An Unlikely Blessing by Judy Baer

Author:Judy Baer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Guideposts
Published: 2010-11-19T00:00:00+00:00

“I’ve got something in the pickup for you,” Dixon said after Mark and Lauren had driven off in their separate directions. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Why should I mind a gift?” Alex asked as they strolled toward Dixon’s truck.

“It’s not a traditional gift, just something I thought you needed.” Dixon cleared his throat awkwardly. “It’s something that also needs you. You can give it back, if you like, but I hope you don’t. Give it a little time and see what you think before deciding.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Alex looked at the truck for a clue. The truck bed was empty, and no box or package was poking up to reveal itself in the front seat.

He recoiled as Dixon gave an ear-splitting whistle. He flinched again when he saw a head pop up on the driver’s side of the truck like a jack-in-the-box. It was a dog, its black-and-white head suggesting a Dalmatian somewhere in its ancestry.

“Dixon, I—”

“Don’t say a word, and don’t pass judgment. Just meet him first, okay? His name is Tripod.” The dog bounced up and down inside the truck like a trampoline had replaced the passenger seat, his smooth head bumping against the top of the cab, his rosy red tongue lolling happily at the sight of them. “He’s a good dog and he needs a home. I’d take him myself if push came to shove, but I think he’d be much happier with you and vice versa. When I open the door, just stand still. He has good manners and won’t jump, but he might have to let off a little steam.”

Slowly Dixon opened the door and a quivering black nose forced its way through the crack. Then, as if Dixon couldn’t hold the dog back a moment longer, the door flew open and a thin, muscular dog with short black-and-white fur rocketed out of the cab and made a few happy circles around the men. He stopped directly in front of Alex and sat, his black rope of a tail thumping on the hard-packed ground. He gazed at Alex inquiringly.

“Dixon, I don’t know what to say!” Alex could actually think of plenty of things, but none of them seemed prudent.

“Sure you can. You think I’m crazy, you don’t want a dog, and he’ll eat you out of house and home and make messes in your yard. You’ll have to use masking tape on every one of your black suits because there will be dog hair on them; he’ll bark, scare parishioners, and make a general nuisance of himself.” Dixon looked at Alex. “Should I go on?”

“No, thank you. You’ve covered the major ones.” The dog gently put a front paw on the tip of Alex’s shoe.

“Then let me remind you of some of the positive things he’ll do,” Dixon offered.

“Do I have a choice?”

“No.” Dixon didn’t even smile, so intent was he on making his point. “He’ll keep you company when no one’s around, keep you warm in bed at night and think you’re the greatest thing on earth since sliced bread.

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