Even though she’d witnessed the power of the water firsthand, the flood damage came as a shock. The trees still stood, but branches littered a yard caked with mud and other debris. As she spied the remnants of the shed and pen, her shock was so great, she nearly let go of Morgan’s leash. Most of what was left of his old home had been washed more than fifty feet from where it stood when he’d been rescued. Broken sections of fence and strips of wood were wrapped around the bases of the trees they’d been washed into. The rest had been washed away.

With ears pricked forward and nose still to the ground, Morgan tugged her forward. Did he have any idea how close he’d been to dying?

Morgan sniffed and sniffed around the base of what had once been his pen but was now only splintered wood and bent, galvanized metal posts jutting up from concrete mounds. Finally satiated, he stopped sniffing and raised his head, looking at her before turning his attention to the woods.

She waited as still as could be, wondering what he’d do next. His body remained as still as stone for close to a minute, his only movement an occasional sniffing of the air as he took in his surroundings. A steady, gentle breeze blew, carrying the earthy scent of the river mixed with the new growth of spring. Finally, he sank to his haunches, head cocked at attention and big ears dangling, watching her the way he did when she had a treat in her hand and he was waiting for direction.

She sank to his level, resting on the backs of her ankles and draping her arms over his neck. With no hesitation, he melted closer into her, his wet nose burrowing in her hair and along her face and neck.

She closed her eyes and soaked in his warmth. She couldn’t say if seconds or minutes passed as a calm swept over her deeper than any she’d experienced in a long time.

“You know what, Morgs,” she said when she finally pulled away. “I’m pretty sure you and I have come to the same conclusion. This isn’t our home anymore.”

As if he was in complete agreement, he stood up and began leading her back through the yard and around the house to the car.

Chapter 29

Samson was pressing against his side, snoring into his ear, when Gabe stirred from a deep sleep. He flipped sides, turning his back to his dog, trying to retreat into sleep again before his mind began to race. He was starting to drift when he was awakened again. This time, he was alert enough to identify the sound.

Someone was knocking on his door.