Pedro waved back. His hair was still messy from sleep, and he was wearing sweatpants and a loose T-shirt. “I don’t want to interrupt your run,” he told her.
Pedro started to motion her on, but Laurel shook her head and jogged up to the steps. This was her opportunity to tell him that she’d changed her mind, and she wanted to get the news off her chest. She wasn’t ready for another canine partner.
“I need to tell you something,” the two of them blurted in unison.
“Jinx,” Pedro said, still smiling but looking a little confused.
“You go first,” Laurel offered. Her breathing slowed, and she took a seat on the steps and let the breeze cool her sweaty face. Pedro was holding a coffee mug and offered her some, but she shook her head.
After taking a seat beside her on the steps, Pedro spoke the words he’d been avoiding for so long, “Gem has Lyme disease.”
Laurel nodded. “I know.”
“You do?”
“I just found out,” Laurel replied.
Pedro hesitated, then took an educated guess. “Juniper?” he asked, suspecting that he already knew the answer.
Laurel nodded again.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’ve known for over a month. But I wasn’t trying to trick you. She’s a good dog and doing well. She’s responded to the antibiotic treatment, and Dr. Jessica says she doesn’t think she’ll have long-term symptoms. That’s not a guarantee, of course. We have no way of knowing if the disease will flare again. But I’m telling the truth when I say I wouldn’t have let you come up here if I thought she’d be a bad partner. And she’s not the only dog.”
Laurel nodded more slowly this time, though her breath was starting to come faster again. She felt unsure … about everything. And in her mind Gem was the only dog—at least the only one she’d been considering. “When Juniper told me, it made me think that maybe I’m not ready, that maybe I shouldn’t have come.”
Pedro’s face caved in on itself. He quickly hid his devastated expression in his coffee cup. After a long, sweet gulp, he looked up. He had no one to blame for this situation but himself.
“I don’t want to push you,” he said honestly. “You know I think it’s important to be ready for a partnership like this. It’s a commitment, and one you have to willingly make. But … would you consider giving us a little time before you make your decision? Say, three days?”
Laurel inhaled and closed her eyes, letting the air out in a rush. “Three days,” she repeated, trying to bring some logic into the equation. She was already here, on the ranch. She’d made the trip, and her time off was scheduled. Even if she didn’t take the dog … She checked her watch to see how much she’d run so far—just one mile. “Let me think about this for about five miles.” She smiled weakly at Pedro, got to her feet, and with a little wave was headed up the trail again.
Pedro finger-combed his bedhead and watched her go. His stomach gurgled, filled as it was with coffee and regret. At least she hadn’t given him a flat-out no.
After running five more miles, Laurel still wasn’t sure how she felt, so she ran another three. After running nine miles she was tired. She was sweaty. And she was still torn. She did a bit of stretching outside the handlers’ lodge, and then showered and dressed. When she emerged from her room and made her way to the communal kitchen, Pedro was there. He’d showered, too, and looked at her with the kind of hopeful expression she was used to seeing in a dog waiting for another toss of a ball. It was enough to tip the scale.
“Okay. Three days,” she said. “I’m all in for three more days. Then we’ll see.”
The smile on Pedro’s face was huge, and Laurel held up her palm to shield herself from the brightness. “I’m not making any promises,” she said, warning him away from getting too happy too fast. “This is not a promise!” she repeated, trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince Pedro.
“We’re just asking for a chance,” Pedro answered innocently, “and a training session or two.” He winked.
Pedro went about the rest of his day feeling relieved. By afternoon, when it was time for Gem and Laurel to train, his relief felt like elation. Roxanne, Forrest, and Morgan were all waiting in the pavilion with Gem, who was in great happy, waggy form. Her coat and eyes sparkled, and she looked more ready than ever to get to work! Nobody would ever guess that this dog had been sick.
Laurel, on the other hand, looked nervous. Pedro gave her a reassuring smile. He knew she wouldn’t back out of her agreement to give him three days. He also knew her mind was not made up.
“Where’s Juniper?” Laurel asked. Gem wagged harder as she got closer and Laurel knelt down to greet her.
