Page 15 of No Man Left Behind

The dog peeked around the sofa at her, his green eyes unusual enough to have her itching for her comic strip tools. When she smiled at the dog and held out her hand, he trotted over to sniff her. He checked her eyes again and then moved closer to let her pet him. “What’s this guy’s name?”

Carl held up his kitten. “They didn’t have names. Someone found them on the road. That big guy was curled up around the kittens, keeping them safe. Kimi says he’s likely a Great Dane with a few other breeds mixed in. He’s just a puppy himself, but he took care of his tiny friends.”

Elina had never owned a dog, but she’d been around plenty of animals in her travels. This guy’s eyes showed he’d seen some things. “You’re a handsome boy, aren’t you?”

The dog shimmied closer and laid his head on her lap, making them all smile.

Jim stroked the kittens he held. “We were just talking names when you came in. Although if they get adopted, the owners might want new ones.”

Carl shook his head. “Not if we pick awesome names. Then they’ll keep them. What do you think, Elina? Any suggestions?”

She studied the dog, who stared right back at her. “Naming is a serious business. What do you think, boy? Any preferences? You’re obviously caring if you looked after the kittens, but you’re also a big, strong boy. What name would reflect both of those sides of you?”

Carl sighed. “Maybe after a strong dad figure from a movie or TV show? Nina tends to use cartoons when she names them.”

“I met Nina at the Saloon as well. She’s awesome.”

Jim nodded. “She’s a great kid. So, which fictional dads impress you, Elina?”

She hadn’t spent much of her childhood in front of a screen. In most of the places she’d lived, they didn’t have electricity, so she knew little about TV or movie characters. But she’d read a lot. “One of my favorite fictional dads is Atticus Finch.”

Both men nodded, and Carl spoke. “To Kill A Mockingbird. Great book and a great man. So, does your friend here like the name Atticus? Or Finch?”

“What do you think? Would you like to be Atticus?” The dog continued to stare at her but didn’t so much as blink. “What about Finch?”

He raised his head, and his tongue shot out to lick his lips, making the three humans laugh.

She stroked his big head. If he was a puppy still, he was likely to grow even bigger. “A finch is a pretty small bird. You’re going to be a pretty big finch.”

He sat up tall like he was showing just how big and strong he was.

“Good boy, Finch. You’re such a good dog.”

Finch wiggled his butt and moved even closer for more pets.

Jim lifted one of the kittens. “Looks like Finch is a winner. What do you think about being Scout, little lady?”

The little black and white kitten didn’t object.

Carl stroked the grey kitten. “You can be Jem, and this little black one can be Boo. That work for everyone?”

The three kittens barely opened their eyes, but Elina figured they would be happy with their names as long as they continued to be safe and protected.

Carl turned to her. “Now, tell us how you’re connected to Kimi and Marcus.”

She’d known they wouldn’t forget. She doubted these two forgot much. “I didn’t know Kimi at all before today. But I met Marcus and the other men on his military team years ago when I was working in an Afghan village as a teacher.”

Both men gaped at her, making her smile. “My parents worked in small villages and communities around the world, digging wells, building houses, and helping people learn to read and write. It was all I’d known, so I did it on my own for a few years.” She didn’t add that her parents had died in a plane crash, and she hadn’t known what else to do.

The men shared a look, and Jim spoke. “Impressive.”

She shrugged that off. “Not really. It was what I knew how to do. The kids loved to learn.”

Jim nodded. “Most kids do. But most people don’t go halfway around the world to help. Is that why you came to Phail? To see Marcus and the rest?”

“I didn’t know they were here until today.”

Carl studied her. “But something triggered in your brain when you saw the name Phail on the map?”

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