by Tonya Kappes
“Ms. Day. Liz, I mean.” The words fell out of her mouth. She didn’t ever want anyone to call her Mrs. again. “Call me Liz.”
“Cole is a great dog trainer. You’ll get special treatment being the only student.”
Liz wasn’t sure exactly what Joe meant, but she was looking forward to getting to know Cole a lot better. “Well Joe, for this price, I’d better get great treatment.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Day, you sure will.” Joe’s smile had a hint of sarcasm.
Liz found herself a little taken aback by the instant attraction she felt when she looked at Cole. She hadn’t felt that weak feeling, deep in her heart for a long time. She had to wonder if her attraction had anything to do with his self-confidence.
Those were the men she had to watch out for.
She couldn’t help but smile. She lifted her hand to shield her mouth. How lucky was she that Tramp was the only student? She was going to get to the bottom of the secret between Cole and Jenna. What if Jenna had a one night stand with him?
A twinge of jealously tweaked her heart.
“Good.” Liz wanted to hurry back to the room. “Tramp is going to need a lot of training.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Joe picked up the ringing phone, and said, “He’s kinda like that dog whisperer guy. Mornin’, Claws and Paws.”
Liz looked at Joe. She hoped he was wrong. The dog whisperer solved issues in a couple of days, and she didn’t want the lessons to end that fast.
She pushed the door open and was surprised to see a room filled with all sorts of training equipment. The floor was covered in soft cushioned flooring.
Cole was rubbing Tramp’s back, and softly speaking to him. “Man you are one lucky dog sleeping in her house.”
Tramp’s tail was wagging 20 miles per hour like he knew exactly what Cole was saying.
Liz pulled at her turtle neck. Suddenly it got very hot in there.
“Excuse me?” She heard him perfectly, but would he say it to her face?
“I was telling Tramp he’s a dog and he needs to stay out of your bed at night. He needs to learn his place.”
Right! She played off the lie he’d just told her. She’d heard it firsthand.
“He doesn’t sleep in my bed.” This back and forth game was becoming fun for her.
“Well, my training is working and I’ve only given him a couple of basic commands.”
“Is that right?” Liz asked while taking in all she could of him.
Cole can’t be much older than forty, and she liked his mature look. She was trying hard to concentrate on the hand gestures he used with Tramp. But his broad shoulders got in the way. The entire world would fit on them. He seemed stable, a man’s man. She loved the way his dark sideburns had speckles of grey in them and how they were at a perfect angle. Not many men can pull off wearing sideburns.
“You okay, Elizabeth?”
Liz looked up, finding Cole staring at her..
An irresistibly devastating grin crossed his face. “You must’ve been thinking of something good. You wear your emotions on your face.”
His smile was infectious. She tried to focus on Tramp and remembered Jenna’s words. “He’s a nobody.”
“I can’t believe how well he listens to you. And please, call me Liz.” She smiled.
“You can come get the leash and we’ll see how well he does with a few gestures from you.”
She noticed his big hands next to her small fingers when she reached for the leash.
“If I’m your only client, I can wait until another session.”
Liz was only being polite, and prayed he wouldn’t fall for it. The last thing she wanted was to go home to an empty house, especially if she had the option of staying here.
What is wrong with me? She questioned herself while waiting for his response. The prolonged anticipation was unbearable.
“Nah. It’s winter. Most people do obedience training during the summer.”
A spark shot through her when their hands accidentally touched as she took the leash from him. They both stepped back.
“Besides, it will allow me to try some new techniques on Tramp. He seems to be really receptive to me. You can take a few minutes to look through the manual and see if you have any questions before we get started.”
“I thought you were going to show me some gestures?” she asked, but he was already out the door.
Judging by his reaction, he’d felt the jolt too. Why else would he have left the room?
“Get a grip.” She muttered, leaning up against the door after he left the training room.
She was in no shape to get into a relationship, especially with a friend of Jenna’s.
“Sorry about that.” Cole didn’t look at her when he entered the room. Focus on the dog. He patted his thigh, and in a deep steady voice, commanded Tramp, “Come on boy.”
Tramp did exactly as he commanded. And with every order he gave, she sat up a little more, taking in everything Tramp was doing. This was not the same dog she had gotten from the pound.
The large room was broken up into three separate sections, and if she played it right, she could stay on one side with him on the other.
He started Tramp through the obstacle course, as though he was trying to figure out if Tramp had some skills.
Tramp was able to make it through most of the obstacles with a little encouragement. He went up the ramp, through the tunnel, jumped over the rail and through the hoop.
At certain points throughout the course, Cole yelled “sit!” To her surprise, Tramp immediately stopped and sat down.
“Did you just teach him that?” she asked getting his attention.
Damn he looked good, he was slender, yet muscular, dark and fiery with eyes that glowed and pierced her body.
She tried to take her eyes off him, but she was drawn in by his magnetism. His jeans fit perfectly, all the way down over his cowboy boots. She cringed at the thought of him seeing her granny panties earlier.
“No, I didn’t” Cole said from across the room, while gesturing for Tramp to go back through the tunnel. Every time Tramp completed the course, Cole enthusiastically congratulated him. “Good job, Tramp.”
