Page 116 of Shadow Redemption

Ben and Yoda looked at each other. “Maybe,” Ben muttered. “Can he travel?”

“He’ll need to be checked by a vet in another two weeks to see if his leg has healed enough to remove the cast. Other than that, he’s in good shape. Do you know of someone who will take him?”

“Depends.” He wanted Yoda, but his job demanded that he travel. He’d need help caring for the Westie. “I need to talk to Ruth first.”

A slow smile spread across the vet’s face. “I’ll get her.”

Two minutes later, Ruth walked in with a small plate of brownies and a glass of ice water in her hands. Her mouth dropped open. “Who is this?”

Ben drew in a breath and dove in, feet first. “His name is Yoda and he needs a home. I want him but I’ll need someone to watch him when I’m on deployment. If I don’t take him, he’ll go to dog jail.”

She set the plate and water on a rolling table away from the dog’s reach. “Are you asking if I mind helping with Yoda?”

“He’s a good boy and nobody deserves to be a prisoner.”

Ruth reached out her hand for Yoda to sniff. She smiled when he licked her fingers. “He’s a sweetheart. I’ll be happy to help with him.”

Relief flooded Ben. “Thank you, sunshine. Where are your last two photoshoots?”

“Orange Beach, Alabama, and Gatlinburg, both places we can drive to and find a hotel that is pet friendly.”

He scratched between Yoda’s ears. “You hear that, boy? No dog jail for you. You’ve got a home now.”

Yoda barked.

Ben chuckled. “Now all we have to do is convince Sorenson to spring me from jail and we’ll go home with the most beautiful woman in the world.” He looked at Ruth, sobering. “Are you sure you don’t mind sharing responsibility for this little guy?”

“I’m sure.” She bent and kissed Ben. “He makes you happy. How can I say no?”

“I don’t deserve you, Ruth, but I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you don’t regret taking us both on.”

He glanced at the door as Sorenson returned. “Yoda has a home with me, Doc. Now, when can we go home?”

Sorenson grinned. “Tonight. I want to watch both of you for a few more hours. I’m releasing you into Sam’s care. You do everything she says to the letter or I’ll have Maddox ship you and Yoda back here. Clear?”

“As crystal.”

When the sun went down, Sorenson checked both Ben and the dog one more time. “You aren’t to go on a mission for at least four more weeks, Martin. My prescription for you is to relax, eat, and sleep as much as you can for the next two weeks. Give your body a chance to heal. After that, light workouts for a week before you ramp up the activity level the fourth week. Spend some time with your dog and your woman.”

Ben threaded his fingers through Ruth’s. “That’s an order I’ll be happy to obey.”

“Good. Now, get out of here. I don’t want to see you back in here as a patient for a long time. If I do, I won’t be nearly as nice as I’ve been this time.” Sorensen squeezed Ruth’s shoulder. “Take care of yourself, Ruth. You have my number if you need to talk.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

After Sorenson left, Ben bent and captured Ruth’s mouth in a long, deep kiss. When he came up for air, he smiled. “Come on. Let’s get Yoda and Mom and go home.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Christmas Eve. Tonight was the night. Ben reached for the box with a trembling hand. Scowling, he shoved the box into his pocket, and glanced down at Yoda. “You ready?”

The Westie barked.

Ben grinned as he clipped the red leash onto Yoda’s matching collar and led the dog out to the SUV. Six long months he’d waited to give both himself and Ruth time to work through the trauma they’d suffered in the Eden compound. He didn’t want to wait another day.

As he drove toward Ruth’s house, Ben placed a call to Otter Creek to the one man he trusted to give him unbiased advice.

“Lang.”

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