“I was just wondering that myself,” Morgan said. Juniper knew the schedule and it wasn’t like her to miss anything Gem was involved in.
“Maybe she thinks she doesn’t have to assist anymore. You know, with you here,” Forrest said, looking at Laurel.
“Or maybe the thought of Gem leaving with someone else is just too sad for her to handle …” Morgan added.
There was a long moment of quiet. Roxanne frowned at the floor. She knew Forrest and Morgan were probably both right, but it didn’t stop her from feeling a little disappointed in Juniper. She’d been doing extremely well, holding up more than her end of the training commitment … until now.
“Okay, let’s go,” Roxanne said. They couldn’t let a willful fourth grader stop Gem’s progress. The golden was a true standout. She was such a quick learner that Lyme disease had barely slowed her progress. Roxanne thought she might be ready for certification as early as this summer.
“Everyone ready to head out?” Roxanne asked. The sunlight in winter didn’t last too long, so they only had a couple of hours to work. The group turned to the door just as it burst open.
“Sorry I’m late!” Juniper charged into the pavilion looking more like her determined self than she had in a while. “I was on the phone with Bud’s new agent!” she continued before anyone could even say hello. “And the guy is a serious talker!” She shot them all a “you know the type” expression.
Laurel looked back at her, clearly baffled. “Your cat has an agent?” she asked. Juniper was confusing, to be sure, but this?
“My cats are promising movie stars,” Juniper explained, lifting her chin a little higher. “I had almost given up on their careers because it took so long for them to be discovered on YouTube. But Mr. Chance says they want to use Bud in a cat food commercial!”
Laurel still wasn’t sure what to make of what Juniper was saying. She looked at the others, who wore expressions ranging from dumbfounded to amused.
“We’re still negotiating, however,” she continued. “I don’t like the terms. They want to pay him in cat food! I told Mr. Chancy Pants they’d have to make us a better offer if they want us to even consider it. I mean, Meow Chow isn’t even organic!” She finished by crossing her arms and looking seriously offended.
Pedro laughed first, and everyone else joined in … including Juniper.
“Well, we’re glad you could take time away from your clients to join us,” Roxanne teased. “As it is, we’re burning daylight.”
“Right!” Juniper rushed over to the wall and grabbed a red leash, handing it over to Laurel. “Red is Gem’s favorite color,” she said knowingly.
Forrest and Morgan bit their lips together to keep from laughing and exchanged looks with the adults, making a silent commitment not to tell Juniper that dogs were partially color-blind. They could see blue, yellow, and gray … but not red.
Because Laurel was already a certified SAR handler, and because he didn’t want to pour on the pressure, Pedro sat back to observe the session. Roxanne also took a step back so she could watch how Gem responded with someone new giving the commands. Some dogs didn’t like to take commands from different people—they wanted to respond to a single alpha leader. Gem didn’t flinch at the switch.
From the moment Roxanne passed the lead
to Laurel, Gem gave the ranger her full attention. She was eager to please and wanted to get everything right for the lady who smelled like sunscreen and sunshine.
Roxanne suggested they start with obstacle training, while she gave instructions to Juniper.
Laurel led Gem to the side of the field. There were several contraptions set up along the edge designed to help dogs with trust, balance, and climbing. She clipped off the lead and asked Gem to hop up onto a length of cyclone fencing balanced on cinder blocks. Many dogs refused to walk on grates or fencing or ladders—anything they could see through—because it scared them and messed with their sense of balance.
Gem jumped up and landed gracefully. She didn’t like the way the wiry metal felt under her feet—sharp and bouncy at the same time. She would have liked to jump down onto the grass but didn’t. Laurel called to her from the other end, and she took one … two cautious steps and then strode bravely across. When she reached the other side, she waited patiently for Laurel to invite her to dismount.
“Good dog.” Laurel praised the golden when she hopped down to stand beside her on the grass. She gave Gem a small treat from the pouch in her pocket and a good rub around the scruff of her neck. Gem savored it all until it was time for the next obstacle.
