Page 52 of No Man Left Behind

Finch tried to wriggle under the bottom fence rail, but he was too big. Kimi stroked his body. “You’re growing fast, buddy. Here, climb through this part.” She showed him how to get through the middle rails, and he turned to lick her face before prancing off to play with the other dogs.

Kimi rose with a laugh. “We’ll give Garrett some space. Elmo has only been here for a few weeks, and this is his first day out in the paddock with the other horses. He was found on an abandoned farm. Locked in a barn with no food or water. His trust of humans is a little low.”

Elina had to blink back tears. “No kidding. I’m so glad he found his way here, where he’ll have a good life.”

Marcus wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and she leaned into him. Looking around her, it was easy to believe there were more good people in the world than bad. And she was thankful there were people like Marcus who spent their lives helping the good while tossing the bad into cells.

A shiver of delight ran through her as she remembered their conversation from the morning. She was going to move out of the B&B and into his place. She was going to stay and find out exactly how far their relationship could go. Her heart had tumbled into love. Marcus had said he was falling but hadn’t clarified his feelings since. She wasn’t sure if he was thinking about long-term love or if he wanted to get there. But now, they had time to explore their feelings.

Elina was still looking over her shoulder and worrying about someone coming to attack Marcus, but most of the time, she was able to simply live her life.

Like these animals, she had a fresh start in a wonderful place, and she was going to make the most of it.

Chapter17

Moving Day

Elina had learned more about animals in one day than in her entire previous life. Once her parents had left the US, she’d spent time in countless villages. She was used to cows, sheep, goats, and dogs. Horses, too, although they hadn’t been as common.

Kimi and Garrett were amazing. They were doing more for animal welfare than anyone she’d ever met. They were helping people, too. Because no one could visit their properties and see anything other than hope and joy.

Her heart was full when they made their way back to Marcus’s car. Finch yawned with almost every step. “Did you wear yourself out, buddy? You sure had fun with all your friends.”

Marcus nodded. “I can’t believe he made friends with that donkey.”

“I worried Snoops was going to kick him, but that little goat intervened.”

“Therapy goats for animals. I’d have never believed that a few years ago, but between Kimi and Garrett, they’ve got the whole Dr. Doolittle thing going on.”

“Dr. Doolittle?”

They reached the car, and Marcus opened the back door. Finch hopped up, and Marcus attached the dog to his doggie seat belt. “You never experienced Doolittle? It was a movie from when I was a kid. Maybe a book, too. I don’t remember much, but the premise was this guy could talk to animals in their own languages.”

Another one to add to her list. “Because I left the States so early, I never saw many movies or shows. I can’t remember the names of half of the ones I heard about this afternoon.”

He grinned. “That’ll give us something to do in the evenings.”

A happy shiver ran up her spine. Because she’d be living in his home. Sharing a bed. Sharing it all.

Marcus opened her door and held it for her. Before she could sit, he lifted her hand and kissed it. “Want to get your stuff from the B&B, then we can head home?”

Home. What a wonderful word. “That sounds amazing.”

When they entered the B&B, Finch raced toward the living room. His paws scrabbled on the hardwood floors, but he managed to keep from falling as he headed to a box in the corner. At his bark, three sets of kitten ears popped up. Finch buried his face into the box, which was a higher one than she’d seen before.

Marcus’s dry voice made her grin. “I think he missed them.”

Carl moved in from the kitchen. “And they missed him, too. Did you enjoy your day with Kimi and Garrett?”

She laughed. “We didn’t know we were heading there when we left this morning.”

Marcus sighed. “The gossip in this town is ridiculous.”

Carl waggled his eyebrows. “It’s a time-honored tradition for inn-keepers to keep our eyes on the townspeople. We want to ensure everyone stays safe.”

“No one believes that, Carl. You’re all just nosy.”

Carl laughed. “Can’t argue with that.”

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