Page 8 of Banshee
Tucker whined but didn’t move. Banshee looked at the dog, his hands on his hips.
“Tucker, Mom!” he said more firmly. Tucker whined again but slinked back to Maureen and laid at her feet. His head rested on the floor between his front paws, and he continued to whine.
“What the hell is going on?” King barked.
Banshee walked toward our table, ignoring King, and the new dog followed.
Squatting down in front of me, he said, “Baby girl, this is Diesel. He’s Tucker’s brother.” Banshee looked at the dog and then hitched his chin toward me, and Diesel moved closer, nuzzling his nose under my hand.
Then he walked away without another word.
King hollered, “What the fuck is going on? When did we become a fucking animal rescue?”
“Calm down, little brother,” the sheriff admonished. “Maybe now I can keep my woman at home in the morning.”
“Declan!” Maureen smacked his stomach.
“I’m sorry, Sheriff. I didn’t mean—”
The sheriff held his hand up, cutting me off. “That wasn’t directed at you, Aspen. I’m just busting his balls. He needs to loosen up.”
“Don’t worry, Aspen. I’ll still be here in the mornings.” Maureen winked. “Especially now, so Tucker can play with his brother.”
“TWO DOGGIES!” Charlie came screaming into the room, and my heart jumped into my throat as both dogs ran toward her.
“Can I have a doggie, Daddy? Please?” Charlie was on the floor with the dogs, who both rolled around on their backs in front of her.
“Banshee, what the fuck, man?”
“Charlie, we talked about this. No dogs until the house is done,” Sam reminded her.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, the new dog is for Aspen. He’ll be living here in the clubhouse.” Banshee winked at the little girl, and she ran over and hugged him.
“Thank you, Uncle Banshee.”
Banshee lifted the little girl up in the air, and she laughed. I watched him in awe, a small smile tugging at my lips. He would make a wonderful father. I sat up straight. Where the hell had that thought come from? I shook the thought from my head; it didn’t belong there.
The world around me fell away as I concentrated on the dog Banshee got for me. He was so sweet, just like his brother.
“Are you ready for your session?” Haizley asked.
Stocks walked by our table, and Diesel growled. He made me uncomfortable, but I wasn’t sure why. He’d never said anything inappropriate. He barely even looked in my direction, but still it was there, and Diesel must have felt it.
“Could we maybe skip this morning’s session? I think I’d like to try to take a walk outside by myself. Well, with Diesel. Is that okay?”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Haizley smiled.
“But could you sit outside while I do? Maybe read a book or something? Just in case.”
She reached over and took my hand. “Of course. How about you sit here with Diesel, and I will run upstairs and grab my book?”
As soon as Haizley came back, we walked outside. She sat in a chair and opened her book, while I took a walk. Diesel stayed in step with me. I didn’t venture far, but for the first time in almost two weeks, I felt like maybe I was getting my life back.
And it was all because of Banshee.
Chapter Three
Aspen
