Chapter 15 #3
After breakfast, they set up their laptops on opposite sides of the kitchen table and worked.
Molly put on an easy listening country playlist at low volume, periodically checking on Shadow.
Bart withdrew into his work, almost like a trance, staying focused on his screen, reading carefully, occasionally typing.
When he typed, it was with the speed of a professional.
He seemed happy. She assumed his writing took him to another world, hopefully a happy place. But it was a world of his creation.
She liked that they were working together, quietly but comfortably. She had her spreadsheets, emails from her team and vendors, and always budget and financial plans. He had his books and the business of writing.
“You up for a photo?”
They’d been working at the kitchen table for a couple hours. It was late morning, but Molly wasn’t hungry after the big breakfast. They were on their second pot of coffee.
“Sounds complicated.”
“I want one to document the process. Show Shadow and Bear, the owners, and the litter in the pantry, where it all began.”
“Like I said, it sounds complicated.”
“It’s all part of the marketing. We want the owners and parents to be appealing and sell that it was a happy beginning. And I want to send a photo to your family.”
“Makes sense.”
“You do know that your family likes the photos, don’t you?”
“Whatever.”
“I don’t get this part.”
“What part?”
“Your reluctance to stay closer to your family when they’re worried about you.”
“My family is very self-sufficient. We were raised to be strong and independent. I think my family understands pretty well what’s going on with me. It’s possible your image of what a family should be like doesn’t reflect the reality of my family.”
Hmm. Molly thought about that. Fair enough.
“Well, are you okay with me sending them a photo of the litter?”
“Sure.”
“Let’s give it a western theme for the marketing angle.”
They spent an hour changing into western garb, leather vests, hats and moccasins, arranging light, setting the tripod, and positioning Shadow and Bear, themselves, and the pups.
Most of the time they were chuckling at the awkward logistics.
They finally decided they’d each hold five pups with Bear and Shadow lying in front.
Molly changed the timer to give her twenty seconds to move from the camera into position.
After eight attempts, she finally got the shot she wanted: Bear and Shadow looking at the camera, Molly and Bart in a chuckling pose, and all ten pups visibly cupped in their hands.
Molly studied the photo for a long time. She really liked it. Everything important in her life was right there: Shadow, Bart, the pups. She was sorry Jo missed the pups.
“Your family is going to like this one.”
“Whatever.”
“Bart, I don’t get it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Molly uploaded the photo to her laptop and wrote an email to Kitty.
Hi Kitty,
The pups arrived this morning!
I thought your family would like to see Bear’s new family.
Bart came out of the mountains yesterday for the birth and is staying at my cabin.
The birth went pretty well. We lost one, but gained ten healthy pups. All are feeding nicely. Shadow is a good mother, Bear is on guard, and Bart and I are standing by.
Bart is planning to attend the Omak Stampede when you’re here.
Photo attached.
Molly
“I know this sounds crazy, but I want to show the pups to my staff.”
“Doesn’t sound crazy. How are you going to move them?”
“I have a basket. I was going to drive them down to the diner at noon. The restaurant will be busy, but everyone will be fascinated to see a litter born this morning.”
“Would you like for me to come?”
“Don’t have to. If you wanted to, you wouldn’t have to come inside the diner. You could flirt with the hot young babes who are landscaping the new outside eating area.”
“Perfect.”
She slugged him in the shoulder.
Bart held the door into the diner as she carried the basket inside with Shadow, then he backed out and headed for his assignment with Bear.
The twenty something hotties were busy planting around the newly poured patios.
Molly moved inside and sat on a chair by the door, Shadow sitting tight, her nose in the basket.
The pups were squirming all over each other. The restaurant was crowded and noisy.
Evelyn came to fawn over the pups, then immediately went to tables with kids, sending them to see the litter.
Minutes after she sat down, Molly was surrounded by kids studying the tiny balls of fur.
Molly announced a look but no touch policy, but said they could give Shadow a scruff.
She liked showing off the litter. She wasn’t marketing the pups.
She was making the diner an interesting place to visit.
Who knows what might be happening next at Mack’s Diner?
About five minutes after her arrival, Betsy strolled in, having undoubtedly gotten a text from Evelyn.
“Hey Moll.”
“Hi Bets. What do you think?”
“Most adorable pups I’ve ever seen.” Betsy was a dog lover, rarely without Abby, her Border Collie. Abby and Shadow were good friends.
“Looks like Bart and Bear came out for the birth.”
Betsy was looking out the window where Bart was talking with the landscapers, both of whom were taking a break to flirt with the hunky mountain man and give love to Bear.
“Did he make your bracelet?” Betsy was always on the prowl for gossipy information.
“Yeah, and the hat, vest, and moccasins.”
“He’s really good.” She paused, “Have you been riding together?” Molly and Betsy grew up riding at the resort.
“Not yet. And now that I’ve got the pups, I don’t want to leave them alone.”
“Are you still exercising horses for Silas.”
“Yes.”
“Are you going out today?”
“Yes, I was going to leave the pups with Bart for an hour.”
“Why don’t I come over to your cabin for a couple hours? I’ll watch the pups and you can take Bart for a ride.”
That took Molly by surprise. She wasn’t planning to leave the pups today except that she was going to ask Bart to watch them while she did her exercise assignment.
If she was going to leave them with Bart, she could surely leave them with Betsy.
And go riding with Bart? An offer she couldn’t refuse.
“Really, Bets?”
“Honestly, I’d love it.”
“Just two hours would be great.”
“No problem. What time?”
“Can I text you?”
“Sure.”