Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 123825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
He had doubted this idea almost from the moment he committed to drive to Ellis County tonight. Even as he’d walked up to the house then to the bedroom, he hadn’t been certain he needed a puppy at this time in his life. Adding a dog to his and Key’s relationship, giving Key this pup, seemed a symbolic gesture of tying them closer together as they moved forward with their lives. Bringing an animal in the mix might even be stronger than wedding bands and vows. This puppy represented a joint commitment to care for another living being. It spoke volumes to his feelings and seemed right in line with the changes Alec was making.
Doubt was always there. Key wasn’t much different than when they first met. It was Alec pushing for them to share a life together. Key still hadn’t added a voice to his feelings, but Alec, as he did almost every day, pushed all those minuscule details aside. Actions spoke louder than words, and his lover’s actions showed commitment and dedication. They just did. The man drove as much as ninety minutes, twice a day, to spend alone time with Alec. That said what the man couldn’t.
“So you want to go home with me?” Alec whispered to the content puppy in his arms. His answer came by way of the puppy laying his head down on Alec’s forearm before his whole body followed. The little one seemed to know exactly where he wanted to be.
“All right then, you’re ours.” Alec rose to his feet and reached for his coat. He was already so taken with the puppy that he didn’t want to set him down long enough to put on his coat, so he shrugged it on while keeping hold of the dog. Alec reached into his pocket, pulling out the key fob to start the car, wanting the heater to warm the interior for their new arrival. The dog was so small Alec was afraid he’d lose his body heat quickly in the cold weather.
Alec carried the dog out to the front room where Mrs. Hardin was sitting in a La-Z-Boy next to her husband, watching television. When she saw them, her face grew excited. “You found one?”
“I did,” he said, reaching in his side pocket for his wallet.
“Here, I have a blanket and a carrying case ready just in case,” she said, rising to her feet. She took the puppy still resting on his arm. “You picked the last male.”
“I hadn’t even looked. He spoke to me from the minute I walked in,” Alec explained, truly not caring in the least the sex of the animal.
“I thought for sure he’d be mine. He’s kept his distance from everyone.”
Alec was counting out his cash and looked up in surprise. That hadn’t been his experience at all. Maybe destiny brought them together.
“How much do I owe you for the carrying case?” he asked.
“Nothing at all. He’s also started his shots. The paperwork and a small amount of puppy food is inside here,” she said, pointing to an envelope on the coffee table. Mrs. Hardin carefully wrapped the dog inside the blanket. The puppy kept his eyes on Alec the whole time. He placed the cash on the coffee table and tucked his wallet back in his back pocket before he took the envelope.
“I can carry him,” Alec said when she started to put him inside the case. “It’s cold out there. I’ll get the case in the car and put him inside. I have it warming,” he explained, folding the envelope to place in his side pocket.
“Very good then. I hope you get as much love from him as we have ours. They’re wonderful little companions, smart and loyal.” She carefully handed him back to Alec. He beamed at the Boston, now wrapped up like an Eskimo. Mrs. Hardin couldn’t have been kinder as she handed off the case and opened and closed the door for him.
Once Alec got the puppy tucked away in the passenger seat with the heater blowing directly on the shivering bundle, he hit the road. Maybe ten minutes into the drive home, Alec split his attention between the Boston and the road as the blanket start unraveling and the little guy leaped from its hold, shaking his head. He was fierce, not frightened in the least. He looked all around until he found Alec then lay on the blanket, his head turned toward him.
“It seems you’ve been waiting on me. Or me waiting on you,” Alec said, sticking his finger through one of the holes in the case, absently petting the little guy’s soft head. He had a good hour and a half drive home that may have taken almost two with as slow as he drove. He had precious cargo in the car, and that seemed to change everything for him. Again.