She opened her gloved hands. “Yes, I am. I really worry for her out in this. I mean, you don’t see any animals or humans out tonight, Nick.”
“There she is,” he said, pointing toward the alley. “Waiting for us.”
“Oh, good!” Holly said, relief in her tone. She quickly climbed out, her boots crunching in the few inches of snow frozen on the sidewalk.
Nick gave her a tender look and kept the van on, wanting to keep the interior heated. They would be good and cold by the time they came back to it. He saw Holly slipping and sliding, arms out from her body to balance herself across the icy expanse as she went into the alley. Lady was already trotting up it toward her. Smiling, Nick placed Snowflake on his long leash, climbed out of the van, and grabbed Lady’s dog bowl that he’d made up earlier. Tucking the other bowl under his arm and grabbing the quart of warmed water, he called his shepherd out of the van, and then slid the door shut. Snowflake was leaping around and Nick laughed as they made their way around the vehicle and over to the sidewalk. The stars were out, huge, twinkling globules in the ebony-velvet, night sky.
He watched where he was walking, balancing the bowls and water, and holding on to his dog’s leash. To his delight, he saw Lady come up to Holly, wagging her tail wildly, licking her gloved hand, really glad to see her. She leaned over and gave the dog a hug, her arm going around Lady’s neck. For a moment, Nick hesitated, expecting the dog to jerk back or react. But Lady didn’t, much to his surprise. Holly kissed the top of her broad head, hugged her again, crouching in front of her, running her hands all over her long, lean body.
Nick didn’t want to scare Lady, so he approached slowly, well within her line of sight. The Lab saw him and looked up, unwilling to leave Holly’s warm, loving embrace. The cooing sounds of love she was bestowing upon Lady made her gold eyes glisten.
Nick saw Lady wag her tail at him in a friendly fashion. He told Snowflake to sit and his dog obeyed. Placing the leash holder next to him, he left a good six-feet between himself and Holly. Placing the food down, he stepped back, calling Lady to come and eat.
Nick watched Lady come over without hesitation and swiftly gobble all the dry food, plus some bits of leftover pot roast that Holly had sprinkled over the top of it. He filled the water dish, setting it down. Lady eagerly thrust her muzzle into the water, slurping happily, drinking all of it, nearly a quart of liquid. With this kind of icy weather, Nick knew there was no place for Lady to get water. It was all frozen.
He assessed her beneath the lights, paying particular attention to her paws. Large balls of ice had formed between her toes. That meant she had been out, traveling around. Those ice balls could cause actual damage to her pads if they weren’t allowed to melt off. They would get larger and larger the more Lady moved around the snowbound area. Nick wished she would come home so they could take proper care of her in this kind of deadly weather. Maybe the Spirit of Christmas would urge her to trust them enough to do that, but he didn’t hold out much hope.
CHAPTER 8
December 24, Christmas Eve
Holly tried not to worry during the wonderful dinner that Nick’s parents had shared with them at their home that evening. They had traded Christmas gifts to be opened tomorrow morning. Holly had knitted his parents sweaters to keep them warm during this unusually frigid weather. It was a gift that would keep on giving for years to come. She had also knitted Nick one, and it was now lying wrapped beneath their tree. By the time they arrived back at their apartment, the wind was gusting at forty to fifty miles per hour. It shook snow off trees surrounding the valley, the glittering, powdery snow filling the air like confetti. While it was beautiful to look at, Holly was concerned about Lady’s welfare under such brutal weather conditions.
Once back inside the apartment, she realized it was already eight p.m. Nick had made sure Snowflake’s bed was in one corner, and he added water to the nearby bowl that Snowflake drank from. The shepherd leapt into his warm, cushiony doggie bed, giving Nick a grateful look. He’d been fed scraps of ham from the Conway dinner table and his tummy was full.
Holly saw that Nick was concerned about Lady, too, but said nothing. It would do no good to talk about how low the temperature was going to drop tonight. There was nothing they could do, and she hated this helpless feeling.
“I’m going to take a bunch of old blankets down to the garage,” Nick told her, coming over, and sliding his arms around her waist.
