Best Friends by Samantha Glen Read Free Book Online Page B

posts.”
    â€œFeel free to come any time,” Cyrus said and was pleased to see the old man’s eyes light up with pleasure.
    Grant Robinson took Cyrus at his word. The guys came to look forward to his appearances. They ate up his stories of the old days of pioneers and sheepherders and how the canyon was scoured by a hundred-year flood, and they listened to his wisdom on the land. It was Grant who warned them never to go anywhere without a shovel and jack. “Some places this soil gets like quicksand, and your truck will sink in up to its axle.”
    â€œSo you dig it out?” Michael sounded doubtful.
    Grant chuckled. “First you let the air out of the tires. Then it’s easy.”
    â€œNow I understand Kelvert and his shovel!” Paul exclaimed.
    After their initial push, the men allowed themselves a respite on Sunday afternoons to explore their land or just do nothing. Still, they were consumed with the urgency of finishing at least one livable building and some shelter for the dogs—they sorely missed having their animals underfoot. There was no pressure from their friends, but they were all too aware that Faith and her team were holding down the Arizona ranch while others worked in the cities to contribute their share of expenses.
    So it was a happy crew who, in the first days of July, passed the word that 1,800 square feet of bunkhouse stood rough but ready for visitors.
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    Faith was the first to call. “Michael, I can’t wait. It’s so exciting. Is it hot? I’m bringing dogs, and Diana’s following right behind with some of the cats. We’ve got Jasper, Brooke, Monica . . .” Faith rattled off the names of each of their pets.
    â€œEverything’s under control. We even picked up another trailer through the Thrifty Nickel for the feline leukemia cats.”
    â€œThrifty Nickel?”
    Michael laughed. “It’s a free sheet. You know, a paper where it costs people nothing to advertise stuff they want to sell.”
    â€œMichael, that sounds great. We’ve got more and more animals coming in. I’d like to bring some of the unadoptables if possible.”
    â€œWe can handle that, Faith. When are you coming?”
    â€œDiana and I plan on being there late Saturday afternoon.”
    â€œWe’ll be waiting.”
    Francis’s Afghan, Jasper, was the first to hurl his golden body out of Faith’s old Ford Econoline when she arrived. “Oh baby, I’ve missed you so, so much,” Francis said, happily accepting slobbering kisses. The Afghan couldn’t make up its mind whether to bark with joy or rush around and bestow an equally crazed greeting on his other persons.
    The rest of the “upper body brigade” were engaged in mutual love-ins with their own dogs. Seventeen canines jumped, squealed, and licked in joyous reunion with their equally ecstatic owners. The cats were the next to be unashamedly kissed and cuddled.
    When men and beasts finally settled down, the women were proudly shown the bare-bones bunkhouse with its concrete floor, unpainted walls, and secondhand furniture. Diana particularly liked the wire enclosures that Francis had built so the cats could go outside and get some fresh air.
    â€œThere is one small thing, though,” she said.
    The men waited.
    â€œWindow ledges. You know what I mean? This place needs some nice, fat window ledges for the cats to lie on and look outside.”
    Francis laughed. “And I imagined I’d thought of everything. Consider it done.” Francis loved cats every millimeter as much as Diana.
    â€œI’ve got something to show you,” Steven said. “Come on.”
    Faith and Diana followed him out of the bunkhouse.
    Steven led them down the slope to a small clearing protected by a sapling fence. “You know, I’ve tried never to live anywhere without a garden. What do you think?”
    The women were quiet, looking at what Steven had