feeling a need to be petulant, Lainey crossed her arms. “No. Not for them, either.” She nodded at her eager team.
Laughing, Scotch untied a gallon water jug from the ATV. “Boy, do I understand that. But it’s way too hot to give these guys a decent work out. It’ll be better when it snows.”
Lainey narrowed her eyes. The sun filled the small clearing, and she felt a slight haze of sweat on her face, even though she had not done anything. She looked at her team, noting the thick coats, and panting tongues. If she was hot, she could only imagine how they felt; they had done all the work. Grudgingly, she had to agree to the wisdom of stopping.
“You’d better snack them, or you’ll have a riot on your hands.”
That was when she noticed the six pairs of eyes staring at her. Lainey blushed under their scrutiny. ‘sorry, guys. Lost my head for a moment.” She removed her daypack and pulled a large, cold food storage bag from within. Starting with Sholo and Trace, she gave each dog praise, petting, and a healthy chunk of frozen white fish. Kaara waited politely while Bonaparte was served first. Lainey gave her an extra bit to reward her for her patience. Jonah was as exuberant in his snacking as he was in pulling, standing in his harness to accept his treat. In contrast, Aegis daintily took the fish from Lainey’s hand.
“Now we give them a going over to make sure there aren’t any strains or injuries,” Scotch said. “Nothing too extensive; that’s for when you stop for a few hours rest. But if you’re snacking the dogs to take a quick break, you still want to give a cursory examination.”
Lainey nodded, and went back over her team. Again she started with her leaders. She checked the leads from their collars, examined where their harnesses created pressure across their chests, and gave each animal’s shoulders a swift massage. When she was done, she said, “They all look good.”
Scotch grinned. “Yeah, they do.” She shrugged her pack over her shoulders. “Ready for the return trip?”
“I guess so.” Lainey proceeded to pack up.
“Lead the way,” Scotch said. “Just remember to turn left at the trail head.”
Lainey blinked. ‘me?” she asked.
“Well, you’re going to have to learn all these trails before winter hits. Best start now.” Scotch boarded her ATV, looking over her shoulder. “By snowfall, you should know enough about them to gauge how far to travel in your training. You don’t want to over extend your team by going too far too early; it’ll cause injuries.”
Lainey turned to stare at her dogs. Bonaparte was the only one watching her. Kaara watched him, Jonah rolled on the grass, and Aegis was delicately finishing her snack. Trace and Sholo seemed more interested in Scotch’s doings, probably wondering why they were not on her string. They had no idea Lainey was a novice. What would happen if they ever figured it out? A “·¢riot” as Scotch called it?
Bonaparte sniffed and looked away.
Feeling irritated with his canine challenge, Lainey smiled in feral anticipation. No way was she going to let some snotty mutt run the show. With a renewed sense of purpose, she marched up to Sholo and Trace, taking the mainline and bringing the dogs around until they faced back the way they had come. She climbed aboard the ATV, cranking the handlebars to the left as far as they would go. Her team was used to such activity, and seemed ready to move out. Lainey made certain the ATV brake was set, and started the vehicle.
“Ready!”
Trace and Sholo pulled forward, forcing the other dogs to straighten their line. Jonah’s hindquarters flexed as he tried to get them moving by sheer will alone. Kaara gave Bonaparte a quick nuzzle before settling down to business.
Lainey glanced at Scotch, grinning when the woman tipped her baseball cap at her.
“Let’s go!”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“WHAT’RE YOU READING?” Scotch asked.
Lainey sat up from her sprawl across the couch,
Laughing, Scotch untied a gallon water jug from the ATV. “Boy, do I understand that. But it’s way too hot to give these guys a decent work out. It’ll be better when it snows.”
Lainey narrowed her eyes. The sun filled the small clearing, and she felt a slight haze of sweat on her face, even though she had not done anything. She looked at her team, noting the thick coats, and panting tongues. If she was hot, she could only imagine how they felt; they had done all the work. Grudgingly, she had to agree to the wisdom of stopping.
“You’d better snack them, or you’ll have a riot on your hands.”
That was when she noticed the six pairs of eyes staring at her. Lainey blushed under their scrutiny. ‘sorry, guys. Lost my head for a moment.” She removed her daypack and pulled a large, cold food storage bag from within. Starting with Sholo and Trace, she gave each dog praise, petting, and a healthy chunk of frozen white fish. Kaara waited politely while Bonaparte was served first. Lainey gave her an extra bit to reward her for her patience. Jonah was as exuberant in his snacking as he was in pulling, standing in his harness to accept his treat. In contrast, Aegis daintily took the fish from Lainey’s hand.
“Now we give them a going over to make sure there aren’t any strains or injuries,” Scotch said. “Nothing too extensive; that’s for when you stop for a few hours rest. But if you’re snacking the dogs to take a quick break, you still want to give a cursory examination.”
Lainey nodded, and went back over her team. Again she started with her leaders. She checked the leads from their collars, examined where their harnesses created pressure across their chests, and gave each animal’s shoulders a swift massage. When she was done, she said, “They all look good.”
Scotch grinned. “Yeah, they do.” She shrugged her pack over her shoulders. “Ready for the return trip?”
“I guess so.” Lainey proceeded to pack up.
“Lead the way,” Scotch said. “Just remember to turn left at the trail head.”
Lainey blinked. ‘me?” she asked.
“Well, you’re going to have to learn all these trails before winter hits. Best start now.” Scotch boarded her ATV, looking over her shoulder. “By snowfall, you should know enough about them to gauge how far to travel in your training. You don’t want to over extend your team by going too far too early; it’ll cause injuries.”
Lainey turned to stare at her dogs. Bonaparte was the only one watching her. Kaara watched him, Jonah rolled on the grass, and Aegis was delicately finishing her snack. Trace and Sholo seemed more interested in Scotch’s doings, probably wondering why they were not on her string. They had no idea Lainey was a novice. What would happen if they ever figured it out? A “·¢riot” as Scotch called it?
Bonaparte sniffed and looked away.
Feeling irritated with his canine challenge, Lainey smiled in feral anticipation. No way was she going to let some snotty mutt run the show. With a renewed sense of purpose, she marched up to Sholo and Trace, taking the mainline and bringing the dogs around until they faced back the way they had come. She climbed aboard the ATV, cranking the handlebars to the left as far as they would go. Her team was used to such activity, and seemed ready to move out. Lainey made certain the ATV brake was set, and started the vehicle.
“Ready!”
Trace and Sholo pulled forward, forcing the other dogs to straighten their line. Jonah’s hindquarters flexed as he tried to get them moving by sheer will alone. Kaara gave Bonaparte a quick nuzzle before settling down to business.
Lainey glanced at Scotch, grinning when the woman tipped her baseball cap at her.
“Let’s go!”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“WHAT’RE YOU READING?” Scotch asked.
Lainey sat up from her sprawl across the couch,
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