Page 15 of Bridge to Safety

“Hey.” Shiloh smiled, her purse hanging off one shoulder.

“You look pleased about something.” He grinned.

“I’m going to the shelter to adopt a dog.”

“Oh? Would you like company? Rachel loves that place. We go there on the weekend sometimes so she can play with the animals. I don’t have a dog because of my work hours, so she’d be thrilled.”

Shiloh seemed to hesitate for a moment, then nodded. “If you’re sure it won’t be an inconvenience.”

“Absolutely not. Get in.”

She slid into the front seat as Rachel skipped toward the car. She squealed in delight when he told her where they were going.

“I’m going to come over and play with your dog all the time,” she informed Shiloh as she buckled herself into her booster seat.

Shiloh laughed. “You’re very welcome to play with the dog. I’m sure he or she will need the exercise. Karlie Westbrook came over last night with her dog, and I realized how much company one would give me.” Not to mention protection. She didn’t have to say the real reason. He could guess.

“That’s a great idea. Big or small?”

“Big.” She didn’t hesitate in her answer. “Is the shelter far?”

“About ten minutes. Do you mind if we stop by my place first so I can change?”

“Not at all.”

At the house, he took Rachel’s backpack inside and left the two in the car chattering about different types of dogs. His daughter would be begging for one of her own again, but with the way his schedule changed so often, he didn’t think it fair to leave a dog alone for so long each day, not to mention Alice didn’t like them.

Someday, maybe, he’d give Rachel a pet. For now, she’d have to be satisfied with Shiloh’s. Rowan changed into jeans and a Tee-shirt before returning to the car. He smiled to hear Shiloh’s laughter, the fear and tension gone from her face.

“We’re going to call the dog, Peanut.” Rachel gave a definitive nod.

“For a big dog?” He arched a brow at Shiloh.

“Your daughter is very persuasive.”

“It has to be a brown dog, Daddy, because peanuts are brown.”

“We’ll do our best.” He smiled in the rearview mirror. “I call you peanut. Who’s going to come when I call? Won’t you be confused?”

“No.” She frowned. “I’m a girl, and this will be a dog.”

“Wisely said.” He pulled away from the house and drove to the shelter.

The barking of a choir of dogs reached his ears before he’d opened his car door. “There’s the welcoming committee.”

Inside, they entered the door under a sign that read large breeds. The cacophony of noise hurt his ears.

“This is not going to be easy.” Shiloh peered into the cages. “They all look so sad.”

“Why not check each cage, then go back to see which one seems right for you?”

Shiloh nodded, sadness coating her features. “I can discard any that say not good for children. I want a watchdog, not a beast.” She stopped in front of a cage with the biggest, ugliest dog Rowan had ever seen. The animal’s tail thumped the cement floor. “This one.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. She’s the right color, too.” The sign simply saidmixed breed. “How do you feel about being called Peanut instead of Gracie?”

The dog continued to wag its tail.

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