Page 49 of Operation Protector
“Now, let’s get moving, m’girl, so you can get to the other guy who makes you feel like that.”
This time it was a full-on laugh, and such a joyous one that Ali felt like she would do a lot more than merely invite a child on a walk with her to hear it. And tried to ignore the feeling welling up inside that that same guy made her feel the same way.
The walk did go much faster with Ziggy in the sling she’d picked up for that very purpose. And the pup seemed content enough for the moment, with Grace and Cutter to watch, although he squirmed around now and then.
“You can do all the sniffing you want on the way back,” she promised him.
They were there in about half the time it had taken her with Ziggy on foot. Her own pace slowed, and Grace stopped dead, staring at the big, black helicopter that sat on the pad she’d noticed earlier. Quinn was next to it, leaning into the…cockpit? Cabin? She wasn’t sure what it was called on a helicopter. Cutter let out a short bark and Quinn spun around. And only then did Ali see the man on the other side, who had apparently been also leaning in, looking at the interior.
Colby.
“Daddy!”
Grace took off at a run. Her father turned to her and did the same. He swept the child up into his arms, taking care, Ali noticed, not to yank on the leash she held. Quinn, smiling widely, came over and took it from her, then unclipped it from Cutter’s collar.
“You take some time,” he told Colby, “then meet us inside.”
Cutter had greeted Quinn quite happily, but stayed close to Grace when he walked over to Ali.
“He really does know she’s his job, doesn’t he?” Ali asked the head of Foxworth.
“He does. And he’d take down anyone who tried to hurt her.”
“I had the funny feeling today, when we were talking to her mother, that he was purposely putting himself between them.”
Quinn smiled. “I’m sure he was. He knows who the threat is.”
“Wow. That’s beyond just smart.”
“He’s beyond smart. He’s…inexplicable.”
Quinn said it with a shake of his head and an expression that told her that hadn’t been an easy conclusion for him to reach. Or at least, admit to. She’d learned a bit from Hayley about his background in the military, where he’d worked with some very smart dogs, and wondered when he’d realized this particular dog was even more amazing. She remembered how it had been Cutter who had apparently directed the assessment of Colby,how the dog had sniffed, assessed and then sat at his feet looking up at his humans. Given them his “fix it” look, as they called it.
Because Cutter had decided Colby was the good guy in all this. And they believed him.
With that, even though she’d only just met them all a few days ago, she agreed.
Chapter 22
Colby wished it could have gone on and on, this time with his precious girl. She was chattering so fast, so excited that this had worked and they were together, it was hard to keep up with her. She’d always been so quick, and seemed quite able to think in multiple directions at once. She’d been putting together four- to five-word sentences at just over two years old, which her doctor had said was a sign of how quick and smart she was.
He’d had a dream about her once, Grace as an adult, standing at some podium, receiving some big award. He’d been there with her, cheering proudly, but Liz had been nowhere in sight. He’d awakened feeling a bit guilty about that, given they’d still been married at the time. Maybe he’d sensed what was coming even then.
Or maybe it was just wishful dreaming.
“—gonna fly somewhere in that?” Grace was pointing at the helicopter.
He smiled. “I don’t think so. But it would be fun, wouldn’t it?” She nodded, a wide smile on her sweet face. “They have an airplane, too, down south at the airport.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. They’re a pretty big deal around here, these Foxworth folks.”
“And they’re helping us.”
“Yes. Yes, they are. So I guess we should go in and talk to them, huh?”
“And Ali. She’s helping, too.”
