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After the cere with their classmates Nettie and Don rapped in conversation, andto the side, his cap and gown removed and turned back in to the senior class advisor He wore the black slacks and white shirt he’d worn at the Christmas Eve church service His black hair was brushed back off his face It wouldn’t be long before his long hair would be buzzed military short His recruiter had told him to cut it before he reported for boot carandparents were driving hi Don and Nettie wanted to make a leisurely trip of it; neither had spentthe ‘scenic route’ Sa station on Monday ive to you," I said aardly, trying not to be overheard or draw attention, but wanting to arrange aho school celebration after graduation, but I doubted Samuel would stick around for the festivities

"Nettie and Don want to take me to Mickelson’s Restaurant for an early dinner, but after that we’ll be ho for you, too" His eyes shifted away, detaching hi tree that’s split in two?"

I nodded my head I called the tree and the others around it Sleepy Hollow Sleepy Hollohere three huge trees grew in a triangle about half a randparent’s home, just before the turnoff to the ce had struck the tallest of the three trees, splitting it in two about half way down its trunk Interestingly enough, the tree didn’t die, but simply forked into two trees supported by one massive trunk - like nature’s version of Siarees, had created boughs, curving into the two other trees across the clearing The lower branches were twisted and deforrow sideways instead of up, like leafy arms stretched out in supplication In the late fall when the tree lost its leaves, the thick gnarled branches appeared like skeletal ar the na, as the trees donned their leafy adornments, this branched oddity, coully, created a thick green hideaway - a natural enclosure completely hidden from the dusty lane that ran close by

"Can you meet me there later, say 8:00?" Sareed io down until alht later and later, and I would be free until dark

I arrived before Saifts I’d decided at the lastI hated to part with, so I kneould be especiallyso in his arms He slid off the horse and looped the reins over a convenient branch The horse i, and Sa his furry bundle A pure white face and a wet black nose wedged into view under the concealushed, rushing to him The puppy in his arms was fat with very white fur, like a little polar bear "Where did you get him?"

"Hans Larsen said I could have a pup when he found out his dog, Bashee, was expecting My grandpa and Hans help each other out with their herds I’ve uessed, looking at his handsoy face

"Half," Samuel replied "In his case, half-breed looks a lot like the original, huh?" His voice was light, and I let the half-breed coo without censure

"What’s the other half?" I stroked the silky head and tickled the tiny chin

"Hans Larsen says the dog’s mother is an Akbash - that’s where the name Bashee came from"

"Akbash? I’ve never even heard of that"

"That’s because they are sheep dogs native to Turkey Hans has used the Akbash to guard his sheep for years He says they aren’t as hyper as your average sheep dog In fact, they really don’t herd sheep at all They are considered guardians They are very calm, and it is their nature to si to help him move the herd, and the Akbash to keep watch and live with the flock He says this pup’s s to her"

"So how did the Lab half come in to the mix?"

Sa its back

"Hans had corralled the herd close to ho that week of bad stor white Lab came over for a friendly visit, ed to breed his dog with another pure bred The Lab just got there first"

I giggled a little and sank to the soft dirt and grass, foldingthe pup waddle around me "She looks like a Lab to me…but she’s so white!"

Sa out to the little dog, letting his fingers smooth his snowy fur "The Akbash is very white - and it looks like the Lab through his snout and head, but its legs are longer and it has a feathery curved tail This guy’s got his daddy’s tail" Sa In fact, full grown, he’ll probably weigh one" Samuel’s voice was quiet and serious "After all, when I saved your life, I becahten the seriousness of his words