Page 65 of Saving Veronica
Finn looked at Ronnie in shock when she laughed. “Lorna taught him that weeks ago.”
“Oh.” Finn shook his head and chuckled. “You ready to go?”
“Yes, let me put Captain in his room, and grab my purse.”
“You might want a sweater or something, the temperature is supposed to drop.”
“Oh, thanks.” She hurried away to her room and was back, and smiled seeing her McCaw sitting on Finn’s suit. “Want to help me put him in his room.”
“How do you do that?”
“Come here,” Ronnie crooked her finger at him and he followed. She opened a set of double French doors and invited him to step inside.
“Holy shit,” Finn said, as he stepped into the atrium. The heat was like a tropical jungle. There were several tropical plants and trees. From what he could see from the doorway, the whole room was nothing but windows, and then he smiled when a sprinkler came on. “This is awesome.”
“Thanks, I had it made for Kip when I took over the house a few years ago. After he died, I couldn’t see myself getting rid of it. Then I got Captain, it’s been great.” She giggled and he turned to her and frowned.
“I use this room like you would a kennel for a dog.”
“How so?”
“You know how you put a dog in a kennel when you’re leaving? I put Captain in here. When I’m home, he has use of the whole house, or he can even come in here if he wants. I leave the doors open, but when I go out, I close the doors.”
“Ah, I understand.” He looked around and nodded, then laughed when Captain flew off his shoulder and actually flew around the room, to land on a high branch near the ceiling. That was when Ronnie shooed him out, and closed the doors behind him.
“He’s getting better at it.” She laughed. “I’m ready now.”
“Oh,” Finn said, and couldn’t take his eyes off her beauty. He gave himself a mental slap and pointed for her to go ahead of him. Once at his car, he helped her in, then hurried around to the driver’s side. On the drive to the restaurant, they made small talk, but there was more silence than talk. However, Finn didn’t make Ronnie feel uncomfortable at all. He was a gentleman when they walked into the restaurant and he gave his name. In no time they were settled with menus.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” Finn asked, and she melted because he asked and didn’t assume.
“Thank you for asking, but I’m going to decline tonight. I’m so tired, that I’d probably fall asleep in my entrée.”
“Fair enough,” Finn said, and told the waiter they would like iced tea.
“Thank you,” Ronnie said, as she looked at her menu. Her last relationship was three years ago and the guy she had dated then had been demanding, and if she had told him that she didn’t want any alcohol, he would have berated her in front of everyone. That was another reason she didn’t like suits. He wore one every day, even on his days off. And god forbid he should come out to her farm and hang out with her. They had dated for only six months, and it had been the longest six month in her life. Since breaking up with him, Ronnie had concentrated on her studies, worked with Sarge and Paige, and got a job working weekends at Grady’s. Not once in her relationship with Steve, did he ever want to talk about animals. It was a taboo subject with them.
“Do you know what you would like?” Finn indicated the menu. She told him and when the waiter returned with their drinks, he ordered for the both of them. They settled back and Ronnie was surprised by his first question.
“How was Major’s checkup? Grandpa said it was fine, but was it really?”
“It was. He’s perfectly healthy, and I caught him up on his shots. I didn’t find anything wrong with him.”
“Good.” Finn had a worried look on his face.
“Why?”
“Just wanted to make sure after he was shot in the line of duty.”
“Yeah, I noticed in his records that he was shot three time?”
“So I was told.” Finn settled in and leaned forward in earnest as he continued the conversation. “You see, military dogs are owned by the military and considered ‘military surplus equipment’. For years, when a dog was too stressed or too old to carry on their duties, they were put down, or abandoned.”
“What the hell?” Ronnie asked in outrage. She calmed a little when Finn took her hand in his.
“I know, it pissed me off too. See, when you become a K-9 handler in the military, you are issued a dog right along with your uniforms, gun, boots, vest.”
“Hence the equipment part?”