Watching from the sidelines, Roxanne and Pedro didn’t even have to speak. They just looked at each other while their raised eyebrows said the rest. So far this was a great match!
“Let’s try a search,” Roxanne called out. She walked over to the practicing team and handed Laurel one of Juniper’s socks. Laurel gave Gem a good whiff and then the command the dog had been practicing with the Sterling team.
“Find!”
Gem took a moment to smell the air and locate Juniper’s trail. The scent didn’t lead her on a direct path to the rubble pile, but Gem diligently followed where it led. She was intent on her target no matter how many twists the trail took, particularly because she was looking for her best cat-scented girl! When she arrived at the foot of the rubble pile—a football-field-sized mountain of debris—she was undeterred. Gem loved the rubble pile. It was big and full of smells … and holes that reminded her of digging. It was always an adventure because every step was unsure. She had to think about where she placed her paws and use caution and balance, adjusting almost constantly. It made the search challenging, and finding her target extra rewarding!
Gem wanted to show the sunshine lady she could do it. She liked the sunshine lady. Laurel reminded Gem of Roxanne and made her feel warm. She liked it when she said “good dog” and gave her treats. She liked it when she sat with her on her bed. And when she looked into her eyes.
Gem glanced back to make sure Laurel was watching, letting her know she was ready. Laurel saw her, nodded, and Gem climbed up onto the broken concrete and rebar.
From atop the pile, Gem could smell new things … scents were blowing in from far away. More smells wafted up from the tangle of rubble, making the damp tip of her dark nose quiver. Gem stopped and stood completely still. Yes. She smelled exactly what she was after. Placing her feet carefully, she made her way over to the spot and let out a bark. “Woof!” she told Laurel and the others. She’d found the girl! Juniper was here!
Juniper popped up out of a hollow covered in construction dust and let out a sneeze. “Finally!” she yelled. “It’s filthy in here!” She waited for Laurel to get as close to them as possible before giving Gem her liver treat reward. Then she and Gem carefully climbed off the trash heap and had a good game of tug with Gem’s favorite toy.
Laurel watched the pair, and especially the retriever, with a mixed heart. Gem had done really well. She was a great dog, and the two of them had clicked—it was an undeniable fact. In her rational mind, she knew that the session had gone perfectly. She knew that this dog was special—smart and loyal and strong and ridiculously talented. She loved her already. But she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to handle the heartbreak of not being able to work with her if the Lyme disease flared, or worse.
Juniper broke off the game and walked over to the spot where Laurel was lost in thought. “Got my sock?” she asked, holding up one leg and showing the bare ankle over her Converse.
Laurel smiled and pulled the striped sock out of her pocket and handed it over. This was the friendliest Juniper had been since the day she arrived. But the girl’s positive demeanor didn’t keep the lump from growing in the pit of Laurel’s stomach. With less than three days to decide, she remained utterly uncertain.
Juniper kicked at the covers that were tying her legs up in knots. The twisted blankets matched the knots in her stomach and made her feel trapped, and frustrated, and wide-awake. Twig opened an eye and glared at his thrashing girl. “Sorry,” Juniper said in a not-sorry voice. “At least you can sleep,” she groused. She placed her untangled feet on the ground and pushed back the sleep bonnet that had slid down to cover one eye. She knew what she had to do. Moving as quietly as one of her favorite felines, she took her sleeping bag off the top shelf of her closet.
“It’s all yours,” she whispered to Twig. The tabby was already stretching out to take full advantage of having the twin bed to himself. “Enjoy!” She deposited a quick kiss on his ear. He really was the best orange cat ever. But Juniper had other things on her mind.
She padded down the stairs and out the back door, letting it click shut behind her. With her arms wrapped tightly around her sleeping bag, she ran through the darkness to the canine pavilion.
When the door hinge squeaked, Gem’s ears stood at attention. Her tail thumped. She already knew who was coming to see her.
“Hey, girl,” Juniper whispered. She didn’t want to get the others dogs riled up. She tiptoed to Gem’s kennel, unlatched the door, and spread her sleeping bag on the floor. She hadn’t brought a pillow. She hadn’t forgotten one, either. Gem made a perfect cushion for her head.
