“Now for the specifics,” the doctor continued. “Any mild people shampoo will do just fine on him and I have a bag of food for you to get started. Wait here,” he said before disappearing out the examining-room door.
“What am I going to do with you?” she murmured to the dog who merely wagged his tail happily. Half an hour ago he was wandering the streets and now he looked at Kendall, trusting her to take care of him. Apparently they were taking that leap of faith together.
His tail swished back and forth. Happy. It seemed to be his permanent disposition. “Okay, Happy. I think you’ve named yourself.” She pet his head again, he licked her free hand and Kendall fell a little bit in love. Another jump into that new train of thought.
“Here’s a book. Seven Days to Successful Dog Training.” Dr. Sterling walked back into the room, dog food under one arm, book in hand. “I have a feeling you’ll be needing it.”
She laughed since the first thing she’d told the doctor was about his accident in the entryway. He’d told her to bring in a sample so they could check for disease. She shuddered at the unpleasant memory and had a hunch there’d be more incidents like it before she and Happy were through. “Thanks, Doctor.”
“Denis, please. And you’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow. Call at nine to make an appointment. At least your aunt’s house has a big yard for him to run in. Rick can play catch with him. Wheatens need daily exercise.”
“No apartments?” she asked, thinking of her normal lifestyle when she wasn’t in Yorkshire Falls. A lifestyle that was beginning to seem more lonely and confined than she’d ever imagined. Yet how could having a huge stretch of highway and endless possibilities ahead seem lonely? The answer lay in this town, its people, and in her relationship with Rick. Whether she had the ability to trust in it all was something else altogether.
“An apartment is doable just not preferable. I always urge people to ask themselves what’s fair to the dog. This guy’s thirty-five pounds but he’s underweight. He’ll gain when you take good care of him. He needs his space.”
Just like Kendall did. Or thought she did. Confusion swirled inside her. Her business had taken a huge step forward, her sister had made friends, and she’d inherited a dog.
“Will I see you at the slide show tonight?” Dr. Sterling asked.
“I’ll be there.”
“Good. Any questions that arise, you can ask me there.” He grinned and opened a drawer, pulling out a collar and a leash. “You’ll be needing these too. Once you pick up your own things, you can return them. No rush.”
Kendall nodded, dazed. In one short day, she’d further cemented herself into the fabric of this small town. She didn’t know if she was ready for Yorkshire Falls any more than Yorkshire Falls was ready for her.
* * *
Rick picked Kendall up at eight-thirty, knocking on her door as usual. An effusive barking greeted him from the other side of the door. If the sound of a dog wasn’t enough of a surprise, seeing Kendall swing the door open, her hand wrapped around the leash of a hairy pooch shocked him even more.
“Come on in before he gets out.” The dog shuffled to escape his confinement and Kendall struggled to keep him inside.
Rick slipped in and slammed the door shut behind him. “Where’d he come from?” No sooner had he asked than the four-legged dog leapt up and put both front paws on his chest.
Kendall laughed. “He likes you. Happy down!” She yanked the dog off him.
“Happy?”
“Look at that tail wag. Can you think of a better name for a dog like him?” She shrugged. “I don’t know his real name since he wasn’t wearing a collar when I found him.”
Kendall had taken a stray dog into a home she didn’t plan on staying in and she was smiling about it? Rick figured he’d worked one too many long shifts or he was seeing things. “You found him?” he asked, dumbfounded.
“Actually he found me. Outside. Either way, I think he’s mine. Dr. Sterling says he’ll put out some more feelers but preliminary calls haven’t turned up anyone missing a pet.” As she spoke, she absently rubbed Happy’s neck with her hand. She’d obviously done this before and perfected the motion since she knew just the right spot and the dog nearly rolled over in ecstasy and delight.
Happy absolutely loved Kendall’s hands massaging his body. “I know just how you feel, man,” Rick muttered.
“What?” she asked.
He shook his head. “He’s yours?” he asked instead, repeating her earlier words.
“Yep. Dr. Sterling gave me food and I borrowed a crate from your mom’s basement on my way home.” She clasped her hands behind her back, seeming pleased with herself.
Happy seemed pleased with her too as he’d settled at her bare feet.
“How’d you know my mom had a crate in the basement?”
“Dr. Sterling said you were a sucker for strays, which I should have known considering you found me.”
She grinned and he wanted to kiss that smile on her lips.
“Ready to go to the show?” she asked.
He reached out and placed his hand over her forehead. “You don’t feel warm to me.”
She crinkled her forehead in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“Kendall, what do you plan on doing with the dog once you leave?” He forced himself to ask the question no matter how much he hated the notion.
Her serious gaze met his. “I’m impulsive but I’m not stupid. I have thought this out. A little bit.” She bit down on her lower lip.
“And?” he asked, holding his breath.
“I’m not so sure I’m going anywhere after all.” She turned away too quickly, not meeting his gaze.
Obviously she wasn’t certain of her words but the fact that she’d say them at all gave him a ridiculous shot of hope.
She patted her leg and the dog rose to trail after her as she started for the other room.
“What are you doing?” he asked as she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving him to focus on the denim jeans drawn tight over her behind and the sassy sway to her hips.
“I’m going to lock up Happy so we can get going. And I’m giving myself some space before I hyperventilate,” she called over her shoulder.
“Hadn’t planned on admitting you might like to settle here, huh?”
“It’s happening fast, Rick. Just give me time to think some more.”
He nodded. He could do that. After all, with a house, a dog, and a sister to take care of, she wasn’t about to perform any of her impulsive disappearing acts anytime soon.
Chapter Twelve
Fresh air, inky night sky, and Rick by her side. In such a perfect atmosphere, Kendall was able to breathe just fine as they approached the football field. For the first time in her life she allowed herself to give in to the idea of belonging somewhere and to someone—and to enjoy it without fear of either being taken away.
She glanced around. As Rick promised, a huge screen covered what had once been the scoreboard and people with blankets had collected on the grass. Holding her hand, he continued past the crowds, not stopping for more than a quick hello.