Chapter 13
Cole spent the morning training with the three dogs.
Brody helped keep the puppy in line as she went through the paces.
Apollo seemed incredibly smart and picked up the simple commands in no time.
The second dog, Thor, followed his lead and hit the marks in several areas.
The youngest, Cole, didn’t know if she’d make it as a working dog.
Nine didn’t seem at all interested in training, even with praise and rewards.
Cole didn’t count her out yet, but she made the markings of a good emotional support animal at the very least.
“Hey, man,” Archer called. “Last night went like clockwork. I cleaned their crate areas and the outside pen. Did you need help with anything else?”
“No. They're losing interest. I’ll return later to work with them. They need some free time. Did you have any trouble with this one?” Cole pointed to the puppy.
“She seems more of a snuggler than a working dog. She cried for about an hour when we put her down for the night. We checked her water and followed the food directions, but nothing seemed to calm her except taking her out of the pen. I don’t have much experience with these animals, but I didn’t want to coddle her and interfere with your work,” he explained.
“I’m coming to the same conclusion. Her attention span seems short-lived. I’ll take her with me this afternoon and wear her out a bit,” Cole said, letting the dogs into the play area. He threw the balls and watched them.
“When will the other dogs arrive?” Archer asked.
“In a couple of weeks. I want Apollo ready to go. Thor won’t be far behind. The younger one, Nine, will need some work,” Cole said, releasing Brody to play.
“Leo said you plan to interview the staff for positions. I’m in charge of cleaning weapons and keeping inventory of any broken ones. It usually doesn’t take long. If you're interviewing, I’d like you to consider me for the position,” Archer said, watching Cole.
He nodded as he tossed the balls again, sending the dogs scattering. “Leo asked me to meet with a couple of men he interviewed and I spoke with Liam. I’ll check with him on how many people he wants to bring in and see what I can do.”
“I appreciate it,” Archer said before returning to the pens.
Cole played with them for another hour. He put the first two in their pens and glanced over at Nine. The dog fell headfirst into a bag of chow. Shaking his head, he pulled her out.
“Hey, baby. It’s not dinner time yet. How about a nice long walk?” he asked as he put the food in the bin. The little troublemaker scooted close to Brody, who nudged her to sit at attention. The little one stayed and fell over, making Cole chuckle.
“Hey, Brody. What do you think about taking this little girl to visit Hannah? She might get a kick out of her,” he suggested.
Brody barked twice and pulled his new friend by the collar.
“I think we’ll need to leash her. We don’t want Kassie getting wind she’s on the loose at the hospital,” he said, searching for one.
Once he hooked Nine up, they started for the hospital.
It took twice as long with Nine sniffing everything.
She tried to eat the leaves and tugged Cole in every direction.
He corrected her nonstop, and by the time they arrived at the entrance, even Brody lost his patience and gave her a fatherly correction.
They walked down the hall and signed in at the desk before entering Hannah’s room. Hannah sat in a pair of lounging pants and a sweatshirt. Someone braided her hair to one side. He smiled as her gaze fell on his two friends.
“I brought someone to meet you. She’s the one I told you about yesterday, and she’s a bit crazy. We need to come up with a better name. Maybe she’s all over the place because she doesn’t have a proper one,” he guessed out loud.
Hannah’s gaze never wavered. Nine yawned and stretched. Cole scooped her up and placed her on Hannah’s lap. Her eyes widened slightly as the little one snuggled into her arms and promptly fell asleep.
“You must be a dog whisperer. She’s gotten into everything this morning, refused to follow commands unless she received a treat, and caused trouble with the other two. I’m getting them used to one another, and then I’ll train them individually,” he rambled.
Brody sniffed the dog in her lap and then pushed Hannah’s hand up to rub his head. He whined, and Hannah’s hand moved slightly as she scratched behind his ears.
“Brody. You’re a traitor. She has a dog on her lap, and you still want her attention. Who supplies you with hamburgers?” he demanded as Brody turned his soulful eyes toward Hannah.
