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Chapter One
A gun fired.
He leapt in front of his former partner, hoping to deflect the bullet from the crazy woman, whose eyes were filled with hate.
He fell to the ground with a thud.
Staring up into the sky, he saw the blue quickly fading to a dark gray.
Then everything went black.
“Am I dead?”
Jaris Simmons’s arms and legs got tangled up in his sheets, forcing him back into the consciousness of the darkness that had been his reality since the shooting.
He took a deep, calming breath and swung his legs off the bed. Sugar, his service dog and companion, nuzzled his leg.
Though his heart was still pounding hard in his chest, he patted Sugar on the head. “It’s all right, girl. Just a bad dream.”
He’d never felt so close to any animal as he felt to her. Before Sugar, the only pet he’d ever had in his life was a turtle when he was a kid. Having lost his vision prior to getting Sugar, he’d never seen what his dog looked like. But he’d been told she was a black German shepherd with one tiny white spot just above her chest.
The door to his room squeaked softly.
“Everything okay?” The question came from a man whose voice Jaris knew better than any other and who had taught him how to adapt and accept his blindness.
Chance Reynolds. They’d only known each other for a little over a year, but even so Chance was most definitely his best friend in the world.
“I’m fine. Sorry if I woke you, buddy.”
“It was Annie who heard you. I was in a deep sleep.”
Annie was Chance’s service dog of many years.
Jaris and Chance had been living at the Boys Ranch, a home for orphans, for a few months. The Stone family had built the place and the good that they did here was impressive. Everyone in Destiny, Colorado, supported the orphan boys with open arms. He liked the town, which was like no other place he’d ever been to. Though he missed his job as a detective back in Chicago, what he and Chance accomplished here with the boys was extremely rewarding. Those little cowboys were helping train Kaylyn Anderson’s service dogs. Although Kaylyn loved singing, everyone knew her first priority was her dog training school.
He’d gotten Sugar after she’d graduated from Kaylyn’s rigorous instructions. Annie, too, had come from Kaylyn.
Kaylyn and Chance had been working together for years. His friend trained blind individuals and Kaylyn provided each of Chance’s students with a service dog. Chance had lived in Denver for many years, but had recently moved to Destiny with Jaris to start working side by side with Kaylyn. The last several months had been some of the best of his life, working with Chance, the dogs, the little cowboys, but especially Kaylyn.
Kaylyn. Why can’t I get her out of my mind? Because of her amazing, caring heart and infectious laugh, not to mention her incredible singing voice. Whenever Jaris heard her sing with Wolfe Mayhem, Mitchell Wolfe’s band, he would’ve sworn he was hearing an angel.
He was certain she was beautiful. He’d learned that Kaylyn had long blonde hair and gray eyes after hearing her mother, Betty, bragging about her.
God, if he could get one look at Kaylyn, it would mean the world to him.
Didn’t matter. It could never be anything but friendship between them. Nothing more. It was clear to him that she and Chance belonged together. What was holding them back from one another? He still didn’t know but was determined to find out.
“Annie, go say good morning to your sister.”
Jaris could hear the shuffling of Chance’s service dog moving next to Sugar. The two dogs were good together.
“Was it the dream about the shooting again?” Chance asked.
He nodded, but knowing his friend had been blind since birth, added, “Yep.”
“Damn, Jaris. That’s three times this week.” Chance sat on the mattress next to him. “Won’t you please go talk to Patrick O’Leary about this?”
“No psychiatrists. It’ll pass. Besides, when would I have time? Kaylyn has us on a tight schedule.” He didn’t mind. There were four blind teenagers around the country anxiously waiting to get their service dogs from Kaylyn’s school. The work they were all doing was important.
Chance stood. “You’re right about us not having much time. Rex, King, and Blue are close to being ready, but Rosie still needs a little more training since we started with her later.”
“Yes, but I’m sure she’ll be ready before their new owners arrive. Lyle’s been working extra with her.” Lyle Barker started working for Kaylyn when he was in high school. Lyle was a good man and clearly someone she felt responsible for.
“Glad he’s on our team, but it’s still quite the task we have since the whole town has got dragon fever.”
“Even Kaylyn is burning up with it.” Jaris stood, grabbing Sugar’s leash. “She’s going to be busy with the festivities. I think her band is performing several times during the week.”
