Page 13 of My Three Hometown Hard Hats

Hadley

Cash stays dutifullyby my side until we turn the corner and the dog park comes into view, and he bounds forward, jerking the leash.

I laugh, quickening my steps. “Calm down, boy. We’re almost there.”

The first time I saw his cute face pressed up against his kennel, I fell in love. I love all the animals at the shelter, but Cash is special.

He’s a Burmese mountain dog/lab mix with way too much energy for his own good. He’s only ten months old, but he’s already huge.

A high-pitched squeal rings through the air, and my head pops up, looking for where the noise came from. A little girl with dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail runs toward us.

“Can I pet him? He’s so cute,” she says, screeching to a stop right in front of us.

Cash starts pulling at the leash to get to her. His head comes up to her chest.

A deep voice shouts from the direction of the playground next to the dog park. “Evelyn, where did you go?”

Austin jogs toward us and crouches beside the little girl.

“Honey, you can’t run off like that. It could be dangerous. You scared me,” he says, gently touching her arm.

“Sorry, Daddy. I just wanted to pet the dog. He’ssoooooocute,” she says, adding extra emphasis with her hands flailing about.

I should have known by the eyes. They’re the same green as Austin’s.

He stands up with his hand still on her shoulder. “Evelyn, this is Hadley. She’s your Uncle Grayson’s sister.”

Her eyes light up. “You know my Uncle Grayson?”

“I do know him,” I say, smiling down at her. “Maybe I can tell you some secrets about him sometime.”

She nods her head frantically. “What’s your dog’s name?”

“He isn’t mine. He’s at the animal shelter right now. His name is Cash.”

“Hi, Cash,” she says, waving at him. His tail whips even faster against my leg. He lets out a whine, wanting to get closer to her.

“Is it okay if I pet him?”

“As long as your dad says it’s okay,” I say, glancing up at Austin.

He nods at his daughter, who doesn’t hesitate a second before reaching her hand out for him to smell. He starts lapping at her hand, which makes her giggle.

Gosh, she’s cute.

She steps forward, and Cash starts kissing her face.

“Sorry,” I say, laughing, as I glance back over at Austin.

He’s beaming down at them. “It’s alright. She’s used to it. We have a chocolate lab at home.”

“Nova is the best,” Evelyn says. “She doesn’t play as much as she used to, though. Do you like to play?” she asks Cash, ruffling his ears.

He lets out a playful bark in response.

“I was going to let him go run around the dog park and get his energy out.”

She turns and looks at her dad with big puppy-dog eyes. “Can I go play with him in there?”