“Kassie said I can visit you. How about we go outside and enjoy the weather? It’s unseasonably warm today,” he suggested.
“I’m sure you’ll tire easily. We can take a wheelchair, and I can push you along the trails beside the hospital.
The leaves have fallen and made a golden path with splashes of red and orange. ”
Hannah didn’t seem to like his idea, as her eyes flared in panic as she stared at the door.
“Has Kassie explained about the mountain? They have a tight security system in place. They know every time someone enters and when they leave. They have cameras in the path. They say it’s for safety reasons, but I think it’s more about catching teens searching for a place to make out,” he babbled.
“If you’re not keen on the idea, we can head to the cafeteria. Randy makes some great food. The board said he made homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese. What’s your favorite food?” he asked.
Hannah stared at the door and he realized she worried if he planned to take her beyond the room under duress.
“We’ll never do anything you don’t want to do. I won’t ever force you, Hannah,” he assured her. “I don’t know what happened to you, but I can imagine it must’ve been horrible to keep you from speaking this long. We can take as long as you need.”
Hannah glanced down at her lap, and her hand rested on the sleeping pup’s head, and she smoothed it over her coat.
“I know you’re in there. Scarlett’s convinced you want to talk and something’s preventing you. In the meantime, can you shake your head or nod? I don’t want to upset you or do something you’re not ready for. Can we make a deal?”
Hannah gazed at him. He saw the pain and raw emotion, breaking his heart.
“When I first came to see you, you didn’t move. Now, you’re petting Nine like a champ. Nodding or shaking your head only means you’re moving other body parts. There’s no commitment or obligation. It’s you and me finding a way to communicate. I know I’d like that more than anything,” he assured her.
Hannah blinked, and her head moved slightly, nodding.
He grinned. “See. One step at a time, Hannah.”
Hannah nodded again. The movement seemed slight, and the average person might’ve missed it, but he saw it. He noticed her.
“Do you not like the food here? Did Scarlett tell you her husband’s a chef?
Man, he can cook like no tomorrow. Ty’s known for his steaks at the restaurant.
Brody, on the other hand, loves hamburgers.
Me, I’m more of a meat and potatoes guy.
My mom makes the best meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
Are you one of those ladies who enjoys those foo-foo drinks?
” Cole regarded her when she didn’t move.
“Nah. I picture you more of a wine girl.”
This time her head shook back and forth.
“No? Hmmm. I definitely don’t see you as a beer woman,” he surmised.
She slightly nodded.
“Really? Holy cow, you’re full of surprises. Anything else I should know?” he asked, excitedly. She responded to his questions cautiously, but he saw the delight in her eyes as he teased her.
“Hmmm. What about food? Please tell me you aren’t a salad girl,” he pleaded exaggeratedly.
He waited and was rewarded by a slight upward turn of her lips, not quite a smile, but still a prize for his effort.
“Thank goodness. Nothing drives me crazier than a girl who counts every single calorie. Back to the food, what about steak?” he asked.
She nodded slightly.
Brody wagged his tail as if he realized they made progress with Hannah.
“You like it, but it’s not your favorite. Hmmm…” he said, tapping his finger to his chin, trying to guess correctly.
“What about hot dogs? Ya gotta like those when ya watch a game. Oops, wait a minute. Do you hate baseball and football?” he asked.
She slowly shook her head. Brody barked, waking the young pup in her arms. She jumped down and Brody nosed her, playing.
Hannah watched the scene while Cole regarded her. Light shone where darkness previously lived.
“Hi Hannah,” a nurse entered the room. “It’s time for your medication,” she announced.
The sparkle diminished in a heartbeat. Cole knew she retreated into herself. He rose and smiled. “I’d better get going,” he said, attaching the leash to the younger dog and signaling for Brody to follow. “Goodnight, Hannah.”
He paused as he saw the brief flash of terror in her eyes. What caused it? “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he assured her before leaving.