The Deputy's New Family by Jenna Mindel

up.”
    Nick looked surprised. “You prayed for me?”
    “And Corey.” Beth felt her face flush.
    “That’s good. Keep doing that.” Nick briefly bowed his head before digging into his food.
    Corey wandered into the kitchen with Peanut following him. “Can we keep her, Dad?”
    Nick gave his son and the dog a long look. “First we have to see if anyone claims her. If not, then yes, bud. We’ll keep her.”
    “Yippeeeee.” Corey flew at his dad and hugged him.
    Nick returned it with a fierceness that made Beth’s eyes sting. She got the feeling Corey and his father hadn’t embraced in a while.
    Beth offered up a silent prayer of thanks.
    Funny, but the message from the church service the day before came back with an interesting twist. God answers prayer. He might not give what’s wanted but always delivers what’s needed.
    Nick and Corey needed this little dog.

Chapter Seven
    N ick peeked in on Corey. His boy slept soundly with Peanut snuggled into his armpit. In that moment the dog opened her eyes and looked at Nick as if studying him. She had a pretty black face with a white streak down her nose and small swatches of tan on her cheeks. He might be crazy, but he got the distinct feeling the dog wanted to stay with them. Maybe it was the way the dog had latched on to Corey or the relaxed look on her face as if she’d finally made it home.
    “I’ll do my best to keep you, girl,” Nick whispered.
    That seemed to satisfy the dog. She shifted and snuggled her nose right back into the crook of Corey’s arm.
    He stepped back and closed his son’s bedroom door partway. He couldn’t leave that dog behind tonight at Beth’s. Corey’s eyes had welled with unshed tears and he just couldn’t do it. So into the car Peanut had gone with tail wagging as she settled into his son’s lap for the short ride home.
    Mary had told him that when he dropped Corey off at school, he could also drop Peanut off at her house before Beth left. That way the dog would only be alone during the morning hours. She’d keep her until Nick picked up Corey, watching her in case of puppy delivery.
    Nick’s gut tightened. What did he know about dogs having puppies?
    Absolutely nothing.
    He scratched a quick note on his to-do list to call a veterinarian in the morning. There was a small vet office not far from their house. Maybe they’d know something about the little dog. If not, he’d run an ad in the paper to cover all bases.
    He hoped nobody claimed the pooch. Corey was smitten and Nick hated the thought of having to pry Peanut from his son’s arms. He prayed he wouldn’t have to.
    His phone rang and he picked up before the second ring. “Nick Grey here.”
    “Hi, it’s Beth. Sorry to call so late—”
    “Miss Ryken,” Nick purred. “What’s up?”
    She laughed. “You can call me by my first name, you know.”
    “I know.” He might need the distance, but he liked calling her by her teacher title.
    “Well, then, Mr. Grey, you left your sheriff’s hat here.”
    Nick glanced at the decorative hooks by the back door where he usually hung his hat. Empty. “Thanks for calling. I would have looked all over. I’m going to try to get Peanut to the vet’s tomorrow and then I’ll drop her by after your mom gets home.”
    “How’d she do?”
    “She’s snuggled up with Corey and they’re sleeping.”
    “Good.”
    “Which reminds me.” Nick ran his hand through his hair. “I’ve got to cover an overnight shift this Saturday night. The guy on duty’s wife had a C-section this week. I hate to ask, but do you think your mom would watch Corey and Peanut at your place overnight?”
    “Of course. It’d be fine. We’d love to have them both.”
    Nick breathed easy. He didn’t doubt her. Beth’s quick answer and upbeat tone spoke volumes. She cared for his son. A lot. “We didn’t get much reading done tonight.”
    “We didn’t either with the excitement over Peanut.”
    “Yeah, Peanut.” Nick hoped they could keep