“We don’t want to. Isn’t she pretty?”
Her eyes traveled down the body of the large dog. “Yes, she is.”
“Can we keep her?” Caroline lisped.
“No!” Willa lowered her shrill voice. “She must have gotten away from her owner. I’ll call Animal Control.” As soon as the words out of her mouth, she realized it was Sunday, and the town didn’t have the funds to employ someone to pick up strays on the weekend. Thinking quickly, she took out her cell phone and called the sheriff’s office, and the dispatcher promised to send someone immediately.
Willa carefully walked closer to the children and dog until she was within touching distance. Then she took each girl’s hand, tugging them away from the dangerous-looking dog. The dog whined when she stepped back, placing the girls behind her back.
She was at her back door when Charlie and Leanne came outside. The little boy stopped then ran forward before she could stop him. Leanne went slower, not wanting to appear as excited.
“Where did she come from?” Charlie asked in awe.
“I don’t know. Come back here.”
Charlie reached out to pat the dog, ruffling his fur.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Willa warned.
“Why not? He’s friendly.”
Willa was about to push the girls inside when Knox opened her side gate.
“Thank God you’re here,” Willa said in relief. She hadn’t known who to protect first.
“What’s up?”
Willa waved her hand at the massive dog. “I don’t know how he got in my backyard, and Animal Control is closed today.”
Knox went to the dog, sticking out his hand to be sniffed, and the dog licked his hand after a few moments.
“How is Sissy adjusting?” Willa took advantage of the opportunity to ask about her former foster child as he petted the dog. She had an appointment with Diamond later this week, and she was going to use the opportunity to ask for information since Flora refused to give her any news on the girl, citing privacy guidelines. However, this gave her a chance to keep her appointment strictly business.
“Good. She’s spending time with Sex Piston and her crew.”
“That must be fun for her.”
“I don’t know about that,” Knox said. “She thought making fun of Diamond’s doomsday prepping was hilarious until Sex Piston heard her. Now she’s trying to survive working in Sex Piston’s beauty shop part-time.”
Willa could imagine the biker women making toast of Sissy if she showed them her teenage angst.
“She seems pretty friendly.” Knox said, drawing her attention back to the dog. His hand went to the collar Willa hadn’t noticed. “Her name is Ria.”
“Does it say who to call?”
“No, but if she belongs to someone, they usually call the dog shelter. It will be tomorrow before we can find her owner if she belongs to someone.”
“Of course she belongs to someone, or she wouldn’t have a collar,” Willa reasoned.
“Not if the owner couldn’t take care of her anymore. Sometimes, they let them loose, hoping they’ll find a new home. What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to get rid of her.”
“I don’t have any place to keep her. I guess I could chain her up at the dog shelter. They’ll find her when they open in the morning.”
“Let her stay tonight,” Charlie begged.
Willa didn’t even think twice. “She may be dangerous. I can’t take the chance with the children.”
“I can test her and see if you want. I’ve had several dogs, and we have a K-9 on the force.”
Willa didn’t want to keep the dog, regardless, but the children made it hard to say no.
They stood around as Knox gave the dog a series of commands that she followed. Even Willa could see the dog was well trained.
“I’ll be right back,” Knox said before disappearing to the front of her house then coming back with a bag of dog food.
“I keep an extra bag in my car for Bane when his handler works double shifts.”
Willa watched as Knox fed the dog out of his hand.
“You have a bowl?”
Leanne ran inside the house, returning with one of her fine china bowls that had been from when her mother was married. Willa didn’t chastise her, watching closely as Knox filled the bowl with dog food then sat it down in front of the dog. He took the bowl away after the dog ate a few bites, and the dog sat down on it haunches, wagging its tail.
“I’m no expert, but I think she’ll be fine around the kids.” Knox’s hand smoothed over the dog’s head. “You can drop her off at the shelter in the morning,” Knox reminded her.
“Please, can we keep Ria tonight?” Charlie moved closer to the dog as if Willa would snatch her away.
“I suppose one day won’t make a difference,” Willa relented.
“Yay!” the children all yelled.
“We are not keeping her, though,” Willa said firmly.
“I’d say she’s housebroken. She won’t be too much trouble. The shelter’s pretty full right now. I had to call them Friday on a hoarder. She’ll have to be put down if they don’t find her a home.” Knox wasn’t helping.
Willa shot him a glance as the children began crying, begging her to let the dog stay. Charlie and Leanne glared at her like she was a monster.
“She can stay for a few days until I can find her a new home.” Willa caved in to the children’s cries.
“I’m glad that’s settled. Anything else I can do for you, Willa?”
“No, I think you’ve done enough,” Willa said reproachfully.
Knox gave her a grin, and Willa thought she caught sight of a tongue ring before he caught her staring. He gave her a wink before leaving. Willa blushed when she remembered Diamond’s words from the night before.
“Wait, what about my cat? Is she going to eat it?”
Knox’s lips twitched. “The cat give you those scratches on your arms?”
“Yes, she doesn’t like me, but she likes the kids. Will the dog eat her?”
“If you’re lucky.”
Willa looked at him aghast, not finding the imminent death of her cat funny.
“The dog won’t bother the cat.”
“You’re sure?”
The cat under discussion wandered languidly across the yard as they talked. When the dog bounded over to the feline, Willa waited for the cat to run or Ria to use the cat as a toothpick. Then the dog lowered his head to sniff the cat, and the feline retaliated by viciously swatting the dog on the nose. The dog took a step backward, whining.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Give me a call if you want me to take the cat to the shelter.”
Willa waited until he was a few feet away before muttering, “Jerk face.”
Knox came to a stop, turning back to face her. “Did you say anything?”
“I said have a nice day.”
* * *
Lucky was waiting for Knox when he arrived back at his office.
“She keep Ria?”
“What the fuck do you think? After I told her what you told me to say about putting the dog to sleep, the kids bawled. Made me feel like shit.”
Lucky grinned. The massive brother hid that he had a weakness for kids and squirrels, but Lucky was more than aware of it.
“How did you talk Colt out of Ria?”
“I gave him twenty thousand for her. According to him, the dog has the most protective instincts of any dog he’s trained.”
“You buy Willa a cheap engagement ring that all the women are bitching about and then buy her a twenty-thousand-dollar dog trained to be a K-9, and she doesn’t even know you bought it for her protection?”
“Yeah.”
“Shade’s right; you are a dumbass.”
Chapter 16
Willa stared down at the engagement ring on her finger, twisting it around and around. She felt like the smile pasted on her face wo
uld break, and her friends would know she was a big, fat fake.
“How about this one?” The elegant saleswoman held up a beautiful white gown with elaborate beading.
“I wanted something plainer, and it’s too puffy.” Willa regretted letting Beth and Lily talk her into this fiasco. “We’re getting married at the courthouse. Do you have a dress that isn’t so formal?”
The woman nodded, lowering the dress. “I’ll be right back.”
“Willa, even if you’re getting married at the courthouse, you still want to feel like a bride.” Lily placed a hand on her arm. “Do you see the one on the mannequin? It’s beautiful.”
“It’s too small.” She had seen the dress the moment she had entered the store. If she was really getting married, she would have tried to shove her body into the small size, but her engagement wasn’t real.
“They may have it in your size. We could at least ask,” Beth prodded.
The saleslady returned, carrying a plain white dress that was exactly what she had asked for.
Willa stood. There was no way to fight the inevitable; she was going to have to try it on.