house.'
'Why not?' Garth demanded. 'There are fields at the back where you can take him for exercise. He looks a terrific dog to me.'
Barker offered a paw, which both the children solemnly shook.
'Daddy, he wants to shake hands with you,' Cindy said.
Under Faye's incredulous eye, Garth took the huge powder puff offered to him. 'Pleased to meet you, sir,' he declared.
This was obviously the right response for both children, who beamed. Garth ran his hands over Barker's vast frame and offered him a biscuit, which vanished with the speed of light. Another went the same way. The next moment Barker's head was resting in Garth's hands, his eyes suggesting that this was his first food for a month.
'He likes you, Daddy,' Cindy said, delighted.
'Yes, I think he does. Hey, you're a splendid fellow, aren't you?'
Barker agreed, his eyes fixed on the biscuits.
Faye was growing more nervous. 'Don't encourage them,' she told Garth. 'It's out of the question.'
'Why is it, if they want him?'
'In that little house?'
He glanced up and her suspicions were confirmed. 'I know what you're up to and it won't work,' she told him in an undervoice. 'Garth, I'm not going to be manipulated like this.'
He moved aside with her, out of the children's hearing. 'Why must you always think the worst of me?'
'Eight years of marriage.'
'Ten,' he said at once.
'Only eight that counted.'
His eyes gleamed sharply, but he didn't retort.
'I know what you're doing,' she persisted, 'and you've got to stop.'
But Cindy was pulling on her hand, pleading, 'Mummy, Daddy, I want Barker.'
'Darling, he's far too big,' Faye said urgently.
'No, he isn't, he's just right,' Cindy said. 'I love him, and he loves me, and he wants to come with us.'
'Of course he does,' Garth said, refusing to meet his wife's eyes. 'You can't disappoint him now.'
She was speechless at his sheer lack of scruple. Under the guise of being kind to his daughter, Garth was arranging matters his own way, as always.
But when they reached Kelly's office it seemed he was due for a setback. While the children played outside with their new friend, Kelly said, 'You shouldn't really have met Barker, but Jane's still new here. He's a permanent resident.' 'But why?' Garth demanded. 'He looks fine to me.'
'He's a lovely dog, but also a very old one. Generally the larger the dog, the shorter the life. Barker's ten, and many St Bernards die at ten. It would be better to choose a younger animal. It's not too late.'
But it was too late, as the children's glowing faces confirmed. Through the window they could be seen climbing over Barker, who cheerfully accepted their attentions. Faye made a last attempt to change their minds, but their response was to tighten their arms around their new friend and look mulish.
Kelly made a start on the paperwork. 'He doesn't actually become yours for another month,' she said. 'First I must visit you and see how he is. If your home doesn't seem suitable, then I'm afraid I have to take him back.'
'Don't worry. He'll have the best of everything,' Garth assured her.
While Kelly left them a moment, Faye said angrily, 'That's the worst thing I've ever seen you do. He isn't going to live long. But you don't care if they're hurt so long as you get your way.'
'Faye, Cindy's happy.'
'Because she thinks this means her father loves her.'
'Are you saying I don't love my children?'
'Maybe you love Adrian, because he's your son. But Cindy's always been an afterthought to you. How is she going to feel when Barker dies?'
'I'll get her another dog.'
'Another one won't be the same.'
'I'll get one who looks just like him.'
She looked at him in pity. 'You don't understand a thing, do you?'
Kelly returned before he had to answer. The formalities were completed, and they were free to take Barker home.
Garth's big car suddenly looked much smaller when it had to accommodate a hundred and twenty pounds of dog. He took up most of the back seat, with Cindy and Adrian squeezing into whatever was left. When he woofed, Garth and Faye had to rub their ears.
It was Cindy's birthday next day. Faye's gift was a dressing-table set, and a new pair of jeans suitable for a little girl who enjoyed muddy pursuits. Adrian had bought her a video of her favourite television programme. And because Faye had done some inspired last- minute shopping, there was even a new T-shirt bearing a picture of a St Bernard, and a tag that said, 'To Cindy, with love from Barker.'
Garth's present was Barker himself, but Faye knew he wouldn't feel he'd done the job properly unless he'd spent money. She'd wondered wryly how he would rise to the challenge of buying something for a little girl he knew nothing about, but she'd underestimated him. He had an excellent, motherly secretary, who spent the lunch hour shopping and returned with a small coral necklace and matching bracelet. They were exquisite, and Cindy was thrilled.
When she'd opened her cards and presents, she willingly turned the spotlight onto Adrian.
'He's got a very important football match this afternoon,' she explained to Barker. 'And we're going along to cheer. I'll tell you all about it when we come back.'
Promptly at eleven o'clock Adrian was collected by the father of a team-mate, ferrying five players to the match site ten miles away. The rest of the family would follow an hour later.
Cindy was ready well before time, bouncing up and down with excitement. 'Come on, Daddy,' she pleaded. But when he appeared, her expression changed to one of horror. 'Daddy, you can't go like that.'
'What's wrong with it?' Garth asked, looking down at his neat, conservative suit.
'Nobody dresses like that,' Cindy said urgently.
'I do.'
'Nobody does.'
'Faye, do you know what this child is talking about?'
'You're overdressed,' she said. 'You should be in jeans and sweater like the rest of us.'
'Does it really matter?'
'Garth, if you turn up dressed for a board meeting, your children will be so embarrassed that they'll pretend not to know you.'
Garth was about to say that his faithful little defender would never deny him, when he caught a look on Cindy's face, and thought better of it. 'I don't have any jeans,' said the man who'd once lived in them, morning, noon and night.
'Something casual, then.'
Between them Faye and Cindy went through his clothes and found garments that Cindy said, 'wouldn't be too cringe-making'. Much chastened, Garth donned trousers and a casual shirt, and they were ready to leave.
'Goodbye, Barker,' Cindy said, hugging him fiercely. 'Be good while we're gone.'
But it seemed that the faithful hound had no intention of staying behind. He followed her to the door, slipped out and went to sit beside the car. When Garth seized his collar and tried to command him back inside, Barker took root in the ground and looked hurt.
'He's afraid to be on his own,' Cindy explained, 'in case we don't come back.' 'He's a dog, not a person,' Garth protested.
But it seemed that Cindy was right. Having lost one owner, Barker was determined not to lose another. As soon as the car door was opened he dashed inside. Cindy followed him and they sat together, determination written on both faces.
'You might as well give in now,' Faye said, stifling a laugh.