“Why?” she looked up into his dark, green eyes.
“I think tomorrow morning, when we go over to feed Lady, we should try to get her to come with us. I’d like to be able to lead her that half-mile back here into the garage. I’m hoping she’ll follow Snowflake. If we leave the door open, she can see that we’re not trapping her and that she can escape if she wants. We can feed her there and she’d have shelter out of the wind and something warm to lie on.”
“I like that idea,” Holly agreed. “I’m so worried about her tonight, Nick. I just feel awful.”
“Yeah, I’m not happy about it either.” He kissed the top of her head and looked into her eyes. “I know you’re worrying, but Lady is a fighter. She survived any number of winters before this. And we’ve been feeding her regularly and she has a layer of fat on her now. It will act as a barrier for her.”
Holly slid her hands up and down his arms, feeling his quiet strength. How she loved him! “I know. I keep telling myself that.”
“I’ll be down in the garage, trying to set something up for Lady that she’ll accept. You might let Snowflake out when he needs to do his nightly thing.”
“I’ll take care of it,” she promised. Nick had trained Snowflake weeks earlier to go to a specific corner of the parking lot near the bushes and grass, to do his doggy toilet before going to bed. All she had to do was let the shepherd out when he walked up to the front door, letting her know he needed out.
“Okay,” he said, giving her a swift kiss on the lips. “I’ll be back in about half an hour,” he promised.
There were many things to do to get ready for Christmas morning breakfast for her shut-ins. About fifteen minutes later, she saw Snowflake leave his bed and trot down the hall toward the front entrance. Drying her hands on a towel, Holly knew it was time to let him out. Snowflake stood expectantly at the door.
Leaning down, she patted his head. “It’s cold out there, big guy, so make it fast, huh?” and she smiled, opening the door. Outside, it was dark except for the lights in the parking lot below. The wind was savage, tugging at her corduroy pants and sweater. She watched Snowflake gallop down the passageway toward the stairwell. There was no way she was going to stay out here and watch him as she usually did. He knew what to do and was well-trained. As she turned, she thought that in about five minutes, he’d be back, scratching at the front door to be let back in.
Closing the door, Holly hurried back to the kitchen. She wanted Christmas morning breakfast to be special for her elders. Never did she want to live alone, as they did. She wished mightily that she had a single building where all of them could stay together, but the money wasn’t there to make her dream come true. Until then, it was ten stops at ten homes to see each of them, which was better than nothing.
She was so busy collecting the pumpkin muffins that she’d just taken out of the oven that she didn’t hear Nick coming in until the front door opened and closed.
He sniffed happily. “Mmm, those muffins smell good. I’ve got Lady’s new home all arranged,” he told her, coming over and kissing her forehead. “Can I steal one?” he grinned, reaching for one of the muffins.
She slapped his hand. “No way! There are exactly twelve there—one for each of our elders, and one for each of us for tomorrow morning’s breakfast.”
Nick chuckled, his hand on her shoulder. “All right, oh keeper of the muffins.”
She laughed.
“Where’s Snowflake?” Nick asked, looking around the kitchen.
“Oh my God!” she cried out.
“What?”
“I let him out fifteen minutes ago!” Holly said, hurrying to the door. Opening it, she didn’t see Snowflake. Nick came and stood at her back, his hand on her shoulder. “I let him out and he never came back,” she said, her voice rising with concern. Twisting a look over her shoulder, she looked up at Nick. “Why isn’t he back? He always comes to the door when he’s done his business.”
Nick frowned and shut the door, leaning over the ice-cold railing, looking down into the parking lot. “I don’t know. I was down in the garage, but the door was closed. Maybe he heard me down there?” Nick gave a sharp whistle. It was one that Snowflake recognized as a signal to come to him.
Holly wrapped her arms around herself, terror coursing throughout her. “I don’t see him, Nick. Why isn’t he here? Could he be down at the garage door? He might have heard you earlier and gone there, instead.”
Nick turned, placing his arm around her hunched shoulders. “Let’s get inside, it’s too damned cold to stand out here without winter gear on.”