The more he commanded Tramp to do, the more she marveled at Cole.
Does he have this effect on all creatures?, she wondered thinking about how Jenna reacted to him, how she felt being near him, and how Tramp was now clearly under his spell, as well.
“I can’t believe how smart he is.” Cole moved next to her. She stood motionless, afraid to move because her body seemed to have a mind of its own today. “How old did you say he is?”
Tramp chewed on a ball next to the chair, unfazed by all of the running around or the attraction in the air.
“The shelter vet told me that he was around two years old.” She said, bending down to pat the scraggly dog.
“Shelter?” His voice was thick and steady. “This is an Irish Wolfhound. Who would put this dog in a shelter?”
“An Irish what?” She jumped in surprise.
She’d never heard of an Irish wolf-whatever and the shelter said he was a mutt.
“Irish Wolfhound. Great family dog.” Cole scratched his head. “I’m not sure I believe he’d get into any trouble. It’s not their nature.”
“Are you calling me a liar?” Her brows drew together in an angry frown. “What do you think about the leash situation?”
“No. I’m not calling you a liar. I’m just saying it’s not characteristic of Irish Wolfhounds not to listen. So to answer your question, I think it may be the operator.” He didn’t flinch, smile, or show a glimmer of someone trying to make her feel stupid.
“Seriously?” she asked softly, her eyes narrowing.
“Tramp, come.” His voice boomed with confidence.
Tramp jumped to his feet, ran over and looked up at him.
“Sit.” His voice was deep, crisp and clear.
Tramp sat down. Cole clipped the leash on Tramp and walked aro
und the room with him. Tramp stayed in step. This was not the same Tramp that she couldn’t walk on a leash.
“You are a very naughty boy.” Cole whispered in Tramp’s ear.
She laughed. She knew Cole was right.
How does he know Jenna, and why hadn’t she told me about him? The question nagged at her. There was no way Jenna wouldn’t have mentioned him, especially since Jenna was always trying to fix her up with other men.
“I can’t believe this. Hayes can’t even walk him without being dragged along.” There was disbelief in her tone.
Cole walked Tramp back over. There was a scowl on his face.
“I don’t know how big Hayes is, but obviously Tramp has no respect for him. Was he mean to Tramp?” Cole’s voice held little sarcastic twist.
“I’m sorry?” She stood up and crossed her arms.
Who does he think he is? She sought to erect a wall of defense against him. No man talked that way about her son, no matter if that man did cause a stir in her emotions.
“Was your husband, Hayes, respectful to Tramp?” Cole crossed his arms..
Liz threw back her head and let out a great peal of laughter.
By the look on Cole’s face, he didn’t think it was very funny, which made her laugh even harder.
“What are you laughing at? We need to get one thing straight.” His eyes narrowed and his face became stern. “When a dog is mistreated, he will not listen to the owner out of fear.”
The more he talked, the less she was able to control her laughter.
“If you think that mistreating a dog is funny, then maybe we have no business here.”
Cole turned to walk out of the room, but stopped.
“I don’t find anything about that amusing.” His voice was steady.
There was a beauty in how he came to Tramp’s defense. Her face lit up with every giggle she tried to contain.
A small, but noticeable grin formed on his lips.
“No,” she answered quickly over her choking laughter. “Hayes is my nine-year old son who happens to love this dog very much. If you think that this dog is mistreated in any way, you are sorely mistaken,” she spoke with as reasonable a voice as she could manage. “We treat this dog as one of our family members. I don’t talk to him as sternly as you do and maybe that’s the problem.”
Liz grabbed Tramp’s leash and they bolted out the door.
Cole smiled. She was trying to stay upright but Tramp was in a full on gallop, causing her to stumble all the way out of the training room.
“Liz! Liz! Stop!” Cole ran out of the training room and through Claws and Paws.
She ignored him, and she couldn’t stop even if she wanted to. Tramp was already back to his old ways.
Joe stood smiling, holding the front door as they bolted out. “I heard paws coming.”
Wearily, she tried to grin, but had to concentrate on keeping up with Tramp through the thick snow.
“Shut up, Joe. Sit!” Cole screamed toward her and Tramp.
“Don’t you dare!” She yelled at Tramp with her eyes tightly closed.
Of course he listened to Cole.
In one fell swoop, Tramp stopped and she fell to the ground, using her free hand to catch her fall. She’d managed to land on the only patch of blacktop not covered by snow, tearing a hole in the knee of her jeans.
She fingered the tear in her favorite jeans. They were jeans she could never afford now; not on her income.
“Let me help you.” Cole held his hand out to help her. “You left me no choice. You weren’t stopping so I had to use Tramp to stop you.”
“Thank you for your time.” She proceeded to hobble to the car with Tramp’s leash still attached to her wrist.
“Liz?” A sizzle of heat rushed through her when he put his hand on her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that Tramp is such a good dog and most of the time when a dog lashes out, it’s due to other factors.”
She swiftly turned to him and moved away from his hand. “Again, thank you for your time.”
She felt like a fool. Tramp listened to him right away, but the instant she took hold of the leash, he went right back to being crazy. And the embarrassment of the attraction she had toward Cole wasn’t something she understood.
