by Gail Sattler
Even though she needed more dogs in order to become profitable, she turned him down. She refused to accept any dog that wasn’t adequately trained. At least Edwin hadn’t tried to bluff his way through that one, but when he started to beg, she couldn’t take it anymore.
The final straw had come when Dozer dropped his soggy rawhide chew in her lap. Edwin had been so embarrassed that she caved in and agreed to help him. She didn’t know how he did it, but he got her to agree to make arrangements for the following weekend to begin some basic dog training.
This time, no matter what he said or did, Doreen in-tended to keep things strictly business. She may have been rooked into spending an afternoon with him, but she would not go out for dinner with him again. She would not meet him for coffee in the evening, and if his dog did not respond adequately to instruction, she would never see him again.
She smiled, knowing schnauzers trained easily, then scowled at where her thoughts were leading. Her future plans did not include Edwin Olson.
Knowing she would be rising early, Doreen piled her music books beside the door in preparation for the first Sunday morning service, and went to bed.
five
Taking a deep breath, Doreen closed her eyes and rested one hand on her stomach, trying to calm her nervous energy. Today was scheduled to be strictly a business visit. She planned to work on some basic obedience training for Edwin’s dog, nothing more.
Fluffing her hair, she took another deep breath and straightened her blouse with her hands. She probably didn’t look any different than she looked two minutes ago, the last time she checked herself in the mirror.
In the distance, a car bumped up her gravel driveway, followed by an echoing silence as the hum of the engine ceased.
He had arrived.
Doreen blinked and shook her head as she peeked through the curtains. Dust wafted around the car in a cloud, but Edwin did not get out. At first, she assumed Edwin was waiting for the dust to clear, but soon she was able to see Edwin attempting to snap the leash on Dozer. As usual, Dozer was not cooperating.
The dog jumped soundly in Edwin’s lap, making Doreen wince in sympathy. After a number of failed attempts to catch him, Dozer bounced back and forth between the front and rear seats, making it impossible for Edwin to get a grip on him.
Doreen figured that it would be easier if Edwin simply opened the door to let the dog out, but she knew Edwin wanted to make a good impression by bringing his dog to the door obediently on the leash. She hoped he would swallow his pride and give up, because judging from his progress, or lack thereof, he was losing the battle. Badly. Dog one, owner zero.
Finally, Edwin managed to snap the leash onto the collar. The car door opened. Doreen stifled a smile as Dozer bolted out, pulling Edwin with a powerful lurch strong enough to jerk his head back. Dog two, owner zero.
So as not to betray her presence, Doreen gently eased the curtains shut and waited for Edwin to ring the doorbell. Gretchen ran across the room, barking and jumping against the door before Edwin came within ten feet of it. On the outside, Doreen heard Dozer barking in response, accompanied by frantic but unheeded commands to sit, stay, heel, lie down, and finally, to shut up. Dog three, owner zero.
Doreen waited patiently behind the closed door, but soon began to wonder why he had not rung the doorbell. Placing her hand on the doorknob, Doreen looked at Gretchen. Had Gretchen barked so much she had not heard it?
“Sit,” commanded Doreen quietly but firmly, her hand remaining on the doorknob. Gretchen sat in silence, waiting for the door to be opened, her tail wagging so fast and furious that the whole dog shook, but she obediently sat as commanded.
Doreen quietly opened the door to see Dozer sitting, and Edwin hunkered down with his back to the door, gently steadying the dog by the snout with one hand, the other holding up the dog’s shaggy eyebrows as he stared Dozer sternly in the face, unaware that she was standing behind them.
“Listen, you large-nosed idiot,” he explained softly and slowly, as if the dog were capable of understanding, “when you meet a lady, you’re supposed to be cool and calm and collected, show her you’re suave and sophisticated. Show her you have style. Impress her.”
“Oh, I’m impressed, all right,” she snickered. Dog four, owner definitely still zero.
