Page 4 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

Maybe that was what she should have done. But she didn’t want to scare the puppy any more than it was either.

“When there is a will there is a way,” the man said. “Have you tried coaxing him out with a toy or a favorite treat?”

Why the hell hadn’t she thought of that?

“No,” she said. “Good idea. But then I have to leave him and if I leave to go get something, he might sneak out and I could lose him in the yard.”

“But he was loose to get under there?” the man asked.

“Yes. My yard is fenced in.” She knew she wasn’t making sense. “But there are trees and bushes. What if he comes out and hides in a bush next?”

“He’ll be found if that is the case. Do you have a toy in the yard? You said you were playing.”

“Oh,” she said. “Yes, there is a ball that squeaks. I just came home for lunch so he could go out and expend some energy.”

She jumped up and ran to where she’d thrown the ball last. She liked to get some excess energy out of him before she brought him to the office. If she was out running around or in meetings, she kept the puppy home, but she’d be in the office all afternoon today.

She was jogging around the yard barefoot since she’d kicked her shoes off once her mischievous pup took off on her.

What she hadn’t expected to do was step in something warm and squishy and then slip and right herself.

She swore loudly. “Are you okay?” the male voice asked.

“Yes,” she said. “I just slipped in his most recent deposit on my lawn. I wasn’t thinking.” She was good about picking it up as it occurred, but everything was happening so fast that she didn’t stop to get the shovel.

It’s not like she thought the pup would dash under her damn deck.

There was silence on the other end and the typing stopped. “I’ll omit that part from the report.”

“Thank you for that,” she said drily.

“Help is two minutes out,” he said.

“Great,” she said. “I’ve got the toy.” She dashed back to the opening in the deck making sure she sidestepped the pile of shit she’d stepped in moments ago and tried not to gag that every step pushed more stink between her toes.

She was squeaking the ball as she ran so she was positive the guy on the other end could figure that out himself.

“Good,” the man said. “Now just calmly call his name while you squeeze it. If you’re in a panic he will be too. Dogs can sense that.”

“So I’m learning,” she mumbled. “Mr. Franklin. Come get your toy. That’s it, come get it.” She kept repeating the same thing again and again as calmly as she could, but it wasn’t working. “Mr. Franklin!”

“Yelling won’t help,” the man said. “Keep trying to engage in a playful voice.”

She knew her face turned bright red. She felt the heat of it. Who was this guy? “I wasn’t snapping at him,” she said. “I was swearing. You wouldn’t understand.”

There was more silence on the other end. “You’re doing well, Kelsey. Not much longer. Help is rounding the corner now.”

“At least they don’t have their sirens on,” she said. It was the last thing she needed. Not that she was positive any of her neighbors were home, but the fewer witnesses to this the better.

“No,” the man said. “No reason to scare your pup anymore than he is.”

“But it’s okay to scare me,” she said. She was still squeaking the toy and calling her dog, but it wasn’t helping.

“Help should be on the scene now. Do you hear anyone?”

“Yes,” she said. “I hear voices over a radio and a car door. We’ll be good now. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Kelsey. Hope your pup is okay.”

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