She rubbed her forehead, wishing she could make not only her headache disappear but also the intense loss that Trevor’s declaration of love had triggered. Why hadn’t he told her? Didn’t he know she’d loved him forever?
She stumbled into the bathroom and groaned when she saw herself in the mirror—eyes swollen and face blotchy from crying. She could call in sick, but she’d have to get one of the volunteers to cover for her, and there would be questions she didn’t want to answer. Better to buck up and go in. Maybe it would take her mind off Trevor and Maverick—and Rob.
She’d research military service dogs and how to handle them. She snorted. As if she could learn any of that from books. Her old tried-and-true method of researching what she wanted to know wasn’t likely to be of much help actually managing Trevor’s dog.
She patted a cold washcloth over her eyes, and the swelling went down a bit. She dressed and dabbed on a little makeup, to even out the worst of the blotches, and added only mascara. This was Ridgeview, and the people who frequented the library wouldn’t expect her to be all dolled up.
Before going out the door, she texted her mother to let her know she’d miss their weekly dinner. Typically, she and her brother Nick had dinner at Mom’s every Thursday night. They’d been doing it for years, recognizing that Mom needed some regular companionship since Dad died. Why her mom didn’t date didn’t make sense to MJ. Her father had been gone, driving a semi all over the United States, only coming home every two weeks. Her parents loved each other deeply, but she’d never seen signs that they had one of those great love affairs that would make him her mother’s “one and only.” Not like her and Trevor.
Her phone rang, and she wasn’t surprised to see her mother’s name appear on the screen. “Hi, Mom. You got my text, I see. Hang on a second. I’m getting into the car.” She fastened her seat belt and turned on the Bluetooth attachment. “Sorry. I should have called last night. Trevor’s buddy came by to bring me a letter.”
“Oh, sweetheart, what did it say?”
“That Trevor loved me. That he was sorry he hadn’t told me. That he was sorry he died.” She sniffled, trying to keep back the tears. “Listen, I can’t talk about it. My eyes are already swollen. Anyway, Rob, that’s his friend’s name, is coming over after work. Trevor wanted me to have his military dog, Maverick. He was injured during the same explosion that k-k-killed Trevor. Rob is going to teach me how to talk to Maverick and how to take care of him.”
“That sounds like a lot of responsibility.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. I’ve never had a dog before. Now I’m getting a military dog who responds to hand signals and Italian spoken with an East Tennessee accent.”
“Goodness. I can’t imagine! Honey, why don’t you invite Rob to come with you for dinner? That way, we can help support you.”
“Let me think about it, Mom. It might be nice to have your backup. Rob is kind of intimidating.”
“Just let me know. I’m making spaghetti, so you know there’ll be plenty.”
“Thanks, Mom. I don’t want him to think I’m too incompetent to do anything without the help of my mommy and big brother.”
“Pfft. That’s just silly. Nobody would think that.”
“We’ll see.” She hit the button that disconnected the call and pulled into the library parking lot. Maybe working in her safe, familiar job was exactly what she needed.
***
Rob woke with the sun shining in his eyes, after a night filled with nightmares. He’d woken in a cold sweat around zero three hundred to Maverick’s nose nudging his shoulder. Eventually he’d managed to go back to sleep.
Now, Maverick had moved the threadbare drapes in the window of the seedy room in The Ridgeview Motel and stood at attention watching something outside. Rob slid out of bed and into his workout shorts before checking to see what had the dog so interested. A motorcycle engine started and roared away from a nearby space in the motel’s parking lot. “What is it, buddy? What do you see?” He sneaked a peek and saw a leathered rider moving rapidly away. “Va bene.”
He went into the dreary bathroom, and did his business, including washing his face. Time to walk the dog.