Startled, Edwin stood abruptly and faced her, his face beet red. “Oh, I, uh, didn’t hear you. We were just having a little chat.”
“I see,” Doreen said with a half smirk. “And how much of that little chat do you think he’s going to obey?”
Edwin shrugged his shoulders. He’d been caught. “None, I’d think.” He looked down to see Doreen’s dog sitting quietly and obediently at her side. The only sign of excitement was a rapidly wagging stump of a tail. “I don’t suppose that I could ever expect Dozer to behave like that?” he asked, hoping for the hopeless.
“I don’t see why not,” Doreen replied, tilting her head to one side as she spoke. “It’s going to take work on both your parts, but there is no reason you can’t get your dog to behave. Want to start now?”
He looked again at Doreen’s dog, who was still sitting by her side, good as gold. Could it really happen to him? “Yes, please,” he replied, trying not to look like a kid at Christmas.
Doreen cleared her throat, then frowned. “Just don’t expect miracles, Edwin. This is probably the first time you’ve ever tried anything like this, isn’t it?”
“Can you tell?”
She closed her eyes for a second, then sighed loudly. “Okay, let’s go out to the open area behind the house.” Doreen turned to Gretchen and made a swooping motion with her hand, moving her palm downward, and then changed it to a pushing motion in midair. Gretchen lay down on her haunches, not moving, except for the lolling motion of her tongue as she panted. Doreen pointed the way, and led Edwin and Dozer behind the house.
With a note of satisfaction, Edwin noticed that Gretchen was nowhere in sight. “Where’s your dog?” he asked, inwardly gloating, as they rounded the corner to arrive behind the house. So much for her well-trained, perfect schnauzer. He straightened his back.
“I told her to lie down and stay. She’ll come when she’s called.”
“You did? I didn’t hear you.” No words had been spoken, she had only waved at the dog with some odd sort of hand motions.
“I did it with hand signals. But since she can’t see around the corner, I will have to call her.” Doreen turned so as not to yell in Edwin’s ear. “Gretchen, come,” she called out firmly, once. No pleading, no begging, no repeating herself. Doreen was silent.
Within seconds, the dog appeared at a run around the corner, then faithfully sat in front of Doreen, who rewarded her with a gentle pat on the head.
“Wow,” was Edwin’s only response, accompanied by a dirty look toward his own mutt, who was pulling at the leash for all he was worth to get at Gretchen.
“Come on, I’ll show you how it’s done, but you have to practice every day. We start with basic ‘sit’ and ‘heel’ and ‘come,’ and then we’ll move on to the rest another day.”
Patiently, Doreen showed Edwin how to make his dog behave, walking and helping him through the lessons, telling him that there was no such thing as a bad dog, just bad dog owners, with the exception of certain breeds. Within a short hour, he felt he had made progress, and promised to practice every day.
“So when will you take him during the day?” He hoped for Monday, because they had made so much progress in one short lesson.
“When he will come on command the first time I call him, however long it takes,” she replied. “Your score slowly has been catching up to Dozer’s, but unfortunately, Edwin, the dog’s score remains in the lead.”
He had no idea what she meant, and he didn’t dare to ask. It sounded like a polite way of saying maybe in a million years they’d be ready, so he steeled his nerve, and tried a different approach. “Have you thought about going out with me again? Wanna take in a movie? Or go out for dinne
r again? If you’re pressed for time, we can just have a quick coffee and dessert. I’ll even promise to do everything you say with the dog.”
Doreen tried not to groan. The obedience lessons were for his benefit, not hers. She stared into his face, trying to decide what to say. Despite his good-natured protests, she thought she’d made it perfectly clear she had no intention of going out with him again; yet he apparently didn’t give up. He’d already resorted to begging the other day, and she’d caved in. She wouldn’t put it past him to drop to his knees and make a scene, which wouldn’t have made any difference, since they were at her house, and alone.
Edwin arched an eyebrow and winked. Doreen melted. “You win. I wouldn’t mind a coffee, but I can always put on a pot here rather than going out.”
