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Grace had instigated the progra how it had started in a Seattle bookstore Because of her own volunteer work at the animal shelter, it had irade schools and, not surprisingly, the idea had met with enthusiasm

That hen Grace heard about Beth, who’d moved to Cedar Cove three years earlier As soon as Grace approached her, Beth had responded with an unqualified yes Despite the work on her Christs into the library several tira aside her spreadsheets After hours of staring at nu to doweek and she looked forward to a relaxing weekend with her husband They planned to go horseback riding along the beach on Saturday, maybe take in adown in the chair opposite Grace’s desk She carefully set her picnic basket on the floor beside her

"Anything" Grace would never be able to repay Beth Although the library progra, Grace could already see a dramatic difference in the children At first they’d arrived tense, uneasy about yet another reading exercise, but as soon as they saw the dogs, everything changed Twice now she’d seen children froreater proof of Reading with Rover’s success

"Do you reo?"

Grace recalled that Beth had rescued a golden retriever she’d co had no identification and she’d apparently been on her own for some time because she was in bad shape

"Of course"

"She was pregnant"

"Pregnant?" Grace repeated slowly

"The puppies were born a few days after I brought her home She had a litter of five Unfortunately, she didn’tand it breaks my heart to have lost her"

"Five puppies?" The fact that the lost dog had been a golden retriever instantly brought back memories of Grace’s beloved Buttercup Buttercup had been almost twelve when she’d died quietly in her sleep that su a pang of grief The golden retriever had loved her life on the ranch and had never seeh the property and along the shore It didn’t seeot horeet her

"So if you would, I’d be forever grateful," Beth was saying

Grace blinked Caught up in her memories, she’d entirely missed most of Beth’s comments

"If I would do what?" Grace asked

"Look after one of the puppies for lance

"Me? But…how?"

"He needs to be fed every couple of hours I have a special bottle I’ll give you In addition to the feeding, he’ll need lots of attention This poor baby has lost his mother and he’s been separated from his brother and sisters He’s lonely and afraid"

"Beth, I couldn’t possibly take on the care of a puppy" It was out of the question "I have to be at work here in the library I haven’t got the time, and Cliff’s constantly busy with the horses… " Her voice drifted off She didn’t add that she was still in ht now It was just too hard

"I can’t do it by myself anymore," Beth said "Not with all the work on the tree far orders and so shipped as far away as Hawaii and Japan I’ and the library program, and I can’t stop to feed two puppies" She paused "I can barely handle one"

"I’nored her protest "Suzette has one puppy and Kristen Jamey took another A third went to a woman at church, and I have one uy Unfortunately he’s the runt of the litter, smaller and more at risk than the others"

"I’m sure you’ll find someone…else," Grace said

Suzette Laured the library ell represented in the puppy-care department

"I wouldn’t bother you if there was anyone else I could ask, and trust me, I’ve tried I have nowhere else to turn It’s just for a feeeks," she said, her voice increasingly desperate "I really need your help, Grace"

Grace started to raise her objections again when Beth bent down to open the basket and lifted out a solden retriever His eyes were squeezed shut against the light and he squirrasp

"Can you tell the breed of the father?" Grace asked as a delaying tactic

"My guess is that he was probably a mix Some Lab, some hound and maybe a bit of poodle It’s too early to really tell"

An odd coolden like his mother…like Buttercup

"But I have a lot of responsibilities at the library," Grace said, hoping Beth would accept the excuse

"Bring him with you I’m sure he’ll be a hit with the children and they’ll enjoy seeing hi will I--will he need this extra care?"

"A month, six weeks at the most"

"Then you’ll be able to adopt him out?"