“Herr Fleck,” Max said. “Anna has been instructing me and Nia on the same techniques used by the trainers. With your permission, I would like to work with Anna on the course.”
Anna’s eyes widened.
Fleck looked at her. “Is this true?”
“Ja,” Anna said. “While doing my duties, I often get a chance to observe the trainers. I merely modeled your techniques with Max and—”
“No wonder he performed poorly,” Waldemar interrupted. “She’s not a trainer, she is an inferior nurse who couldn’t hold her position at the hospital.”
Anna’s skin turned hot. She struggled to hold her tongue.
Fleck flicked ash from his cigarette. “Anna, take Max and Nia onto the course.”
A jolt shot up her spine.
“Sir,” Waldemar said.
Fleck looked at Waldemar. “Rotate in with the other trainers to give them breaks.”
“But—”
“That’s an order,” Fleck said.
Waldemar stuffed his hands into his coat pockets and walked away.
Anna took a deep breath. “Danke.”
“Save your gratitude, Fräulein Zeller,” Fleck said, firmly. “This is temporary, until Elfriede or one of the other shepherds recovers. If you fail to perform to my expectations, I will not hesitate to remove you from the grounds. Do you understand?”
“Of course, sir,” Anna said.
Fleck tossed his cigarette and made his way onto the course.
“What are you waiting for,” Emmi whispered, her eyes beaming. “Get out there.”
Max extended his arm. “Shall we?”
Nia wagged her tail.
Anna guided his hand to the harness. With Nia between them, they walked onto the course. Eyes of the trainers fell upon them. She felt like a stagehand who’d been asked to fill in at the last minute for the leading role of an opera. Her heartbeat pounded in her eardrums. She squeezed the handle of Nia’s harness to keep her hand from shaking.
“Don’t worry,” Max said, as if he could sense her nervousness. “You’ll do great.”
“What makes you so sure?” she asked.
“I’ve worked with every trainer and shepherd at this school.” He nudged her with his elbow. “If I’m honest, you and Nia are the finest duo here.”
Anna’s confidence swelled.
For the next few hours, the trainers worked with the veterans and their dogs. Anna ignored glares from Waldemar and focused on aiding Max and Nia. She dreaded that Fleck might bark orders to perform a task that she was unfamiliar with, but she was relieved to find that she knew most of them. And for the drills that she hadn’t observed, such as maneuvering over a series of uneven log barriers that was recently constructed, Max helped her along by describing what the other trainers had done. By afternoon, Nia began to favor her right front paw and, soon after, she began to limp. Fleck’s glances grew more frequent. Her fear mushroomed. She prayed for Nia to have the stamina to continue working, and that they wouldn’t be dismissed. Hour after hour, they labored on the course until Fleck glanced at his wristwatch and blew his whistle, signaling the end of the day’s training.
Max rubbed Nia’s back. “Well done.”
Nia raised her chin and peered at him.
Anna exhaled, her breath misting in the frigid air. She ruffled Nia’s ears. “You made it.”
* * *
