Must Love Dogs: New Leash on Life by Cook Claire

Author:Cook, Claire [Cook, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Marshbury Beach Books
Published: 2014-02-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Eighteen

John picked up Horatio so that I could walk into the condo first. I tried not to notice that he held him like a baby. I distracted myself by rummaging in the depths of my shoulder bag for the Dog Biscuit in a Bag.

Once I'd walked myself over the threshold, John carried Horatio over and put him down on the floor. He held on to Horatio's leash. I realized it was probably impractical for him to do this whenever I was in the condo, but perhaps we could discuss the possibility of installing brushed chrome hitches in every room so we could tie him up. That way Horatio could still hang out with us, but I'd be more likely to stay alive.

"Okay," John said. "First, I want you to claim Horatio's favorite toys."

"Excuse me?" I said.

"When you claim his toys you'll essentially be claiming a higher rung on our pack ladder."

I'd broken up enough knockdown drag-out preschooler fights over favorite toys to know that this was madness, pure and simple. I was glad I'd thought to shut my equipment bag in John's walk-in closet, because no matter what John said, reciprocity was off the table here. I had absolutely no intention of sharing my own favorite toys.

"How about we make that our back-up plan?" I took a step toward the kitchen. It was time for me to channel my inner Suzy Homemaker and bake up some canine confections.

John reached out and put a hand on my forearm. "Trust me."

I sighed. I squatted down and reached a tentative hand toward the toy basket.

Horatio snarled at me and leaped, heading straight for my carotid artery.

John yanked the leash. "Horatio, sit," he said calmly.

Horatio plopped his butt down on the hardwood floor and glared at me like I should offer to go get him a cushion.

"Okay," I said in the perkiest voice I could muster, "I think he's got the message now. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me. Ha, bet you never thought you'd hear those words come out of my mouth—"

"Horatio, down," John said.

Horatio slid his front paws forward until he was stretched out on the floor. He didn't fool me one bit. I could tell he was ready to pounce at any moment.

John turned his attention to me. "Now pick up one of his toys and rub it all over yourself."

"Eww." I said. "Like I want dog cooties."

He didn't even smile.

I reached into the basket and pulled out a Frisbee. It was glow-in-the-dark green and had actually been personalized with Horatio's name in big white block letters. And John wondered why he had territorial issues?

Horatio made the rock-gargling sound again. I put the Frisbee on my head and twirled around, then pumped it up and down like a top hat. The growl got deeper. I rubbed the Frisbee up one arm, across my shoulders, then down the other arm. Horatio's whole body vibrated. I put the Frisbee on the ground and sat on it. Horatio let out a painful whine.

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