He grabbed the lead and halter, and Maverick sat calmly while he put them on. “Let’s go.” If only he could take the dog for a run. That would be better for both of them. That might be months away for him, if he’d ever recover the mobility in his leg to move at that fast a pace. He grabbed his cane and keys, and they moved out of the room and across the parking lot. He’d seen a park several blocks away on his way here last night—a good place for them to exercise.
Maverick needed exercise as much as he did, although the dog’s gait didn’t have as pronounced a limp as Rob did. They walked slowly at first, eventually extending their stride and increasing their speed. It felt good to stretch his legs. He’d done a lot of driving in the past several weeks. First from Quantico, where he’d been in rehab. After being released from the Corps, he’d bought his truck. His travels took him to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to pick up Maverick, and finally to Ridgeview. When he sat too long, his leg cramped up.
Maverick matched his pace, but when they got to the park, he gave the dog the “at ease” signal that allowed him to relax and sniff to his heart’s content. Judging from his thoroughness, a lot of other dogs had passed this way. They did three rounds of the park before resting. Maverick lay by his side, his tongue lolling from his mouth.
They watched a young woman push a toddler in a stroller toward a building containing the park’s restrooms. He watched her mouth move as she talked to the child. This was what he’d fought for. This was why he and his fellow Marines risked their lives in foreign lands. So that people in small towns all across the US could be safe.
He frowned as a tall man moved from the side of the building to intercept the mother and child. The man must have said something to her, because she froze for a moment before her hands tightened on the handles of the stroller. Her body language told him she felt a threat, and Rob jumped to his feet seconds behind Maverick. The dog let out a low-throated growl and took off at a run toward the building. He followed as quickly as he could and arrived to see Maverick positioning himself between the man, and the woman and child, his teeth bared.
“Maverick!” The dog shot him a brief glance before refocusing on the man.
“Get your dog under control, mister,” shouted the stranger. His fear was palpable.
“Are you all right, ma’am?” Her rigid body posture and flushed cheeks showed her fear, but he didn’t think it was fear of Maverick.
“Go away, Kent! I have an order of protection. You aren’t supposed to come near me or Angela.”
“I can do anything I want,” the man snarled. “No piece of paper will keep me away from my daughter. She has a right to see me.”
The little girl reacted to the angry adults and let out a series of wails that increased in volume and intensity.
“Damn it, Rosalind, shut her the fuck up! You’re trying to turn her against me!”
“You molested her, you sick pervert! I walked in on you and saw what you were doing to her. She’s just a baby!”
The baby’s wails combined with the adult’s shouts at each other. Maverick joined in by barking. “Hold it! Both of you. Calm down. Buddy, if she’s got an order of protection against you, you need to take a hike. To make sure you do, I’ll call the cops.”
“Guardalo.” Maverick stood at attention, his focus on the threat as Rob dialed 9-1-1. “What’s the name of this park,” he asked the woman who comforted her upset child.
“Dogwood Park.”
He explained the situation to the dispatcher who promised to send a squad car. “Do you have the papers with you?” he asked the young mother.
She nodded and pulled them from a small backpack.
The man was inching away, and Maverick growled again.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Rob told him. “He’s a military dog, a
nd he’s trained to take care of bad guys. Sounds like you qualify.” He shook his head in disgust. If what the woman said was true, this loser had sexually abused his own daughter, a child who looked to be under two.
A squad car rounded the corner and slid into a parking spot at the curb. He spent the next half hour telling the officer what he’d observed, and how he and Maverick had become involved. The woman’s papers confirmed that an order of protection was in effect, and the man was cuffed and led to the back of the squad car.
“Thank you.” The woman sighed with relief. “I don’t know what would have happened if you and your dog hadn’t been here. I’m always afraid he’ll take her away and molest her again.” She shuddered.
“I’m glad I could help. I’m Rob Michelini, and this is Maverick.” The dog’s tongue lolled, and he looked as if he was smiling.
“I’m Rosalind Barnard, and this is Angela. We’re very grateful for your help.”
“No problem. Are you okay to get back home?”
