by Dale Mayer
“That’s not necessarily good enough for Debbie,” Carter said. “I know for a fact she wanted a big family.”
“But putting the money into that IVF stuff? Jeez, that’s expensive. And no guarantees.”
“No, but if you don’t go and get tested, they can’t tell what the problem is either.”
“So Debbie told me,” Brandon said in a note of gloom. “Something else I screwed up.”
At that, Carter had to laugh. They pulled up at the feed store, hopped out and wandered around. A scene that was fondly remembered from all the holidays and weekends he’d spent here with his buddy. They quickly loaded up the supplies and headed on down the street to the vet’s.
While Brandon got the medicine he needed, Carter talked to a couple of the women at the front about the missing dog. “Matzuka is his name,” he said. “He’s a huge shepherd-cross and was part of the War Dogs Department. He was flown here for an adoptive family. They said they never got him.”
The nurse frowned and asked, “Who was the family?”
“Longfellow.” His voice was hesitant as he pulled his notes from his pocket to double-check.
Only silence came from the women.
He glanced up and asked, “Problems?”
They both hesitated.
“I am here at the official request of Commander Cross of the US Navy. That dog gave a lot of years of service to our country. He deserves to have a comfortable life of retirement.”
“It would be hard to imagine that family would have been given the dog,” she said. “They’re pretty rough on them.”
“Rough in what way?”
“There have been complaints about their treatment of animals.”
“Okay. So are we thinking they may have gotten the dog and then hurt him?”
“We’re not saying anything,” the receptionist said. She glanced at the other one and said, “We don’t know anything.”
“Do you know where this family lives?”
“Yep,” the second woman said. She picked up a piece of paper and drew a map. “Here.” She handed it to him.
“Any way to contact them?”
They just shook their heads.
Carter nodded. “I can get that from the government. Thanks very much.” He turned and walked outside, studying the map. One of the things he would have to do pretty damn fast was get a set of wheels. Of his own. Although Brandon had several ranch trucks, Carter wasn’t sure how much traveling he would have to do for this mission, and he’d feel better if he paid his own way. Although Brandon would smack him hard for saying that.
As he stood here, Brandon popped out and asked, “Ready to go?”
They hopped into the vehicle and headed toward the ranch. “Any idea who the Longfellow family are?”
“Shysters,” Brandon said succinctly. “Not the kind of folks you want to hang around with. But wealthy business people for the most part. Pioneers of the town and they own most of it.”
“That’s the family this dog was supposed to be adopted out to.”
“If they had the dog, and they say they didn’t, chances are they’ve already shot it and buried it.”
“I hope not,” Carter said, “because I’ll be mighty pissed if that’s the case.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because the dog lost a leg, like I did. Because the dog served his country, like I also gave a lot of time and effort to my country. Last thing I want is to think somebody would take me out and shoot me because I’m useless.”
“You never gave us that chance,” Brandon said calmly. “You took yourself out of this world all on your own. I didn’t have a chance to tell you that I didn’t give a shit if you had one leg or no legs. But you wouldn’t even give me that opportunity.”
Carter laughed. “Good point. Very good point.” As they drove down the long driveway to the main house, he asked the question he’d been holding back on. “How is Haley these days?”
“Pretty mad, as usual,” Brandon said happily.
“If you wouldn’t pick on her so much,” Carter said, “she wouldn’t always be upset with you.”
“But it brings me joy,” Brandon said. “Besides, that’s what brothers are for.”
“That’s what brothers are for when you’re kids. Hardly what brothers are for at your age.”
“Thirty-two is not old, and she just turned thirty, and I’m not letting her forget it.”
“Ouch,” Carter said. “Unless she’s married with her two-point-three kids, she won’t take that reminder well.”
“No, she doesn’t,” he said smugly. “She’s not married.”
“Oh, I’m sorry for her then. I know having a family was a huge dream for her.”
“I figure she’s waiting for you to come back.”
“Why the hell would you think that?” Carter demanded. “All we ever did was fight.”
“What’s wrong with fighting? I think all these calm, boring relationships are overrated.”
“Yeah, but not everybody wants to argue about everything in life either.”
