“I was enthusiastic. I was also concerned about the cost and time commitment. But then you stepped up to help. And there is something about a rescue involving Santa that that brings the magic of the season into play.”
“Well I for one am happy that the whole team is behind the project.” Harley took a step back and looked at the building. “Maybe we need lights in the trees.”
“That would look awesome but I’m not sure the electrical system can handle many more lights than we already have.”
“True. I guess I’ll have to upgrade the electrical system before next year. I bought a generator for the house. Maybe something like that would work for the tree lights.”
I shrugged. “If you want to go to all that expense I think it would look awesome.”
Harley and I worked side by side until the shelter looked like it might ignite from all the lights. I was just about to suggest we head inside for some hot cocoa when a man in a Chevy Truck pulled up, got out, opened the back door, lifted an adorable yellow puppy who looked to be some sort of lab mix into his arms, and headed toward me.
“Do you work here?” He asked.
“Yes. I’m a volunteer.”
The man handed me the puppy, who I estimated to be four months old, turned, and walked back toward his truck.
“Wait,” I yelled after him. When the man didn’t stop I thrust the puppy into Harley’s arms then took off at a jog. “Are you surrendering this puppy?”
The man opened the driver’s side door to his truck. “I am.”
“Why?”
The man glared at me with angry eyes. “I don’t want or need a dog.”
“So why did you get a puppy?”
“I didn’t get a puppy. My mother was not happy about the fact that I decided to live all alone in this god forsaken wilderness, so she decided to remedy the situation by giving me a forty pound pooping and chewing machine.”
I put my hand out to stop the man from leaving before I could have my say. “Puppies chew and poop in the most inopportune places but with a little training…”
The man slipped into the truck. “I’m not interested.”
“Do you live here in town?” I wondered.
The man shook his head. “About an hour north of here. Now if you don’t mind.”
I stood back. The man closed his door and drove away.
I stamped down my anger. Some people! Of course I was glad that the man dropped the puppy off with us and didn’t simply abandon it as some folks were apt to do. I watched the truck pull onto the highway and out of sight then turned around and headed back to where the pup was slathering puppy kisses all over Harley’s face. “He likes you,” I laughed.
“Maybe but that doesn’t mean I have room in my life for a dog.”
Feigning innocence I replied. “Did I say that I thought you would be a good match for this little cutie?”
“No but I know you and I’ve seen you work your magic on others. First you will point out how cute the little guy is and then you will casually mention how much the pup likes me. Once I agree to that, in theory at least, you will segue into a comment about it being the holidays and the shelter being overcrowded and wouldn’t it be nice if the pup had a home for Christmas. I would attempt to extract myself from the situation by pointing out all the very real reasons why a puppy would not work for me given my lifestyle, but eventually I would find myself seduced by your sweet smile and big brown eyes, and before I even knew what had happened, this energetic little chewing machine would be entrenched in my house happily eating my sofa while I tried to figure out how on earth you had talked me into bringing him home in the first place.”
I laughed. “Very good. That is exactly what I’d planned. So how about it? Just for a few days until I can find someone to foster him.”
“I thought the whole reason you wanted to open this shelter was to house the local animals that had been abandoned.”
“It is,” I replied. “And you know how much I and everyone values your contribution. But this little guy is just a baby. He needs training and attention. He really would be better off in a home.”
Harley hesitated.
“But if you are too busy, I guess I can ask Wyatt or maybe Landon. Neither would be as good a foster as you, but I suppose beggars can’t be choosers.” I sighed in such a way as to indicate that the situation was a lot direr than it actually was.
Harley let out a long breath. “Okay fine. But just for a few days. I can’t have a dog on a permanent basis. I travel all the time. It wouldn’t be practical.”
“I know. And a few days will help a lot.” I stood on tip toe and kissed Harley on the cheek. “Let’s head inside. I’ll see if I can find a collar and leash and then we will head to the pet store.”
“Pet store?”
“The pup is going to need things. Food. A bed. Some toys and grooming supplies. You know, all the standard stuff. Oh and a name. We can’t keep calling him the pup.”
“I’m not naming him.”
I shrugged. “Okay then I will. How about Rudolph.”
Harley raised a brow. “Rudolph?”
