“It’s been an honor to be part of this. And I’m learning a lot too.”
“I expect you will. Hell, I expect my old mentee could teach me a thing or two anymore. He’s a regular old dog whisperer, his buddies tell me.”
“I won’t argue with you there. It’s something to watch him work.” Kelsey followed Rob toward the back of the van. He opened the double doors and stepped back. She was surprised to find close to fifteen crates, each with a dog inside. “Where are the other ones going?”
“Couple hours away. A little rehab place outside Jeff City.”
“That’s great. I’m so glad you’re placing so many dogs.”
“We’ve been lucky.”
“Kurt said the pit bull is doing pretty good,” Kelsey said as Rob zeroed in on the nearest crate.
“Frankie? He’s something, I tell you. A survivor. And a character at that. He really likes his tennis balls, so I’ve got a couple up front to give you. And before I forget, his stitches come out this week. His vet’s information is up front too.”
“Okay. Sure. And it’s Frankie? Was that his name?”
“It is now, unless you can think of a better one. The boys named him. We never found out jack about him. The asshole that was fighting him so hard probably never bothered to name him. He had four dead dogs dumped out behind the shed where Frankie was kept. There were two others in crates still alive. One made it and went to a woman I know over in Illinois. The other pit was humanely euthanized.”
Kelsey felt her eyes tear up. How could someone be so heartless? No, soulless. “Can I see him?” she asked, blinking back tears.
“Sure thing. For all he’s been through, he’s been a love sponge around people, which makes me think he wasn’t living in the place where he was confiscated for long.”
“Let’s hope not.”
Rather than asking her to help lower the crate as Kelsey expected, Rob pinched the door lock open and took his time clipping a leash onto Frankie’s collar. Kelsey’s emotions were stirred up from Rob’s words, so the tears stayed close to the surface as she watched the beautiful silver-blue pit bull emerge from the crate. The remarkable dog stopped calmly at the edge of the van floor, looking around the yard and blinking his eyes in the bright sun.
In the scheme of things, it hadn’t been that long since Kelsey had laid eyes upon him. The swelling on the left side of his face had gone down considerably, though with his stitches, his expression still looked stuck in a wink and a half smile.
Kelsey let out something that was between a laugh and sob. “He’s beautiful.”
“Blue-nose pits are quite beautiful, if you ask me.” Rob patted Frankie confidently atop his shoulder blades. Then, to Kelsey’s surprise, he wrapped his arms around the dog and lifted him carefully down to the ground. “Don’t want him tearing any stitches trying to jump.”
Kelsey fished through her pockets and was happy to find a few leftover treats. She sank into a squat and let Frankie approach her. Keeping the treats back for a moment—knowing Kurt wouldn’t approve of her offering a treat at the front end of a greeting—she let Frankie sniff her empty right hand. His eyes were the same silver blue as his coat and as clear, bright, and intelligent as those of any dog she’d ever met.
After a few quick sniffs, he turned his attention to her other hand, the one hiding the treats. His ears perked forward, but he waited patiently. She brought her left hand forward and let him swipe the treats off her palm. He crunched them in a few chomps, then began to lick her palm contentedly.
“I know a love connection when I see one,” Rob said, passing her the leash. “Other than keeping him clean and dry while he heals, you won’t have any problems with him. So long as you keep him out of direct contact with other dogs until he’s had considerable retraining. Maybe forever.”
Kelsey nodded. “I understand.” She pressed one hand against Frankie’s chest and scratched him gently with the tips of her fingers. “From here on out, Frankie, you get a total redo. It’s only the best for you, promise. Cozy beds, great foods, and people who love you. And how about homemade popsicles on Sundays? Beef, chicken, peanut butter, or pineapple—your choice. And I can tell you right now, that sweet face of yours is making it onto next year’s calendar. Everywhere you turn, you’re going to get nothing but love.”
Finally, Kelsey stood up. “Kurt and I set up one of the upstairs bedrooms for him,” she told Rob. “So long as he doesn’t mind stairs, he won’t have to be crated in the same room as other dogs. Once he settles in and is used to being here, we’re going to try offering him free roam of the room too. We started the same thing with Pepper, the Rottweiler, today. I’m sure you remember her. She’ll be next door to him. She’s had free roam of her room since midmorning but still went into her kennel to nap. Otherwise, she’s either been watching out the window or sitting behind the stair gate that’s blocking off the room. She seems to enjoy being around people.”
“You might be surprised how many of them do. Often in cases like this, it’s as if they don’t connect the job they’re given with the person who cares for them.”
Kelsey was opening her mouth to reply when she realized they were no longer alone. Kurt and Patrick were back. She’d been so focused on Frankie that she hadn’t heard them approach. Kurt was watching her intently, and Patrick was fastening the buttons of his side pants pocket.
“Afternoon,” Kurt said, nodding at Rob. “That pit’s looking better already. Looks like the vet really had skills.”
Yesterday afternoon, Kurt had told Kelsey that Rob had shown him the “before” pictures that would
