Page 5 of Puppy Kisses

Adam almost ruined it by laughing out loud.Poor Zeke.So many of the things his brother did around here were far less secretive than he thought. He and Phoebe both. From the way the pair of them skulked around, speaking in whispers and sneaking out when they thought Adam was asleep, you’d think he was running some kind of prison camp instead of the family ranch.

Unfortunately, that was what came with being the eldest—and with being the boss. Even though he was only four years older than the twins, it might as well have been forty.

“Oh yes. Golden retrievers make excellent service dogs. They’re one of the smartest breeds out there, and they can concentrate on a task better than most humans. They’re my favorite animal for this kind of work.” Dawn was holding court when Adam returned to the living room, which was no surprise to anyone who knew her. She had a way of drawing all the attention in a room.

Determined not to fall into her inevitable orbit, he set the tray of supplies on the coffee table and wordlessly settled himself on the arm of the couch.

“And what kind of work is that?” Sheriff Jenkins asked.

“Ranch work. Manual labor. Traveling long distances to hunt down rogue cows.” Dawn shot them off as if reading from a list. “You need a lot of strength and intelligence to keep up in a place like this. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Although Zeke, who’d also been born and bred here, could have easily answered that question, Adam had the feeling he was the one being put on the spot. What he didn’t know waswhy.

“I’ll have you know that my cows don’t go rogue,” he said by way of answer. “They’re exceptionally well behaved.”

“All two hundred of them? That isn’t possible.”

“Well, there is one that’s been causing us a lot of problems near the west field lately. She keeps breaking down the neighbor’s fence and forcing herself into places she’s not wanted. We named her Dawn.”

Although Zeke’s laugh was unmistakable, Dawn hid hers behind an outraged gurgle.

“Because she usually escapes right before sunup,” Adam explained. He held himself on the edge of the couch arm, his posture upright. “She’s cost us a fortune in repairs already. I’m thinking about getting rid of her. Don’t tell methat’swhat brings you all this way, Harold. I didn’t know you were interested in animal husbandry.”

“Actually, I was escorting the youngsters,” Harold said. “Seeing as how this puppy is in such terrible condition and they were determined to bring her here rather than to Marcia’s. What made you take on an animal like this one?”

“I told you already,” Zeke interrupted. “Adam hired Dawn to help him find the perfect canine companion. He needs help around here.”

On the contrary, he needed no such thing. The books were balanced, the expansion plans were shaping up, and Adam was in the best physical condition of his life. Considering that he ran one of the largest family-owned-and-operated cattle ranches in this part of the state with almost zero percent vision, this was no small feat.

But that clearly wasn’t the story he was supposed to be selling here.

“That’s right,” he lied cheerfully. “I’m getting on in years. Unlike Dawn, I’m ready to start making myself less of a nuisance and settle down. Dawn thecow, that is.”

He could hear Dawn the human struggling to keep her feelings to herself. More silence than sound, there was a definite sense of laughing indignation coming from the other side of the couch.

“So this reallyisyour new seeing-eye dog?” Harold asked.

“Absolutely.”

“And you ordered them to bring her to you?”

“With all possible speed,” he said with a calm perjuring of his soul. Unless he was mistaken, things were finally starting to make sense. Zeke always drove with a lead foot, and Dawn always had a way of getting exactly what she wanted. If her goal had been to talk her way out of a speeding ticket, this was one way to do it.

A tortured, tangled, ridiculous way to do it, yes, but when had she ever done things any other way?

“I hope Zeke didn’t take me too literally about the speed thing,” he added, somewhat perversely. “We wouldn’t want him putting his safety—not to mention the safety of his passengers—at risk. But what am I saying? I’m sure you would have told me straightaway if that were the case.”

All three of them coughed at once. They also began talking at once. Harold murmured something about needing to go on his way. Zeke offered to walk him to the door. And Dawn was encouraging the puppy to eat something in a low, soothing tone.

From the sound of it, she wasn’t having much luck. Casting aside all other considerations, Adam shifted from the arm of the couch to the floor, crouching near the warm, panting body laid out on the middle cushion. The first thing he noted was that the animal’s temperature was high—too high—her breathing rapid, and her nose dry to the touch. The second thing he noted was thatbeatenandstarvedhad been gross understatements. He was much more of an expert on cows than dogs, but the painfully bony rib cage and rough patches of balding skin were more than enough to convince him that his brother and Dawn had done right to bring the dog here—speed limits and Harold Jenkins be damned.

“Was Zeke able to get hold of Marcia?” he asked as his fingers prodded gently at the puppy’s stomach. The animal gave a whimper of protest as he encountered several hard lumps. “I know, girl. I’m sorry. I’m being as gentle as I can. Where’s the antiseptic?”

“I don’t know,” Dawn said. As she placed the bottle in his hand, she added, “About Marcia, that is. But if she’s busy, I can always ask our vet to come out. Or even Lila. She’ll know what to do about a dog in this state.”

Adam had never met Dawn’s older sister, Lila, but she had a good reputation when it came to animals. He could have easily—and guiltlessly—handed this problem over to her.

He didn’t.