Page 48 of Home Changes
“I wouldn’t object in the slightest.” Allison chuckled.
He kissed her once more, then turned her around and gave her backside a playful swat. “Go call the doctor.”
She spun to look at him, eyes dancing. “Tease.”
“Do you want more of that, young lady?” Seth raised a brow.
She laughed and shrugged. “Maybe.” Then Allison winked at him and walked inside, closing the door.
Seth groaned. The woman would be the death of him. He smiled and started whistling on his way down the steps. But, man, what a way to die.
He headed back to the store and sat down on the steps, absently petting Gomer while his father and Delbert talked about nothing and sent chips of wood scattering across the boardwalk. Seth couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but the tone was good-natured. Gomer, content and calm, lay at Seth’s feet, ever the quiet sentinel.
Across the street, Seth spotted a tall blond man walking behind the bakery with a tall woman whose curly blonde hair bounced with every step. He figured that had to be Doc Johnson. Relief settled over him. Allison had followed through. His woman never hesitated when someone needed help. He stopped and smiled at that thought. His woman.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and when he pulled it free, he smiled.
Doc and his wife are here. He’s talking to her now and going to check her out.
Seth tapped a quick reply:
I saw them. Still out here with Chester.
Allison responded with a simple red heart. He smiled and slipped his phone back into his pocket.
A truck rumbled onto Main Street from the highway. Seth vaguely recognized it and watched as it pulled into the garage. Frank Marshall climbed out alongside another man, who Seth didn’t recognize. Together, they wrestled a hydraulic lift from the truck bed. Frank exchanged a few words with his companion, then crossed the street and sank down on the steps beside Seth, his knees propped on his elbows.
“Figured we could talk today if that’s okay with you,” Frank said in a low voice. “John, my ranch manager, is going to stay over there, and I don’t think your father or Delbert can hear us from this distance.”
Seth nodded. “We can do that.”
Frank glanced his way. “I’m going to take your gentleman’s handshake on the fact that you’ll sign anNDA. Don’t have it with me today, but what I’m about to tell you is confidential.”
Seth met his gaze. “Mr. Marshall, I have top secret clearance. It’s still active. If what you’re about to tell me affects national security, you have my word I won’t say a thing.”
“That it does, son. That it does.”
“Then you have my word.” Seth extended his hand, and Frank shook it firmly.
“Guardian Security has a presence on my ranch,” Frank said.
Seth chuckled. “Best kept non-secret in the world.”
Frank pulled a piece of taffy from his shirt pocket, unwrapped it, and offered one to Seth before popping his own into his mouth. Seth accepted the candy with a grin and did the same.
“That being said,” Frank continued, “the powers that be are looking at training dogs to deploy with our teams. Not all the teams. Some are too specialized, but teams working in urban warfare or search and rescue missions. Dogs like yours could change the outcome of an operation.”
Seth nodded. “Early detection saves lives.”
“That’s what I figured.” Frank tilted his headtoward Gomer, who was dozing beside Seth’s boots. “Tell me a little about this one.”
“He’s a tracker and a drug dog. His nose is his superpower.”
Frank chuckled, nodding thoughtfully. “Always wondered how they train for that. Can’t exactly hand him a textbook.”
Seth grinned. “Nope. It starts before they even learn to sit. First thing is selecting the right dog. You need one with drive, confidence, and curiosity. You want a dog that’ll chase a tennis ball through fire and won’t flinch at a gunshot. Focus is essential. Gomer passed all those tests in about twelve weeks. But that initial selection? That’s everything.”
“So, what’s next? Obedience?”
