He ended up pushing the cart up and down each aisle. He occasionally grabbed an item off the shelf, but mostly enjoyed the view of MJ stretching up to reach a box of pasta off a high shelf, or bending over to pick something down low. An unfamiliar warmth coursed through him, and he struggled to figure out what he was feeling. Comfortable. Being with MJ like this, doing ordinary chores, was comfortable. He wasn’t sure what to make of that.
They were in line, checking out, when he heard it—an agitated bark, and a canine snarl. “Wait here,” he said as he took off out of the front door and into the parking lot. As he ran toward the truck, he could see a man hovering by its window, and heard the frantic, angry barks coming from Maverick.
“Hey! What’re you doing? Leave my dog alone!” A glance took in the foam-flecked snout and bared teeth. Maverick’s menacing growl alternated with agitated barking. He came up beside the man and pushed him out of the way with his body. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
The man turned, and Rob immediately recognized him from the park. “What the hell are you doing to my dog?”
The man palmed something and stuck it into his pocket. “You’ve got a vicious dog there, buddy. Better be careful. If he threatens somebody, they’ll put him down.” He smirked. “And wouldn’t that be a shame?”
Rob searched his memory banks for the guy’s name. Kent something. Barnard. Kent Barnard. “Listen, Kent. Leave my dog alone.”
They both looked up as a Ridgeview County squad car roared into the parking lot with its lights on. A crowd gathered at the door, watching the drama unfold. Somebody must have called the cops.
“Kent Barnard,” said the stern voice of a man, dressed in uniform, who jumped out of the car. “What the hell are you into now?”
“Hello, Sheriff. This dog threatened me. I was minding my business, and he started snarling at me. I thought he was going to attack me.”
“That true?” The sheriff turned his attention toward Rob.
“Doubtful, Sheriff. Maverick is a military service dog. Highly trained. We were in the store, and I heard him barking. This man was standing next to the open window and seemed to harass him. He had something in his hand, but I didn’t see what it was. He slid it into his pocket.”
Sheriff Daniels turned back toward Kent. “Barnard, can’t we let you out of jail without you getting into trouble every time you turn around?”
The man’s face turned red with anger, and he looked as if he might say something, but MJ arrived.
“Hi, Sheriff. What’s the problem?”
“Hey, MJ. No need for you to get involved in this. Just a problem with this dog.”
“Except that’s my dog, Sheriff. Trevor was his handler in the Marines and arranged for me to have him. Rob is teaching me how to handle him. If there’s a problem, I suspect somebody else caused it. Maverick is protective and very well trained. Kent has had a run-in with him before.”
“That’s right, Sheriff. Maverick and I witnessed Mr. Barnard harassing his ex-wife and daughter in Dogwood Park a week ago. I called the police because he violated an order of protection.”
Kent scowled at Rob. “You didn’t have any call to butt in. You and your vicious dog better watch out and mind your own business.”
“Watch it, Kent. It sounds like you’re threatening this man. What did you say your name was?”
“Rob Michelini. I served with both Maverick and Trevor Baird in the Sandbox.”
“Thanks for your service. Kent, I think you better move along. I don’t want to hear about you harassing Mr. Michelini or this dog, or you’ll have additional charges against you, and you’ll wait in jail for your court hearing.”
Barnard grumbled under his breath and shot a glare at Rob before heading off toward the street.
Rob turned to Maverick and reached inside the window to pet him. “Va bene.” Maverick exhaled loudly, tension rolling off him in waves.
“Is he okay?” MJ asked, her face tight with worry.
“I think so. He needs to calm down. I don’t know what that guy was doing, but it upset Maverick. He sure didn’t need this right now.”
Sheriff Daniels studied each of them. “Something going on with your dog, MJ?”
She caught Rob’s gaze before answering. “I guess you could say that. Maverick was with Trevor when he died. He was injured, too. He’s had a lot of change and trauma to adjust to. Plus, he’s having to get used to me. I have a lot to learn about handling him.”
Rob noticed she’d said nothing about Maverick’s PTSD. Probably a good idea. They didn’t want to do anything to make the sheriff think Maverick could be out of control or dangerous.
“Well, take good care of him. Avoid Kent Barnard if you can. He’s a loose cannon, I’m afraid. Sounds like Rob and Maverick are already on his bad side.” He nodded at them both and went back to his squad car.
MJ let out a deep breath.
“You okay?” Rob asked her.
“Yeah. I’m pissed off that Kent messed with Maverick.”
“Don’t worry.” He looked through the window at the Belgian Malinois. “He seems calmer already. Let’s get the groceries and leave.”
“I’ll take care of them. I’ve already paid. I just have to collect our buggy.”
“Buggy?”
“Yeah, that’s what we call shopping carts here. I left ours right inside the door. You stay here with Maverick, okay?”
He watched as MJ hurried across the parking lot into the store. He felt a wet nose reach through the window and search for his neck. “It’s okay, Maverick. We’ll keep you safe. I promise.” He felt a twinge of guilt at not being there when Kent started harassing
