Page 61 of Wag More Bark Less

“I bet they have pup cups,” I told Ellie.

After fueling up at Black Bear Coffee, I remembered spotting paper trail maps near the checkout counter of Mason Hardware & Supply, so I made another quick stop. An app on my phone had a catalogue of trails in the area, and even identified which ones were dog friendly. But there was something about a handheld map that just couldn’t be beat.

I let Ellie out of the car, leaving her leash in the front seat. Was it out of spite? Maybe.

Joe looked up from the front counter, a warm smile spreading across his face.

“Maggie, good to see you again. You too, Ellie.”

Ellie wagged her tail and trotted behind the counter for pats. Joe didn’t bat an eye at her leash-free status as he fished a treat out of a bucket on the counter and offered it to her.

“Just you today?” I asked, scanning the empty store.

“The boys are helping with the Legion float, and Opal’s in school. Say, heard you been quite busy yourself. You a VSO or something?”

“Not officially, no.”

I’d been looking into a Veteran Service Officer position in Lakewood, before everything went sideways. I’d hoped to secure the position for after the honeymoon. But with all the drama in my personal life, it never went beyond a couple of conversations, and now it never would.

“It’s mighty kind of you to help the guys out. And brave, I might add.”

“Brave?” I asked, reaching for a local trail map beside the register as the click-clack of claws faded. No doubt Ellie off to pick out a pair of socks now that she knew where they were.

“Most of them are curmudgeons on a good day,” he said on a laugh. “But I know they appreciate your help. There hasn’t been a VSO in the area in years.”

“Don’t tell anybody, but I have a knack for finding the soft, gooey center of even the grouchiest ones,” I said, winking.

“Your secret’s safe with me.” Joe nodded at the map. “Heading out on a hike?”

“Yeah, I thought it might be nice to get into nature today. Really enjoy these autumn colors while the weather’s still nice.”

“Whisper Lake’s a good one,” Joe said, opening the map to show me. “It’s about four miles round trip. Dog friendly, too. Hike gets a little tricky toward the end, but you’re young and in shape. You shouldn’t have any trouble with it. Do you have bear spray?”

“I do.”

“Bug spray?”

“Two cans, and mosquito patches.”

“Dog treats?”

“Plenty,” I said, scanning the store for signs of Ellie. “But I might be missing the actual dog.” I heard the faint clicking of claws in the very back and followed the sound. I found Ellie in a section of door hardware. She let out a soft, excited bark when I approached, her nose pointed at a box of glass knobs.

“You’re a little spooky sometimes, you know that?”

“Those don’t squeak,” Joe said to Ellie.

“Actually, I do need a new knob.” I pulled the broken one from my crossbody bag and showed the pieces to Joe. “Please don’t tell your son, but I broke this one on my first day in town. I’m hoping to swap it out before he notices there’s a missing closet knob.”

“He still giving you a hard time?” Joe asked, tugging a pair of reading glasses free from his breast pocket and putting them on.

How did I answer that loaded question? I didn’t feel comfortable telling Joe that his son pushed me up against a wall and kissed me until my bones melted any more than I could tell him about the hurtful things Luke spouted at me after cutting me out of a killer wedding dress.

I settled with, “He’s not so bad.”

“Ah, here we go.” He held up an exact replica of the broken knob.

“You’re a lifesaver, Joe.”