Page 32 of Goalie Interference

She shook her head. “That’s not going to do it. I have an idea—you got a few minutes?”

“Sure.”

She disappeared through the door and was back shortly accompanied by an older man with glasses, a receding hairline, and a permanent frown on his face. He was holding the leash of a boxer mix. The dog looked pleased with whatever was going on while the man appeared to resent all of us.

“This is Howie, one of our volunteers. Howie, this is…” She looked to me to fill in the gap.

“Remy.”

“Remy’s dog is a rescue and needs help socializing. You two can walk Bob and Beast together and help them get along.”

Beast had been growling since the boxer showed up, but he was still pressed against my leg. I wasn’t sure if he was protecting or being protected. Bob sat with his tongue lolling out.

“Why am I doing this?” Howie grumbled.

The shelter woman crossed her arms. “Bob needs a walk. Remy’s dog is a rescue and we like to help rescues, right?”

Howie grunted and Beast growled.

“I don’t want to put anyone out—” Howie obviously didn’t want to do this.

“Nonsense. We’re here for the animals. Go, walk.”

Howie grunted again and headed for the door, Bob standing up and walking beside him.

“Ready, Beast?” He wasn’t, but I had a lot of weight on him so he had to follow us out.

Howie didn’t wait for us, so I stretched my legs to catch up. I had to be in better shape, and he wasn’t going to leave me behind. Beast scrambled to keep up. Bob looked over at us, as if to welcome us along, but Howie ignored everyone.

“Have you volunteered here long?”

He turned and glared at me without responding. Okay, no talking. I was happy with that. Better than struggling with an awkward conversation. Instead, I kept my attention on the dogs. Beast kept as much distance as he could between Bob and himself. But as the walk went on, and Bob stopped to pee on some bushes, Beast watched and then promptly peed on the same spot. After a couple of blocks, Beast was no longer pulling at the leash to get away from the other animal.

They weren’t buddies at the end of the walk, just like Howie and I weren’t, but Bob was ignoring Beast, and Beast was tolerating the other dog.

The woman came out of the back again when we returned.

“How did it go?” Howie pushed past her to return Bob. She sighed. “Howie is great with the animals but hates people.”

“I appreciate that he took the time. Beast and Bob aren’t friends, but Beast stopped growling at him, so that was an improvement.”

She nodded, pleased to have her idea confirmed.

“You don’t board animals, do you?”

She shook her head. “No. We’re as full as we can be with animals we’ve rescued.”

“I had to ask. I travel for work, and Beast sometimes needs a place.”

“We can’t help with that, unfortunately, but you’re welcome to come and join some of the dog walks. Or if Beast gets comfortable, take some of the dogs to join the two of you on a walk.”

Would that work? Maybe if Beast was exposed to a lot of dogs who weren’t on the other side of a fence, he’d learn to get along. Worst case, Beast and I got some more exercise, and so did the rescue animals. “Thanks. I’ll do that. My hours are a little wonky, but I’ll come when I can.”

She gave me a card and told me to call whenever I was free to see if there was a walk we could join. I made a note of the name. I wasn’t as well off as a lot of hockey players, but I could throw some money at this place.

About an hour had passed, and Beast was flagging. He’d gulped down more water at the shelter, so I found a bench and spent half an hour watching people while I considered what to do.

My coach wasn’t happy with me living so close to his ex-wife. I should look for another rental somewhere. But the team had found this spot, and while the property was ginormous, it was also safe. I didn’t know the city, and didn’t know where I should look.

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