Jenn McKinlay - Due Or Die

The puppy wagged and barked in agreement. Tom’s way with animals was amazing, and Lindsey knew if she were a dog, she’d probably try to get him to adopt her.

“You’re not looking for a dog by any chance, are you?” she asked.

“Thanks but, no,” he said with a grin. “With that litter of nine we just delivered, I doubt we’ll be taking in any strays any time soon. Gina and I are pretty sure having a baby will be a snap after this.”

“Oh?” Sully asked.

“Not that we’re having a baby just yet,” Tom said. He looked embarrassed and both Sully and Lindsey grinned at him.

“So, I heard this guy was dumped at the library?” Tom asked, obviously hoping to change the subject.

“Shoved in the book drop,” Lindsey confirmed. “How did you hear?”

“News travels pretty fast in Briar Creek,” he said. “Well, that and Mrs. Holcomb was in the library when he made his appearance and she brought her dachshund in this afternoon.”

“Tinkerbelle?” Sully asked.

“That’s the one,” Tom said. “I keep telling her that she can’t dress her up in a pink tutu or Tinkerbelle’s going to get depressed, but she doesn’t listen.”

“Really, she would be so much happier in purple,” Sully joked.

“I keep saying that,” Tom returned. Then he turned to Lindsey and asked, “So, what are you going to name him?”

“I’m not naming him,” she said. “That will be up to his new owners.”

“Any takers yet?” Tom asked.

“No, but there will be.” She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt.

Tom gave her a dubious look.

“What?” Lindsey asked.

“Well, I’m thinking what you’ve got here is a mutt,” he said. “A lot of people won’t take mutts.”

“But he’s so sweet.”

As if he knew she was talking about him, the puppy wiggled his way across the exam room to her and sat on her foot. Lindsey tried to ignore the way he gazed up at her, but still she felt the need to scratch his ears in reassurance.

“Well, there’s one other problem,” Tom said. “He looks to be a mix of a pit bull and a schnauzer. Pit bulls, even half breeds, have a pretty bad reputation, and they’re hard to find good homes for because people either want them for the wrong reasons, to be aggressive, or they are afraid of them.”

“But that’s ridiculous. Who could be afraid of him?” Lindsey asked, kneeling down beside the dog, who licked her face and thumped his tail. “He has the nicest disposition.”

“Well, he’s a puppy,” Tom said. “At a guess, since he still has his puppy teeth, I’d put him between three and four months. He’s going to get bigger and stronger and harder to find a home for.”

“No worries,” Lindsey said stubbornly. “He’ll also get cuter and more loyal. I’ll find a great home for him. You’ll see.”

Tom smiled at her. She glanced over her shoulder and noticed that Sully was smiling, too.

“Oh, quit it,” she said. “I’m not keeping him.”

To their credit, both men refrained from comment.

“I’ll keep my ears open. If I hear about anyone looking for a pup, I’ll let them know you’ve got a good one,” Tom said.

“Thanks,” Lindsey said and shook his hand. “Come on, little fella, let’s show you your temporary home.”

Lindsey wasn’t positive but she was pretty sure he waggled his eyebrows at her. She plopped him in the tote bag and handed it to Sully so she could pay the bill.

Sully and the dog waited for her by the door, and they all stepped out into the cold night air together.

“Can I give you a lift?” he asked as they headed down the walk toward his truck.

“Thanks, but I’d feel silly taking a ride for just a few houses.”

He nodded and an awkward silence fell between them.

At the risk of making an uncomfortable moment worse, Lindsey shifted the tote bag on her shoulder and said, “So, what brought you out here tonight?”

“You,” he said.

BRIAR CREEK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Whatever she had been expecting, that had not been it. Instead of asking an open-ended follow-up question like any good librarian, Lindsey had merely gulped and stuttered and shouldered the tote bag with the wiggling puppy, and with an awkward wave that must have had all the grace of a pimply twelve-year-old, she set off down the street toward her apartment.

She had seen Sully’s slow smile as she departed, red-faced and stammering, and she knew he was amused by her.

Good grief, how would she ever face the man again?

Her reaction had been so, well, lame. What if he had just been being neighborly and he meant he’d been checking on her because he knew she biked home and she’d left her bike at the library tonight? He might not have meant you as in he was interested.

Lindsey looked down into the bag where the puppy was trying to stand and groaned. “I am so embarrassed.”

As if he completely understood because it happened all the time, the puppy licked her hot face and Lindsey laughed. “Make an ass of yourself frequently, do you?”

She felt the puppy’s tail thump against her hip and she felt immediately better.

“Come on, you’re going to need to work some charm on my landlady so she’ll let you stay. And here’s a tip, don’t piddle in the house.”

A short yip was his only reply as they stepped into the foyer. The house was quiet. Lindsey wondered if Carrie was holed up with Nancy. If so, she didn’t want to disturb them. Oh, who was she kidding? She wanted to sneak the dog upstairs and then come tell Nancy he was here. Sort of give her a few minutes to digest the situation before she was confronted with his furriness.

She crept up both flights of stairs and fumbled for her key. At the door, the puppy began to try to jump out of the bag as if he sensed they were home.

“Don’t get so excited, this is temporary.”

He didn’t appear to be listening. As soon as she opened the door, he bolted into the main room, nose to the ground, sniffing and running faster than his big paws could carry him.

“Surprise!” a shout erupted from the couch, and Lindsey jumped with a small shriek of alarm.

The puppy stopped in mid-sniff and looked at her as if to see if she was okay. With her hand on her chest, she staggered into the room. One more fright tonight and she’d probably keel over.

The entire crafternoon club-Beth, Nancy, Violet, Charlene and Mary, plus Carrie-were there with a spread of food and an assortment of gift bags.

“I’m sorry,” Lindsey said as she approached, hugging each woman in turn. “But I’m pretty sure my birthday is in May.”

“This isn’t for you,” Violet said. She crouched down and waggled her fingers until the puppy approached, wagging his whole behind in greeting. “It’s for this poor little guy. Would you look at those eyebrows?”

“He certainly does have some dark, brooding good looks,” Mary said. She handed Lindsey a gift bag and plopped down next to Violet.

Lindsey warily peeked inside the bag. Inside was a collar and a leash in a bright shade of blue.

“Mine next,” Nancy ordered and she hefted a large bag into Lindsey’s arms. Puppy food and two dishes.

“But, Nancy, it’s your house; do you really want a puppy in here?” Lindsey asked.

“Are you kidding? I love dogs.”

“Let’s feed him,” Beth said. “The poor guy is probably starving.”

“This was your doing, wasn’t it?” Lindsey asked.

“I know you don’t want a dog,” Beth said as she walked over to the kitchenette and filled a bowl with water. “But even if you’re just going to foster him for a while, you need dog stuff. So, I’m assuming Sully was able to catch up to you and stall you?”