Page 61 of Worst in Show

“Thanks,” he says, tightly, finally stepping down. “Let’s get going.”

I don’t argue. We’ve already lost a half hour of our time.

“Sorry you had to see me like that.” Leo doesn’t look at me as we walk into the field.

I shrug. “Everyone has their quirks. I only swim in pools where I can see the bottom. You’ll never catch me in the ocean or a lake.” I shudder. “Those pesky sharks…”

“Still. Not my finest moment.”

“At least you got some decorations. I forgot about hay bales.”

“You can have them. I’m not touching those things.”

“You could put them outside.”

“Not worth it.” His mouth pulls into a wry smile. “You’d be doing me a favor. Another one,” he corrects.

“You’ll lose the bet.”

He grimaces. “Let’s face it. I was never going to win at Halloween decorating. At this, on the other hand…” He points to the training area ahead. “Tilly and I will take you guys down.”

“Yeah, how’s that recall coming along?”

“We’re slow on the uptake, that’s all. Dark horses always are. And then—surprise ending.” He claps his hands together, startling both me and the dogs. Cholula circles back toward us, growls at Leo, and runs away again. “Speaking of surprises…” He jogs to the shed and returns with two blue canvas circles. “I had these shipped here. They’re tunnels to practice with.”

He ordered one for me, too? Dark horse, indeed. “That’s amazing. Cho’s never seen one of those.”

“Neither has Tilly.” He tilts his head, lips pursed, thinking. “Care to make things interesting?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Ten bucks on the dog that goes through the tunnel the most times.”

Hell, I just won a bet not five minutes ago. I’m game.

What ensues is a frenzy of cajoling, bribery, begging, and encouragement. Shouts of “Good girl,” “Wrong way,” “Yes, you’ve got it,” and “Again!” ring out in the evening air. Leo and I are getting as much exercise as the dogs, if not more, and despite the cool temperatures, we both soon discard our jackets on the fence post.

Twenty minutes in and Tilly and Cholula have made it through their tunnels only one time each. They’re fired up and fully invested in the game, but neither cares for the tunnel. I don’t know how many times Cholula has gone halfway through only to turn around and come back.

“I think that should count,” I say. “Two halves of a tunnel still make a whole even if it’s the same half twice.”

“No dice.” Leo shakes his head at me. Behind him, Tilly runs straight through his tunnel.

“She did it!” I point. “You missed it.”

He turns in time to see Cap also going through. We both cheer, and at the sound, the beagle mix gladly runs back through it, pivots, and makes a third run.

“That’s one for Cho, two for Tilly, and three for Cap,” I summarize.

“Cap wasn’t in on it.”

“Sure, he was. You said, ‘the dog.’ No names were specified.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Agree to disagree.”

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