Frank walked the roughly half a mile to the modest white ranch-style home he’d built almost thirty years ago. As he drew near, he heard paws padding along behind him. Figures. I know better than to feed a strange dog. He purposefully ignored the animal and started up the steps to the front porch.

The aroma of roasting beef was in the air.

Megan stepped out onto the porch. “Oh good, you’re back. Dinner is almost ready. Go get washed up.”

He gave her a peck on the lips. “Smells good.”

She looked past him with a puzzled expression. “You made a friend?”

The lab now sat at the bottom of the porch steps, looking hopeful.

Frank shook his head. “I made the mistake of giving him some of the beef jerky.”

Megan pushed her shoulder-length auburn hair behind her ears, knelt, and patted the wooden deck of the porch. “Here, boy, did you like the jerky?”

The dog bounded up the stairs and lay down in front of her, its belly up and its long tail sweeping back and forth over the wooden planks.

Megan giggled as she rubbed the dog’s belly. “You’re such a good boy.” She looked up at Frank with that sheepish smile he knew so well. “Do you think anyone owns him?”

“No idea. He just wandered up. He’s obviously been cared for, but he’s not wearing a collar or anything.” He hesitated. “I thought after Daisy died, you swore—”

“Oh, you poor thing!” Megan exclaimed. She was examining the dog’s front right leg. “It looks like he got into a fight or something.”

The dog whimpered as she fussed over his injury.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Frank said.

“No.” Megan stood and wiped her hands on her apron. “We’re going to take him to the vet and get him looked at.”

Frank wondered how much the vet would try to gouge him for. “He’s not even our dog.”

Megan turned and gave him that look that said her mind was set. “Then we can have the vet check him for one of them chips they put in dogs nowadays.”

Megan was five feet tall and built like a pixie, but once she set her mind to something, she was immovable. If thirty years of marriage had taught Frank anything, it was that.

He raised his hands in defeat. “What about dinner?”

“Dinner will keep.” Megan walked into the house and motioned for the dog to follow, which it did. “I think we still have Daisy’s old bowls. I’ll see if this boy is thirsty while you go call the vet and tell him we’re on our way.”

###

The examination room doors opened and a blue-smocked veterinary assistant with a long black ponytail stepped out. “O’Reilly?” she called.

Frank waved. “Right here.”