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“I’ve got it. You can take the early shift tomorrow.”
She scowled. “I always get the early shift. It’s like you think old people are up before the sun.”
“Youareup before the sun.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
She shook her finger at me. “I can’t wait until you’re my age.”
“Me neither. Then I can say what I want, when I want, without worrying what anybody else thinks.”
She stroked the closest dog. “You should do that anyway.”
* * *
“You givethe term ‘piss like a race horse’ new meaning.”
I nearly dropped the shampoo bottle at Teague’s words.
“Except you’re a dog, not a horse.” He scratched behind Muffy’s ears.
I always found it fascinating how quickly people started talking to dogs in real speak. Like we expected them to answer. They did seem to understand a lot more than they received credit for.
Red crept up Teague’s neck when he caught me eavesdropping. “Think that’s everyone. No cold walk for you tonight.”
If he hadn’t been here, this would’ve been an even longer night. I’d only bathed three dogs so far and now that they had figured out what was happening, they were becoming a bit uncooperative.
“Thanks.” I’d never been great at expressing my feelings. That word wasn’t enough for how overwhelmed with gratitude I was for all he’d done, but it was the best I could come up with.
He set Muffy free, who ran directly over to me.
“You want a bath?”
He sat at my feet, that tail dragging across like a windshield wiper at full speed.
“We gotta get these guys clean first. How about tomorrow?” I bent to kiss the top of his head and his tail wagged faster. He put a paw on my thigh. I shook it. “Deal. For now, you can supervise.”
This seemed to make him inordinately happy. He inspected the dog in the wash station as if checking my work.
I toweled off the wet dog and let him go before I found the next willing participant. She hesitantly allowed me to lead her to the wash station, her legs shaking violently.
I scratched behind her ears and Muffy licked her foot as if comforting her. He was such a gentle soul.
“It’s okay, sweet girl. This is going to feel good.” I turned on the water and let her get used to it running out of the nozzle.
Warmth hit my back. I jumped.
“You rinse, I’ll scrub?” The deep voice in my ear sent a tremor through me.
“I’ve got it,” I argued half-heartedly. “I’m sure you have things to do. And it’s late.”
Excuse after excuse fell out of my mouth. I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to take the out or stay.
He swiped the shampoo bottle and squirted some in his palm.
Teague was staying.
And I was relieved.
I rinsed the dog, and he began lathering her up.
