Page 54 of Promise Keeper

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Friday came around again and the J.A. Longo & Friends tent came down and went in the trash. Not only had the identity been discovered of the man whose bones been found, but so had his killer.

Chalk another one up for the Metamora Action Agency.

"They're back," Ben said, in an ominous tone hearing the barking at the door.

Liam skidding down the hall to the front door and I followed.

Gus, Colby, and Jack were back home, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Would my pack of dogs be the wild, crazy fuzzballs I'd grown to love, or would they be behaved and calm and unrecognizable other than their coats?

I opened the door feeling nervous about what I'd find on the other side. The three of them sat on the porch. A quiver passed through them and their tails whacked back and forth. Liam ran out and circled them, barking and snapping at them to play. Gus raised himself a few inches and Quinn, standing on the sidewalk behind them, said, "Stay."

Gus sat back down and stayed, ignoring Liam.

"Hi Cam," Quinn said. "When I release them they'll probably rush at you. All you have to do is tell them to settle down. You should have a treat and lead them to a place where you want them to relax."

"Okay. Let me get a treat." I hurried past Ben drinking coffee and reading the paper at the table to the pantry and came back to find the trio right where I left them.

"Ready?" Quinn asked.

"Ready."

"Guys,break," he said.

My boys jumped up and darted toward me, their whole hind ends wagging. I knelt down and grabbed them in my arms giving them hugs and kisses. "I missed you guys! Liam missed you, and Ben and Mia missed you, too."

They began to get a little rowdy, jumping up with their paws on me.

"Cam, the command," Quinn said.

"Right." I stood up straight and said, "Settle down." I showed them the treats and led them down the hall into the family room where I gave them each a Carrot Cake Canine Cookie. They each found a spot and ate their goody.

"That's amazing," I said, turning to Quinn. Ben stood beside him observing.

"It's unbelievable," Ben said, shaking Quinn's hand. "First Brutus, and now these three."

"They're good dogs, smart and eager to please."

"If you say so," Ben said, laughing. "Can I get you some coffee?"

"That would be great, thanks."

I watched my transformed dogs, wondering if I'd miss their old ways. Liam wasn't sure what to do. He ran from one of them to the next touching noses and sniffing them all over to make sure they weren't body doubles and actually his big brothers.

The phone rang and Ben answered. "Hi, Mom," he said, and took the phone into the dining room.

"Is Monica at Dog Diggity?" I asked Quinn.

"Yeah, I'm going to meet her there. I have something to ask you."

"Okay."

"Do you think it's too soon to propose? I know Monica and I only met six months ago, but in that six months everything has changed for me. I'd planned on going back to Ireland and now I own a business here and run it with the love of my life. I can't see living without her now."

My chest swelled and my eyes watered with tears. I'd been a fan of Quinn Kelly since the day Monica and I met him by the canal with his dog, Conan. I saw how my sister was instantly drawn to him. When they're together, they were a team. It was clear they were meant to be. "No, I don't think it's too soon. I think it's just right." I couldn't hold myself back and dashed forward to give him a hug. At the last minute I thought maybe he'd command me to settle down. Luckily, he didn't.

"Cam," Ben said, coming back into the kitchen. "My mom wants to talk to you."

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