Page 25 of Brian and Cora (The Bachelors of Three Bend Lake #2)

T he sound of barking preceded Hank's arrival, and Brian couldn't help the anticipation rising in his stomach and the smile that spread across his face.

Even with Jewel still perched contentedly on Cora's lap and Torin watching with bemused tolerance, the prospect of reuniting with Sassy Girl lifted his spirits in a way that surprised him, and he didn’t try to hide his response.

The door burst open, and Hank stumbled inside, barely managing to keep hold of the leather lead as the brown-and-tan puppy, wearing a new leather collar, dragged him forward. “Whoa there, Sassy Girl”

The dog's entire body wiggled with excitement, her tail wagging so hard Brian half expected it to fly off—just as he remembered from the Harvest Festival.

"Just a minute, Sass!" Hank laughed. "I told her we were coming to see you, and she seemed to understand. She pulled like a sled dog all the way here."

If not for the leash restraining her, Sassy Girl would have bounded straight for Brian.

“Stop her, Hank,” Cora commanded, lifting Jewel off her lap and angling her toward Torin. “She’s going to need to be gentle near Brian.” She hurried to the side of the chair, as if to use her body to shield his wounded leg.

A few feet away from Brian, Hank knelt down, holding the puppy.

Her tail smacked his head, knocking off his hat.

Laughing, he ran his arm across the front of her chest to hold her in place, and, with his other hand, pressed her hindquarters down. “Sit, Sassy Girl.”

She obeyed but kept trying to bounce up.

Grinning, Brian held out a hand for her to sniff. “It’s me, girl. Remember me?”

She seemed to calm, licking his hand.

“Let her go, Hank.” Brian widened his legs as far as possible in the chair, making larger lap space. It hurt to move, but not quite as much as in the previous days.

Cora crouched at the corner of the chair, as if to block the dog. “Not a good idea, Brian.”

Hank loosened the rope, but Sassy Girl pulled away from him.

Brian barely had time to brace himself before she launched into his lap, avoiding landing on his injury only by dint of Cora leaning over to shield his leg.

Her pink tongue swiped his face with enthusiastic kisses while her paws scrambled for purchase on his chest.

Cora started giggling, trying to keep Sassy Girl’s tail from hitting her face and her paws away from Brian’s bad leg.

"Easy, girl," Brian said through his laughter, inhaling puppy breath and gently pushing her face away while scratching behind her ears. "I missed you too." He wrapped his arms around her, enduring some more tongue swipes.

Cora, seeming to feel his leg was safe, rocked back and stood, moving to her chair to sit. “Whew!”

Jewel squealed with delight from Torin's lap, clapping her hands together. "Pup-ee! Pup-ee!"

"That's right, Sugar Princess." Brian fondled the puppy’s ears. "This is Sassy Girl. Let’s give her a few minutes to settle down, and then you can meet her." He continued stroking the dog and murmuring softly what a good girl she was.

The child waited patiently, practically vibrating with excitement.

Torin ran a hand over his daughter’s tousled hair. “Jewel’s never seen a dog before. I tried to prepare her for what to expect last night after Hank stopped by to tell me about Sassy Girl. Pointed out a drawing of a dog in one of her picture books. But I don’t think she grasped the reality.”

Cora looked at the three men. “No dogs? Among any of you? That’s a crime against men and animals.” She smiled at Jewel. “And children. My childhood dog was the love of my life.”

Brian’s ears pricked. Sounds like she doesn’t have a suitor waiting for her. He caught himself and squashed his curiosity. Why should I care?

When Sassy Girl calmed, Brian placed her on the floor and continued to lean and hold her in place. The movements stretched at his healing wound. But the pain couldn’t compare to the joy of reuniting with his puppy.

Torin let Jewel slide off his lap and approach. But the stiffness of his body showed the effort it cost him to let her go alone.

The girl moved forward slowly, one hand extended, her expression serious with concentration.

"Gently, sweetheart," Torin instructed, shifting his chair closer to supervise.

Brian caught Sassy Girl's collar. "Sit," he commanded, pressing gently on her hindquarters. The puppy's bottom touched the floor for exactly one second before she bounced up again, tail still wagging furiously.

"She needs work on that command," Hank observed dryly, swiping his hat off the floor and rising to his feet. He went over to the hat rack and deposited his Stetson next to Brian’s.

"You think?" Brian tried again. "Sit, Sass."

This time she managed three seconds before wiggling free to sniff Jewel, who giggled when the wet nose tickled her hands.

Brian rubbed the collar with his thumb. “Who’s responsible for this?”

“Constance,” Hank said, holding up a hand to stop Brian in case he protested. “She said it was her pleasure. Apparently, the dog kept her and Elsie busy, which was good for keeping up the ladies’ spirits while we were gone.” He smiled at the puppy. “Didn’t you, good girl? Made the ladies laugh.”

