He smiled. “I found him in a clump of sagebrush, half-starved, barely weaned. I never knew what happened to his mother or other pups, if there were any. I took him home, cleaned him up, took him by the vet for shots. He’s been with me ever since.”

She was intrigued. “I’d really like to meet him.”

“Sure. Come on out. I left him in the truck, just in case you said no.”

She paused at the door. “And what would you have done if I did say no?”

He sighed. “I’d still be looking for a job.”

She smiled. That told her worlds about the man. She opened the door.

Sagebrush was big. He had to weigh at least eighty pounds. But he was friendly and sweet and seemed as if he’d never met a stranger. He had a big head and fur like a husky, and even big blue eyes. The rest of him had black-and-white mixed fur. He had huge paws.

“I’ve had calves smaller than him,” Mina laughed.

“Me, too,” he confessed. “I didn’t expect him to grow so much.”

“He looks very healthy. And he isn’t overweight,” she added, studying the dog.

“The vet said that his size predisposed him to hip dysplasia. I didn’t want to take any chances, so I make sure he has enough to eat, but not too much.”

A man who was that good to a stray dog would be equally good to people. Bill McAllister had made a good decision, sending him on to Mina. She’d have to remember to thank him.

A truck drove up before she could tell her applicant what he needed to do. It was Bill McAllister. He climbed down and joined them, grinning.

“I see you found it,” he told the younger man.

He chuckled. “I found it. Thanks a million. She just hired me,” he added, nodding toward Mina. “I’ll work hard.”

“I know you will.”

“Okay, then, Bill, if you’ll take Mr….” She stopped, blinked, flushed. She hadn’t even asked the man’s name and she hadn’t looked at that part of the job application.

“Jerry Fender,” he said, holding his hand out. He was certain she wouldn’t recognize the last name. It was his legal one now. It had been for years and years.

“Mina Michaels,” she replied, shaking his hand. “I hope you’ll like it here. Bill, can you get him settled? And Sagebrush there can sleep in the bunkhouse with him.” She glanced at Jerry and grinned. “You’ll have the bunkhouse to yourself,” she added. “My other guys, including Bill, are part-timers.”

He cocked his head. “Sagebrush won’t mind sleeping outside…”

She waved away the suggestion. “He’s a good dog,” she said. “You know, it will be nice having one on the place. We haven’t had a dog since…” She broke off, remembering. The look on her face was painful. The new man grimaced and turned away.

“Okay, then,” he said, interrupting her. “If you’re sure you don’t mind, I’ll clean him up.”