14. Jasper #3
“You’re siblings.” I felt so stupid for not noticing that sooner. The high cheekbones were the same, and so were the brown eyes.
Zeb grinned. “I don’t like to advertise it.”
“I’m not that bad, am I?” Zina gave her brother a playful punch to the shoulder.
“Nah.” He leaned down and patted his thigh. The dog who’d been sitting at his feet sat down next to him. “This is Semper. He’s the reason we started the program.”
“Can I pet him?” I asked.
Zeb nodded.
I reached my hand out to the dog. Semper sniffed, then glanced up at Zeb, who nodded at him. The dog nudged his head under my hand like he wanted me to pet him.
“He likes you,” Zeb said.
“Want to meet some of the other dogs?” Zina asked.
I nodded. “It was nice to meet you, Zeb.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” He called Semper back to his side.
Zina led me back to the main room, then through a door to the back of the building. “Zeb and Semper are proof that the programs we’re putting in place work.”
“Was he in the military?”
“We both were. He came home with debilitating PTSD. I feel like Semper is the only reason I have my brother back.”
“Do you think the same kind of training you’re doing with the teenage boys would work to empower girls?” My head spun with ideas. Maybe that would be a way to work directly with the girls I wanted to help.
“Absolutely. I mean, it depends on your goals. But we’ve seen incredible progress with some of the kids we’ve been working with.
Zeb takes a van full of dogs into the city twice a week and runs classes at a local park.
Some of these kids have been through hell and back.
Working with the dogs teaches them how to build empathy and gain confidence.
A dog won’t respond to a handler who’s out of control.
I’ve seen kids start with nothing and end up working their way through school, getting jobs, and turning their backs on the bad influences that landed them in trouble in the first place. ”
“I’m working with my mentor on putting some programming together to empower young girls. I don’t know if there’s a place for training dogs somewhere in there, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”
“Are you working locally? I’m sure we could partner on an initiative.”
“I’m not sure.” My current plans involved moving back to Dallas at the conclusion of my term as Miss Lovin’ Texas. That was about as pretty far from local as I could get. But Zina’s testimony had given me plenty to think about.
“Have you ever had a dog?” Zina asked.
“No. I never had a chance. We moved around so much as I was growing up.”
“That’s too bad.” Zina leaned down and opened the kennel of a shy light brown dog. “This here is Chantilly. She was surrendered a few weeks ago when her owners found out she was pregnant.”
“When is she due?” I ran a hand over the dog’s head, pausing to scratch behind my ears.
“Another six to eight weeks. We’ve had a lot of puppies born at the rescue.” Zina shook her head. “It’s a damn shame what some of these poor creatures go through.”
I spent the rest of the afternoon helping out around the shelter. I fed the dogs, worked with a few of the newer rescues on how to walk on a leash, and spent plenty of time being smothered in warm, wet doggie kisses. By the time I checked my phone, it was almost dinnertime.
“You want to stay for dinner?” Zina asked.
“Thanks, but I’ve got plans.” At least I thought I did.
I wasn’t sure where Jasper and I had left things.
Last night had been magical, but he’d been a little distant that morning and disappeared before I could say good-bye after lunch.
For a moment I wondered if he’d changed his mind about getting involved.
But that was silly. I didn’t have any reason to doubt him.
“If you want to come back and visit, you’re welcome anytime.” Zina walked me to the parking lot, where my obnoxious pink truck sat in the shade.
“Thank you so much. I may take you up on that if I can come up with a way to work the dog training into the program I’m putting together.”
“Like I said, I’m happy to help.” Zina pulled me in for a hug. “Any friend of Lacey’s is a friend of mine.”
I waved through the windshield as I drove away. Friends. I could easily be friends with a woman like Zina. Lacey, too.
For the first time in a long time I let myself imagine what it would be like to settle down somewhere.
Somewhere I could be myself and stop worrying about putting on a front or keeping up appearances.
Moving back to Dallas and working side by side with Stella every day wouldn’t provide that kind of environment.
Could I find that somewhere else? Somewhere like Ido?
As I pondered my future, my phone lit up. Jasper. “Hello?”
“Hey, sorry about earlier. If you’re up for grabbing a bite, I’d love to take you out.”
“I’d like that.”
He told me he’d pick me up at my camper in forty-five minutes and I disconnected. We’d be far enough from Ido tonight that I wouldn’t have to wear my sash. Jasper and I could be two people out on a date.
Just a guy and a girl who might kind of like each other sharing a meal.