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Gavin would never forget the day he got the call about an abandoned dog in an alleyway, driving up with Bronte in his truck, equipped for the worst. Boots was in terrible condition, so with the help of a passing driver, they set him in the back of Gavin’s truck and did a quick check. Then drove him down to the hospital where Spencer spenthoursstitching up his wounds and cleaning him. There was a moment when Gavin felt like Boots might not make it, but like with every dog he took in, he never gave up.
Boots took a while to recover, but he did. While the oldest and most docile dog at the shelter, he was also one of Gavin’s favorites. If he hadn’t adopted Cedar, Gavin would have taken Boots home. And by the looks of it, Callahan was feeling exactly what Gavin did when he first looked at a fully healed Boots.Instant love.
“Dad, can we adopt him?” The kid turned his perfectly mastered puppy dog eyes on his father and Gavin watched as Rafferty’s resolve cracked.
“Maybe. But first, we need to get settled into the house and make sure there’s enough room and space for him, okay?”
“Okay, that seems fair.” Callahan nodded with the air of a teenager and Gavin pressed his lips to fight back a laugh. Boots having had enough of Gavin’s hand moved forward until his nose was pressed against the front of the cage. Callahan gasped and looked at Gavin in shock. “OhmygodwhatdoIdohessoclose!”
Gavin chuckled and patted the cage. “Hold your hand up, let him sniff and check you out. With dogs, you always letthemdecide if they like you or not. Dogs are great judges of characters, so if they think you’re worthy, they’ll let you know.”
“How?”
“Sometimes they’ll lick your hand, other times they’ll bark and often, they’ll nuzzle you.”
Callahan nodded and put his entire focus on holding his hand up, which Boots stared at for a minute before starting to sniff and smell. Gavin got to his feet, knowing that nothing bad would happen between them and stepped back to stand beside Rafferty.
“He won’t need a lot of room or space, because he’s pretty old. But if he and the kid bond, he’s going to want to sleep in Callahan’s room,” he told Rafferty. “And he’ll need regular walks, maybe once or twice a day, but for the most part Boots is a low maintenance dog.”
Rafferty nodded, rubbing a hand over his bearded jaw. “Is he old enough that he might die in a few years?”
Sighing softly, Gavin nodded. “It’s rare that kids are drawn to the older dogs, so we never have to worry about them wanting to take the oldies home. I would suggest having a conversation with him early on, if you’re comfortable with it. Otherwise, my colleague can help you with that.”
“He might only be eight, but this kid has been drawn to all of the old things in the world from the moment he was born.” Rafferty chuckled and Gavin watched Callahan smile as Boots licked his fingers, playfully nibbling on them. “My dad died a few years ago and Cal handled it way better than I did. But I might still take you up on that offer to have someone talk to him about the dog.”
“Sure. If I’m not overstepping, what brings you to Wildes? It’s a town that barely pops up on a map.”
Rafferty shrugged, nodding at his son. “He picked it. Something about it not being a small town, but also being a small city. I’m sure he’s got more reasons, but he’s not sharing them yet and that’s fine.”
“Kid’s got good taste. First, he picks Wildes. Then he picks my shelter and now he’s got his eyes set on Boots.”
They shared a smile and a high-pitched giggle drew their attention to Boots pushing his snout through the cage, licking Callahan’s face.Thatmoment right there was why Gavin believed so strongly in adopting and giving every dog a second chance. He’d accepted that Boots would spend the rest of his life at the shelter, but here came a kid in a purple tutu and changed the dog’s life.
The bell above the main door chimed, followed by Bronte’s voice. “I’m back!”
“With the dogs,” Gavin called back and glanced over his shoulder as Bronte appeared still looking a little out of sorts. But the minute she saw Rafferty, her face lit up. “Bronte, meet Rafferty and Callahan.”
“You’re hot.” The words came out of her and Bronte’s eyes widened as she slapped a hand over her mouth. Rafferty chuckled and shook his head. “My god, I’m sorry. I am better behaved than that usually.” She turned to Gavin and held up the paper bag in her hand. “I’ll leave your lunch on your desk.”
“Nice to meet you, Bronte,” Rafferty said, waving as she hurried out of the room.
“She’s the one who can help you talk about Boots’ age with the kid. Filterless talking sometimes does the trick.”
Rafferty nodded, still smiling and Gavin had to admit that Bronte wasn’t wrong. The manwashot. Tall with broad shoulders and long hair that was tied up on top of his head. His exposed arms were covered in tattoos and he carried himself with confidence. Rafferty reminded Gavin of his brother, Graham. Careful smiles, gruff exterior and no-nonsense attitude.
Bronte returned a few minutes later, holding a bottle of water out to Gavin, blushing as she offered one to Rafferty.
“Hi Callahan,” she said, waving at the kid who was covered in slobber. “I was thinking of taking Boots for a walk. If your dad says it’s okay, do you wanna join me?”
“Dad! Can I! Can I?!”
“Sure, bud. But you listen to Bronte and do everything she says, okay?”
Callahan jumped to his feet and bounced, making all three of them laugh. Gavin stepped aside so Bronte could let Boots out of his cage. Boots stretched, shook himself out and then with a glance at Callahan led the way to the open back space.
“Feel free to join them,” he told Rafferty as Bronte and Callahan walked off. “When you’re settled, come by and we’ll get the paperwork going.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”
