Cherished Encounter by Crystal Mary Lindsey

Author:Crystal Mary Lindsey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9781925341812
Publisher: Vivid Publishing
Published: 2015-11-26T00:00:00+00:00

14

A First Date

At about six the next morning, a ringing phone tugged at Ariana’s subconscious. By the time her mind registered the sound and she opened her eyes, the ringing had stopped. She heard only her dog’s even breathing from the doona beside her. Sometime during the night, without Ariana’s knowledge, Jedda must have decided it looked inviting.

Ariana was too tired to be bothered with getting up and going to her room. Her heavy body refused to move, so she stayed in the soft reassurance of the lounge. The kitchen light remained on as her eyelids closed with sleep, claiming her once again.

A short time later, something wet and cold touched her arm; absently, she shook it off, only to have it back again. Terrified, Ariana’s eyes shot open to find a black head and sensitive nose as the culprit. Two soft brown eyes surveyed her with a slight whimper escaping between breaths. Realization hit Ariana.

“Oh, you poor darling. I forgot to put you outside again last night. Come on, I’m getting up right now.”

But heavy from sleep, her limbs refused to move. Arching her arms above her head and stretching one leg out after the other, she persuaded herself to wake up. Jedda sat on the floor, head to one side, watching and waiting.

“Come on my, lovely girl.” Ariana finally swung free of the comfy confinement. “Let’s go outside and say hello to the new day.”

Fresh morning smells and cool air greeted Ariana as she walked with Jedda into the back courtyard.

Her girl ambled slowly around, sniffing and investigating with her nose to the ground. Each new scent led her off in one direction after the other. Her new mistress was never forgotten, as curious eyes turned to seek her out every so often. So far, Jedda had displayed no hostility, and Ariana wondered what the problem was at the refuge.

Still dressed in her scrubs from yesterday’s work, she went for a run around the huge perimeter of her yard, Jedda following close behind. Ariana picked up stick from under her enormous ghost gum, and threw it to see the reaction.

Nothing happened. Running and retrieving the stick herself, she repeated the process over and over. Finally, she sank in exhausted defeat onto the fresh, cool grass.

Laughing at her own foolishness, yet unwilling to give up, she gave one last tired fling. Well, that was that, time to go inside and shower. Jedda watched seeming to understand Ariana’s frustrated defeat. She glanced from her mistress to the stick.

Then, wonder of wonders, the dog bounded across the lawn, swooped it up, swivelled around, and ran to drop it back beside her.

Ariana couldn’t believe that when she finally gave up, Jedda decided to act. Their heads remained fixed in close proximity as Ariana and her dog looked at each other in agreed friendship.

Slipping her arm around Jedda’s neck, she hugged her close.

“What a good girl you are,” she crooned, patting Jedda’s furry neck and head. Velvet brown eyes looked back adoringly, and Jedda’s wet nose pushed closer.

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