Edwin didn’t want to be her guest in her home. He wanted to take her out, charm her, to play the gallant male. He wanted to impress her. But, on the other hand, an invitation from Doreen into her home was progress. He’d take it.
The role reversal intrigued him. Unlike most of the women he went out with, Doreen was not actively manhunting, with him being the object of the chase. In fact, just the opposite. He knew she was trying to tell him nicely that she wasn’t interested, but yet, if he continued on his light-hearted casual pursuit, maybe some day she would feel the same way about him that he felt about her. Not that he believed in love at first sight, he wasn’t that foolish. But the pull on his heartstrings was like nothing he’d ever experienced before, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
He stepped forward, bringing them within touching distance. With a lump in his throat and his heart on his sleeve, he reached out and touched her hand, then gently massaged her wrist with his thumb. “If all you want is coffee, that’s fine, but I’d prefer to take you out, Doreen,” he said demurely, gazing into her eyes. He gave her a lopsided smile, then gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “How about lunch? There’s a great deli not far from my place, and that will give me a chance to take Dozer home.” Smiling his best lady-killer smile, he awaited her answer.
Doreen stared at him, her mouth gaping, then yanked her hand back. His smile heightened his dimples, and the most attractive little crinkles appeared in the corners of his deep brown eyes. The man could be in commercials. “Quit trying to charm me, Edwin. I’m wise to you.”
He didn’t even have the grace to look contrite. All he did was widen the smile. Trouble was, even though she knew what he was doing, she was falling for it. She rubbed her wrist, then backed up a step. “Give me a minute to lock up, and I’ll be right back.”
Turning to Gretchen, she made another hand signal, ending with pointing to the house, and Gretchen galloped to the front door and hopped through a doggie door. “I made that one up. I told her to get back in the house. I hope you’re taking notes.”
“Of course. Do you doubt me?”
Doreen mumbled to herself rather than comment. She utilized the time she used to go inside and fetch her keys to organize her thoughts. The man was going to drive her crazy. Lost in thought after she locked the front door, she automatically stepped toward her van.
She heard the sound of Edwin clearing his throat. “I thought we’d take my car, that is, if you don’t have any objections. You don’t want to bruise my fragile male ego, do you?” He placed one hand over his heart, making a great show of acting wounded.
Doreen doubted his ego was the least bit fragile. The thought had crossed her mind to take her own vehicle so he wouldn’t have to drive her home, but he was laying it on a little thick.
In fact, he played downright dirty. When she opened her mouth to politely object, he smiled impishly, showing off his dimples and a beautiful set of sparkling white teeth to their best advantage. Doreen suspected that he knew exactly how good-looking he was, and used it to his advantage.
Doreen bowed her head and covered her face with her hands. She did object to going in his car with him. She didn’t want to get personally involved with Edwin. He was a prospective client, not a date, and she was determined to remain professional. Other clients needed dog obedience lessons. What made him different?
By the time she opened her eyes, Edwin was standing beside his car, holding the passenger door open for her. When he knew he had her attention, he bowed and swept his arm in the direction of the seat, inviting her in.
She couldn’t help but smile. Never before had any man been so persistent, or tried so hard. It was a treat to be catered to, and flattering to be courted, and she knew she was being courted. As sheltered a life as she had led, she had no doubt of his intentions. She resolved not to fall for them.
“What about all the extra mileage you’ll be putting on?”
Again, he flashed her a perfect smile. “Your van is worse on gas than my car. And I don’t mind driving you back home. In fact, I insist.”
As he held out his hand once more, all her resolve melted. Mr. Right, he was not, but he was nice, and, judging from past experience, she knew she would have a pleasant afternoon with him.
“All right, we’ll take your car,” she sighed. Her voice lowered to a mumble. “How do I get myself into these things?”
“Did you say something?”
Fortunately, he closed the door for her, then jogged around to his side, sparing the need to reply. Dozer already waited in the back seat, for once sitting still.
