Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
The driver’s door opened and out stepped…Davis. “Shit,” she muttered.
His ear swiveled back and she noticed a slight change in his posture. “Easy,” she muttered in Dutch. “Easy, Hugo. It’s alright.”
“Davis,” she called out. “What are you doing here?”
“John’s about to take Wasyl down and he wanted me here just in case the man sends some of his guys after you.” He strode in their direction, stopping short of her and the canine.
“I don’t need protection,” she replied, doing her best to keep the irritation from her tone.
“He would feel better if I was here.”
“He should be—” she shook her head. “Nope, never mind. Fine. How long do you have to stay?”
“He’ll call me when it’s over.”
“I suppose you’ve already called him and let him know that you’re here now. Telling you not to call before you actually arrived because I would tell you to go home?”
“Exactly.”
He crossed his arms and she again saw how strong he was, the black leather jacket didn’t hide that. Davis was a bit broader than John but that could have been because of what he’d gone through when she’d first found him.
Patting Hugo on the head, she sighed. “Come on in then. Let’s go, boy.”
“Who’s the dog?”
“Ex-military dog who’s had it rough.”
“And why did they send him here to you?” He watched the dog intently and she noticed that Hugo watched him back the same way.
“I’m not as heavy handed as some military trainers and the guy who was overseeing his recovery asked me to help out.” She bent and patted him again. “Good boy.” Upright, she gestured to the house. “May as well get you settled, I have classes starting in about an hour.”
He grabbed his bag on the way and walked beside her to the house. That was when she noticed Hugo’s attitude change. He didn’t like her between him and the stranger. But he didn’t make a nuisance of himself, but she read his body language.
Inside, she kept him at her side as she spoke with Davis and got ready for her classes. The moment she saw the cars coming in, she looked at her guest. “Are you coming to class with me?”
“Yes.” His response was immediate.
“Let’s get going then. I’m taking all the dogs, good for them to be distractions.” Plus she had a thought on Hugo and Davis. She made sure to introduce them to one another.
They got to the training building and she put the dogs in their area, except for Hugo. She waited until Davis sat at her desk. “I’m going to keep him here, is that okay with you? He’ll be loose by you.”
“Fine by me.” Davis leaned back in her chair and she unhooked Hugo. “You be good and wait back here with Davis.” She kissed him on the muzzle and stood. Davis watched her.
“What?”
“Just wondering if I get a kiss to before you go.” His lips had kicked up in a teasing smile.
“Ask Hugo.” She got out of the area and closed the x-pen behind her. Yes, the dog could jump it, but his training was such she was confident he wouldn’t. Unless the situation called for it and with this crowd, that wasn’t going to happen.
During her classes, she would check on Davis and Hugo. The dog had lain beside him, head on his paws so he could watch Leena, but he was beside Davis instead of being off alone.
Promising.
She had classes until ten that night and during a break, she went to the small fridge and pulled out some snack items. “Sorry, this is a long night. You can go to the house there’re leftovers in the fridge.” She put them before him.
“Nope. I’m good with this. What’s this class?”
“These are my K-9 officers. We’re going to run some more challenging obstacles, do some bite work, and protection. I’m debating on putting Hugo in a crate.”
“Think he wants to join in?”
“I do, and I think I’ll let him.” She went to search for the collar she wanted and the bite muzzle. “Just on the off chance you drop the leash, I think he needs this as well.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. You are going to hold him first.” She crouched before Hugo and slid the muzzle on him. His entire body quivered. “Yes, you know what this is for, don’t you?” She scratched his neck. “I know you do.”
She briefly went over the commands he would need, then led Davis and Hugo out and went back for Argo. She would work all her dogs tonight. She loved bite work classes.
Jefferson, the man—helper—who suited up strode in, already bundled up. “Hey, Leena.”
“Jefferson. Thanks for coming. Have a new dog I want to try out tonight.”
He slanted his gaze to Davis and the dog with him. “Nice Terv. Yours?”
“For now. Working on getting him better than to a forever home.” She gestured to Davis. “Davis, Jefferson. Davis is a detective in Oklahoma City and Jefferson owns Rottweilers that he competes in IPO with around here.”