Page 5 of Sara’s Dom (The Doms of Madison County)

He looked at the two German shepherds sitting politely on the porch and then back at her.

“Yes, I do, but I’m not a professional. I can give you a few names of some I know.”

“I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”

The intense way he was looking down at her made her insides tremble with growing desire. It was something she hadn’t felt since her husband died.

“Can we go inside?” she asked.

He nodded. “Sure.”

She walked up the steps of the porch and snapped her fingers, giving the dogs the order to follow her. They were right on her heels, and he followed them.

She pulled off her hat and then realized what she must look like. Her hair was up in a messy bun. She wore her old overalls with a white t-shirt and garden shoes with paws on them. To top it off, she had on her garden hat. She used it for the coverage it gave her, not for how attractive it was. It was old, large, and floppy and had a few fake roses on it. Her boys always made fun of her when she wore her garden outfit.

“Would you like something to drink?” she asked.

“Sure. Do you have beer?”

“I think so. One of the boys brought some last time they were home.”

She opened the fridge and pulled out a can. “It’s Budweiser?”

“That will work.”

She pulled a pitcher of cold water out with the beer and set them on the counter.

“Are they okay to pet?”

She turned to him to see her dogs sitting a few feet from him.

“I’m sorry. Let me introduce them. The right one is Bella, and the other is Lacy. Girls, this is… Oh, I don’t think I caught your name.”

“It’s Grant.”

“Meet Grant.”

He held out his hand, and they sniffed him a few times before letting him scratch behind their ears. “And your name?”

“Oh, sorry, it’s Sara. They’ll sit there as long as you pet them. They’re shameless sometimes.”

He chuckled. “Well, nice to meet you, Sara.”

“Girls, go to your chairs.” Both dogs went to the two chairs and lay down. She looked at him. “Have a seat.”

He sat on a tall stool on the other side of the counter.

She walked to a cabinet. “Do you want a glass?”

He shook his head and opened the can. “No, thanks. I’m good.”

She got herself one, stood on the other side of the counter, and poured herself a glass of water. She took several sips before she concentrated on him.

“So, tell me about this dog?” she asked.

“He showed up a few weeks ago. He’s filthy and skinny. We started to feed him, but he won’t let any of us near him. He lays under the porch at the main house. I would love to take him to a vet because I know he at least has ticks and fleas, and God knows what else.”

She thought about it for a moment. She didn’t even know the dog, and she was worried about it. “When would you like me to come?”

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