'Tis The Season

“Damn it.” I can’t leave any animal out there. Pulling to the side of the road, I park and step out, scanning the quickly growing snowdrifts. A flash of brown and black catches my eyes. I follow the prints illuminated by my headlights. They step under a bench. I duck down cautiously, unsure of the animal’s state of mind. The tiny beagle peers up at me warily.

“What are you doing out here, bud?” I kneel down, ignoring the cold seeping into my trousers.

“Can you come here?” The pup cranes its neck and scoots forward. “That’s it. You don’t want to stay out here in the cold, do you? No.” I keep my tone even as I hold out my hand. The pup sniffs my fingers a few times before he licks them. “I’m taking that as personal approval. Let’s get you warm.” Scooping him up into my arms, I move back to my car. I don’t have anything for a puppy.

“Looks like we’re headed back to another store, but you’re worth it.” I lift him up before wrapping him with the blanket I keep in the backseat. “Huh, boy? I wonder who you belong to.” He has a collar but no tag to identify him. “I bet someone is worried about you.” Unless he’s an abandoned Christmas gift. It happens more than people would imagine, but not until a little after the holidays usually.

“Neither of us will be alone for Christmas now.”

Chapter Two

Faye

I lower my head and ignore the flurries hitting the small sliver of skin left bare around my eyes. They’re melted as soon as they land by the heat of my skin and the tears I can’t stop shedding. I’ve had Monty for less than twenty-four hours, and I’ve already lost him. My chest aches as another sob builds. I’d been plastering the streets with lost posters for the past two hours, pausing only to thaw out in my car. I could call Warren, but the shame stops me. I don’t want to pull him away from the family or admit how incapable I am. One minute, Monty was chasing his tail, circling around my ankles, and the next, he streaked out of the gap in the door Preston created as he tried to shoulder his way in.

I might’ve caught him if Preston hadn’t blocked me with his massive frame. I’d never felt so powerless in my life. By the time I shoved him out of my way, my new puppy was long gone. The precious time I wasted going back to get my jacket and boots allowed him to run even farther. I couldn’t blame him for fleeing when Preston had been yelling like a maniac. Just thinking about the infuriating man had me seeing red. Taking a deep breath, I staple another poster onto a telephone pole and move back toward my car.

The mu

scles in my lower back throb and I feel chilled to the bone. I can’t keep this up much longer. It’s not healthy for the baby or me. But the thought of Monty out there alone is a physical ache I can’t ignore. Trudging back through inches of snow, I slide into my car and peel the gloves from my stiff fingers. Rubbing my palms together, I hold them up to the hot air shooting from the vents. I could try driving around, but visibility against the white snow still coming down was poor at best. I have to do something.

Sufficiently warmed, I pull out of the parking lot and onto the street, driving slowly as I circle the neighborhood watching for any signs of Monty. My phone rings, and I frown at the unfamiliar number. Answering via Bluetooth, I know I’m going to lose it if it’s a telemarketer.

“Hello?”

“Is this Faye?”

What is it with delicious-sounding British men tonight?

“You called me. Shouldn’t you know?”

“Right. My name is James, and I think I found your dog, Monty.”

“Oh my God.” My voice catches in my throat. “Is he okay?”

“Scared, cold, and hungry, but I’ve warmed him up and given him some food.”

“He’s just a puppy. You didn’t give him regular dog food, did you?”

He chuckles. “It just so happens that I’m a veterinarian, so I’m pretty sure I know what I’m doing.”

“Jesus. You must think I’m a horrible dog mom.”

“I’m not here to judge. I’m just happy he’s safe.” He clears his throat. “Though I have to ask why he’s got no identification.”

“I just got him today. The person who came over wasn’t aware I had a dog, and once he was startled, he was off like a flash.”

“Beagles are faster than they look.”

“Yeah. I’ve learned that.”

“Well, I know it’s Christmas Eve. So, if you want to arrange to pick him up tomorrow sometime—”

“No.” I clear my throat. “It was just going to be the two of us this evening, and I really need to see him.”

“Okay.” His voice softens. “I can give you my address.”

Monty yips in the background. Relief flows through me.