in a little.”
Nigel stared toward the backyard where his wife and son were.“Yeah, I suppose I could do that.”
“Good man.”He whistled.Dakota raced into view with a laughing Junior running close behind.Mrs.Jacoby followed, her hopeful gaze on her husband.Nigel wasn’t healed.Far from it.But Jack believed the man was taking positive steps for a better future.That Jack was playing a part in that gave him enormous satisfaction.
“Don’t forget to bring him back in the morning,” he told Junior.He squeezed the boy’s shoulder.“And no sneaking him people food.”
“I won’t, Mr.Daniels.”Jack handed Junior the end of the leash, and the boy held it out to his father.“Trucker’s your dog, Daddy, so you have to take care of him.”