She hadn’t felt this type of chemistry in years. Plus there was definitely something going on between him and Jenna.
She figured she’d come back in a few days for a refund. She put the window down so Tramp could put his head out. She adjusted her rear-view mirror, continually looking back at Cole until he was just a spec.
THREE
“Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open. “
~John Barrymore
Driving through downtown Grandberry Falls was just like driving through the middle of a Christmas card. It was therapeutic for her and she really needed to get her emotions in check
First of all, she didn’t like being made fun of, and second, she hadn’t recognized the feelings deep in the pit of her stomach.
The freshly fallen snow was untouched on all the wreaths hanging from the carriage lights, and the trickle of water gurgling down the falls looked amazing.
Liz pulled into a parking spot in front of the Trembling Cup and noticed the long line of customers. Everyone was probably in there trying to escape from the cold. She wanted to grab a cup of joe on the way to her shop. There were some things she needed to grab from The Mole Hole to work on at home
Across the street, she could see that The Fatted Pig was even full. But a bowl of beans and homemade cornbread by Mamie Preston did sound good.
She left all of the windows cracked, just a little, because she wasn’t about to run down Main Street after a shelter dog.
Irish wolfhound. . . right. She looked at Tramp and scratched his wiry fur. He licked her hand. “Big baby,” she said giving him a quick kiss and wrapping her scarf tightly around her neck. The last thing she needed was a cold.
She could almost taste the homemade food as soon as she caught a whiff walking into The Fatted Pig. All of the café tables were full, and the bar was filled with older men wearing John Deere hats and drinking coffee.
Mamie was shouting out food orders to the short-order cook.
Liz leaned over the bar near the register.
“Everyone’s in here to warm up with a good bowl of bean soup.” She gave a little wave when Mamie turned to see who was talking to her.
“I wondered when you were going to come and get you a bowl.” Mamie wiped her hands off on the hanging dishtowel that was tucked in her apron. “How ‘bout a side order of fresh homemade cornbread.”
Liz nodded. There was nothing better than Mamie’s cornbread.
“How’s business?” Mamie held the ladle high in the air to pour some beans into the Styrofoam bowl, like a fancy chef. “I hear you’re decorating the office of the new mayor.”
“Yes, Mitch did ask me to look at a couple of things in the office.” Liz looked around. She didn’t want taxpayers getting angry, especially if they didn’t vote the young Mitch Dozier into office. “I’m sure it could use a little sprucing up after forty-years.”
Mamie cackled. “Well, Mitch has been staying over there a lot, God bless his heart. I just feel so bad for Hazel.”
“I do too.” Biting her lip, Liz looked away. “I’m not sure how my business will do if this all goes down.”
Liz had moved here specifically to open The Mole Hole Interiors. Grandberry Falls didn’t have an interior decorator, and it was a perfect place to move. She’d been there a couple times, for vacations on the lake, and fell in love with the town. Of course Paul would never move to a “hick town,” as he called it.
Now, with an impending eminent domain case looming over the town, Liz wasn’t sure how well she’d continue to do.
If all went as planned, the state would take the Greenlee property and make an outlet mall with all sorts of stores. Especially since it was close to an interst
ate and Liz knew how people loved those outlet malls.
“I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Mamie packed the food in a carrier and handed it to Liz. “Not sure about The Figure 8 and me. People like eatin’ at them fancy restaurants.”
Liz was sad for the town. Everyone seemed to be divided. And poor Mitch; he’s a young mayor in his late twenties with hardly any experience. From what Liz understands, he was really doing all he could to please both sides.
“Ah, you’ll be fine.” Liz stuck her nose in the bag and let the scent of the homemade goodies waft around her. “I can’t wait to dig in.”
She paid Mamie and put the leftover quarter in her pocket, before wrapping her scarf around her neck.
“Liz, dear.” Mamie came from behind the counter and pointed to Liz’s torn up skinny jeans. “You’re bleeding. Let me get you a cloth.”
“No, I’m fine.” Liz blew it off. “I’m heading to my store to pick up some invoices, and then heading home. I’ll take care of it.”
“What happened?” Mamie inspected it a bit closer, seeming even more concerned. “Did you fall on concrete in the snow?”
“My dog, Tramp, started obedience school today over at The Claw and Paw. We left after I figured it wasn’t the type of class he needed.” Liz tried to play it off the best she could. “Tramp sorta drug me out of there.”
“I heard Cole was back in town.” Mamie’s tone was cool and disapproving. “Hazel Greenlee told me.”
“Oh, really?” Liz wanted Mamie to tell her more, but didn’t want to seem too eager. “Where’s he been?”
Someone yelled for Mamie before she could answer, Mamie went off to see what they needed, leaving Liz with the unknown question that no one seemed to want to answer.
Steam came from the bag as she jotted across the street toward her car. The waterfall, and attraction Grandberry Falls was named after, still had water coming down. The icicles that had formed along the falls were shimmering in the lantern light.
She took the quarter out of her pocket and closed her eyes tightly.
With a flick of the wrist, the quarter flew into the air, plopping into the pool of water below.
