Dog Tags: A romance anthology featuring military and canine heroes

by Kate Kinsley

  “Here! Here!” the men cheered.

  Hank grinned.

  “The bonuses are all well and good,” Taz said. “Thanks for the money. But what we really want to know is did you choose a name for Baby Patterson?”

  Hank laid a hand on Sadie’s shoulder. She covered it with one of hers and smiled up at him. “We did.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen, please meet the newest addition to the Patterson family…” he paused for a very long moment.

  “Seriously, Hank,” Swede said. “We’re not on reality TV.”

  “Stop being dramatic, dear,” Sadie said.

  Hank heaved a sigh. “Allow a man a moment, will ya? Our baby’s name is McClain Patterson.”

  The people in the room cheered softly so as not to disturb baby McClain.

  “His mother did all the work of carrying him and giving birth. She deserved to have him named after her,” Hank explained, then added with a grin, “and I get to nickname him Mac.”

  Kujo looked down at the baby boy. “Mac. It’s a great name. And he’s got a good pair of parents to raise him.”

  “And a big sister to torment him,” Molly said with a wink.

  Kujo liked when Molly teased. The light in her eyes made him want to crush her to him and kiss her all over again.

  “Kujo, would you mind holding Mac? I’d like to get up.” Sadie handed Mac up to Kujo.

  Hank held out a hand to help her to her feet and into his arms. “I love you, Sadie McClain.”

  “I love you, too,” she said and kissed him in front of everyone.

  Kujo stood with the tiny baby in his arms, afraid to move in case he slipped and dropped the infant. “What do I do?”

  Sadie laughed. “Just hold him. He’s asleep.”

  “What if he wakes?” Kujo asked, his pulse pounding hard in his chest.

  Hank chuckled. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out.” He clapped Kujo on the back, jolting him.

  Kujo wanted to tell him to watch it.

  Sadie touched Kujo’s arm. “You’ll make a great father, Joseph,” she said with a smile.

  He didn’t want to tell her that they’d had no luck in that department. Hell, he didn’t want to say anything that made him lose focus on the child in his arms.

  Sadie nodded to Molly. “Would you mind helping me with a tray of hors d’oeuvres?”

  “Just point the way. I’ll get it,” Molly said. “Shouldn’t you be resting?”

  “I’m fine,” Sadie said. “I want to see what’s happening in the kitchen.”

  Kujo watched the two women make their way to the kitchen, wishing Molly would come back and take Mac from him. The baby boy shifted, nuzzling his face against Kujo’s shirt. He was so small.

  And precious.

  Longing built in Kujo’s chest. He’d said having a baby wasn’t everything. Molly meant the world to him. If they weren’t able to have children, he’d be all right.

  But staring down at the baby boy in his arms, he couldn’t stop the emotions welling up inside him. He wanted a child. God help him.

  Chapter Seven

  Molly followed Sadie into the kitchen.

  “Joseph looked like a natural holding Mac,” Sadie murmured.

  Molly laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a look of stark terror on a man’s face.”

  Sadie chuckled. “Yes, but he was so gentle with him. I think he’ll be good with a baby of his own.”

  Molly didn’t respond.

  Sadie popped a plate of sausage and cheese balls into the microwave for thirty seconds and turned to Molly. “So, when are you two expecting?”

  Molly’s eyes filled with tears. “We’re not.”

  Sadie frowned. “What do you mean? You’re practically glowing.”

  Molly shook her head, the scent of sausage and cheese making her stomach churn. “We’re not expecting, even though we’ve been trying for the past six months.”

  The microwave dinged, indicating the thirty seconds were up. “I don’t understand,” Sadie said, pulling the plate out of the oven.

  When Sadie turned with the loaded plate, the strong aroma of cheese and sausage wafted toward Molly. Her eyes widened, and her stomach roiled. She pressed a hand to her mouth. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  Sadie set the plate on the counter and hooked Molly’s arm. “Come with me.” She led Molly to the bathroom in the master suite.

  Molly made it just in time to lean over the commode and toss the crackers she’d eaten earlier that day.

  Sadie brushed her hair back from her face and helped her to stand. “I couldn’t stand the smell of bacon during my first pregnancy.”

  “But I’m not pregnant,” Molly insisted.

  “Have you taken an early pregnancy test?”

  Molly nodded, stepped over to the sink, splashed water in her face and rinsed her mouth. “A few weeks ago. It was negative. I don’t think we were meant to have a baby. We’ve been trying so hard.”

  “I’ve seen so many of my girlfriends trying so hard, but when they finally gave up, they got pregnant.” Sadie opened a cabinet door and shuffled through the contents, finally finding what she was looking for. She held out a box. “I think you need to try the test again. I had an extra from when we were trying for Mac.”

  Molly held up her hands. “I can’t.”

  “Sure you can. I’m not going to need it for a while. Mac’s going to keep me plenty busy.”

  “No. I can’t. If it’s negative, I’m going to lose it. I don’t want to ruin the evening for Joseph by blubbering like a baby.”

