Chapter 26
Cole really wasn’t surprised that neither of them could wait to buy their RV.
They spent a week doing research, dropped into three different dealers, and got themselves a pretty damn good deal.
The next event was drivable, and they decided that even though they were pretty green, they’d give it a shot.
That was very in-character, he thought. They were both decision makers and they didn’t need to hem and haw, so they just set their priorities and did it.
Dogs, though—a dog wasn’t an intellectual decision. And he already knew their visit to the rescue was going to be an adventure.
Bodie was bouncing, humming with excitement, and Cole thought they should have done this weeks ago.
He could probably ask Bodie for the world right now, and his lover would say yes.
Cole followed along behind him. He wanted a dog, but not the same way Bodie did. He knew he’d be happy with whatever Bodie decided. “So how are you going to know you found the right one?”
Bodie blinked at him, face totally “Well, when we find him. We’ll know.”
He nodded. “Right. We will.” He would, because Bodie would be over the moon and that would make him stupid happy too.
Bodie was like a kid in a candy store, wandering through, talking to each and every dog. And they were all so happy to see them. They were a little desperate too, and some of them were just sad, back in their cages and hiding.
Bodie stopped, though, boots actually sliding on the concrete, and Cole knew that his lover had found something. He just wasn’t sure what.
The dog that was in that pen was the size of a moose, and laying on top of it was a tiny little fuzzy ball of fur and teeth. The sign on the cage said, “bonded pair.”
“What the hell is that?” he asked.
Bodie grinned. “That’s a Saint Bernard and a Yorkie.”
“That’s a moose.”
“Saint Bernard. I want to see her. She’s beautiful.”
Cole just sort of stared at him. He assumed “bonded pair” meant that they came together, so that would mean a moose dog and then a fuzzy rat that the moose dog could eat in one bite.
“I… but… can we fit a moose in our RV?” He already knew that didn’t matter; Bodie was waving to a volunteer for help.
“It says her name’s Amelia. It says that the little one’s name is Earhart!” Bodie grinned at him, eyes just sparkling. “Get it?”
“Oh, yes, babe. I get it.” He got all of it. The pun, and how quickly Bodie was falling in love. He figured he’d better get on board. Plus, there was no denying they were adorable together. “They are pretty cute, huh?”
“I can’t wait to see how they react to us, how they walk together, and what their personalities are.” Bodie knelt down, whistled softly. “Hey, guys, Amelia. Earhart.” The fuzzy little one growled, but the big one’s tail thumped happily.
Cole chuckled. “Figures the little one is the firecracker.” He knelt next to Bodie. “Listen, Earhart. We’re Good People. I promise.”
The young lady came walking up with the clipboard.
“These were owner-relinquished cases. Mom had cancer and couldn’t keep them.
She passed away. Amelia is eighteen months old.
Earhart is also eighteen months old. They’ve been together since they were born.
They came from the same breeding house. So they’re totally a pair. ”
“Oh, poor sweet babies. I want to see them both.” Bodie didn’t sound like he had a doubt in the world.
“Sure.” She gave them both some treats, then backed them up so she could get the pen open. “These two are my favorites. Don’t tell the others. Amelia’s a love, Earhart is super protective and takes a minute, but the treats are the way to go.”
“How do they do on the leash? Have they been with any other dogs?” Bodie had a hundred questions and was firing them off a million miles a minute. Cole stopped trying to keep track and just followed Bodie’s lead.
“How do you think they would do in an RV?” He had to ask the question, even if Bodie squinted at him.
“Well, they need some elbow room, but they used to live in an apartment so…” she shrugged. “Pretty good, I think as long as you can get them outside a lot.”
He nodded. “Great. No problem there.” He winked at Bodie.
Amelia came galumphing over as soon as Earhart got up, and she tackled Bodie, who met her energy and strength with his own solid body, rubbing her rough and loving on her ears.
That tail was going ninety to nothing, like she just absolutely knew that this was her person and that someone had come to get her. Finally.
Earhart just stood there and stared at Cole, glaring.
“Oh, so serious. Hey, gorgeous girl,” he said, knowing exactly how stupid that sounded.
“She’s a puppy. Just a baby. Aren’t you? Just a sweet baby?” Bodie’s eyes cut over to Earhart, and he held out a treat, pointedly ignoring her? Him?
Earhart tip-tapped all the way over to Bodie’s hand and then snipped it right out of his fingers, running as fast as he could back to the other side of the cage and snarfing it down like he was starving.
Well, that just broke his heart. Poor pup. He sat just outside the cage and followed Bodie’s lead, holding out a treat to one side while focusing on Bodie. “Amelia seems to have your number, huh?”
“She does. Look at this gorgeous baby. Look at her.”
He was busy not looking at Earhart.
Cole heard Earhart sneak over and after some snuffling, he took the treat from Cole’s hand. Cole quickly offered another, and Earhart ate that one up too, this time nosing his fingers after.
“Somebody likes treats.” Cole offered one more.
“Somebody does. He’s a little puffball of joy, isn’t he?”
“I’m not seeing the joy yet, but I think we might get there.” He sat a treat on his knee.
“You will. He wants to be loved. He wants out of here. They both do. I can tell.”
“I’m sure they do.” Earhart came and sat by his knee, nose sniffing at the treat. “You think the moose will drown us in drool?”
“Absolutely. She’s born for big lips and snuggles.” Bodie flapped her lips, utterly unafraid.
Cole chuckled and pretended he didn’t notice the treat disappear from his knee. He put down another one. “What do you think, Earhart? Can I give you some scritches?”
Earhart stood there, staring at him, scooting closer and closer.