Inside the foyer, Holly could barely contain her worry. Nick quickly shrugged on his jacket, a knit cap, mittens, and gloves.
“You stay here in case he comes to the door. I’ll be right back. I’ll bet he heard me down there and he’s sitting outside waiting to be let in.”
“I hope so,” she whispered, giving him an anxious, apologetic look.
The door closed.
Nick came back ten minutes later, scowling. “I can’t find him. This makes no sense. He’s never taken off on me.”
“Where could he be?” Holly asked, watching him shrug out of his winter jacket.
Shaking his head, Nick muttered, “I have no idea.”
“God,” she whispered, “what if he scratched at the door when he was done and I just didn’t hear him, Nick? Would he take off, then?”
“No way. He’d sit right there and wait for you. He knows this is his home,” he countered grimly.
Holly bit her lip. “I have such a wild imagination, Nick.” She reached out, gripping his upper arm. “What if Snowflake was down at the edge of the parking lot, near the highway? What if someone saw him and picked him up in their car? What if someone took off with him?” Her voice was scratchy with fear as she searched his darkening features.
Nick was just as flummoxed as she was. The way his mouth tightened made her want to cry. She felt guilty. Snowflake meant the world to Nick. He’d often told her that his shepherd had helped him survive in so many ways. He loved Snowflake with his life.
“No, I don’t think it would happen. First of all, at this time of night, no one is on the highway. It’s too damned cold, Holly.”
Rubbing her brow, she squeaked, “What if there was a cougar passing by? You know they’re in our valley here.”
Nick stared up at the ceiling for a moment and then lowered his chin, holding her gaze. “Anything’s possible, Holly. It just makes no sense. He’s a WMD trained dog. He knows where home is. He knows he’s to be with me at all times. I don’t think he’d allow someone to pick him up.”
“Can we call the police? Let them know he’s missing?” she suggested, fear entwined around her words.
“Yes, we can.” Nick shook his head in utter frustration over this development.
Holly could just see the look in his expression, as if this couldn’t be happening. More guilt ate at her. “I’m sorry, Nick. I’m sure he scratched at the door.” She made a helpless gesture down the hall toward the kitchen. “I was rushing around. Trying to get those muffins baked,” and she sniffed, wiping her eyes. “I didn’t hear him. Oh, God!”
“Hey,” he murmured, folding her into his arms, holding her tightly, “this is not your fault. Stop feeling guilty.”
Just then, there was a loud, continuous scratch at the front door.
Nick quickly released her.
Holly looked toward the door. “Snowflake?”
“I don’t know … I hope so,” Nick said, opening the door.
Gasping, Holly’s eyes went wide. There, standing in the doorway was Snowflake and beside him, Lady. A cry lodged in her throat, her gaze swinging toward Nick, who was frozen in place as he surveyed the two dogs.
Before Nick could move, Snowflake walked right in and Lady followed close behind him, nose to tail.
Holly, stunned, watched as the shepherd took Lady down the hall and right into the kitchen. Dumbly, she looked up at Nick, who had the same befuddled expression on his face. “Snowflake brought Lady to us, Nick,” she said, her voice trembling.
Shutting the door, Nick stared down the hall. “I wouldn’t believe it—except it just happened,” he muttered, shaking his head.
She heard the utter relief in his voice and saw how happy he was that his dog was back. “What do we do now, Nick?”
“Hell, I don’t know. It sounds like they’re both drinking water right now. He must have gone to where Lady was hiding and led her back here.” Scratching his head, he gave Holly an amazed glance. “He’s a herd dog, Holly. He sees Lady as a part of his herd and he has a responsibility for her—that’s all I can come up with!”
She moved to him, hugging him fiercely. “It’s a miracle.”
“I hope so. I’m worried Lady will bolt if she gets scared.”
“She didn’t look frightened when she came in,” Holly pointed out.
“She’s trusting Snowflake.” He looked down at her. “Can you go into the kitchen first and get some of that bacon you fried up? Make her up a little bowl of food so she knows she’s to stay with us. That might help ease her worry about being closed in with no place to exit if she gets scared. She trusts you, Holly.”
