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“Have you considered getting another dog?” Vivian asked as she watched the two of them intently.
He looked at Otis apologetically. “I’m not ready yet.” His voice held the quiet pain of loss that I understood all too well. “I-I should be on my way.” He motioned toward the van.
“I’ll drop by in a few days,” she said.
“Anytime.”
It took an effort to get Otis to resume our walk, and when we did, he headed back toward the rescue. Sadie seemed to like the idea, joining him. We all followed at a leisurely pace.
“We’re going to get them all homes. At the event,” Vivian said with determination.
That feeling I had when I left the dogs at the track back in Virginia filled me. Like someone had tied a rope around my chest . . . and then stepped on it.
I wanted these dogs to have the homes they deserved. That was what Miss Adeline and I did. But because we were so small—or maybe I just got too attached—every single dog that came through our doors was more than someone else to be rescued.
I’d grown particularly fond of the motley crew we had now. We were a family. All of us. And the thought of Sadie not being around to announce meal time . . .
I had a serious problem.Stop being so selfish.
Vivian absolutely would find adopters for all of the dogs. I had no doubt. And I had a few weeks to come to terms with Grey Paws being empty . . . until the next dog needed to be rescued.
Chapter Thirteen
Teague
“You havea lot of nerve showing up here.”
It wasn’t the greeting from Miss Adeline I expected, but it could’ve been worse.
She sat behind the reception desk, phone in one hand, petting someone I couldn’t see with the other.
“But I brought dinner.” I held up two bags containing chili, homemade cornbread, and salad.
“A day too late,” she muttered slamming down the phone. “Pepper!” she yelled. “We gotta roll.”
“What did you—” Pepper halted in the doorway to the back, breathless and red-faced. Her ponytail was lopsided and there were the customary paw prints on her overalls. She looked exhausted . . . and beautiful.
Her gaze was glacial, though it didn’t stay on me long. It warmed infinitely when it landed on Miss Adeline.
“That was a track in Jersey. We get four of their dogs today or—” I’d never heard that hard edge to her voice before. Even the less-than-friendly greeting had nothing on that.
“I’ll make sure the van’s ready.” Pepper jumped into action.
“I’m coming with you,” I said. It was as if the alarm at the station had gone off, and my brain shifted into automatic. “May I put this in your fridge?” I held up the bags.
A curt nod and a wave of her hand toward the stairs was all I got. I raced to their apartment and didn’t think twice about barging right inside.
Even in my hurry, I noticed it was much the same as it was the last time I’d been there. Tidy, except for a few dishes in the sink, books on the table, and dog toys scattered on the floor.
The refrigerator was packed, but I managed to make room, shoving the whole bag onto a shelf.
In seconds, I slammed their front door and flew back down the stairs, ignoring the soreness in my abs.
Pepper stuffed a pack of hot dogs in a cooler with determination.
“What can I grab?”
She pointed to a bag next to her without a word. Beef jerky was on top of whatever else was inside.
