If the Stick Turns Pink... by Carla Cassidy Read Free Book Online Page B

puppies and their mothers out of the truck and into the pen Bailey had prepared earlier. The sheriff explained to them that they hadn’t been able to find the male dogs and he suspected the owner of the place had kept them at another location.
    As the volunteers walked to their cars, Melanie and Bailey walked with them. Just before the driver of the cattle truck got into the driver’s seat, Melanie thought she heard a faint whimper come from the back of the truck.
    â€œWait a minute,” she said to the driver, then crawled up in the straw-strewn back and listened carefully.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Bailey peered in after her.
    â€œI think we missed one.” As the tiny sound came again, Melanie followed it to the farthest corner, where a little jet-black schnauzer was curled up, chocolate-brown eyes weeping tears.
    â€œHey squirt,” she said and picked the little guy up in her arms. He curled against her, as if seeking not only the warmth of her chest, but also the reassuring beat of her heart, and in that instant Melanie lost her heart.
    Bailey helped her down from the back end of the truck and grinned. “I know that look. Puppies always make women get that silly, dopey look in their eyes.”
    â€œYou’re just jealous because nobody looks at you with that silly, dopey look,” she exclaimed, and hugged the little body closer against her.
    He rolled his eyes, then waved to the sheriff and the volunteers as they pulled away from the barn. “My work is just beginning,” he said. “These dogs need exams, medication and food and water immediately.”
    â€œThen we’d better get started,” she said.
    He looked at her in surprise. “You sticking around to help?”
    â€œSure. As your intended wife isn’t my place to help my intended husband?” Funny…she said the words lightly, but they caused a fluttering heat to course through her.
    â€œThat’s right. As my intended wife you’re supposed to support me in my work, cook my meals and pick up my dirty socks.”
    She laughed, relieved that he had taken her words as lightly as she’d meant them. “I thought I told you, picking up dirty socks is out of the question,” she exclaimed as they went back into the barn.
    For the next three hours they bathed dirty, frightened dogs. While Bailey did the exams on each one, Melanie fed information about their physical description and condition into the computer. She also named each puppy and put each one into a cage labeled with his or her new name.
    She couldn’t help but admire Bailey’s gentleness as he handled each one. His deep voice was soft, soothing as he ran his hands across their little bodies and looked into mouths and ears.
    She wondered if he’d use that same soft, deep voiceto whisper in her ear during foreplay. The thought caused a shiver to work up her spine. Then she wondered if they would even indulge in foreplay. After all, foreplay wasn’t necessary to make a baby.
    Finally they were working on the last dog, the little black schnauzer she’d found hidden in the back of the truck. “He’s the only black one in the bunch,” Bailey observed as he examined the pooch. “And none of the adult females wanted anything to do with him.”
    â€œPoor little thing,” Melanie murmured, and stroked the fur that since his bath was smooth and silky. “I’ll be his mommy.” She looked at Bailey curiously. “How come you don’t have a dog of your own? As much as you love them, I’d think you would have half a dozen.”
    He shrugged and finished the exam on the puppy, then handed him to her. “I had a dog once…remember Champ?”
    â€œOh, yeah, I’d forgotten. But that was years ago.” Champ had been a golden retriever his parents had owned for years. The dog had been hit by a car when Bailey was twelve.
    Melanie remembered that day very well.