“Yes. We don’t live very far. We come here a lot, so I guess he knew where to find us.”
“Well, be careful. From now on, you might want to carry some pepper spray with you.”
They said their goodbyes and headed off in opposite directions. “Well, Maverick. I guess we were in the right place at the right time. Thanks, boy. Grazie.”
Rob led them back to the motel, Maverick taking care to water nearly every bush, tree, and fire hydrant. Rob took a shower and gave Maverick a long drink and some kibble. Then they hopped into the truck, ready to explore the nearby territory on the edges of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
By late afternoon, he was back in town, with a few hours to kill. “Want to go see Mary Jane?” he asked his canine companion. Maverick let out a bark. Did the dog know that Mary Jane would be his new master? No, probably not. He just liked to bark to answer questions.
They parked in front of a stately turn-of-the-century building. It looked like many of the government buildings he’d seen in the South, with substantial, gray limestone block, and wings stretched on either side of the entrance, which was accessible up worn stone steps.
“Sorry, Maverick. You’ll have to stay here.” He lowered the windows and told the dog to stay with a hand gesture. It always amazed him that Maverick did exactly as directed. Trevor had trained him well. As always, he felt a flutter in his chest when he thought of his friend. Life was empty without him. What would it be like when Maverick was gone, too?
Not thinking about it.
Instead, he marched up the steps to the double doors to the library. He expected silence, but heard the giggles of small children coming from a room to his right. He stuck his head in and smiled. Mary Jane sat on a floor pillow in a yellow sundress, surrounded by toddlers. She read each page, and then showed them the pictures, making animal noises and changing her voice as different characters spoke. A few mothers leaned against the wall, while others sat at nearby tables, grinning at the enjoyment on their children’s faces. He couldn’t think of the name of the story, but he knew he’d heard it before or read it to his cousin’s daughter. Given the cheers from the crowd of youngsters, the book was a hit. They eventually dispersed, and a teenager approached Mary Jane before Rob could let her know he was here.
“Ms. Van Buren? Can you help me?”
“Sure, Boyd. What do you need?”
The boy looked at his feet as if embarrassed. “I’m hoping to go to college after I graduate next year.”
“That’s wonderful! Good for you.”
“It’s just that, well, my folks have everything tied up in the farm, so I don’t know how I’ll be able to afford it.”
“So you’d like to do some research on financial aid? I can help you with that.”
The boy looked relieved. “Thank you, Ms. Van Buren. I thought maybe if I could find out what college costs and how to get loans or scholarships, my parents would think it was a good idea.” He blushed. “Er, neither of them went to college so they don’t think it’s necessary. My daddy thinks I’ll join him in farming, but pig farming isn’t what I want to do.”
Mary Jane suddenly seemed to notice Rob. “Tell you what, why don’t you go over to the reference room and get a big table.” She gestured toward the other side of the building. “I’ll pull some resource books and bring them over. We can go through them and find out how you can proceed.”
The boy looked relieved. “Thanks, Ms. Van Buren.”
“I’ll be over in a minute.” She turned to Rob. “I’m surprised to see you here. How do you know where I work?”
He let out a bark of a laugh, but then ducked his head as he saw patrons look up at him. “Sorry. I knew where you worked. Trevor talked about it all the time.”
“He talked about me being a librarian in Ridgeview? Seriously?”
“He said you were the smartest person he’d ever met. He was real proud of you.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and he mentally kicked himself for bringing up Trevor. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you. I just wanted to make sure we’re on for tonight and see if you wanted me to bring dinner.”
She sniffled, and lifted her chin, and he watched her struggle to regain her emotional equilibrium. “Thanks. Actually, we’re invited to my mom’s for dinner. My brother Nick and I have dinner there on Thursday nights. We can go and talk afterward. You can bring Maverick.”
