Page 11 of Pick Yourself Up
He made her feel safe.
She grabbed her purse and locked up the car, then laid her hand on Boomer’s head. “Okay. This is a safe place, Boomer. It might even be home. Heel.”
They walked toward the second farmhouse, the one Knox had chosen for their living spaces. It was newer than the one at the front and had more recent renovations.
Boomer stayed to her left and matched her pace. His ears and eyes constantly checked the environment, searching for threats and learning the area.
As she walked, she kept her hand in Boomer’s fur, anchoring herself. He was used to her quirks and had quickly attuned himself to her moods. Worth every penny she’d paid. Boomer wasn’t only a pet, but a fully trained protection dog.
Plus, he was fun with a silly side when he wasn’t on duty. Adopting the German shepherd had been the smartest move she’d ever made.
She hoped coming to the apple farm would be another good one.
Amber knocked at the farmhouse, but no one answered. She didn’t even try the door. While her name was on the deed along with her siblings, this wasn’t her place. She wouldn’t intrude without an invitation.
“What do you think, Boomer? This place is enormous. Almost four hundred acres.” She laughed. “I don’t even know what that means in real size. I just know it’s big. How do we find four people out there? Or should we wait on the porch and enjoy the peace along with the view?”
She could also text either Knox or Jolie, but she wanted to surprise them.
Boomer gave a soft woof and nudged her hand, his signal to tell her he’d spotted something, and he wasn’t sure of the reaction she wanted.
“Smart dog, Boomer. I’m guessing it’s a friend, but let’s wait until we’re sure.”
Her heart rate rocketed as her gaze followed Boomer’s to the trees. Within moments, she heard another bark. One that sounded happy. Then Jolie’s laugh.
Relief shot through her, and she was glad her sister couldn’t see her tension. “It’s okay, Boomer. They’re friends.”
Then she remembered her training. “Boomer. Friends. Free.” Using the free command let the shepherd know he was off duty and that she knew there were no threats in the area.
The well-trained animal shifted out of his alert mode, but he continued to watch the orchard with curiosity.
An Australian shepherd loped out of the trees, ears flapping and tongue lolling. Hemsworth. The dog Jolie and Ford had adopted to help with the ducks. She’d met him on video chat, but didn’t know if the dog would remember her.
Boomer tilted his head and checked Amber’s face before barking and wagging his tail in welcome.
“Hemsworth. Wait.” The deep voice belonged to Ford. She knew they would have heard Boomer’s bark.
With the recent attack on the farm, she realized they would all be prepared for the worst. She should have texted after all.
Instead, she called out. “It’s okay, Jolie. Just me.”
She heard her sister’s squeal before she spotted her running through the trees. Jolie’s bright yellow sweatshirt, sporting a happy mermaid, had Amber smiling and running to meet her sister halfway.
Boomer loped along beside her. She wondered what the dog was thinking because he’d never seen Amber relaxed and happy before.
She smiled at her dog. “Boomer. Friends. The very best kind of friends.”
Jolie squealed again and threw her arms around Amber. “You’re here. You’re here. I’m so happy.”
The hard hug had tears threatening, and Amber tried to blink them back. Then she realized they were happy tears, and she didn’t have to hide them.
“I’m so happy to be here, Joles.”
Jolie squeezed her again. “Sounds like there’s a story behind that wobbly voice. Are you okay? Did anything happen? When did you get here?”
Ford’s chuckle reached her ears. “Let the woman breathe, Jolie. And let me have a turn.”
Then she was surrounded by Ford’s strong arms. She’d met the man who was head over heels for her sister on those video chats, but this was their first in-person meeting.
