“Yes, she is an old girl, but a little bit of help from you might just brighten her spirits.”
Lyle knelt beside them and glanced down at Dolly's beloved toy poodle, who was resting quietly on a small bed just off to the side, her grizzled frame nestled among piled-up blankets. He reached down, placing a hand gently over Pixie’s body, knowing she was a source of comfort for Dolly.
“How long has Pixie been with you, Grandma?”
“Oh, since she was just a bundle of fur, bouncing everywhere. People say she could live up to fifteen years, maybe longer. But I swear, she thinks she’s the queen of the world.”
“Sounds like she has some good company, then,” Lyle said, giving her an encouraging nod. He could feel Dolly absorbing the warmth of the family around her, could see how Charlotte’s laughter melted away months of sorrow.
“Do you want to help?" he asked Charlotte. "We need to make sure Pixie gets her vitamins and check that her legs don’t hurt too much.”
“Sure!”
Lyle made room for Charlotte beside him. “Just remember, we need to be gentle and careful. Pixie may be a little cranky today.”
"Let me get Pudge so she can watch, too." She dashed across the room where the kitten was investigating a basket of yarn.
Dolly watched with love and sadness, her soft gaze catching Lyle’s. “Thank you for being here, Lyle. I think Charlotte is just what I needed to brighten my spirit.” Her voice lowered, even though Charlotte was out of ear-shot, having chased Pudge into the kitchen. “Jeff was smart to put his trust in you, and you are an amazing man for keeping your word. She seems to be thriving."
"Charlotte gives as much to us—my brothers and me—as we do to her. I promised you when Jeff died that she'll have all the love and support she needs. I don't know a lot about raising a little girl, but we seem to be doing okay. She'll never want for anything, that's for sure."
"I trust you with my granddaughter, Lyle. I truly do. And it gives me ease. I hate that I can't care for her myself."
"I understand that, Dolly, and it's not your fault. Charlotte knows you love her."
Charlotte ran back into the room with Pudge and showed her to Pixie, keeping a respectful distance so as not to upset the little dog. "See? She'll help you too," she assured the dog.
Lyle examined Pixie, then went back out to the truck and retrieved some supplements and a couple of injections he'd give the poodle in the meantime.
"I'm leaving these with you, Dolly." he said, handing her the supplements. Give her one of these each day and it should help with her arthritis. I'm going to give her a shot of vitamin C and B12 that should perk her up a little bit."
"You're a good boy, Lyle. I appreciate your help."
"I'm happy to give Pixie a little relief."
"You know, I didn't make it to church last week, but Lila Stevens told me you were sitting with Heather Prescott."
Lyle glanced up, but before he could answer, Charlotte piped up. "Miss Heather took us on a date to church."
Dolly raised a brow and Lyle ducked his head. "That's not entirely the case," Lyle said.
"But you said so, Uncle Lyle."
Kids were very literal sometimes.
"She's a nice girl," Dolly said. "Very sweet. Folks have speculated that her marriage was a bad one. That's a shame."
Lyle's head jerked up. He hadn't realized folks were speculating about Heather.
And he hadn't realized she'd been married.
That was a major piece of information he probably should have known. Why hadn't Frank said anything to him? Or why hadn’t Heather said anything, for that matter. Not that the subject had come up. She'd left Bear Valley in her college years. Lyle had spent eight years in the Marines. By the time she'd come back to Texas, he had moved to Montana. So, their paths hadn't exactly crossed in a good many years. Still, learning she'd been married bothered him for no good reason.
"Well," he said when his composure returned. "I guess I hadn't heard any of that talk."
"I believe it was a while ago. Frank mentioned it to me last year after Heather came home. She’s pretty much kept to herself and no one seems to know any details.”
“That’s odd in a small town.” Everyone knew everyone else’s business. Except Heather’s, apparently.
