There had been a time when he wished he hadn’t survived.

He glanced over at the folded patriotic quilt sitting on top of a duffel bag in his passenger floorboard and was reminded of exactly why he was in Pine Hill.

Sarah had meant to get to Hamilton House and straighten up any extra mess before her new handyman arrived. No such luck. It had taken longer to clean the church community room from their Christmas crafting than she’d intended, which was why she was feeling anxious as she drove the short distance home.

Her nervousness had nothing to do with the man she was meeting.

Just that she was running late and keeping an eye on her speedometer to make sure she kept it at the speed limit. Silly Donnie Jones had written her a ticket last week.

When she got to Hamilton House’s driveway, a late-model pickup she didn’t recognize was already there. She pulled up beside it and saw the cab was empty.

She looked around and spotted Bodie in her yard. What was he doing? Surprised, she realized he was petting a black and white speckled dog.

“Sorry I’m late,” Sarah apologized as she got out of the car, putting on her hat and scarf as she eyed the unfamiliar animal. He looked like a Blue Heeler mix, but she’d never been great on telling one breed from another. Where had he come from? He looked friendly enough and seemed to be eating up the attention Bodie was giving him, but who knew what the forty-or-so-pound dog was capable of?

“Be careful. That’s not my dog. I’ve never seen him before,” she warned, pulling her jacket tighter around her to block the chilly wind as she walked toward Bodie.

Straightening, Bodie stuck his hands in his jean pockets. “Harry’s mine.”

As if to second the notion, the dog, Harry, ruffed and took a sitting-but-on-guard post at Bodie’s feet, watching Sarah’s every move as she stepped closer.

As she approached, using caution in case the dog decided he didn’t like her getting near, Sarah’s eyes widened. “You have a dog?”

“I have a dog. You sound as if you thought I’d be more likely to have a dragon or something.” He reached down to scratch the dog’s head again.

The dog watched her with great curiosity, as if trying to decide if she were friend or foe, and waiting for his owner to clue him in.

Heat infused her cheeks at her rudeness. “Sorry. You just didn’t come across as a dog person.”

Harry licked Bodie’s fingers in appreciation of the scratch.

“No? What type of person did I come across as?” Flecks in his eyes caught the light, almost giving the impression he was teasing her.

“Surely not as a cat person,” he continued, his lips edging upward ever so slightly.

“No,” she assured, thinking for a second Bodie was going to smile.

Hoping he was going to smile.