safe inside the move theater. I shouldn’t have called her to come get me.
Swallowing, Luke focused on the present. Willajean and Megan had moved away as if they sensed he needed some space. Odd how he could be having a great day, and then… wham ! A memory or guilt would ruin it.
Okay that’s enough. He concentrated on the puppies. The black-collared pup was a chubby male. He liked to barrel through his littermates, using his weight to push them aside.
Luke smiled as the perfect name came to him. “Hurricane.”
During the afternoon, families arrived to pick up their new puppies. After each pup left, Willajean disappeared into the house and only returned when the next car drove down the driveway.
Willajean greeted the last customer with a red nose and blotchy skin.
“Is your mom sick?” Luke asked Megan.
“No. Mom’s upset to see the puppies go. I’m not. They almost destroyed the sunroom last night, and I’m tired of cleaning up after them.”
Luke understood both of them. He’d miss them all, but a part of him agreed with Megan. The litter had been a handful, and now he could concentrate all his attention on Lightning.
After the last customer left, Willajean moved Lightning and Hurricane into the big crate next to Lance so they wouldn’t be lonely.
As they prepared the food for the next day, another car crunched along the drive. Willajean hurried out. Soon voices approached the kennel. Luke and Megan exchanged a concerned look when Willajean entered with a scowling man.
“I’m sorry about the mix-up, Rodney. I had you down for one of Sweetie’s pups. You can have the puppy I saved for myself.” Willajean picked up Hurricane. “He’s a—”
“I don’t want a male. I specifically requested a female so I can breed her. The creases in Rodney’s face deepened.
Oh no . Luke clutched his hands together. Willajean had promised this man a papillon, and the only female left was Lightning. His good mood fled in an instant.
“I’m really sorry. You can have pick of my next litter. Sweetie—”
“I want a pup from Lady. She has excellent markings.” Rodney stabbed a finger at Lightning. “What about this one? Is it a female?”
A numb horror washed over Luke. No way Willajean would upset a paying customer.
“She’s sold to someone else.” Willajean kept her gaze on Rodney.
“Can you see if your other customer will wait for a pup from Sweetie? I paid top dollar for this dog, and I’ve a timeline of my own, you know.”
A painful knot gripped Luke’s stomach. The last thing he wanted was to lose Lightning, but Willajean had been so nice to him, and she’d done so much for him. She needed his help this time. He couldn’t be selfish.
Could he?
CHAPTER 11
The Boy Whose Mother Died
“Take her,” Luke said to Rodney. “I can wait for the next litter.” His heart shattered.
“No,” Willajean said. “I’ve first pick of Robert Crick’s litter.” Before Rodney could protest, she held up a hand. “The stud’s the same one I used for Lady, and the mother is Crimson Ivy of Hundred Acre Kennels. You can have that pup. The litter will be ready next week.”
Luke gaped at Willajean. He opened his mouth to object, but the words caught in his throat.
“Crimson Ivy? She won best in breed at Westminster.” Rodney’s face smoothed, and his blue eyes glowed. “Are you sure?”
“Quite certain. Do we have a deal?”
“Of course.” Rodney pumped Willajean’s hand. With a smile and wave he left the kennel.
“But, Willajean…” Completely at a loss, Luke spread his hands.
“Lightning is your puppy. I promised you first. Besides, I made the mistake. You shouldn’t suffer because of it.”
Yeah, but people suffered all the time over other people’s mistakes. His dad and brothers hurt because of him. And his mom—
Willajean returned Hurricane to the crate and headed for the house. Luke let Lightning out. He gave the little dog a quick hug.
“Wow, Luke, that was really
Swallowing, Luke focused on the present. Willajean and Megan had moved away as if they sensed he needed some space. Odd how he could be having a great day, and then… wham ! A memory or guilt would ruin it.
Okay that’s enough. He concentrated on the puppies. The black-collared pup was a chubby male. He liked to barrel through his littermates, using his weight to push them aside.
Luke smiled as the perfect name came to him. “Hurricane.”
During the afternoon, families arrived to pick up their new puppies. After each pup left, Willajean disappeared into the house and only returned when the next car drove down the driveway.
Willajean greeted the last customer with a red nose and blotchy skin.
“Is your mom sick?” Luke asked Megan.
“No. Mom’s upset to see the puppies go. I’m not. They almost destroyed the sunroom last night, and I’m tired of cleaning up after them.”
Luke understood both of them. He’d miss them all, but a part of him agreed with Megan. The litter had been a handful, and now he could concentrate all his attention on Lightning.
After the last customer left, Willajean moved Lightning and Hurricane into the big crate next to Lance so they wouldn’t be lonely.
As they prepared the food for the next day, another car crunched along the drive. Willajean hurried out. Soon voices approached the kennel. Luke and Megan exchanged a concerned look when Willajean entered with a scowling man.
“I’m sorry about the mix-up, Rodney. I had you down for one of Sweetie’s pups. You can have the puppy I saved for myself.” Willajean picked up Hurricane. “He’s a—”
“I don’t want a male. I specifically requested a female so I can breed her. The creases in Rodney’s face deepened.
Oh no . Luke clutched his hands together. Willajean had promised this man a papillon, and the only female left was Lightning. His good mood fled in an instant.
“I’m really sorry. You can have pick of my next litter. Sweetie—”
“I want a pup from Lady. She has excellent markings.” Rodney stabbed a finger at Lightning. “What about this one? Is it a female?”
A numb horror washed over Luke. No way Willajean would upset a paying customer.
“She’s sold to someone else.” Willajean kept her gaze on Rodney.
“Can you see if your other customer will wait for a pup from Sweetie? I paid top dollar for this dog, and I’ve a timeline of my own, you know.”
A painful knot gripped Luke’s stomach. The last thing he wanted was to lose Lightning, but Willajean had been so nice to him, and she’d done so much for him. She needed his help this time. He couldn’t be selfish.
Could he?
CHAPTER 11
The Boy Whose Mother Died
“Take her,” Luke said to Rodney. “I can wait for the next litter.” His heart shattered.
“No,” Willajean said. “I’ve first pick of Robert Crick’s litter.” Before Rodney could protest, she held up a hand. “The stud’s the same one I used for Lady, and the mother is Crimson Ivy of Hundred Acre Kennels. You can have that pup. The litter will be ready next week.”
Luke gaped at Willajean. He opened his mouth to object, but the words caught in his throat.
“Crimson Ivy? She won best in breed at Westminster.” Rodney’s face smoothed, and his blue eyes glowed. “Are you sure?”
“Quite certain. Do we have a deal?”
“Of course.” Rodney pumped Willajean’s hand. With a smile and wave he left the kennel.
“But, Willajean…” Completely at a loss, Luke spread his hands.
“Lightning is your puppy. I promised you first. Besides, I made the mistake. You shouldn’t suffer because of it.”
Yeah, but people suffered all the time over other people’s mistakes. His dad and brothers hurt because of him. And his mom—
Willajean returned Hurricane to the crate and headed for the house. Luke let Lightning out. He gave the little dog a quick hug.
“Wow, Luke, that was really
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