Page 13 of Rescue Them

“Cool.”Lyle hurried back to the desk as the phone rang.

“He has a ton of energy,” Mitchell commented.

“Yeah, he does.But a lot of the time I think he doesn’t know quite what to do with it.He works a lot, and now he takes care of the dogs.But other than that, there isn’t a lot in his life.So he gets excited about answering phones at a dog shelter.”And yet, James kept watching him.Lyle seemed happy, and he liked that he had some part in that.

He and Mitchell finished the health checks as people began to arrive.Saturday afternoons were usually busy at the shelter.People spent their day out, and they either called or stopped in.James swept up the floor and cleaned out some of the enclosures while Mitchell showed people around and worked with Lyle to get forms filled out.

Rags did indeed find his forever home, as did two more of their dogs.Part of James hated to see the enclosures empty.But he cleaned them out and sanitized them because they wouldn’t be empty for long.With as many dogs as they found homes for, there were always more who needed their help.

Once he was finished with the empty enclosures, he found Lyle out front saying goodbye to a huge mastiff mix.Lyle stroked his head and leaned close.James wasn’t sure what Lyle said, but he got a lick in return before the dog bounded into the back seat of an SUV, and then Lyle stepped back and watched as the family drove away.

“What a sweetheart,” Lyle said.“He was huge, though.”

“Yes, he was.His old family found he was too much for them, but I think they’re all going to be happy.”

“IT WASgreat today,” Lyle enthused as they left the shelter.He had helped with the adoption of four dogs and was so excited he practically bounced in his seat.“Is it always like that?”

“No.You did great today.Getting four dogs adopted was a big deal.The shelter was starting to get really full, and now there’s room for when the next dogs need help.”

“Cool.Are you hungry?We could get something to eat.”He checked the time on his phone.“Maybe not.I should get home and make sure my own dogs are okay.”

“That’s cool.I don’t really need to eat right now.”He had plenty of work to do, but he didn’t mention it to Lyle.Still, it had been a nice day.He drove through town and eventually pulled into the parking space in front of Lyle’s.

Lyle got out, and as much as James wanted to go inside with him, he hesitated.Then he grabbed his bag and followed him inside.The dogs were going wild and swarmed around them with happiness.Lyle took them down the stairs and let them out in their play area.James peered down the stairs at Lyle in the chair, watching as they played.Then James sat on the living room sofa, pulled out one of his books, and sat down to read.There was always a ton to do, and he made plenty of notes to review for later as he read.

When Lyle came upstairs with the dogs, they all came over for pets, but James was deep in thought, and they were hungry, so they followed Lyle into the kitchen.Lyle returned and sat across from him, picking up a book of his own, and soon they both had a dog in their lap and another behind them.

“I never thought about trying to work with a dog on my lap,” James said.

“I can call them to get down,” Lyle offered.

James shook his head.“No.They’re fine.I have another hour of work and then I can be done for the day.I just need to get this reading finished.”It was funny, because there were hours of just reading and taking in new information.Yes, he had write-ups and papers that were due, but the reading was almost oppressive just by sheer volume.Still, he was determined to keep up with it.

“Then maybe I can get a start on something to eat while you work.”Lyle took the dogs with him, leaving James alone.He immediately missed the warmth and companionship and was tempted to join them in the kitchen.But instead he just got back to work.

An hour later, James finished his reading and set the book aside.Blinking, he went in search of Lyle and found him downstairs, sitting in a chair, reading while the dogs lay in the dappled shade outside the door.

“You’re done,” Lyle said with a smile and James came over, kissing him lightly.The dogs began barking and growling.“I wonder what that’s about?”

James was curious as well, and he went to check on the dogs, who were all lined up against the one side, closest to Corky’s, tails still.“It looks like Debbie is at her mother’s.The lower door is open and she’s carrying a box out and back to her car.”

“Come on, guys,” Lyle said, whistling softly.The dogs all moved inside, and he closed the door.“I don’t know what she’ll do, but I wouldn’t put anything past her.”He locked it and then motioned to the stairs.“I need to finish up warming up the sauce.”He climbed the stairs and James followed, enjoying the view.

Lyle stopped at the top, turning back.“Are you looking at my butt?”

James shrugged.“What if I was?”

Lyle snickered and continued up.James closed the basement door and grabbed another book from the living room before following Lyle to the kitchen.He sat at the table and started reading about torts.It was boring as all hell.But Lyle was there, and every now and then he’d stop what he was doing to lightly touch his shoulder.It was comforting and it made him feel less alone in his head.

“Mushrooms?”Lyle asked.

James shivered.“No thanks.Never liked them.”He could make jokes about not eating fungus, but figured that wasn’t exactly nice, and Lyle was being good to him.“Drove my mother crazy.She used to go out and hunt her own mushrooms.Then she’d come home with her prizes, though I’d never touch them.”

“It’s fine.I can take them or leave them, but my father wanted the damned things in everything, so I had to get used to them.”He put the pasta in a large pot of water and got the sauce going on the stove.“I made the sauce a few weeks ago and put servings in the freezer for later.I love my own sauce, but it’s always too much, so I freeze some.”

He set about making a salad and brought it to the table.James continued reading until the food was ready.Then he set everything aside, and Lyle joined him, the dogs all at their feet.

“This is amazing,” James said after the first bite.“You made it yourself?”