Page 47 of Puppy Kisses

“Uncle, it’s time to get in your harness,” he said. If he’d had any doubts about Uncle’s feelings toward it, they disappeared as a powerful surge pulled at his hand. The Great Dane had practically leaped into the thing.

“Now just slide that buckle there, and he’s good to go. Feel how he pushes and pulls on it? It’s like having a harness on a horse—you have to work together to get where you need to go.”

He gave both himself and Uncle a moment to adjust. Dawn had parked her car near the back of the parking lot, which was apparently a large dirt field in the middle of nowhere. They had plenty of room to test the puppies without danger of being run over.

“Now, Gigi—it’s your turn. Please get in your harness.”

Adam was busy holding Uncle, so he couldn’t tell for sure what kind of struggle was going on as Dawn attempted to introduce Gigi to the harness, but it didn’t sound good. There was a whimper, a cry, and the clang of metal—none of which filled him with much in the way of confidence.

“I know, girl. It’s a little strange at first. But see how nice Uncle looks, leading Adam around? So big and strong and noble.” She laughed. “The puppy’s not bad, either.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” he said, though it was a lie. He could feel himself swelling already. He wasn’t sure anyone had called him noble before. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing is wrong with her. She’s just sniffing it, checking out the mechanics. Will you let me put this little part on you right here?”

An even louder cry sounded this time. Adam dropped the handle to Uncle’s harness. “Is it rubbing against her sores? Dammit, Dawn. You can’t force her into it. She’s not used to being told what to do.”

“I’m aware of that, thank you,” she said, her tone clipped. “It’s not touching her wounds. It’s not anywhere near them.”

“Then why is she making that sound?”

There was a slight pause. In the background, Adam could hear cars pulling into the better parking spots in the distance, the twitter of birds not too far behind them. It was a good reminder that they were standing in the middle of an open field, the sun blaring high above them. The puppies would need shade before long. Uncle didn’t seem to mind the heat, but Gigi had a strange dislike of direct sunlight.

“It could be lots of reasons,” Dawn admitted. “If I had to guess, I’d say it’s because she doesn’t like being restrained. I was afraid of something like this happening.”

Something about her tone—so matter-of-fact, so unalarmed—snagged at him. “Afraid of what?” he asked.

“It’s not a big deal.”

Uncle drew underneath Adam’s hand so he could pick up the harness handle again. “What’s not a big deal? What aren’t you telling me?”

“I warned you that she wasn’t cut out for this kind of work.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” he repeated.

“I told you time and time again that she’s more of a pet than a service animal.”

“Out with it already.”

“It’s just…” She sighed. “When I first found her, she had a chain wrapped around her neck. Like, a big one.Scarybig. It weighed almost as much as she does.”

“What?” Adam was already feeling anxious, the prospect of Zeke’s upcoming race and worry about Gigi working together on his nerves. This bit of news—which would have been nice to know earlier—only served to ratchet up his tension. “Some bastard had her chained up?”

“I know. It was awful. The poor thing could barely move with it on. She was just lying there in the heat, all pitiful and resigned to her fate.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded. “Why didn’t you tell Marcia?”

“I didn’t think the specifics were relevant. I told you she’d been neglected.”

He knew he was misplacing his anger—that his feelings weren’t directed at Dawn but at whoever had thought it was acceptable to put a huge chain on a puppy as small and loving as this one—but he couldn’t seem to stop it.

“Of course she doesn’t want to wear a harness,” he said, putting a hand out in Gigi’s direction. She put a wet, pitiful nose in his palm before heaving a whimper designed to break a man’s heart. “It was cruel of you to even try.”

He thought it sounded like Dawn threw up her hands before dropping them to her thighs again. But when she spoke, it was with nothing but sweet submission. “You’re absolutely right, Adam. I’m a horrible monster.”

“Yes, you are.”

“I saved this puppy from her chains and agony only to force her into servitude.”