Riley by Susan Hughes Page B

opened the kennel door, reached in, and scooped up Riley. She stood, pressing the golden retriever pup close to her.
    Oh, she felt as soft as she looked! Kat breathed in the lovely puppy smell.
    Riley looked up at Kat, her eyes sparkling. Most of her body was a beautiful light-gold color. Her hair was fluffy, like feathers. She had a little black nose and dark-brown eyes.
    â€œHere you go, Maya,” Kat said, setting the puppy carefully into her friend’s waiting arms.
    â€œRiley! Nice to meet you, girl,” said Maya gently. She stroked the puppy’s soft, golden fur. “You are such a good girl.”
    Riley licked Maya’s hands. The puppy began to wiggle and squirm. She was so happy to have company. And now she wanted to play!
    â€œOkay, Riley,” said Kat. “Let’s go outside!”
    Kat gathered up some chew toys and dog biscuits and led Maya and Riley out into the sunny backyard. The yard was covered in grass, and there were trees along one side. A chain-link fence went all the way around.
    â€œHere you go, Riley,” said Maya, setting her down. For a moment the puppy just sat, looking and listening, her ears turning this way and that. Then she bounded off across the lawn, her tail high.

    Riley sniffed the bottom of one tree, investigating all the way around it. Then she raced off to another tree and did the same thing. Suddenly she barked with her paws stretched out in front and her hind end up. She was excited by something in the dirt.
    â€œWhat is it, girl?” asked Kat.
    The girls raced over to look.
    â€œAnts!” cried Maya, laughing. “Black ants!”
    Riley barked and barked, wagging her tail, backing away from the insects.
    â€œYou are so brave and fierce,” Kat teased the puppy.
    â€œThank you for protecting us,” added Maya.
    Riley chased a bird and tumbled into a small flower bed. She scratched an itch on her side with her rear paw and fell over. She found a stick and chewed it. She was so busy!
    â€œOkay, let’s play ball!” suggested Kat. She threw a ball across the yard. Riley raced after it and chomped it.
    â€œNow bring it here,” called Maya, but Riley wouldn’t. She stood watching the girls, wagging her tail. Kat went over to take the ball from her mouth, but Riley thought it was part of the game and raced away. The girls laughed.
    â€œOkay, I have an idea,” said Kat. She had another ball with her. She threw it down to the other end of the yard. Riley galloped to it and dropped the ball in her mouth. She picked up the new one. When Kat went and picked up the first ball, Riley didn’t mind. She just wagged her tail, waiting for more fun. And when Kat threw it, Riley dropped the second ball and raced to pick up the first one.
    â€œWell, this will work for now!” said Maya. The girls took turns throwing the balls for Riley, over and over again.
    Finally, the puppy seemed to tire.
    â€œTime for your lessons,” Kat announced. She snapped the leash onto Riley’s bright-red collar. She and Maya practiced sit and lie down with Riley. They rewarded her with dog biscuits when she did what she was asked. They also worked on asking her to come . If she didn’t head toward them when they called, they pulled gently on the leash, drawing Riley to them. When she was close, they praised her and petted her.
    When Aunt Jenn came to the door to call them in, it seemed far too soon. “Did it go all right?” she asked. “Will we see you tomorrow?”
    â€œWe’ll be here,” Kat said happily.
    Nothing would keep her and Maya away!

“Come on, Kat!” Aidan called. “You’re so slow. We’ll be late.”
    Kat hurried to catch up with her brother.
    She was old enough to walk by herself now, but they still walked to school together every day. They didn’t really talk much. Aidan was always listening to his music. But Kat didn’t mind. Somehow it was just a nice