trouble reading worked with a tutor for half an hour. The tutor went over the vocabulary list, and made sure the students understood what the words meant. Then the students read a book aloud to a dog.
Montana had chosen Buddy. Not only was he gentle and supportive, he tended to worry. Montana had noticed children responded to doggie concern with reassurance. But any kind of reassurance required a little bit of confidence, something the students who couldn’t read tended not to have.
Mrs. Elder introduced Montana to a skinny boy about Reese’s age. “This is Daniel.” The librarian smiled at the boy. “Daniel, I’d like you to meet Montana and her dog Buddy.”
The boy glanced at her, his eyes barely visible through his long bangs. “Hi.”
The word came out more like a sigh than a greeting and Montana figured he wasn’t excited about spending a warm summer afternoon in the library.
Mrs. Elder nodded at them and left.
They were working in one of the small rooms off the main library. As Montana had requested, there were several beanbag chairs and large pillows on the carpeted floor. When a child was reading to a dog, it helped for everyone to be at eye level.
Montana sat on a beanbag chair and patted the one next to her for Daniel. “Buddy is very excited to hear the story. I was telling him about it earlier, and he can’t wait.”
Daniel slumped onto the floor, then rolled his eyes. “Dogs don’t get excited about books.”
“How do you know?” Montana asked. “Buddy isn’t having a very good day and stories make him feel better.”
“You can’t expect me to believe that.”
“Of course I do. Look at him. Does he look like a happy dog?”
Daniel dutifully turned toward Buddy. As always, the dog’s expression was one of concern, as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“He does look kind of sad,” Daniel admitted. “But reading isn’t going to help. Dogs don’t care about stuff like that.”
“Really?” Montana picked up the two books Daniel had carried in. She held them both out to Buddy. “Which one?”
The dog lifted his left paw and tapped the book on the left.
Montana handed that one to Daniel. “See, he has an opinion.”
Daniel’s eyes widened. “Whoa. I’ve never seen anything like that.” He turned to the dog. “Buddy, you really want me to read you this story?”
Maybe it was Montana’s imagination, but she would swear the dog nodded.
“Okay.” Daniel looked at Montana. “You’re not going to stay are you?”
Montana rose to her feet. “Nope. You’re on your own.”
She left the room, but hovered just outside the open door. Daniel began to read, his progress painfully slow. He sounded out each word, stumbling every now and then, but pressing forward.
She’d come up with the idea of having the dog pick the book a few weeks ago. Teaching the trick was easy and if it helped the kid believe, then it was time well spent.
She glanced at her watch, then headed outside. She would check on Daniel in ten minutes.
She’d barely settled in the shade of a large oak tree when her cell phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out.
“Hello?”
“Montana? This is Fay Riley, Kalinda’s mother. Have I caught you at a bad time?” Fay sounded beyond tired, as if she hadn’t slept in days.
She probably hadn’t, Montana thought, remembering how small Kalinda had looked in the hospital bed.
“This is a good time. How can I help?”
Fay sighed. “She’s having a bad day. The pain is horrible and she can’t sleep. Would it be too much trouble to bring Cece by? I think it would really help her. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty,” she said in a rush. “Oh, hell. Maybe I am. I’m desperate.”
Montana could hear the strain in her voice, along with tears. “Of course I can bring her by. I’m at the library and I’ll be here another hour. Then I’ll go get Cece. So about three-thirty?”
“That would be great.” Fay swallowed a sob.
“It’s okay,” Montana said softly. “I’m happy to help any way I can.”
“I appreciate it. I’m sorry to be so weak, it’s just the burns. They’re so horrible and I don’t know what to do.”
“You’re with her and you love her.”
“If only that were enough.” She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. You’re being wonderful and I’m…”
“I understand. At least as much as I can.”
“Thank you, Montana. This will mean so much to both of us.”
After they hung up, she put the phone back in her pocket. There was no way she could get what that family was going through. There was no way anyone could, unless they’d been through the same thing. All she had to offer was the company of a small poodle. Today that would have to be enough.
MONTANA RODE THE HOSPITAL elevator, a clean and excited Cece in her arms. The poodle seemed to recognize the setting. Montana wondered if her quivering was at the thought of seeing Kalinda or Simon. The little dog had liked them both, although Simon was by far her favorite.
If she were being completely honest with herself, Montana wouldn’t mind a little Simon time, as well. Not just for kissing, although that was pretty fabulous, but also to talk to him. She wanted to know more about his life. She wanted to find out about his scars—how he’d gotten them and why he didn’t get them fixed.
She stepped out onto the floor and headed to the burn ward. After checking in with the nurses’ station, she walked toward Kalinda’s room. Fay moved into the hallway and spotted her.
Although it had only been a few days since Montana had brought Cece by, Fay looked more exhausted and frail than she had before. The dark circles under her eyes looked permanently etched into her skin and her mouth trembled with what Montana would guess was overwhelming emotion.
“Thank you for coming,” Fay said quietly. “Kalinda’s in so much pain. The nurses keep telling me they’re doing what they can, but then she cries for me to help her and there’s nothing…” Fay swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
Montana felt helpless. “Don’t apologize, please. This is so hard for you and your family. You need to vent, so feel free to use me.”
“You’re very kind.”
Montana wasn’t sure of that, but she would do whatever she could.
“I didn’t tell her the dog was coming,” Fay admitted. “She’ll be so happy.”
“Cece is pretty excited, too.”
They went into the room. To Montana’s untrained eye, the girl’s burns looked worse than they had before. The raw skin was more angry, the smell worse. Cece quivered and squirmed to get out of her arms, as if she remembered Kalinda from her last visit.
The girl opened her eyes. “Oh, you brought Cece.”
“I thought she might make you feel better,” her mother said.
Kalinda managed a shaky smile. “Thanks, Mom. She does.”
Montana set Cece on the bed. The tiny poodle walked carefully across the blankets to Kalinda’s side. She stared at her for a few seconds, then licked the girl’s fingers. Kalinda managed a weak laugh. “She likes me.”
“Of course she does,” Montana told her, feeling a bit of emotion herself.
Cece curled up beside Kalinda. The girl petted her gently, her eyes closing.
“This is nice,” she whispered.
Fay motioned for Montana to follow her into the hall. “Can you stay for a bit? I was thinking she might relax enough to sleep.”
“Of course. I’ll sit right here.” Montana looked at her. “Why don’t you take a break? Get something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry, but I would love to take a shower.” She glanced back toward the room. “I hate to be away from her.”
