Page 46 of Worst in Show

“So, how are we going to work this?” I ask, putting another yard between us. “Cholula is going to need a lot of training, but I don’t want to get in anyone’s way.”

“You’ve decided to run her in the show?”

“She’s the fastest.” Hardly a qualifying trait on its own, but I have to work with what I’ve got.

“I’ll probably come out here a couple times during the week, plus the weekend.” He looks away. “We can coordinate, or you can come alone. It’s up to you.”

He’s different out here, his voice deeper, calmer. I glance at his profile as he laughs at something the dogs are doing. Could it be that I have judged him too harshly? “We may as well coordinate,” I say. “Our schedules are pretty similar.”

His perfect teeth gleam in the sun at that. “True. Okay cool.”

This doesn’t mean I’m letting my guard down again. If anything, it will give me a chance to gauge the competition—that’s why I’m not putting up a fight. In case anyone was wondering. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

“Dawn said she put some cones outside the shed.” He points and veers left. “Do you have a plan for what to start with or do you not want to say?”

I’m supposed to have a plan? “I don’t. Do you?”

“Of course.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

“There’s nothing wrong with being prepared. How do you know what direction you’re going or how to measure your progress if you don’t have set goals?”

I stop and turn to the sniffing wolfhound who’s making me fall behind. “Come on, Boris. Pick it up.”

“Watch your step.” Leo skirts a water-filled tire track.

“If Cholula does what I tell her, I’ll know I’ve made progress. And my goal is for her to be the best.”

“That’s it? Personally, I prefer more detail.” He pulls out a small notebook from his pocket and shows me the list of dates for the training sessions leading up to the contest and what he plans on working on each time.

“You are such a nerd.” I laugh and grab the notebook from him. “Day one: recall.” I look up. “Good choice. I think I’ll be doing the same.” I scan the rest of the page, tension brewing. “You’re not playing around.”

He takes the book back. “It’s for a lot of money.”

Ain’t that the truth? I’m going to have to step up my game.

After the dogs get their zoomies out, Cholula, Cap, Boris, and I move to one end of the field, and Leo and Tilly to the other. Cholula and Tilly’s love for each other works in our favor because every time we let them go, they run to each other, allowing us to call them back. I’m equally thrilled and surprised that Cholula does a lot better than Tilly, who could not care less about Leo’s company while her tiny BFF is nearby.

“Would you mind if I stand on the same side as you?” Leo asks when we’ve been working for twenty minutes, and the dogs are getting a break. “Maybe she’ll listen better.”

“That’s fine. I’m going to see what Cho thinks of the cones.”

“Already?”

I like that he sounds impressed. “Too bad your schedule will only let you do recall today. Written in ink—pretty set in stone…” I give him a cheeky smile.

“That’s hilarious,” he says behind me as I head to the shed. “So funny.”

“Tilly does kind of look like she needs the practice.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re not wrong.”

While Leo keeps working on getting Tilly to stay and come when he tells her, I lead Cholula on a leash through a set of eight cones, back and forth, spacing them closer and closer together to introduce a weave. Boris is sleeping, and Cap waddles around exploring the outskirts of the field, occasionally returning to check on us.

“How much longer do you think you’ll be going?” Leo calls eventually. “I think Tilly is done.”

“Cho, too.” I let my soon-to-be champion off the leash and instantly she heads for Tilly. The two dogs bark with elation and take off.

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