Alaskan Calibration by Maryann Landers

Alaskan Calibration by Maryann Landers

Author:Maryann Landers [Landers, Maryann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maryann Landers


Chapter 14

Ideas

I longed to do more to save the tan puppy that lay limp in Rusty’s folded arms. We’d been up all night, cuddling little Boo, who shivered and whimpered. It broke my heart to watch the pup suffer, and I prayed he would survive. The kids had coined the dog’s name when we discovered him all curled up next to our garage on our return home from Alaska a couple of weeks before. We tried to approach him, and he acted skittish, playing hide-and-seek as we looked for him.

Eventually, he grew to trust us. Then he adopted us as his family, and we were happy to take him in. His awkward walk, where his front legs moved quicker than his back ones, left us all roaring with laughter. We needed to laugh and find something to love. I thanked God for our Boo, who helped fill a hole in my heart.

Startled by Rusty’s abrupt movement on the couch as he awoke, tiny Boo opened his deep-brown eyes, gazed at Rusty, and whined so quietly I strained to hear. I brushed my hand on his head all around his face, shushing him, hoping to assure him and myself that he’d be OK. On the floor, I leaned over Rusty, who aroused and rubbed his eyes.

A knock at the door surprised me, and I moved to peer out the peephole. Roy was out hunting with his dad, and I was doing my best to hold myself together at home with the kids. Who would come over so early in the morning? I turned on the porch light. Jim stood outside. I unlatched the lock and opened the door.

“Good morning, Jim. Come in.” He stepped inside and went to the couch.

“Good morning, Lou.”

He kneeled next to Rusty to pet Boo, then pulled out a Tupperware container, popping the lid. He waved the Tupperware top and a delicate trace of steam ascended from it. “I did some reading and have some special food for Boo.” He looked at me smiling. “It’s chicken and rice, isn’t it nice?” He snickered at his own rhyme. “Have a spoon I can use?”

I went to the kitchen to snag a spoon and a rag. How did we know Boo would hold it down? How kind of Jim. How early did he get up to cook?

“I know what you’re thinking.” He reached up and took the spoon from my hand and pulled Boo from Rusty’s arms to cradle Boo in his own. “Faith made the soup, and I picked it up. She’ll make one wonderful wife! Um-hmm, she made the shredded chicken and found some bone broth to cook the rice in. Boo won’t be able to resist. It’s making my stomach growl smelling it.”

“Mommy, how’s Boo?” Pam’s high-pitched morning voice trailed down the hall. She came near the living room and rubbed her eyes. “Hi Pastor Jim! Why are you here?” She glanced over at Rusty on the couch and sat next to him, both of them perched on the edge.



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