Chapter 27: An Unexpected Gift

~The one absolute, unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog~. —George Graham Vest

“That was rude,” Dannie scolded Sophie as they walked over to the stables.

“Maybe, but I can’t bear the whole~ you're so old, how come you're not married yet~. Look, Caleb already has three horses saddled for us.”

“Took your sweet time,” Caleb said with a smile that revealed a chipped tooth. “I was sure Sophie would have you here seconds after we arrived.”

“Dannie’s manners are too British,” Sophie replied.

Dannie, in the meantime, was gazing at the three horses in dismay. “There’s no sidesaddle?”

“SIDESADDLE?” Sophie scoffed at the word. “Those are for ninnies.”

“I’ve never ridden the other kind before.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it soon,” Caleb reassured her. “It ain’t hard at all. We’ll put your horse between me and Sophie, and that way you will be safe all the time.”

“It’s amazing how you are a completely different person when in a good mood,” Dannie dared to point out. Caleb’s face burned red, and he gave a nervous laugh.

“Let’s get on the horses. We need to get back before supper or Momma will give us what for.”

***

The next day Sophie tried to coax Dannie to go out to pasture again, but Dannie shook her head.

“It’s too hot to ride. I’ve yet to get used to this desert heat. I’ll just stay around the ranch and find something to occupy myself with. You go off. Don’t worry.”

Sophie grumbled but there was no changing Dannie’s mind, and in the end the twins rode off together, leaving Dannie behind. She spent some time with Mrs. Martin and Carolina, and then went off to explore on her own.

Coming out of the house, she came face to face with Mack Rellware. He whipped off his hat and gave a small bow.

“Howdy, Miz Preston, ya come to visit yer relatives?”

“I have.”

“Didn’t care to go to the pasture?”

“I suppose I’m not much of a cowgirl.” Dannie had to laugh. “I saw all those cows yesterday. I can’t imagine I’m going to see anything new today.”

“Would you care to see the dogs?”

“As long as they don’t harm me.”

He offered her his arm. “As long as I am there, they won’t dare.”

With a graceful smile, Dannie accepted the arm, and they walked over to the dog kennels.

In one of the pens were four English mastiff puppies playing around with each other. Dannie gave a gasp of delight at the sight of them.

“What little darlings,” she said, kneeling down to get a closer look. “They are quite big, I see, but not too big to stop being cute.”

“They’re about eight or nine weeks,” Mack said. “Would you like one, Miz Preston?”

“Oh, I ~would~—but I’d have to ask Reverend Simmens if he would allow me to keep a dog.”

“Well, if anything, we could keep it for you.”

Dannie glanced up at the youth. “Are you allowed to make such decisions?”

His face reddened a bit. “I could always speak to the boss.”

“Speak to me about what?” a voice behind them asked. The two turned to see Mr. Martin walk up to them. Next to him was Cal Jennson.

“Miz Preston was admirin’ the puppies, boss,” Mack explained. “I was offering for her to keep one.”

“By all means, Dannie,” Mr. Martin said with the kindest of smiles. “Take two if you want.”

“Two?” Dannie laughed. “I don’t know if Reverend Simmens would let me keep one. I do stay at his house, after all.”

“Have you ever thought of perhaps taking a room at the boarding house?” Cal Jennson spoke up now.

“I don’t think they’d let me keep a dog in a boarding house, either,” Dannie replied. “Besides, Reverend Simmens doesn’t want me staying alone. People here seem to be rather paranoid about a young woman living by herself.”

The three men chuckled.

“Well, you can choose one, just the same. We can keep it here on the ranch if you won’t be able to take one to town,” Mr. Martin reassured her. “Which one catches your fancy?”

The puppies were now crowding around the gate of the pen, trying to clamber out. Dannie turned to them and studied each one carefully.

At last, she stood up, reached down, and lifted out a light-brown one with a black nose and one black ear. “I like this one,” she said, kneeling down once more and putting the puppy on her lap. He looked up, wagged his tail, and licked her face. Dannie laughed and petted his head.

“Don’t forget to give him a name,” Mack said as he also knelt down and scratched the puppy’s ear.

“Mack!” Mr. Martin barked at him. “Don’t you have chores to do? Off with you, now.”

Grumbling, the boy rose and walked off, casting a dark glance at Cal Jennson in the process.

“I’ll call him Roy,” Dannie said as she cuddled the creature. Lost in her admiration of the puppy, she didn’t notice the stare of admiration Cal Jennson was giving her.

“I believe you came here to discuss some business with me,” Mr. Martin said to Cal. “Shall we proceed to the house?”

“Of course,” Cal said with a nod. “Miss Preston, will you need a ride back to town later today?”

“She has an arrangement with her cousins,” Mr. Martin kindly informed Cal before Dannie had a chance to answer. “There is no need for you to worry.”

“But thank you, just the same, Mr. Jennson,” Dannie said with a quick glance in his direction before turning back to her new pet. Cal returned her smile and reluctantly followed Mr. Martin, but he glanced over his shoulder several times, hoping to catch one more glimpse of the daring and gentle Miss Preston.