“That’s a good idea,” she murmured. “Where will you be?”
“Right here. Let me know when she’s done eating and I’ll show up at the entrance to the kitchen.”
“But she didn’t even look at you this time, Nick. It’s like she knows this is her home.”
Giving her a half grin, Nick said, “Yeah, I saw that, too. I don’t know what to think.”
“Dogs have their own language. Maybe Snowflake told her she was safe here and not to be afraid of you?”
“That would be nice if he did, Holly.” He listened for any other noise emanating from the kitchen. There was none. “It’s quiet in there,” he said.
“I’ll go to the kitchen,” Holly promised, quickly moving down the hall.
When she turned the corner, she halted, pressing her hand to her mouth to stop from laughing. Taking a step back, she gestured to Nick. “Come here. It’s all right.”
His brows fell as he quickly walked down the hall to where Holly stood. “What?” he demanded, turning.
“Look,” she whispered, smiling and pointing into the kitchen.
Nick halted, disbelieving. Snowflake lay on his big cushion in the corner. Lying right next to him was Lady.
She thumped her tail, giving both of them a look of hello.
Snowflake panted, a relaxed, happy expression on his face.
“I’ll be damned,” Nick rasped, sliding his arm around Holly’s shoulders. “He’s brought her in and made her part of his pack. Somehow he knew when she’d be ready to accept us, too.”
Laughing softly, Holly smiled up at him. “What a Christmas gift, Nick!”
“Yes,” he said, giving her a look of disbelief, “Lady is Snowflake’s gift to us.”
“To all of us, I think.” She slipped her arm around Nick’s waist. She could feel his shock over what had just happened. “The water bowl looks empty. I’m going to go fill it,” she said. “Come on, come with me to get the bacon out of the fridge. I don’t think Lady is going to bolt and go anywhere.”
Nick wasn’t as sure, but moved slowly to the other corner where the food mat was located, the water and food bowl on it. Leaning against the counter, his arms across his chest, Nick watched the two dogs. Lady was now licking her paws, pulling off the collected ice balls that had clung to the fur between each of her toes. He watched Hol
ly fill the water bowl and set it back down nearby.
Instantly, Lady bounded off the dog cushion, coming to her side, eagerly lapping up the water. Holly cooed to Lady and patted her thickly furred back. The dog wagged her tail in response.
Nick was flummoxed. Giving his shepherd an amused look, he said, “You could have at least let us know where you’d taken off to, Snowflake.”
Snowflake lifted his head from his paws, head cocked, his blue eyes sparkling with doggy laughter.
An unwilling smile tugged at Nick’s mouth.
“I’m going to give her a little dry food and a few pieces of bacon,” Holly told him, her hand on Lady’s head as both dogs looked his way.
“Good idea,” he said. “I’ll stay where I am. I don’t want Lady to feel uncomfortable with me in such close proximity.”
“Okay,” Holly said, walking past him, Lady walking casually at her side.
Nick watched Holly open the fridge. The Lab lifted her nose, sniffing, catching the scent of the bacon as Holly took the container out of the fridge.
When Holly walked to the counter beside Nick, he wasn’t sure what Lady would do. The dog came and sat next to Holly, watching her peel open the plastic lid, knowing full well what was inside it. What amazed Nick was that the newcomer didn’t even send him a wary look. How could that be?
Holly then went to the broom closet on the other side of the kitchen, Lady walking with her once more. She put a couple of handfuls of dry kibble into Snowflake’s bowl and took it back to the counter. Sprinkling about six pieces of bacon over it, she smiled and asked, “Are you hungry, Lady? Come on,” and she took the bowl to the food mat.
Leaning over, Holly placed it next to the water bowl and stood back, watching Lady swiftly zero in and start gulping down the meal. She wagged her tail as she ate.
Holly moved over to Nick, placing her arm around his waist, leaning against him, watching Lady. “This is just amazing,” she admitted, smiling up at him. “She’s not afraid anymore, Nick. She’s really comfortable in here.”
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