“Mrow,” Bud complained at having to share the warm cozy spot beside Gem, but it didn’t take long for him to curl between his favorite dog and his favorite girl and start buzzing like Martin’s electric razor, steady and low. Gem’s breathing deepened and so did Juniper’s. She yawned as the knots in her belly untied themselves. And then she slept.
In the handlers’ lodge, Laurel tossed and turned. She wasn’t sure if she’d slept for more than fifteen minutes at a time all night, or the two nights before that! The third of the three days of consideration she’d promised to Pedro had come and gone. Everyone would be expecting her decision in a few hours. She opened one eye, only a sliver. It was morning already. Just barely.
Laurel groaned and sat up. Maybe a run would help her figure out what she was going to do next. Lying in bed not sleeping certainly wasn’t! After pulling on some leggings and two layers of sport tops and lacing her shoes, Laurel headed out. It was foggy, and she chose the trail with the steepest incline, determined to sweat out a decision, or perhaps to punish herself for not already knowing. At the peak she paused, her lungs pumping like bellows, and looked down at the gentle valley. A low-lying mist lingered, dipping into the tops of the tallest trees and obscuring the view of the ranch below. She took an extra-deep breath and let it out as slowly as she could.
Training sessions with Gem had been near perfect for three days. Working with the rosy-shaded golden was pure pleasure. Pedro and Roxanne had both told her quietly that she and Gem were a match made in heaven. “What am I so afraid of?” Laurel asked the silence.
The sound of her words faded, and Laurel laughed. She wasn’t expecting a voice to answer back, but in a way she had been waiting for the answer to appear in some form or another. She just wanted to be sure. It was time to make the decision, and she had absolutely no clarity about her future with or without Gem.
Laurel ran back down from her perch, descending into the fog. Lost as she was in her thoughts, she was surprised when she arrived at the canine pavilion. Her feet had carried her where her heart was afraid to go. It was still very, very early … early enough that she might b
e able to spend some time alone with Gem. If she couldn’t find the answer within herself, maybe the dog could tell her … somehow. Hadn’t Pedro told her that every canine and human partnership was ultimately up to the dog?
She walked in on cat feet. Tiptoeing closer, she saw that Gem was not alone. Juniper’s dozing head was resting on Gem’s shoulder, and a smaller gray lump was curled between them, all facing away from the kennel gate. She stood silently watching them breathe in unison for a few moments. The sleeping heap was adorable and squeezed Laurel’s heart.
Slowly, Gem’s tail started to thump, but she didn’t move her head. She knew Laurel was there. Juniper stirred, too. She nestled her face deeper into Gem’s ruff, then sat up and stretched. “Hate to say it, Gem, but your bed is not as comfortable as mine! Good pillow, though.” She yawned.
Bud stirred next. He stood, stretched, and quickly resettled.
Gem turned her head. She looked right at Laurel and wagged faster. Laurel took two steps back. She didn’t want Juniper to see her. She sent a silent thought to Gem, asking the dog not to give her away.
Luckily, Juniper thought the wag was for her and didn’t turn to look. She snuggled back down, putting an arm around the fluffy dog. “I’m so glad I found you,” she said. “Even if I only got to have you for a little while,” she added softly.
Laurel strained to hear.
Juniper readjusted, lying on her side so she could stroke Gem’s soft, floppy ear. “You know I don’t want you to go, but Mom and Dad have rules about us keeping dogs. We’d be overrun if we adopted every dog. Sure, you’re special, but I think Laurel is probably special, too.” Juniper sighed. It hadn’t been easy for her to admit that. “She might be almost as good as you are, and I know you’ll be happy with her.” Laurel thought she heard Juniper sniff. Juniper was quiet for a few seconds before going on. “Besides, my cats need me. I mean, somebody has to look out for their rights. Honestly, you’ve kind of been a distraction. It’s time for me to focus on Bud’s and Twig’s movie careers …”
Gem Page 9