“It is almost Christmas and the man did say that he lived up north. Rudolph seems like an appropriate name for a Christmas puppy from up north.”
Harley held the pup out and took a closer look. “He is going to be a large dog. And I can already tell he is smart. He needs a name with some dignity. How about Brando.”
I smiled. It looked like Brando had found a new daddy whether Harley knew it or not.
Cranberry Muffins
Combine in large bowl:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1½ tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 stick butter
Add:
¾ cup orange juice
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbs. vanilla extract
Fold in:
1½ cups cranberries, chopped
2 cups pecans, chopped
Bake in greased muffin cups at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes (toothpick should come out clean). Cool.
Books by Kathi Daley
Come for the murder, stay for the romance.
Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery:
Halloween Hijinks
The Trouble With Turkeys
Christmas Crazy
Cupid’s Curse
Big Bunny Bump-off
Beach Blanket Barbie
Maui Madness
Derby Divas
Haunted Hamlet
Turkeys, Tuxes, and Tabbies
Christmas Cozy
Alaskan Alliance
Matrimony Meltdown
Soul Surrender
Heavenly Honeymoon
Hopscotch Homicide
Ghostly Graveyard
Santa Sleuth
Shamrock Shenanigans
Kitten Kaboodle
Costume Catastrophe
Candy Cane Caper
Holiday Hangover
Easter Escapade
Camp Carter
Trick or Treason
Reindeer Roundup
Hippity Hoppity Homicide
Firework Fiasco
Henderson House
Holiday Hostage – December 2018
Zimmerman Academy The New Normal
Zimmerman Academy New Beginnings
Ashton Falls Cozy Cookbook
Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries by Henery Press:
Pumpkins in Paradise
Snowmen in Paradise
Bikinis in Paradise
Christmas in Paradise
Puppies in Paradise
Halloween in Paradise
Treasure in Paradise
Fireworks in Paradise
Beaches in Paradise
Thanksgiving in Paradise – Fall 2019
Whales and Tails Co
zy Mystery:
Romeow and Juliet
The Mad Catter
Grimm’s Furry Tail
Much Ado About Felines
Legend of Tabby Hollow
Cat of Christmas Past
A Tale of Two Tabbies
The Great Catsby
Count Catula
The Cat of Christmas Present
A Winter’s Tail
The Taming of the Tabby
Frankencat
The Cat of Christmas Future
Farewell to Felines
A Whisker in Time
The Catsgiving Feast
A Whale of a Tail – April 2019
Writers’ Retreat Southern Seashore Mystery:
First Case
Second Look
Third Strike
Fourth Victim
Fifth Night
Sixth Cabin
Seventh Chapter
Eighth Witness – January 2019
Rescue Alaska Paranormal Mystery:
Finding Justice
Finding Answers
Finding Courage
Finding Christmas – December 2018
A Tess and Tilly Mystery:
The Christmas Letter
The Valentine Mystery
The Mother’s Day Mishap
The Halloween House
The Thanksgiving Trip
The Saint Paddy’s Promise – March 2019
The Inn at Holiday Bay:
Boxes in the Basement
Letters in the Library – February 2019
Family Ties:
The Hathaway Sisters
Harper – February 2019
Harlow – May 2019
Haden – August 2019
Haley – November 2019
Haunting by the Sea:
Homecoming by the Sea
Secrets by the Sea
Missing by the Sea
Christmas by the Sea – March 2019
Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery:
Murder at Dolphin Bay
Murder at Sunrise Beach
Murder at the Witching Hour
Murder at Christmas
Murder at Turtle Cove
Murder at Water’s Edge
Murder at Midnight
Seacliff High Mystery:
The Secret
The Curse
The Relic
The Conspiracy
The Grudge
The Shadow
The Haunting
Road to Christmas Romance:
Road to Christmas Past
USA Today best-selling author Kathi Daley lives in beautiful Lake Tahoe with her husband Ken. When she isn’t writing, she likes spending time hiking the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home. She has authored more than seventy-five books in eight series, including Zoe Donovan Cozy Mysteries, Whales and Tails Island Mysteries, Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mysteries, Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Series, Writers’ Retreat Southern Seashore Mysteries, Rescue Alaska Paranormal Mysteries, and Seacliff High Teen Mysteries. Find out more about her books at www.kathidaley.com
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