  Sadie laid her hand on her arm. “Sweetheart, I’ll be right outside the door. If you feel the need to cry, we can do it together. It’ll be our secret.” She took Molly’s hand and placed the box in it. “I think you need to do this. Do it for me.” She winked and backed out of the bathroom. “I’m right outside.”

  Molly stared at the box, her hand shaking so much she almost dropped it.

  She told herself she’d be all right if it came back negative. It was just another test. Another disappointment, nothing as sad as losing Six. She wasn’t sure she could handle another blow.

  Still, she hadn’t felt well all day. And it wasn’t like she was really ill, just bluh.

  She opened the box, pulled out the wand and carried it to the toilet. Gathering her pretty red dress in her arms, she peed on the stick and waited the recommended three minutes for the results, her heart lodged in her throat.

  When she guessed the time was up, she couldn’t look at the wand, couldn’t bear to see the word “no” in the window. Instead of reading it, she set it on a piece of toilet paper on the counter, washed her hands and straightened her dress. Then she opened the bathroom door.

  “Well?” Sadie asked, her eyes wide and excited.

  “I can’t.”

  “Can’t what?” she asked. “Can’t pee? Sweetheart, I can load you up with a gallon of water. We can make this work.”

  “No,” Molly shook her head. “I can’t look. I don’t think I can stand to see the word no one more time.”

  “You took the test, but you haven’t read the results?” Sadie squeezed past her. “Where is it? Oh, here it is. I’ll read it for you.”

  “No.” Molly grabbed Sadie’s arm. “I don’t want to know.”

  “Holy hell, Molly. You may not want to know, but I’m dying here.” She grabbed the stick with a dry washcloth and turned it over.

  Molly spun away, her eyes filling with tears. “I don’t want to know,” she whispered, pressing her fingers to her ears.

  Sadie touched her arm. “Molly, you need to see this for yourself.”

  “No. I just can’t.” A tear slipped from the corner of her eyes and ran down her cheek.

  “Sweetie, you have to.” Sadie shoved the test wand in front of her face.

  Molly looked down at the window before she could look away. In the little box was the word Yes. After seeing No for the past six pregnancy tests, Molly wasn’t sure she
was seeing straight. “I don’t understand.”

  “It says ‘yes’!” Sadie squealed. “You’re pregnant, Molly. You and Joseph are going to have a baby.”

  Molly’s heart turned a somersault, and her vision blurred. “I’m going to have a baby?”

  “Yes,” Sadie said.

  Molly fought the darkness but didn’t win. She sank to her knees in her pretty red party dress and slumped onto the cool marble tile of the bathroom floor.

  “Here, let me take him.” Hank held out his hands for his small son.

  Kujo had just gotten used to the feel of the infant in his arms. But he handed the child over to his father, breathing a sigh of relief.

  “Joseph,” Sadie called out, standing at the edge of the living room, her brow wrinkled with worry. “I need you. ASAP.”

  Kujo frowned and hurried across the floor toward Hank’s beautiful movie star wife. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Molly. She passed out on the floor of my bathroom. I need your help to get her up into a bed.”

  Kujo ducked past Sadie, ran for the master bedroom and crossed to the adjoining bathroom.

  Molly was sitting up on the floor, looking at a plastic stick.

  “Molly, sweetheart, are you all right?” He knelt on the floor beside her and gathered her into his arms.

  She nodded, tears spilling from her eyes, dotting her pretty red dress with moisture. “I’m more than all right.” Her face tilted up to his and a smile spread across it, rivaling the lights shining down on her. She held up the stick.

  He glanced down at it, not quite comprehending what she was trying to get across to him. “Did you hurt yourself?” He slipped his arms beneath her and lifted her off the floor. “Do I need to take you to the hospital?”

  She laughed and shook her head. “Not yet. But nine months from now, you’ll have to take me.”

  “What are you talking about? Sadie said you passed out.” He looked down into her eyes. “That’s the second time today you’ve gotten lightheaded.”

  Molly captured his face with one hand and looked him square in the eye. “Will you stop worrying about me and look at what I’m trying to show you?”

  He looked again at the plastic stick. In a little box on the side of it was one word.

  Yes

  His brow wrinkled, and his gaze settled on the wand as realization hit him. “Is that what I think it is?”

  Molly nodded. “It’s a ‘yes’.”

  “You’re…”

  “Pregnant. Yes. I’m pregnant.” Molly wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. “We’re going to have a baby.”

  “What? Wait… How?” He stumbled with his words.

  A chuckle sounded from the master bedroom. “If you don’t know how, there’s no hope for you, Kujo,” Hank said with a laugh. “Congratulations, you two. I couldn’t be happier for you.”

  “I’m going to be a daddy,” Kujo said.

  Molly laughed at the wonder on her husband’s face. “We’re going to have a baby,” she whispered.

  Kujo crushed her to him, burying his face in her neck. “I love you, Molly. More than you’ll ever know.”

  “I love you, too, Joseph.” She held him close, tears of joy wetting her face.

  When he at last looked up, Kujo grinned at Hank and Sadie standing there, holding Mac. “I’m going to be a father.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  Kujo’s eyes widened. “I’m going to be a father,” he said, his voice shaking. “I don’t know how to be a father.”

