Page 44 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

Mitch ignored the look from the man next to him. He was used to people looking at him a little strangely, but they usually went back to their business fast enough.

It’s fine, it’s fine. Phil waved away Mitch’s apology. We miss you here. You’re so good with the dogs, and we do have a gaping hole in our curriculum where you’d fit nicely.

Mitch smiled and nodded, his cowboy hat ducking low to cover his face. He wouldn’t be able to see Phil if he started signing, and of course, he couldn’t hear. But sitting here, on this day in late June, Mitch wasn’t sure he could say what he’d come here to say.

He looked up and found Phil waiting for him. Of course he would be. Phil knew not to talk to a deaf person without making eye contact first. So what can I do for you today, Mitch?

He took a deep breath and blew it out. I’ve talked to my folks, and we all agree that it’s time for me to come back to Whispering Paws.

Lowering his hands, he nodded. Just once. Like, that’s that. What do you think? Will you hire me, or have you just been saying things?

Mitch didn’t like that. He didn’t understand people who talked and talked and didn’t mean what they said.

Phil looked straight at him, seemingly into his soul. Then a smile broke out onto his face as he started cheering with his hands. We’ll take you whenever you can get here, Mitch. When do you think you’ll be here?

August, Mitch said, making the three-letter sign quickly. I’ve got to get packed up, drive across the country, all of that. It should be in time for the new semester, and for me to get settled. Get back into a routine of working with the dogs. All of that.

He shifted in his seat and glanced down at Honor, who looked back at him.

When Mitch looked back at Phil, he asked, You’ve still got Honor?

She’s right here with me, Mitch said. I don’t go anywhere alone, and sometimes I wish I could.

Here, you can, he said, smiling.

Mitch smiled back at Phil. Nah. My daddy says that’s not safe. And he knew it wasn’t, even at a place like Whispering Paws. He couldn’t hear anything. If something went wrong, and Mitch wasn’t actively looking at it, the only way he’d know was through Honor.

I don’t mind having a dog with me, he said. She’s a good friend. He reached down and patted Honor, whose eyes closed in apparent bliss.

I’ll get the paperwork emailed over, Phil said.

I wanted to talk about housing, Mitch said, shifting in his seat again.

Our professors are eligible for on-campus housing, Phil said. I’ll have Martha send you the information packet on it.

Is there room for me there? Mitch asked.

Absolutely, but you don’t have to live on-campus. We have teachers and staff who find a place in town. We can assist with whatever you need. We know people in the community who can sign or who our employees have rented from before.

Mitch nodded, and he wasn’t sure why the housing in Willowbrook was concerning him so much, only that it was. Last time he’d gone, he’d simply taken a dorm in the canine trainers wing without a second thought.

This time, he wasn’t sure where he’d fit at Whispering Paws. He wasn’t a student, so he wouldn’t live in the student dorms. He hadn’t last time either. He’d only worked with the dogs in the training facility, and he’d lived in a room with another trainer.

I’ll look for the email, he said. Thanks, Phil.

I’m just so excited you’re coming, Phil said. I’m going to be the most popular guy in our meeting tomorrow. He laughed, though Mitch couldn’t hear him.

Mitch grinned back, and he let Phil end the video conference. He leaned back in his chair as the screen went back to black, a sigh leaking from his mouth. Honor put her paw on his leg, and he looked at her. The golden retriever looked over to something else, and that was his cue to do the same.

He did, and he jumped to his feet when he saw Kaytee. Hey, he said. He pulled his hands up his body. What’s up?

She’d done her hair up today, the start of twin braids happening on either side of her head. She wore enough makeup to make his throat go a little dry, and she wore a dark blue polo with the library logo across the chest and a pair of jeans. Her bright white sneakers made him smile, as did her bright grin.

Kaytee was a couple of years younger than him, but still within an acceptable age for dating. She held out her hand, and Mitch tugged his phone out of his pocket and handed it to her. She started typing while he stood there awkwardly.

He hated this part of things. He just wanted to see someone and start talking to them. This was why he didn’t go shopping anywhere he might need to talk to someone.

Kaytee turned his phone back to him, and he read the screen. What are you doing this weekend? A bunch of us are meeting for a picnic in the park and then watching the fireworks from Mount Cross.

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