Bound by Duty by Valerie Hansen

Author:Valerie Hansen [Hansen, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-02-06T19:52:31+00:00

TWELVE

Seeing Star acting so weak made Zoe want to sit with Star on the folded blanket in the kennel run and cradle the poor dog’s massive head in her lap. Only her dress uniform stopped her.

Happily, Linc had no such reservations in his ABU and sat beside his groggy dog, legs crossed.

Zoe leaned against the open gate. “Do you want me to close this?”

“Not yet. After she’s back on her feet, we’ll shut it and leave so she’ll rest. Doc says that’s what she needs most.”

Studying the row of runs she could see from where she stood, Zoe asked, “Is this where all those loose dogs came from?”

“Some of them. We have a lot more room in the Military Working Dog Training Center next door. There are indoor and outdoor housing areas.”

“I saw you catch that one dog. How many are still missing?”

Linc continued to stroke and comfort Star. “At last count, twenty-eight. Since almost two hundred were released in the first place, that’s a fair capture rate, but nobody understands why four of the best trained K-9s have remained missing. We’re all worried about them.”

“What I don’t understand is why they didn’t all just come home. I mean, they’re fed and cared for right here. Why run away and stay gone?”

He shrugged. “The theory in some cases is that since they’re not well socialized before training and a few are also suffering from PTSD, the wilds of the base beyond our developed areas appealed to them. Remember, dogs are basically pack animals. If they have a strong pack leader, they’ll follow him pretty much anywhere.”

“But the base is fenced and patrolled.”

“True. But we do get an occasional stray coyote inside the perimeter, so it’s possible our missing dogs were able to slip out. Or they could be hiding in or around small caves in the rougher terrain the way Westley James thinks they are. There’s also thick woods on base. It’s been searched, of course, but so far that hasn’t helped.” Looking up from Star, he caught Zoe’s concerned gaze and added, “We’ll catch up to them all eventually.”

“Will they still be useful after turning feral?”

“I wouldn’t worry about overcoming that. Our trainers are the best in the business. They’ll be able to handle any setbacks. It’ll just take time and patience.” He continued rhythmically stroking his dog’s shoulder.

“Do you and Star train all the time?” she asked him.

“Practice, you mean? We do our share. Maintaining the K-9’s proficiency is one of the requirements for being a handler. We never stop testing our dogs. Everyday patrols and assignments like the one I have watching you are only part of the picture.”

He fell silent and concentrated on soothing Star. Zoe listened and heard a rumble. “Is she snoring?”

Linc rested his hand lightly on the rottweiler’s head and began to grin. “Uh-huh. She’s had a rough day.” As he slowly got to his feet and backed away, he laid one finger across his lips. “Let’s go and let her sleep.”

Whispering, Zoe questioned that decision, “I thought you wanted to stay with her until she woke up.

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