  “Don’t worry. All you have to do is love your baby,” Sadie said.

  Molly laughed, so happy, she could barely breathe.

  Kujo carried her out of the bedroom into the living room.

  “Where are we going?” Molly asked.

  “Home.”

  “Why?”

  “You need to rest. Put your feet up. Take it easy. You’re carrying a baby inside you.”

  Molly laughed. “It’s not even the size of a peanut at this point. I don’t need to rest.”

  “You passed out. I’d say you need to rest.”

  Molly laughed and looked over Kujo’s shoulder at her host and hostess. “I guess we’re going home for the night. Thank you for having us. And, Sadie, thank you for the test. I owe you.”

  Sadie shook her head. “I’m just happy your dreams are coming true. Merry Christmas!”

  Kujo didn’t stop to bid goodbye to his teammates or his host. He marched out to his truck, gently deposited Molly on the front passenger seat and climbed in. They were home in record time, though Kujo drove safely.

  Before Molly could get out of the truck, Kujo was around the front to her side to help her down.

  For a long moment, he held her in his arms, staring down at her face in the light beaming from the inside of the truck. “I love you, Molly. So very much. And I promise to love our baby and take care of you both for as long as I live.”

  “Which better be a very long time.” Molly stood on her toes and brushed her lips across his. “Congratulations. You’re going to be a daddy.”

  “And you’re going to be a mommy.” Kujo grinned so wide he thought it might split his face. He bent and scooped Molly up into arms, carrying her across the yard to the house.

  As he climbed the steps, he nearly tripped on something lying in his path.

  It darted out of his way and stopped a few feet away.

  “Put me down,” Molly said, struggling to get down.

  Kujo let her legs fall to the ground and held her until she was steady on her feet.

  Molly flipped the light switch for the front of the house, bathing the porch in soft yellow light.

  There on the wooden deck, looking up at them with his deep brown eyes stood the most beautiful German Shepherd Kujo had ever had the privilege to work with.

  “Six,” he whispered and dropped to his knees in front of the dog.

  Six went into his arms and rested his head against Kujo’s neck, making soft whining noises.

  “Are you hurt?” Kujo asked, leaning back to get a good look at the animal.

  Six looked to be perfectly healthy, with no signs of injury or illness.

  “How did you find your way back?” Kujo asked, hugging Six tightly. “Are you hungry? You’ve been a week without food.” Kujo ran his hands over the dog’s body. He felt bonier, but not terribly. “Come. Let’s get you some food.”

  Six licked his face and struggled to be free. Once he was, he leaped down from the deck and ran out into the yard.

  “Six, come,” Kujo said, his voice stern. Fear of losing his friend again made him go after the dog.

  Molly reached out and grabbed his arm. “Don’t,” she said softly.

  “But he might run off again.” Kujo tried to shake her hand free.

  Molly refused to let go. “He came back. He’ll come back again,” she said.

  “But I don’t want him to go away. He belongs here with us.”

  Molly nodded toward the tree line where the light from the porch cast shadows. “He’s not alone.”

  Kujo stared into the shadows. “What do you mean?”

  In the darkness, a light gray ghost of a figure moved between the trees.

  Six ran out to the edge of the clearing, stopped and looked back at them on the porch.

  The gray ghost of an animal moved again.

  “It’s a wolf,” Kujo said, and he started for the steps. Again Molly held him back. “Six, come!” he called out.

  “He’s not afraid,” Molly said.

  Six ran into the shadows and met up with the gray wolf, nuzzling it with his nose.

  Molly smiled up at Kujo. “I think he’s found himself a mate.”

  Kujo frowned. “She’s a wolf.”

  Six romped in the shadows with the wolf for a few minutes then ran back to the porch where Kujo and Molly stood.

  Kujo knelt beside the dog and rubbed behind his ears. “Is that where you’ve been?”

&n
bsp; Six pushed his nose against Kujo’s hand.

  Kujo laughed. “I guess we’d better get a bigger bag of dog food. Six is in love.”

  Six ran back to the wolf, and they disappeared into the darkness.

  “Do you think he’ll come back?” Kujo asked.

  Molly nodded. “He will. We’re part of his pack.”

  Kujo pulled her up against him and bent to kiss her.

  She leaned into him. “Thank you for the best Christmas present ever.”

  “I love you, Molly. I believe you’ve given me the best Christmas surprise—and it wasn’t the red dress.” He laughed. “Although that would be right up there as second best. You’re an amazing woman. I’m blessed to have you as my partner, my lover and my wife. Now, you’re going to be the mother of our children.” He held her close, his face buried in her hair.

  “A baby and Six’s return…” Molly laughed. “It’ll be hard to top this Christmas.”

  “Yes, it will. But our baby will need a sibling…”

  Molly shook her head. “Let’s focus on one child at a time. And one litter of wolf puppies at a time.”

  She took his hand in hers and led him into the house.

  All was right with their world.

  No. All was perfect. It couldn’t possibly get better.

  Well, maybe it could.

  As they passed through the living room to the bedroom, Kujo reached for the small of her back. “Where did you say that zipper was?”

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