Page 45 of Brian and Cora
Hank loosened the rope, but Sassy Girl pulled away from him.
Brian barely had time to brace himself before she launched into his lap, avoiding landing on his injury only by dint of Cora leaning over to shield his leg.
Her pink tongue swiped his face with enthusiastic kisses while her paws scrambled for purchase on his chest.
Cora started giggling, trying to keep Sassy Girl’s tail from hitting her face and her paws away from Brian’s bad leg.
"Easy, girl," Brian said through his laughter, inhaling puppy breath and gently pushing her face away while scratching behind her ears. "I missed you too." He wrapped his arms around her, enduring some more tongue swipes.
Cora, seeming to feel his leg was safe, rocked back and stood, moving to her chair to sit. “Whew!”
Jewel squealed with delight from Torin's lap, clapping her hands together. "Pup-ee! Pup-ee!"
"That's right, Sugar Princess." Brian fondled the puppy’s ears. "This is Sassy Girl. Let’s give her a few minutes to settle down, and then you can meet her." He continued stroking the dog and murmuring softly what a good girl she was.
The child waited patiently, practically vibrating with excitement.
Torin ran a hand over his daughter’s tousled hair. “Jewel’s never seen a dog before. I tried to prepare her for what to expect last night after Hank stopped by to tell me about Sassy Girl. Pointed out a drawing of a dog in one of her picture books. But I don’t think she grasped the reality.”
Cora looked at the three men. “No dogs? Among any of you? That’s a crime against men and animals.” She smiled at Jewel. “And children. My childhood dog was the love of my life.”
Brian’s ears pricked. Sounds like she doesn’t have a suitor waiting for her. He caught himself and squashed his curiosity. Why should I care?
When Sassy Girl calmed, Brian placed her on the floor and continued to lean and hold her in place. The movements stretched at his healing wound. But the pain couldn’t compare to the joy of reuniting with his puppy.
Torin let Jewel slide off his lap and approach. But the stiffness of his body showed the effort it cost him to let her go alone.
The girl moved forward slowly, one hand extended, her expression serious with concentration.
"Gently, sweetheart," Torin instructed, shifting his chair closer to supervise.
Brian caught Sassy Girl's collar. "Sit," he commanded, pressing gently on her hindquarters. The puppy's bottom touched the floor for exactly one second before she bounced up again, tail still wagging furiously.
"She needs work on that command," Hank observed dryly, swiping his hat off the floor and rising to his feet. He went over to the hat rack and deposited his Stetson next to Brian’s.
"You think?" Brian tried again. "Sit, Sass."
This time she managed three seconds before wiggling free to sniff Jewel, who giggled when the wet nose tickled her hands.
Brian rubbed the collar with his thumb. “Who’s responsible for this?”
“Constance,” Hank said, holding up a hand to stop Brian in case he protested. “She said it was her pleasure. Apparently, the dog kept her and Elsie busy, which was good for keeping up the ladies’ spirits while we were gone.” He smiled at the puppy. “Didn’t you, good girl? Made the ladies laugh.”
"Speaking of puppies," Brian said, glancing at Torin while still keeping one hand on Sassy Girl, "the man I bought her from—Helmut Junger—has more from the litter. Said he'd save a gentle one for Jewel if you're interested."
Torin's face transformed, the wariness he’d displayed around Cora lifting. With an indulgent expression, he watched his daughter carefully pet the puppy. "Jewel would love one."
Cora bent over to let Sassy Girl sniff her hand, before petting the puppy’s head. “I think the responsibility of looking after her own dog will be good for Jewel.”
Torin’s smile said he agreed.
While his nurse’s attention was on the dog, Brian leaned back and secretly massaged the muscles around his injury. "Junger lives close to Morgan's Crossing. But he said he'd send the pup with El Davis, the teamster, once you let him know."
"How much?"
Brian waved his hand dismissively. "Deputy Redwolf paid a dollar each for his two, setting the going rate. Junger suggested the same amount for me."
"A dollar?" Torin's eyebrows rose. "For a puppy that could grow into a fine tracker? With Jewel escaping me twice in these last few months, that price sounds like a bargain."
