Undercover Cowboy Defender by Linda O. Johnston

Author:Linda O. Johnston
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-11-23T16:50:33+00:00

Chapter 12

Oddly, Mark seemed to hustle Nicky and her quickly into the middle dog building. Other shelter residents were still walking dogs around them, but the way Mark took Nicky’s hand and hurried into the building, checking to make sure Luca was right behind them, made her feel a bit nervous.

That was silly. There was nothing to feel nervous about. The kind man probably just wanted to help Nicky have some fun with the doggies before they headed to dinner.

Right?

She was probably just imagining that Mark was doing anything besides wanting to spend a little more time with Nicky and watch him react to dogs. The guy seemed nice, after all. And he also seemed to like her son.

Did he like her too?

It didn’t matter, no matter what she felt about him.

And what did she feel? Darned if she knew.

They were inside the building near the medium-sized dogs now, with Rocky as usual at Mark’s side. As with the one housing the smaller dogs, this one also had a concrete floor lined with enclosures along the side. Those enclosures contained raised platforms that held dog beds.

Dogs too. She knew the place wasn’t filled, but there were about six dogs there at the moment. Luca recognized some as those being walked around since they’d arrived, though she didn’t know their names, and she could only guess at their breed backgrounds. Although she really liked dogs, she didn’t know much about breeds. But she guessed one they saw was a larger poodle mix than Oodles, who was outside. Another seemed to be part spaniel, and another maybe a schnauzer.

Whatever they were, she felt sorry for them. They were sheltered with at least a couple of other dogs but they still were...enclosed. No human company just then.

But maybe they didn’t mind.

“Hey, would you like to play with Lallie?” Mark pointed to the spaniel behind the penned bars along with the schnauzer. She was gray with some white markings.

“Yes,” Nicky said and clapped his hands.

In a minute, Mark had him outside the enclosure, but still on the inner walkway in the building. Did he intend to lead Nicky outside to walk or work with the dog?

Apparently not. Even though Luca had mostly seen interaction with the shelter dogs done on the grounds, they evidently were staying inside this time.

“Now, let me show you some tricks I do with Rocky, and you can try them with Lallie,” Mark told Nicky. He glanced at Luca, as if asking her to help her son, which she had intended anyway.

Soon, they were doing some of the training exercises Luca had seen the shelter residents and dogs work on outside. Mark held his hand up to get Rocky to sit, and Nicky imitated him. Fortunately, Lallie knew enough to sit, too, and Nicky shouted in glee. Luca didn’t even have to help him.

Then there was down and up and sit again. The dogs did a good job, and Luca was proud that Nicky did too.

And Mark? He demonstrated and smiled—and kept looking around the place as if he expected others to come in.

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