Just then a sound drew Dan’s attention. He took a couple of steps and looked through the wire gate to the carport. Then he began to laugh. Trek joined him in a flash. There was Commando, and there was the pretty little brindle female that belonged to the kids next door. They must have delayed getting her spayed since she was young, although they’d had to pay for it when they adopted her from the local shelter.
Dan shook his head. “Looks like your dog figured you were having your fun so he deserved some too. I doubt the folks that own Fawnita will be too upset. They can find homes for obviously pure Pit Bulls in a flash. They’re almost the state dog in New Mexico now. The old folks have Chihuahuas, and the younger ones all have Pit Bulls.”
“Whew,” Trek said. “Oh, Commando’s fixed, so that’s not an issue. I didn’t think he could or would do anything! He had me going for a minute there. Are you sure it’ll be okay? I guess we can’t do much for a few minutes now. At least he’s not running off.”
Dan shrugged. “Well, he obviously still can get it up! Where did you get him?”
“In Tennessee.”
“You might have him checked just in case, though. I know a good vet, and she won’t squeal to Tennessee, if he’s not completely neutered. Then he can sing, ‘I left my nuts in Alamo Junction.’ You know, to the tune of the one about heart in San Fran.”
Trek rolled his eyes. “You are so funny.”
“As soon as you get over here tomorrow after you check out, I’ll go with you to get him checked over. I can’t imagine Dr. Darcy is too busy to fit Commando in right away. It’s too late to call her now.”
“Oh fuck it, why don’t I just go over there now and check out? Screw the one night’s charge. It’s on my business account anyway. Is it all right if I leave Commando here with you?”
The dogs had finished their amorous encounter, and Commando walked back to the gate. His expression mixed triumph and chagrin. His tail wagged so hard his whole butt moved. He looked at them through the gate, his eyes fixed on Trek. You aren’t really mad at me, are you, boss? I mean what’s a guy to do when this cute little thing comes up and almost wags it under your nose? Although the dog could not speak aloud, his message could not have been clearer.
“You were a really bad dog to leave the yard. You scared Daddy. Don’t do it again, okay?” Even as he chided his pet, Trek opened the gate and let the dog in, still wagging. “Just to be sure, I’m going to put him inside. Is that okay with you?”
Dan grinned. “Sure. I’ll watch him. Does he know about doggie doors? There’s one right here, by the side of the slider. I guess someone before me had a dog here.”
“I could take him, but I won’t be long, just enough to grab my shit and give that high-toned desk clerk the key. He’ll be relieved, I’m sure. He didn’t take to me, much less Commando.”
“I’ll put something in front of the dog door while you’re gone. I promise, Trek, I won’t lose your dog.”
They went inside, and Trek let himself out through the side door to the carport. Commando gave a small howl when his master pulled out. Then he settled down. Dan took out a couple of steaks and thawed them in the microwave and then stuck two potatoes in to bake. Since he’d have Trek here, he didn’t plan to waste time going out for dinner. He cut a few scraps off the steaks and put them on a paper plate. When he set it down, Commando gave the offering a sniff and then began to scarf them up. While the dog was busy, Dan slipped out to light his grill.
* * * *
Darcy Jordan, the new vet in Alamo Junction, stood close to Dan’s six-foot height. Rawboned and strong-featured, she might have charitably been called handsome, but her love for animals shone out like a bright beacon from her hazel eyes and her gentle smile. Dan had met her the day she opened up shop—when some idiot broke in and took some drugs, thinking they were for humans. She had laughed, saying Rimadyl wouldn’t do a thing, certainly not make anyone high.
Trek followed Dan into the reception area of her clinic, Commando in tow. Hearing the bell on the door, the doctor came out.
“What have we got here?” she greeted. “Oh, a pitty—what a handsome boy.”
“He’s supposed to be fixed, but he—well, a female next door was clearly in heat, and he was more than interested. I want to be sure he really is neutered.”
Darcy laughed. “If it wasn’t too long ago, he’s likely not totally clear of testosterone yet, and some males still have the urge months later.” She dropped to a knee and held her hand out for Commando’s inquisitive nose. The dog clearly approved.
Rising, Darcy reached for Commando’s leash. “You’re in luck. I’m not scheduled for any surgery or major work this morning, so as soon as my tech arrives we can take a look. I’ll do an X-ray and maybe a scan if anything doesn’t look right. He looks young—probably no issues with the anesthesia if we need to do any cutting. We can do a quick blood test though if you want a little safety net.”
“I never cut corners with my dog,” Trek asserted. “So do everything you can to assure he does well. Cost is no issue. This guy is my partner.”
She nodded. “I like that attitude. Okay, he should be ready to pick up about four o’clock. Will that work for you?”
Trek glanced at Dan. The policeman nodded. “Sure.”
“That’s fine,” Trek said. “Though I’d like to stay, I know that’s not allowed.” He scratched behind Commando’s ears and then turned away, trying to look nonchalant. He certainly didn’t feel that way.
