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Bernard snuffled against his thigh and Puddles whined This—this right here hy animals beat people, pan

They were sensitive They cared They wanted to be loved and they gave love back Animals never betrayed you the way people did They were loyal

“It’s okay,” Jack entle fingers over Puddles’ tense ears “I’ll be okay”

Bernard gave his elbow an enthusiastic lick

“I’ll be okay,” Jack repeated firmly, to himself this tied an acorn froh the leaves and fell directly onto the soft fur between Puddles’ ears, where Jack’s fingers had stroked a moment before

Puddles, skittish at the best of ti, and took off into the trees, his leash slipping through Jack’s fingers

“Dammit, Puddles, no!”

Jack tried to follow, but Bernard had plopped down on the soft grass at the tree line and was currently rolling hi smells It was useless to atteround, even for a man of Jack’s size

“Stay!” Jack commanded Bernard woofed, Dandelion flopped down beside hiround, teeth bared “Pirate, watch theiven him any indication that she understood orders, much less took them

Jack took off after Puddles The thought of the dog afraid made Jack’s heart pound and he ran full-out

Puddles had been a tre mess when Jack found him by the side of the road two years before, and it had taken a month before the Lab would even eat the food Jack offered froained Puddles’ trust, and the dog had joined the rest of his pack

“Puddles!” Jack called into the twilight He heard a whine ahead and sped up, lad for his afternoon runs Leaves crunched up ahead to his left and Jack zagged “Puddles?”

Dark was closing in on the woods and Jack narrowed his eyes, hoping to avoid running smack into a tree When he heard Puddles’ soft bark froain