Page 34 of The Cowboy's Ultimatum

“Ah, I see Molly has caught your eye,” Ingrid remarked walking up to her. “Would you like to meet her?”

“Yes, please. What’s her story? And what breed is she? Not that it matters. I’m just curious.”

“We’re not sure. She doesn’t shed and her coat has curl to it so she probably has poodle in her, but I’d say she has several bloodlines. Her owner was an elderly lady who had a stroke and was forced to move in with her daughter who lived in a complex that didn’t allow dogs. What’s even sadder for Molly is that she’d only been with her a short time before it happened.”

“The poor thing.”

“They all have stories, but what’s important is looking forward, not backwards. Every day we see them find their forever homes. Are you ready?”

“Absolutely.”

“She loves to cuddle. She’s quiet at the moment, but she can be very playful. I think she’s just a bit depressed.“

“I don’t blame her,” Helen muttered as Ingrid opened the cage.

“We can go into the inside meeting room. I’m sure Andy has his hands full with Ranger out back, but I’ll let him know where you are.”

A moment later, holding the precious mutt and trying to avoid a barrage of wet kisses across her face, Helen had to fight back a wave of emotion.

“Ingrid, I don’t need to go to that room. She’s coming home with me. Just tell me where to sign.”

* * *

With the paperwork completed, Helen followed Andy and Ranger outside. She was still carrying Molly, and watched in awe as Ranger leap effortlessly into the back of the truck.

“Wow. That dog can jump,” she exclaimed as Andy opened the passenger door for her.

“That’s not all he can do,” Andy replied. “He’s a Belgian Malinois.”

“I thought he was a Shepherd. I’ve never heard of a Belgian Malinois.”

“It’s one of the most athletic dogs in the world and extremely loyal. But they need a ton of exercise. And a job! I’ll have to put some time into trainin’ him, but they’re super smart and they love learnin’ new things.”

“I hope he and Molly will get along. They’re so different.”

“You won’t have to worry about that. Ranger used to come to the ranch all the time and play with Wilbur, and any other hound who happened to be on the property. I wanted to take him when I heard old man Thompson had passed away, but I was told his granddaughter had cleaned out the house and left with him. I wish she’d called me, but I can understand why she didn’t.”

“You can? Was there a problem between you two?”

“Uh, kinda. We went out a couple of times and as nice as she was, we were very different people. I tried to let her down gently but she didn’t take it too well.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Dammit. I hope she didn’t take Ranger just to spite me. That would be—”

“Incredibly unkind to him,” Helen interjected. “But you have him now, and that’s what matters. Are you sure he’s okay in the back of the truck?”

“More than okay. He’s ecstatic. Look at him,” Andy said with a grin, glancing in the rear view mirror. “He’s lovin’ every second.”

As she shifted in her seat to peer around at the truck bed, Molly sat up and looked out the window, panting happily.

“Looks like he’s not the only one,” Andy said with a chuckle. “She sure is cute.”

Helen was overjoyed, and for the remainder of the drive she petted and talked to her new dog. But when they reached the ranch and Andy turned into the driveway, she saw her car.

“Sheriff Cooper had it dropped off for you.”

“Damn,” she muttered. “I just remembered I have to go home. He’s waiting for me with the detective from Dallas.”

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