Spending time with her family instead of readying her to take Maverick didn’t thrill him, but she still seemed to be on emotional overload, so it might make sense for her to have a support system around to help them through this next phase. “Sure,” he said as enthusiastically as he could. “Do you want me to meet you back here or at your house?”
“My house. I should be ready to go about five forty-five.”
“Okay. I’ll be there.” He watched as she strode across the foyer of the library and into another room across the hall. He didn’t really get it. One minute she was falling apart, and the next she acted like a soldier marching into battle. There was more to Mary Jane Van Buren than he’d thought.
Chapter Three
Mary Jane pulled into her driveway just after five-thirty, eager to prepare herself before Rob and Maverick arrived. Would the sight of the dog ever stop being a painful reminder of Trevor? Could she be the owner Maverick needed? She shrugged. Only time would tell. She let herself into her house and debated whether to change. She scolded herself, “Mary Jane, this isn’t a date.”
She changed into light blue shorts and a white polo shirt. She might as well be comfortable. Besides, if he showed her how to handle Maverick, she needed to be able to move easily. She ran a brush through her dark hair and spritzed on a squirt of her favorite cologne to cheer herself up.
The knock on the door came a few minutes later, and she looked at her watch. Right on time. Probably the military training. Trevor had been the same way.
She answered the door. He’d showered—his long hair still wet.
“Why don’t we take my truck,” he offered. “You can give me directions, and Maverick can sit in the back.” The dog panted his hello, and she reached out to let him sniff her hand.
“Okay.” She watched as Rob opened the rear crew-cab door, and Maverick leaped up effortlessly. “He’s really a beautiful dog.”
“Smart, too. He had some basic training before they partnered him with Trevor, but man, that guy knew how to bring out exceptional skills.”
“What do you mean?”
Rob ran his hand through his hair and shook his head. “Hard to explain. Sometimes it was like he didn’t have to give Maverick a hand gesture or say a word. They communicated as if they could read each other’s mind. This poor guy’s had a tough time. Not just the physical injuries. He’s been grieving.” Rob cleared his throat, as if to banish the emotion.
Mary Jane’s throat thickened with her own grief. It had been eight months. Would she ever get used to the idea that Trevor wasn’t coming back? “Yeah, I get t
hat.”
Maverick nudged her shoulder with his nose, and she half turned to look into sad canine eyes. “I’m sorry, boy. I miss him too.” She wiped away a tear.
Rob studied her for a moment. “We all miss him.”
She turned to see a tormented look on his face. “Does it ever get easier?”
He met her glance. “There are moments when I forget, and then it comes roaring back as if it were yesterday.” He cleared his throat again to change the subject and started the engine. “I need directions to your mom’s.”
She quickly told him which way to go and took a deep breath to calm her emotions. Being wrapped up in her own grief hadn’t allowed her to think about what it must be like for Rob, watching his friend die. Or for Maverick, who’d depended on Trevor.
The Trevor she’d known was a popular guy at their high school, and later a more serious man who’d come back to Ridgeview between deployments. They’d talked and gone out every time he came home, but there were things about him she’d never know. She couldn’t even imagine what he’d gone through in Afghanistan. Sure, they’d talked by SKYPE, she’d written emails, and he’d written back, but he never could talk about what he went through every day over there. She’d thought they would have plenty of time. She stared out the side window, lost in thought.
“So, your mother lives outside of town in the mountains?” The deep male voice broke through her memories, and she peered out the windshield, getting her bearings.
Crap. While she’d been daydreaming, they’d gone way past the turnoff to her mother’s house. “No, not really. She lives on the edge of town. Turn left here.” She directed him through a complicated set of twists and turns, wondering if he’d realize how much backtracking they were doing. They came up on Mom’s from a different direction than she’d planned. “It’s the yellow ranch with the green shutters. You can park in the driveway. My brother Nick is already here.” She pointed toward the white pickup parked next to a neat, detached garage.
Saved by a Warrior Dog Page 3