“Well, she doesn’t know you’re coming.”
“That’s probably not fair. She doesn’t like me.”
“She can deal with it,” Brandon said. “I told her that I’d get you back here somehow.”
Carter laughed. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
“Nope, I haven’t. Don’t you forget that.”
“How can I possibly?” They pulled up to the front of the main house, and Carter sat here for a long moment, staring at it. “I have a lot of really good memories here. I’m so sorry about your dad.”
“Me too,” Brandon said. “The fact that he died around the same time you had your accident just made it that much harder. You couldn’t come for the funeral, and I couldn’t come to your side. Once he passed on, there was nobody else to handle the ranch.”
“Being at my side wouldn’t help anybody,” Carter said. “I don’t blame you, and I wouldn’t have wanted you there anyway. I was a mess. I was in pieces, literally and figuratively.”
Brandon winced. “Come on in. Let’s put on some coffee. And I’ve got to tell you how it’s damn fine to have you home.” The two guys exited the truck, heading for the house.
Just then the side door slammed open and out stalked Haley—tall, her red hair in a braid down the center of her back. She was dressed in jeans with work boots and a plaid shirt. She was the epitome of a cowgirl.
But Carter also knew she was an incredibly talented financial analyst and was a partner in an investment company in town where she worked. She lived at the ranch with her brother. Always had. She’d planned to build a second house for herself but hadn’t gotten that far yet. At least he assumed so when he saw her coming outside from the side door in the kitchen.
She was glaring at Brandon when her gaze switched over to Carter. He waited for the moment of recognition to slam into her, and then her face went white. But, instead of saying something which he could give a snappy comeback to, her gaze went up one side and down the other; then she spun on her heels and walked back inside.
His heart dropped like a stone. He looked over at his buddy and said, “I told you that I shouldn’t have come back.”
“Not only should you have come back,” Brandon said, anger threading through his voice, “you are very, very welcome to be here. Regardless of what she has to say.”
This concludes Book 6 of The K9 Files: Parker.
Read about Carter: The K9 Files, Book 7
The K9 Files: Carter (Book #7)
Welcome to the all new K9 Files series reconnecting readers with the unforgettable men from SEALs of Steel in a new series of action packed, page turning romantic suspense that fans have come to expect from USA TODAY Bestselling author Dale Mayer. Pssst… you’ll meet other favorite characters from SEALs of Honor and Heroes for Hire too!
Staying away was harder than he thought …
Recovering from an accident was hell on anyone, but, for a stub
born guy like Carter, it was worse. No way would he be a burden. So he stayed away from Montana, where his best friend lived … and his best friend’s sister.
Until Geir and Cade ask Carter to check up on a dog delivered to a small town close by, but the dog never arrived. Considering this was one of the missing War Dogs that Titanium Corp was handling, Carter was happy to assist. Maybe even relieved as it gave him a reason to go where he’d been afraid to go before.
Walking into her partner’s office to find his dead body on the floor had sent Hailey down a nightmarish path that never seemed to end. Then it had started with Carter’s arrival. What else should she expect from the man who she’d always loved and who had rejected her time and time again. She’d hoped the attraction to him would have lessened by now, but it was even worse.
As the body count mounts, and the town takes sides, Hailey realizes that Carter was always the one to back her up, even when it meant he could die in this fight that’s gone to hell. Particularly when Carter finds the missing K9 dog, and his current owner is on the wrong side of the war …
Only Carter doesn’t care, knowing he’d always stand on the side of right, but maybe—if he was lucky this time—he wouldn’t be standing alone …
Find Book 7 here!
To find out more visit Dale Mayer’s website.
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading Parker: The K9 Files, Book 6! If you enjoyed the book, please take a moment and leave a short review here.
Dear reader,
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Cheers,
Dale Mayer
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About the Author
Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It’s a Dog’s Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).
She honors the stories that come to her – and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!
To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.
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PARKER: THE K9 FILES, BOOK 6
Dale Mayer
Valley Publishing Ltd.
Copyright © 2019
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ISBN-13: 978-1-773361-92-5
Kindle Edition
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