The conversation on the drive to his house remained light, allowing Doreen to relax and enjoy herself. Once they arrived at Edwin’s house, it took only a few minutes to put Dozer inside so they could continue on their way.
The deli turned out to be a small, comfortable family- owned eatery, and judging by Edwin’s familiarity with the staff and some of the other customers, he was no stranger here. A robust, gray-haired lady showed them to a small table, and laughed as she asked if they wanted menus. Edwin laughed back, indicating some sort of private joke.
“I don’t see anything funny about the menu,” Doreen teased, turning and examining it dramatically, as if studying it intently.
Realizing she was pulling his leg, Edwin gave her that impish grin that she was starting to know and love. “I come here all the time, and she knows I have it memorized.” His menu remained unopened on the table. “She knows what I want. Care for a demonstration?”
The way he asked almost seemed like a dare. After making her choice, Doreen closed her menu and laid it on the table. “You’re on.”
The gray-haired lady returned. “You folks decided?”
Edwin winked at the lady, and she responded with a playful snort and tapped her pencil on her order pad. “I’m entertaining a lady friend, I’m happy, and I’m hungry. What do I want today, Marge?”
Marge scribbled on the small pad and tucked his menu into her apron pocket. “And what’ll you have, Miss?” she asked, pencil poised.
Doreen raised her eyebrows at the most unusual method of ordering she had ever seen. “Are you two related?”
The older lady laughed heartily. “Only by frequency and familiarity.”
Doreen made her selection, Marge scribbled down her order, and was off with a friendly wave of her chubby hand.
“Just how often do you come here?”
Edwin grinned impishly. “Often.”
“So, what did you order?”
He tapped his chin with his index finger and closed one eye as he appeared to be running through a mental list of possibilities. “Now if I were to follow Marge’s way of reasoning, I said I was entertaining a lady friend, that’s you,” he paused long enough to make her blush, “so my guess is that it’ll be something without ketchup or sauce to dribble down the front of me when I’m eating. No offensive onions or garlic.” One hand fanned in front of his mouth as he grinned. “I’m happy, so it doesn’t have to be my current favorite, it might even be good for me. Also, I’m hungry, so I know she’s going to give me the larger size. Bet she brings me a shrimp sandwich. And no fries, something else. But not a green salad, because salads are for girls, so be
tcha she brings potato salad.”
Edwin rested his elbows on the table, then folded his hands in front of him. “There. That’s what I’m having for lunch.”
Sure enough, when their lunch arrived, Marge placed a shrimp sandwich with potato salad in front of him.
He was not too ashamed to gloat. Doreen wondered if he was ever serious about anything. She paused for a moment to see if he would pray before their meal. When instead he took a huge bite from his sandwich, she quietly said grace to herself and began to eat. It was just another indication that his priorities were different from hers.
She was partway into her first bite when Edwin spoke. “Nice place you have out there in the middle of nowhere. How long have you lived out there?”
Waving her hand while she chewed, she wondered if his timing was deliberate. Unable to speak with a mouthful, Doreen shrugged her shoulders. He waited politely while she gulped it down. “About two years, but I spent many summers there as a child. It was my Uncle Doug’s property, and he willed it to me when he died. If it wasn’t for that, I would never have been able to afford to start up my business. I only need a few more dogs, and I’ll be making a decent living.”
“I guess it keeps you busy.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Not really. I start around ten, the dogs run free for most of the afternoon, and I’m always home by supper time.”
“Really? Well, are you busy Thursday after work? Want to go to a barbecue?”
“Depends what time. I’ve got practice at seven.”
“Practice? What are you practicing?”
“For Sunday morning church service. The worship team gets together every Thursday to practice.”
“Oh. The barbecue starts at six-thirty, after everyone is home from work. The whole neighborhood is invited, and everybody’s encouraged to bring a guest.”
“Sorry. It probably would have been fun, but you’ll have to find yourself another guest.”