Blue Ribbon Trail Ride by Miralee Ferrell Page A

Want to take a walk or go play?” She felt terrible promising something she wouldn’t follow through with, since Rufus loved walks and knew exactly what she meant when she said it. She’d have to take him out later after her barn chores were finished. But that didn’t matter now. She entered the quiet barn and whistled. “Rufus? Here, boy!” A horse nickered farther down the alleyway, but no dog barked or rushed out to greet her.
    Tori and Melissa could be heard on the far side of the barn, calling Rufus and whistling. Her mom’s strained voice came from outside, somewhere in the neighborhood of the outdoor arena where they’d been headed. Still no sound of her dog’s answering bark.
    She jogged through the barn, even opening the office and tack-room doors, since Rufus liked to sleep on the cool floors when it was too hot outside. She wondered if anyone had thought to check in the house. But no, he would have scented Mouse and rushed him as soon as they opened the door.
    Suddenly Colt’s whistle and loud shout came from where they’d left him with Pete, Jake, and Mouse. She clenched her hands and ran, praying the whole way she wouldn’t arrive to a find a dogfight starting. “Please, God. Don’t let Rufus or Mouse or Pete or anyone get hurt. Please, God, protect everyone.”
    She rounded the corner and almost collided with her mother, who’d skidded to a stop just a stride ahead. Kate grabbed her mom’s arm to keep from knocking her over or falling herself. Her breath came in pants. “What’s going on? Where’s Rufus?”
    Mom pointed, one hand shaking and the other covering her mouth. “Oh my. I never thought I’d see the day.”
    Kate stared where she pointed. There stood Mouse, leaning over and slobbering on Rufus, who lay on his back, paws in the air and squirming all over as if he’d just been given the best present in the world. He raised his head and licked Mouse across the face, in spite of the drool dripping from the big dog’s jaws. Mouse seemed to grin all over, and he planted his foot on Rufus’s belly and leaned down to lick him back.
    Kate watched the dogs for a minute, then turned her gaze on Colt. “They’re friends?” The last word came out with a squeak. “How did that happen? Why isn’t Rufus fighting him?”
    He shrugged. “I have no idea. I saw Rufus coming at a run from the corner of the house. None of you went that direction. I leaned over to pick Pete up, and he wrapped his arms around Mouse’s neck so tight that I couldn’t get him loose. He kept saying ‘my friend, my friend’ over and over. Rufus slammed to a stop a yard away and growled, then took a look at Pete hugging Mouse and rolled onto his back. Pete let go of Mouse, and the two dogs have been having a lickfest ever since.”
    Kate’s mom grabbed Pete’s hand to pull him toward her, but he jerked it loose and shook his head. He knelt by the dogs and put one hand on each of their heads and smiled.
    â€œI can’t believe it.” She knelt beside Pete. “Honey, these two dogs don’t know each other. Kate will tie up Rufus while Mouse is here.”
    â€œNo!” He patted both dogs again. “Mouse is Pete’s friend, Rufus is Pete’s friend. Rufus is Mouse’s friend.” He pointed to the spot beside his leg, then told the big dog, “Sit, Mouse. Come here. Sit.”
    The dog took one step toward him and plunked his bottom down on the exact spot where Pete pointed. Rufus rolled over onto his belly, placed his head on his extended paws, and sighed.
    â€œSee? Mouse and Rufus are good dogs.”
    Kate almost choked over the tears welling in her throat. “Mom?”
    Moisture coated her mother’s cheeks. “I know, honey. I know. It’s the most he’s spoken at once in quite a while. And all because of this dog.”
    Jake moved toward