Emmi took a deep breath. “All right, but I’m not letting you go out there by yourself.”
“Okay.” Anna slipped on her gloves and patted Nia. “Ready, girl?”
Nia wagged her tail.
As they left the barn, cold air stung Anna’s face. She squeezed the harness handle, attempting to suppress the trepidation building in her chest. As she approached Fleck and Waldemar—their backs to Anna—she overheard their vigorous conversation.
“Gunda doesn’t care much for Max,” Waldemar said.
Fleck crossed his arms. “Why is that?”
“With all due respect, sir, I don’t think Max is capable of bonding with a shepherd.”
Anna’s blood pressure rose. She slowed her pace and glanced to Max, who was taking a break with the other veterans and trainers who were huddled near a grouping of birch trees.
Fleck stroked his mustache. “What is your recommendation?”
Waldemar glanced to Max and lowered his voice. “Send him home. There are blind veterans who are more deserving of a guide dog.”
Oh, no.Anna’s mouth turned dry.
Fleck paused, grinding the heel of a boot into the snow. “Let’s give him one more chance with Elfriede.”
“Herr Fleck,” Anna said, interrupting.
Fleck turned and frowned. “Where’s Elfriede?”
“Her toenail got stuck between the boards leading to the back door of the barn,” Anna said.
“She lost an entire toenail, sir,” Emmi said, stepping forward. “Exposed nerves are quite painful. It’ll be several days before she can train in the ice and snow.”
“Damn it,” Fleck grumbled. He looked at Nia. “Why did you bring her?”
Anna swallowed. “I thought that you’d need another dog.”
Fleck lit a cigarette. He took a drag and blew smoke through his nostrils.
Anna, attempting to maintain her confidence, stroked Nia. Through the corner of her eyes, she saw Max leave the group and walk, tapping his cane, toward them.
“All right,” Fleck said.
Anna’s heart leaped.
Waldemar furrowed his brow. “But Nia is lame. She’ll be limping within an hour of training.”
“Excuse me, sir,” Max said, shuffling toward their voices. “I’ve been practicing with Nia in the evenings, and I’d like to give her a try on the obstacle course.”
Waldemar glared at him.
Max stopped near Fleck. “Nia’s limp doesn’t bother me. I’m a bit slow myself; I sometimes get winded.” He tapped his cane to his chest. “Gas, you know.”
“Ja,” Fleck said. He puffed his cigarette and looked at Waldemar. “Give Nia a go.”
“Sir,” Waldemar said. “I, as well as the other trainers, have spent little time with Nia. She has not been properly instructed. It’d be better to try again with Gunda.”
“But you just told me that Gunda wasn’t working out,” Fleck said, his voice impatient.
Waldemar’s face turned red.
