Man’s Best Friend
The Dogmothers
Book Six
Roxanne St. Claire
Man’s Best Friend
THE DOGMOTHERS BOOK SIX
Copyright © 2020 South Street Publishing
This novel is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
All rights to reproduction of this work are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission from the copyright owner. Thank you for respecting the copyright. For permission or information on foreign, audio, or other rights, contact the author, roxanne@roxannestclaire.com.
ISBN Ebook: 978-1-952196-09-6
ISBN Print: 978-1-952196-10-2
COVER DESIGN: The Killion Group, Inc.
INTERIOR FORMATTING: Author E.M.S.
Table of Contents
MAN’S BEST FRIEND
Copyright
Before The Dogmothers…
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
A Dogfather/Dogmothers Family Reference Guide
About the Author
Before
The Dogmothers…
there was
The Dogfather!
Sit…Stay…Beg – book one
New Leash on Life – book two
Leader of the Pack – book three
Santa Paws is Coming to Town – book four (a holiday novella)
Bad to the Bone – book five
Ruff Around the Edges – book six
Double Dog Dare – book seven
Bark! The Herald Angels Sing – book eight (a holiday novella)
Old Dog New Tricks – book nine
The Dogmothers Series
Hot Under the Collar – book one
Three Dog Night – book two
Dachshund Through the Snow – book three (a holiday novella)
Chasing Tail – book four
Hush, Puppy – book five
Man’s Best Friend – book six
Feliz Naughty Dog – book seven (a holiday novella)
And more to come!
Note to readers: For a complete guide to all of the characters in both The Dogfather and Dogmothers series, see the back of this book. Or visit www.roxannestclaire.com for a printable reference, book lists, buy links, and reading order of all my books. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to find out when the next book is released! And join the private Dogfather Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/roxannestclairereaders/ for inside info on all the books and characters, sneak peeks, and a place to share the love of tails and tales!
Acknowledgements
Hugs of gratitude to the experts who backed me up on this one. Much love to Associate Veterinarian Christine Horne (with certifications in Canine Rehabilitation, Acupuncture and Spinal Manipulation or Chiropractic). She helped me heal Judah, so I named a character after her. Also, Silver James, retired member of the fire service and law enforcement, who has stepped in on so many occasions when I’ve written a firefighter hero, making sure I’ve got it all right. And finally, air kisses to beta reader Lorie Humpherys, who not only talked me off the ledge but actually came out there with me to guide me back with great ideas and a gentle touch. Shout out to my developmental editor Kristi Yanta and copyeditor Joyce Lamb, part of the amazing team behind me on every book. Y’all rock.
Chapter One
Twenty Years Ago
“To Declan Mahoney,” Evie said as she raised a paper cup of pilfered Jameson’s, “my friend who is like a banana.”
Declan snorted and rolled his eyes. “Ah, boy. Here it comes.”
“’Cause he’s so…” She leaned closer to whisper, “A-peeling.”
He groaned, but a smile lifted his lips as he raised his glass. “To Evie Hewitt, the punniest person I know.”
They put the cups to their lips, but Evie didn’t take a sip. Instead, she gazed right into dark eyes so familiar and comforting, she couldn’t bear to look away.
“Drink it up, buttercup.”
She shook her head. “No, I want to do a better birthday toast. No jokes this time.” She lifted the paper cup again. “Here’s to my best friend since, wow, life began?”
“Since you got bumped up to third grade from second because you’re so smart.”
“On our birthday!”
Declan shook his head but couldn’t help smiling. “You waltzed into Mrs. Burley’s classroom and announced it was your birthday. On my birthday.”
She threw her head back with a hearty laugh. “And my mom used glitter frosting to add your name to my pink Care Bears cake because that’s all she had.”
“Totally wrecked my playground cred for the rest of the year.” His eyes sparked with humor.
She leaned back to look at him, wanting to drag out the toast as long as possible. For the whole night, actually. Because there was no better way to spend their shared birthday than alone in the mountains at midnight, a teeny bit tipsy, looking into each other’s eyes.
“Here we go,” she said. “The real toast. To my best friend.”
“You sure about that now?”
“Well, except for the time he unfairly beat me—some might say he actually cheated me—out of a win in the seventh-grade Bitter Bark spelling bee—”
“Come on, E,” he said on a laugh. “You missed duffel, fair and square.”
“I did not miss it.” She reached over and brushed a lock of his dark hair off his forehead, something she didn’t normally do with her friends, but tonight…everything was different. Even the view over the lake where they always camped was different, but that was because Declan had driven to the opposite side to a far more secluded and private section than the one they’d always gone to.
And she knew why. Tonight, they were so ready to step outside the comfort of their friendship and find…a different kind of comfort. The kind that required seclusion.
“Where was I?” she asked, a little lost.
“Griping about the spelling bee when you flubbed duffel.”
“Because the second spelling in the dictionary is D-U-F-F-L-E,” she
