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“Slow down. I wasn’t suggesting me for the job.”
Terence passed his avalanche dog handler exams ages ago. He gets called upon several times a season for scouting, demonstrations, and even rescues. Ranger is incredible. Just give him the word, and he’s on it like a… well, like a dog.
If that fancy not-doggy day spa was going to expand into rescue services, then Terence should be their guy.
But Terence is the one who might object. Especially given the look on his face now. I know this look, even if I don’t have a name for it. It’s the look where he’s debating several different possibilities at once, and almost always, he comes up with the worst-case scenario.
“Never mind that for now.” He flicks his hand. “The reason I asked you to come over is because I need to clear those books. My probation period is almost up, and I want to show Miss Chardonnay—she’s the owner of both the dog spa and the Chateau Rose Hotel next door—that I’m capable of doing this long-term. Make myself indispensable, you know?”
There’s no point in telling him he already is. Terence always has something to prove.
“Does this mean I get to play with Ranger this afternoon? Yay!”
Ranger hears his name in a high pitch, which flips the excited switch. He dances, jumping between his front paws, left then right, then left.
“You don’t want to take him to work?” I ask. “They let you bring dogs.”
“It’s Sunday. I don’t want to stand out any more than I have to, but the ledgers were manual for several years, so if I’m going to put together these trend reports, I’ve got to go in person.” He bites his lip. “You don’t mind?”
“You know I don’t! But Ranger, you’re better on four feet than I am on eight wheels, so you’re going to have to watch yourself.”
Ranger’s mouth closes, and his eyes widen as though he understands exactly what I’m saying.
“Roller derby.” Terence shakes his head. “Why didn’t you stick with softball for a while to see what could have come of it?”
I pretend not to hear his question. It’s a question I don’t even like to ask myself.
“Come on, Ranger! Say bye-bye to Ter-Ter!”
Ranger barks and runs to Terence, jumping on his back legs in a demonstration of agility that far exceeds my own.
Roller skates securely fashioned, I work my way down the front step. Ranger runs circles around me, herding. He’s not wrong. I am a bit all over the place.
“Keep those wrist guards on!” Terence calls. “Wrists are delicate.”
“Bye-bye, Ter-Ter!”
I turn around on the skates to wave goodbye to Terence’s bemused face. He shakes his head, though the smile on his lips suggests more than dogged judgment of my less-than-prudent choice of sport.
What is that smile?
I don’t have time to observe for long because his eyes widen, and he calls out, “Behind you!”
I turn around just in time to see a skinny tree at the edge of the sidewalk in front of my face. It doesn’t matter that it’s skinny. It stops me on the spot, and my feet roll out from under me, wrapping around the scrawny trunk. Seems my ability to skate backward in a straight line needs some work.
Ranger runs to my crumpled self and nudges under my arms to help me up.
Terence arrives a moment later.
“Alli. What am I ever going to do with my Alli?” He lifts me under my arms and sets me facing forward on the sidewalk. “Look where you’re going.”
I wave my hands over my head as I roll ahead, continuing down the hill from which I came.
“Bye-bye, Ter-Ter!”
I quickly turn and blow him a showgirl kiss, nearly losing my balance but avoiding another tumble.
I hear Terence laughing as I reel in controlled chaos down the street, Ranger trotting at my side.