Once outside, they got back into Trek’s rental. He looked across at Dan before he started the vehicle. “So how can we kill the hours until four? It’s going to seem long, at least to me.”
“Yeah, I can imagine,” Dan said. He actually looked sympathetic. “Best thing is to keep busy. Why don’t we run up to the ski slopes on Mt. Plata and do the zip line today? That’s one thing I know your dog can’t do with us, and I guarantee, you’ll be too involved to worry much.”
The drive up to the range north and east of town took about two hours. They ascended from high desert with mesquite, creosote, and cholla cactus through the middle levels of brush and small trees to the towering alpine zone with Ponderosa pine and a scattering of fir and spruce.
Trek had to stop a few times to snap some photos. “I can’t believe how many changes you can go through in about six thousand feet and twenty miles or so. This will make a great travel piece.”
When they got to the lodge at the foot of the ski slopes, they got tickets to ride the lift to the pinnacle and then transfer to the zip line to zoom back down. Trek collected all his camera equipment. Slinging the bag over his shoulder, he followed Dan to the lift. They shared a bench. Dan looked a little askance at the lift’s arrangement as they sat down and belted in.
“There are a few places we’re way off the ground,” he explained. “It’s kind of like a carnival ride. I never cared too much for those even as a kid. Guess I’m a born coward. My cousin always rode my ass about it, the one who did the skit about the gay guy with the pocket dog. He claimed he knew I was gay when I was five years old, the asshole.”
Trek shook his head. “Asshole is right. I had one of those too. Cousin, that is.”
As they started to rise, he reached across and grabbed Dan’s hand. “If the cable breaks or something we’ll go down together.”
Dan raised an eyebrow, then grinned. “Works for me.”
The view from the mountain top was not overrated when the ads termed it spectacular. Although the state lines were not marked like on a map, Dan swore you could see five states if you knew what you were looking at. The brochures said the peak was almost 12,500 feet in elevation. That meant there was nothing higher for miles, not until you got into the Colorado Rockies. Many more pictures were required.
They had a sandwich and soda at the Pinnacle Post, a mixture of store, café, and souvenir stand. Then it was time to harness up for the wild ride down to the main lodge. Trek noted that Dan went a little bit pale as they approached the attendant who would make sure they were buckled up securely for the descent.
“Hey, if you don’t want to do this…”
Dan shook his head. “No. I can do it. I learned to rappel in the military, and this isn’t much different. It’ll be fun once we’re started.” The husky cop squared his shoulders and stepped up to take the first place.
The attendant offered to rent Trek a Go-pro. “It’s not a good idea to let go and try to take pictures,” he explained. “With the cam on a headband, it’ll get the whole trip for you. You turn it in at the lodge and get the card with the video on it.”
“You convinced me,” Trek agreed. He tightened the bright elastic band around his brow and then set his bush hat back on top of it. A few minutes later, they were both in harness and ready to step off. And once you stepped off, there was no stopping. The trip was one fast drop that seemed very long when you first looked down.
Trek began to whoop and holler as he felt the line jerk and then started to zoom away. Ahead of him, he saw Dan had a death grip on the line linking him to the cable overhead. He could not tell if the other man looked around enough to enjoy the view or not. For his part, he swiveled his head in every possible direction to take in all he could. That video would not be wasted if he could help it. He could probably freeze a few frames for still shots to include with his articles and maybe put part of the vid into the online version of the magazine.
For a moment, he thought about Commando. When a sliver of anxiety knifed through him, the exhilarating speed and the whistle of the wind passing him soon blew it away. He told himself his pet would be fine, just as he and Dan would be when this careening flight was over. And over it was, almost too soon.
Dan had unharnessed and stepped aside when Trek came to a stop on the deck. Watching him, Dan grinned. “Hey, we made it.”
“Damn straight. Wasn’t that just fantastic? I’m going to do at least two fantabulous pieces on this. It deserves a lot more publicity than it gets. I don’t think it’s suitable for small children, but teenagers would love it.”
Dan stomped both feet on the solid ground as he stepped off the platform. For a minute Although Trek thought he might kneel and kiss the dirt, he didn’t. Still, relief painted his face.
Trek put a hand on Dan’s arm. “Did you do that just for me, to let me see and be able to write it up?”
Dan’s glance touched his and clung. “Kind of,” he admitted. “I’d bragged about all the stuff we had to see and do around here. I had to prove it.”
“Thank you,” Trek answered. “And I really mean that. Maybe tonight I can show you my appreciation in a more tangible way.” He knew from the flare of heat in Dan’s eyes that the other man got the message. He found he was looking forward to it, himself. There were many thrills besides climbing scenic mountains and riding down a cable at breathtaking speeds…and he knew a good deal about many of them!
As soon as he had Commando back safe with him, that would be next on the agenda. While this unexpected delay in his travels might be only a few days’ interlude he could make the most of it. Even if the best parts might never get into print, that was okay too.