Mad Dog Down the Road (Coyote Run Book 2) by Marta Acosta

Author:Marta Acosta
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Badinage Press
Published: 2020-11-14T22:00:00+00:00

On waking, I became aware of the soft warm air, the summer light, and then sharp pain at my temples, but drinking and bullshitting with Hardwire had prevented me from spiraling into desolation.

I’d asked Purlynn to come to the center at 7:15, but she was waiting at the gate, dressed appropriately in jeans and boots with a Get Crafty at Looper’s baseball cap, when I arrived at 7:00. She scratched Bertie’s nose through the fence.

“Hi, Purlynn. The pack didn’t tell me you were here.”

“Hi, Maddie. Whatever Feng Shui is with animals, I have that.”

“Come on in. Stay calm, walk straight ahead, and ignore the dogs.” We entered the yard, and the pack circled around us, sniffing the newcomer. “A few residents have hall passes and are free to roam as they please, but the problematic dogs are kenneled until we can supervise them when Jaison comes at seven-thirty.”

After a brief tour of the facilities, I showed Purlynn how to use the coffee maker, and she filled out her job application and tax forms.

As she signed the last page, she said, “I’ve studied your training videos obsessively, but you never say exactly what your philosophy is.”

I squinted at the bright light angling through the window and rubbed my temples. “The general idea is to respect the species by learning to read their body language and behavior. Don’t project human emotions and motives. Reward healthy behavior and provide steady guidance. Be humble about your skills and realize that you need to learn from the experience of others. Rule number one is: Follow Jaison’s and my direction without hesitation, questioning, or second-guessing, because I can’t have our dogs or staff hurt. We can discuss techniques afterward, but not in the moment. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“Jaison’s your supervisor, and he’s fair and calm. Take your questions to him. I’m difficult, and I’ll piss you off. I’m blunt, and I inadvertently say things I don’t mean at all. I’m screwed up that way, so be warned.”

She smiled. “I have a thick hide, which is why my mother let me handle customer relations. You have no idea the hell some knitters will give you if a dye batch is a fraction of a shade different. Honestly, sometimes I’d rather scrub out the toilets!”

“Ideal attitude since you’re responsible for morning poop patrol. We clean continually because no one wants to step in crap or smell it, and a clean yard prevents the spread of disease. If a dog has diarrhea, tell me, because we need to address health problems ASAP.”

Throughout the day, I watched Purlynn perform her tasks and interact with the dogs, and I forgot about my headache and my misery. Because she kept her cool when a scuffle broke out, separating the dogs without shouting. Because she waited patiently for a dog, cowering behind a planter, to come to her. Because she sanitized the grooming equipment without complaint. And because she relaxed into the morning with a palpable contentment.

When Jai came to me and said quietly, “She’s good,” I said, “Very good.

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