"Speaking of puppies," Brian said, glancing at Torin while still keeping one hand on Sassy Girl, "the man I bought her from—Helmut Junger—has more from the litter. Said he'd save a gentle one for Jewel if you're interested."

Torin's face transformed, the wariness he’d displayed around Cora lifting. With an indulgent expression, he watched his daughter carefully pet the puppy. "Jewel would love one."

Cora bent over to let Sassy Girl sniff her hand, before petting the puppy’s head. “I think the responsibility of looking after her own dog will be good for Jewel.”

Torin’s smile said he agreed.

While his nurse’s attention was on the dog, Brian leaned back and secretly massaged the muscles around his injury. "Junger lives close to Morgan's Crossing. But he said he'd send the pup with El Davis, the teamster, once you let him know."

"How much?"

Brian waved his hand dismissively. "Deputy Redwolf paid a dollar each for his two, setting the going rate. Junger suggested the same amount for me."

"A dollar?" Torin's eyebrows rose. "For a puppy that could grow into a fine tracker? With Jewel escaping me twice in these last few months, that price sounds like a bargain."

"The man has more dogs than he knows what to do with," Brian said. "All his neighbors already have one from previous litters."

“I’ll have to pay El Davis, too.” Torin looked at Hank. “That is if you’re willing to meet the teamster in town and transport a puppy up the mountain.”

“No problem.” Hank turned one of the chairs at the table around and straddled it. “I’ll just prevail on Dr. Angus to organize another visit in his surrey. He’ll probably jump at the invitation to check on you, Brian, and bring the ladies to visit.”

Brian made an exaggerated mock grimace, and the others laughed.

Jewel settled cross-legged on the floor, coaxing Sassy Girl into her lap.

The dog sprawled across her legs, finally calm, while the child stroked her back with careful, reverent touches, whispering something Brian couldn't quite hear.

"Well, that settles it," Torin said, his voice rough with emotion. "How do I reach this Junger?"

"Post a letter to Morgan's Crossing," Hank said. "He picks up mail there monthly."

"I'll write today. You can take it when next you ride down to town." Torin's smile was genuine now, the shadows seemingly banished from his eyes. "Though I suspect I'll have a mutiny on my hands when we have to leave this one behind."

"Jewel can visit Sassy Girl any time," Brian said. "In fact, I insist on it. Someone needs to teach this beast some manners."

"Beast?" Cora laughed. "She's adorable. Hardly a beast."

"Adorably destructive," Hank corrected, stretching out one foot. "I had to rescue this boot from her this morning."

"Already developing expensive tastes," Brian said. "Next she'll be demanding velvet curtains."

Cora's eyes danced with mischief. "Brown velvet, to match her eyes and yours." She leaned to scratch the dog’s back. “What do you think about doilies, Sassy Girl? Does the house need a few more?”

"Don't encourage her," Brian growled, but without real heat.

"Too late," Torin said. "I can already see Jewel decorating a dog bed with tassels and lace."

"Heaven help us all," Brian muttered. He kept a straight face, lest he appear cheerful. He hadn’t quite forgotten how irked he felt about the changes to his house and having a pretty nurse foisted on him.

Cora’s laugh drew his gaze to her. Her face was alive, her expressive eyes sparkling. He quickly looked away. You’re only drawn to her because you haven’t spent time with a lovely woman in years.

They spent the next while attempting to teach Sassy Girl to sit on command, with varying degrees of success. The puppy would sit for Jewel longer than anyone else. Even then her bottom barely touched the floor before bouncing up again.

"Papa," Jewel said, looking up with pleading eyes. "Pup-ee come home?"

"Not this puppy, sweetheart. But we'll get you your very own. Would you like that?"

Her face lit up. "Yes! Yes! Jewel's pup-ee!"

"That's right. Now, give Sassy Girl one more pet. We need to go home to eat. We skipped breakfast, remember?"

"Nooo," Jewel wailed, clutching the puppy tighter.

Sassy Girl licked her cheek.

“Yes,” her father said in a rare moment of firmness.

Reluctance written all over her face, Jewel gave Sassy Girl one last hug. She whispered something in the puppy's ear that made the dog's tail wag harder and reluctantly stood.

"Bye-bye, Sas-ee," she said solemnly, waving. "Bye-bye, Bry-an. Bye-bye, Cor-a."

Torin, smiling, held out a hand for Jewel to take.

"Goodbye, sweetheart," Cora said warmly. "Come back soon." She trailed them to the door and stood in the doorway to wave them off.

After they left, the cabin seemed suddenly quiet except for Sassy Girl's panting as she plopped down to curl up at Brian's feet.