Page 59 of Operation Protector
But for now, until she had to leave, he held her.
Chapter 27
“I really like that they need to go for walks on the weekend, too,” Grace said as they started their walk. “But tomorrow I can’t come with you.”
“Oh?” Ali asked.
“I have to go with her somewhere, all dressed up and silly-looking.”
“You, my dear, could never, ever look silly.”
Grace smiled, but it didn’t last. “I hate when she’s around all day and I have to hide in my room.”
Ali considered what to say as the dogs led them down to the sidewalk in front of the big house. Cutter, as always, was polite on leash, and better yet, he was teaching Ziggy to behave as well. Stops to sniff were allowed, but pulling so hard Grace had to fight him was not.
Of course, as soon as they were out of sight—they had to be more circumspect when Liz was home—she would pick up Ziggy and hand Cutter’s leash to Grace and they’d double their speed.
“I’m sorry you feel like you need to hide,” she finally said.
Grace made a face. “I’m afraid she’ll get mad and take away all my time with Daddy. I don’t trust her.”
“Then it’s good that you can completely trust him.”
The frown became a smile. “I do. And I think I trust the Foxy people.” That made Ali smile. The child had started using the term when she decided the Foxworth Foundation was too long to say all the time. “And I really trust you,” Grace added matter-of-factly, as if it were a given.
Ali stopped in her tracks. Grace stopped beside her and looked up, puzzled. She couldn’t stop herself, she leaned down and gave the girl a rather fierce hug. “Thank you. That’s one of the best birthday presents I’ve ever gotten.”
Grace’s eyes widened as Ali released her. “It’s your birthday?”
“Well, tomorrow is.”
“I didn’t know. I should have got you a present.”
“You just gave me a huge one.”
“But there should be something else,” the child protested, sounding almost upset.
“Tell you what,” Ali said as they started walking again, “write me a story.”
Grace looked intrigued. “About what?”
“Whatever you want. Maybe—” she gestured toward Cutter and Ziggy “—about two dogs who become friends.”
Grace’s face lit up. “Okay. But we’re past the trees, so now you can pick up Ziggy so we can hurry.”
Ali nodded and Grace reeled in the puppy. She settled him in the sling and he seemed happy enough, looking around with just as much interest as when he’d been on the ground sniffing everything within reach.
When they got to Foxworth, Grace let Cutter off the leash as they neared the front door to the big green building. He started toward the door; Ali was even looking forward to seeing him hit that auto switch and open the door himself again. But then he unexpectedly changed course and headed not for the main office, but for the building on the other side of the landing pad, where Colby had said they hangared the helicopter and stored other vehicles.
The dog looked back, as if to be sure they had registered the change in destination.
“I guess we follow him, huh?” she said.
“Of course,” Grace replied.
The big doors were shut, but the human-sized one was open. And when they got a little closer she could hear the sound of hammering.
“Daddy!” Grace exclaimed, and started to run.
