Emma's Wish

At that moment, Becky peeked out from behind Emma's skirt and noticed Joseph holding the dog. Her squeal split the air.

"Doggie!" Her eyes grew huge. Dimples creased her cheeks, and she was fairly bursting with excitement. As fast as her legs could carry her, she scrambled across the barn floor and made a grab for the dog. Joseph reached out and stopped her. "You dope, Becky," he grumbled.

"Joseph!" Emma's voice was stern. Joseph gave her a guilty look, then muttered a half-hearted apology to Becky.

"You're gonna hurt it if you're not careful," Joseph went on, his voice gentle.

Becky's smile disappe

ared. "Me not hurt it," she assured Joseph. "Me play."

"Well then," Joseph said. "Just wait a minute."

Again she reached out to touch the dog.

This time, Joseph allowed her to pet it. "Be gentle, Becky. Gentle."

"Me be gentle." Becky looked up at Joseph as she slowly, gently, ran her hand over the dog's coat. "Me gentle, right?"

Joseph nodded. "That's right."

At that moment, Nathan seemed to realize that this was the surprise Sam had been talking about. He looked up, his face shining with excitement. "Can we keep him?"

Sam smiled. "Sure can. But you boys have to look after him. And you'll have to think up a name for him."

Both boys nodded in agreement. "We will," they promised simultaneously.

"Hey, Nathan, we could call him Zeus, or Apollo, like in the story Ma told us last night. Or even Thor."

Nathan grinned. "Yeah. I like Apollo. Could we call him Apollo?"

"Okay."

Turning to Sam, Joseph announced their decision. "Then it's settled," he said. "Now you boys better get inside. It's getting late."

"Does Apollo have to sleep out here?" Nathan asked. "It's still pretty cold at night for him to sleep in the barn."

"I suppose it is," Sam agreed. "But since he isn't house-broken, I don't think--"

"Of course he can't sleep out here. He's only a puppy," Emma butted in. "But you two are responsible for any mess he makes. Is that clear?"

Nathan and Joseph nodded. "Yes, ma'am." Becky looked up, her face creased in a smile. "Me won't make a mess."

Sam and Emma laughed. "Not you, Becky. The puppy."

"Oh." Becky turned to the bundle of fur that had begun to nibble on her fingers. "You not make a mess, okay, puppy?"

Apollo looked up at her adoringly and lapped her face. Becky giggled.

"Good," Emma said. "Then why don't you take him inside and find him a place to sleep."

The boys got to their feet and took the dog from Becky, Joseph chuckling as Apollo lapped at his neck. They paused when they reached Sam and Emma.

"Thanks, Pa," Joseph said, his tone turning sombre. "I never thought we'd ever get to have a dog."

"Yeah, Pa, thanks," Nathan echoed.

"It's Emma you should be thanking," Sam pointed out. "It was her idea."