He reached out slowly, just enough that Earhart could get a sniff, then he stretched his fingers out to scratch at his little bearded chin. “There you go. See? I’m friendly. Plus your girlfriend there has already made her decision.”
“Yep. She knows a giant sucker when she sees one.” Bodie met his eyes. “What do you think? You’re happy?”
“I think we’re going to have our hands full.” He still felt a little skeptical, but that all dissolved every time he saw Bodie’s smile. “Yes. They’re besties, I love that.”
“I do too. They won’t be lonely when we’re gone to the events.” Bodie grinned at him, shook his head. “I love them.”
“Well, that settles that. We better get busy on the—” Earhart climbed into his lap and sat, nose burrowed into his hip. “Oh. Wow.”
He blinked, his heart melting.
Bodie smiled. “See, little girl? Your brother found himself a person, and we belong together.”
“Hey, buddy.” He carefully pet Earhart, knowing a Yorkie’s tendencies, but the pup seemed about ready to take a nap right there. Okay, that was adorable. “I love them too.”
“I’ll let the guys know and pay the adoption fee.”
“Are we really doing this? That quick?” He was a little stunned at how well they made decisions together, how easy it was to agree. But then again, Cole would find a way to give Bodie the moon if he asked for it.
“We have all the time in the world.” Bodie was happy as anything with Amelia in his lap.
Cole chuckled. “It certainly does look like we’re stuck here for a bit.”
“There’s plenty of time to make a decision.”
Bodie hummed softly, stroking the big dog’s hair, and the big white and brown beast just laid right there, her tail moving in slow, wide sweeps.
Soon, both little and big dogs were snoring hysterically—like ripping it—and Bodie looked over to him and grinned.
“Wow.”
“They’re almost as bad as you are.” Cole winked. Bodie only snored when he drank, which was almost never, but it was fun to tease.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Bodie rolled his eyes, then gave Earhart a little bit of a look. “I think he totally snores louder than she does.”
Cole nodded his head. “I think you are absolutely one hundred percent right. How can that much noise come out of that little bitty ball of fur?”
Bodie chuckled. “Oh, they’re gorgeous. I can’t believe we found them.”
“Just another adventure. We seem to have a knack for it.”
“Look at you two.” The volunteer laughed as she came back in to check on them. “You need some snacks? It looks like you’ve settled in.”
Bodie beamed at her. “What are the adoption requirements?”
She shrugged, but her expression was pure relief. “This is a city facility. You pay your money, you fill out your form, you take your dogs. They’ve both been fixed, they’ve both been microchipped, they’ve had their shots.”
“Good. Pay the money, honey.” He poked Bodie with his toe, the only part of him he dared move right now.
Bodie grabbed his wallet and handed over a credit card. “Can you please bring us the paperwork?”
“Yes, sir!” She beamed at them. “I’m so happy. I was so afraid that they were going to end up… you know.” She waved her hand. “And now they get to go home together.”
There were tears in her eyes and that was so sweet.
“Well, shit. Now I know we made the right choice. But we better go shopping on the way home. We need beds and bowls and food and leashes and… wow. Stuff.”
Bodie nodded. “Collars, name tags, brushes, toys, balls.”
The word “balls” had Earhart’s head raising, ears bouncing.
“Okay, so we need to spell that one.” He laughed and rubbed behind those keen ears. “Are you awake now, buddy? We’re taking you home.”
Earhart tilted his head, then deliberately walked over to Amelia, climbed up her back, and sat there as if to say, “I dare you to take me away from her.”
He chuckled as he took the opportunity to stand up. “Both of you, of course.” He put a hand on Bodie’s shoulder. “I’ll handle the paperwork.”
“I’ll sit here and be all bond-y, you know. They need to know that I’m not leaving them.” Bodie fluttered his eyelashes at Cole, so outrageous that it hurt.
“Mhm. You bond, handsome. I’ll just be over here with the clipboard.” God, he loved that goofy cowboy. “I wonder how Earhart feels about the scent of bulls?”
The little girl shrugged, gave him a little bit of the side eye. “I have no idea. I think maybe a bull might eat him.”
He was tempted to point out that bulls were absolutely vegetarian, but then he thought, why bother? “That one is a bull rider. He smells like bull—I mean bulls—a lot.” He winked at her.
“Oh… Cool? I’ll get the paperwork.”
He snorted as she left. “She doesn’t sound impressed. I should have said you were a champion cowboy or something.”
“Bull rider is just fine. I’ll take it.” Bodie dared to stroke Earhart’s ears. “How are you doing, little bit?”
The little guy crouched for a second but was pressing into Bodie’s hand in no time. He sat there answering questions, feeling a little sad for the owner who had to leave these cuties behind.
Still, they were getting a good home, right? And Bodie was going to spoil them to death.
“I think I’m done here.” He handed off the clipboard. “We might… I didn’t think we’d… do you have leashes?”
“We do. And we’ll tell you what and how much they’re eating and give you their blankets too.”
“Oh great. Now we just need to see if we can get Bodie up off the floor. Amelia is comfy.” And Bodie looked so damn happy.
“Just offer to take her for a W-A-L-K. She’ll totally get up, no question.” She lowered her voice. “She’ll try to tear your arm off to get to go.”
“He’s got a pretty good arm. Don’t you, babe?” He grinned at Bodie.
“I sure hope so. I bet I can handle her. If not, I need a new job.” Bodie obviously braced himself. “Y’all want to go on a walk, babies?”
Amelia surged up, whacking Bodie with her tail hard enough it snapped.
He laughed as Earhart was basically launched into his arms. “Whoa! Okay, buddy.” He bumped shoulders with Bodie. “I think that was yes.”
“I think it was. We’re going to go home, babies. We’re going to be a family.”
A family.
Cole loved how that sounded.