“They and the animals in my future

All of them bring me pleasure.

They’ve changed my life and will change it more,

Each one of them a treasure.”

She gave a shrug. “Well, pleasure and treasure is a little obvious. I might change them later.”

“Don’t think you need to, but I’m no expert on songwriting. I’m impressed with what you’ve done,” he said, and he wasn’t just being polite. “Any ideas about the kind of music?”

“Something kind of lively. Maybe like that one by Shania Twain, ‘Man! I Feel Like a Woman!’ or ‘9 to 5’ by Dolly. But The GateCrasher guys will have some input.”

He smiled at her. “Thanks for letting me join in. I’m looking forward to the concert.”

She smiled back. “I am, too.” Then she watched the landscape for a while, the Rockies in the distance, the forests with their different shades of green, the pastureland interspersed throughout.

“Those mountains are so…majestic.”

“Material for another song?”

“Why not? I could use the word rock!”

“Speaking of songs,” she said a moment later, “could we listen to the radio for a while?” When he said yes, she flipped it on and found a country station.

ACCORDING TO A road sign, they were approaching the outskirts of Elm Ridge. Carly felt satisfied with her songwriting progress and had enjoyed the drive. Of her “three dads” she knew J.P. McCall the least, but now that had begun to change.

They parked in the front lot of a building that looked to her rather like a condo. An older one, anyway. J.P. got out first and had Trooper stand quietly while he put on the dog’s harness. They could hear dogs barking excitedly not far away and Trooper went on alert, whimpering a little.

“Calm,” J.P. told him—calmly, of course—and the dog settled down.

The three of them walked past a yard enclosed by chain-link fencing, and they watched several women throwing tennis balls for the dogs to catch and bring back. Carly said this must be playtime. He agreed, describing it as a break—forgive the word, he said with a grin—for all concerned.

He led her to a guard stand, identified himself and her; next they were ushered inside, where they went through the process again. This time, a correctional supervisor named Margaret Colton greeted them in a friendly fashion and brought them over to meet Jennifer, who was in a lounge with two other women, all casually dressed, and the dogs they were currently working with.

J.P. shook Jennifer’s hand and introduced Carly. Trooper wagged his tail at the standard poodle mix and the Australian shepherd, who responded in the same way. Jennifer introduced Laura and Mary, plus the dogs, Rooney and Bruce.