Page 13 of Rangers Mountain Rescue
And for a split second my heart jumped in panic.
“What’s wrong?”
He skidded to a stop, breathing hard.
“Nothing,” he said quickly.
Then he grinned.
“I just wanted to tell you Buddy didn’t run away.”
I laughed softly.
“Well that’s progress.”
Dylan shrugged.
“I think he likes that guy.”
“Havoc?”
“Yeah.”
Buddy wagged his tail like he understood exactly who we were talking about.
I shook my head.
“Buddy likes everybody.”
Dylan looked thoughtful.
“No,” he said slowly.
“He likesgoodpeople.”
I watched my son run back toward the house, Buddy racing beside him like a furry missile. Grandpa sat in his rocker on the porch staring out at the farm.
I find him dozing in the chair, the sunlight falling across his face.
For a moment… he looks peaceful.
Like time hasn’t touched him.
I grab the blanket from the back of the couch and drape it gently over his shoulders.
“Joseph always said you’d fall asleep anywhere,” I murmur softly.
His hand shifts slightly under the fabric.
And something tightens in my chest.
“You raised a good man,” I whisper.
My voice cracks.
“I’m trying to take care of you the way he would’ve wanted.”
Then I looked toward town.
