Ember by Sarah Hines-Stephens

Author:Sarah Hines-Stephens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

“Good morning!” Georgia opened the back door with her second cup of coffee in one hand. She wore a wide smile and her long black curls swept into a loose bun. “Would you like some coffee?” she greeted Pedro with a one-arm hug.

Pedro returned Georgia’s hug and stepped inside the cozy kitchen. “Sí, I’d love some,” he told her. He removed the cowboy hat he always wore when he worked outside and ran a hand over his graying hair, making it stand up before taking a seat at the kitchen table. He loved meeting with Georgia, who was technically his boss, at her house. The Sterling kitchen was often chaotic—with four kids, there was always something happening—and it reminded him of his own family growing up. He was one of seven, and the commotion was familiar. It was one of the things that he loved best about working for the center—that it felt like home.

Today things in the Sterling household seemed fairly calm, partially due to the fact that not one of the children was in the kitchen.

“Roxanne should be here soon,” Georgia said, delivering Pedro’s steaming cup of coffee. Pedro nodded and helped himself to two heaping spoonfuls of sugar.

Georgia smiled into her mug. Pedro’s sweet tooth was no secret—he liked candy as much as her kids did. And she knew if she turned away he’d happily slip in a third and fourth spoonful of sugar. But his sugar crush was the only childish thing about Pedro—ever since he’d come to work at the ranch, things had gotten easier, especially for Georgia. Pedro was exceptionally skilled at his job. He had a remarkable way with the handlers he trained. With Pedro looking out for the people and Roxanne looking out for the dogs and the other trainers, Georgia felt like she had found the dream team. And truth be told, they all agreed that humans were the hardest animals to train.

“Sorry I’m late.” Roxanne walked through the back door without knocking. She felt badly about showing up last for the meeting Pedro had requested. “You wanted to talk about Ember?”

Georgia stood to give Roxanne a hug and get a third cup of coffee.

“Yes.” Pedro nodded and folded his hands on the table. “I was wondering how she’s coming along. The handlers I’m working with are all doing really well, and that firefighter I mentioned, the one who lives in the mountains—” Pedro stopped. He struggled to find the right words to describe the guy. “I think he’s going to need just the right dog, and I think your yellow Lab might be the one, if she’ll be ready. Unfortunately my guy can’t stick around long because fire season starts soon and with the lack of rain we’ve had this year they’re gonna need him.”

Roxanne sipped her coffee and nodded thoughtfully. “Ember is almost ready,” she said. She was about to ask Pedro more about the firefighter when Forrest bounded into the kitchen.

“Ember is totally ready!” he hooted. “I mean. Sorry for listening in.

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