Picturing The Future #2
Garrett patted the dog. “Thanks for letting me bring Gomez along. He suffered for a few years with an abusive asshole. We want him to socialize with men and learn that most of us aren’t pricks. Seeing how comfortable the other dogs are with everyone should help.”
Nash nodded. “He’ll get it figured out. You guys work miracles out there at Shaggy’s Place.”
Charlie nodded. “And you brought us Oggie. He’s the perfect dog for us. Maybe we can help find the perfect home for Gomez.”
Garrett grinned. “That would be great, but we need to give him time to trust people first.”
“Can I pat him if he’s not scared of me?”
Garrett waved Charlie over to his side. The dog stiffened, but Charlie knelt and kept his distance. “Hi, Gomez. I’m Charlie, and I’d like to be friends. I like your name. Did Nina name you?”
Garrett laughed. “She sure did. She wanted a Halloween name that would work all year, so Gomez it is.” Garrett looked at Wyatt. “Nina is Heath Wilcox’s daughter. She lives beside us and has been working with Kimi for years. She’s got a knack with animals and is great at giving them names that fit.”
Charlie turned his big eyes to Wyatt. “They always rename the animals if they’ve been hurt by humans before. Their old names might bring back bad memories, so they start with a new name.”
Charlie’s eyes misted, and Wyatt had to blink his eyes a few times to keep them clear. “Some people shouldn’t be allowed around animals.”
The dog wasn’t ready to let Charlie pet him, but that didn’t bother the kid. He played nearby with the other dogs and kept talking to Gomez, using his name to help him recognize it.
Wyatt couldn’t resist the little guy either. He squatted down and spoke. “You’re safe now, Gomez. No one will hurt you again.”
The dog’s soulful eyes blinked up at Wyatt, and he shuffled a step in his direction. Moving slowly, Wyatt held out his hand. Gomez didn’t flinch, and Charlie bounced where he sat. “He likes you, Wyatt.”
Sure enough, the dog shuffled another step closer. Wyatt leaned in to let him sniff his hand. Gomez checked him out slowly, and Wyatt kept still, giving the dog lots of time and space.
When the dog touched his hand with his nose, he grinned. “That’s it, Gomez. You’re safe here.” The dog’s fur spiked out like he had some terrier blood. Wyatt scratched his chin softly. “Good boy, Gomez. Good boy.”
No one around them moved as the dog soaked up the attention. Wyatt moved his hand slowly, so that he patted the dog’s flanks and then his head.
When Gomez flopped to the ground and closed his eyes, Wyatt ran his hand over his body a few times.
Blinking back the emotion, he stood to find the others grinning at him.
Charlie gaped. “That was so cool.”
Garrett slugged Wyatt on the shoulder. “It was. Anytime you want to work with the animals, come on over.”
Wyatt looked back at the dog, heart yearning. Would the little guy like a home here?
A few moments later, the group got to work. Ford had staked out the area earlier. Today, they were digging the trenches and setting the foundation while Ford and Sean set up the work area to their satisfaction.
It was good to work with a team again. That had been one of his favorite things about the military. The camaraderie and the way tasks went quickly with eager hands.
Of course, a lot of ribbing went right along with a group of friends working together. They kept the language clean with Charlie there, but the banter kept the kid entertained.
Gomez was leashed to a tree, but the lead was long, and the dog could wander wherever he wanted. He mostly sat or slept near the other dogs, but didn’t interact much. He’d stayed away from the construction noises while they worked, but had moved closer as soon as they gathered for lunch.
Wyatt sat near Gomez on the grass. The dog shuffled over, sniffed at him again, then moved in closer when Wyatt tossed out a piece of turkey, then a piece of cheese. Soon, the dog sat beside him and seemed more at ease with his touch. Maybe he’d like to live here on the farm with Wyatt. And Esme?
As if reading his mind, Gray checked his phone and looked at Wyatt. “Esme agreed to Amber’s plan.”
He grinned at his buddy. The group approved of Esme and had offered her a chance to stay at the farm. The inn was fully booked for several weeks starting on the weekend, but there were available rooms at the farmhouse, one right beside his own.
Knowing he had more time eased his heart. He wanted to know Esme better, wanted to convince her he was good enough for her. Give her a reason to stick around permanently.
He’d never felt this way for Genn. She’d pursued him after a chance meetup at a friend’s home. They’d gone out a few times, and he’d mostly enjoyed her company.
With perfect hindsight vision, he realized the way she’d always sought attention had been exhausting. He’d even avoided her calls a few times. It didn’t excuse her cheating, but he shouldn’t have been as shocked as he’d been.
Rob was a good-looking guy, a high-priced lawyer who’d enjoyed the social scenes far more than Wyatt.
When Wyatt broke it off with Genn, he’d been pissed, not heartbroken. There’d even been a shimmer of relief in there.
What he felt for Esme after such a short time eclipsed any feelings he’d had for Genn. He hadn’t given much thought to falling in love. He’d figured he’d eventually find a partner he enjoyed being with, but he hadn’t spent much time thinking about love, certainly not with Genn.
He hadn’t known what he was missing. For the first time, he could imagine his life in fifty years. He and Esme would play in the greenhouse, take fun videos, and plan new holiday activities she could use to help promote the farm.
Yeah, he was falling fast, and they hadn’t even moved beyond a soft brush of the lips.
Time to up his game.