Chapter Thirty-one

If he had the capacity to put into words what he feels, Pax would think himself a lucky dog. If being safe and warm and well fed is one part of what a dog needs and wants, having the companionship and affection of his best people is three-quarters of perfect. One friend to be with as he dozes in the narrow patch of sunlight that ekes its way between the former blackout curtains in the small Rick-smelling room. The same friend to ask him for favors like picking up dropped things. Another friend to keep his training sharp, heeling, fetching, sniffing out potential threats to the home. Sit, stay, and even, when out in the woods, scaling barriers. Finally, the woman who gives him the best of the belly rubs, her fingers equipped for deep scratching and an instinct for the right places.

Yes, Pax is a lucky dog indeed and his sense of well-being tempers his still-youthful energies. He’s been through the toughest of times—separation from those he loved, a time of required aggression and wariness—and come out mild-mannered and willing to accept this triumvirate of masters.

There is only one thing that puzzles him: why these three don’t seem to be as content as he is. They are like a small pack lacking a leader. He’s tried to step into that role, but their humanness limits their comprehension. He’s taking as good care of them as he can, but they still insist on a separateness from one another. They don’t snap at one another, and if they are jockeying for position in the pack, it’s too subtle for him to detect. Instead, there is this deference. Keller was admirably alpha when they were a pack of two. But his position in this group is unclear. Francesca, as a female, is a likely candidate, but she, too, refuses to take the lead. If he had to, Pax might give Rick the leadership, but his ability to hunt or protect or mate is clearly compromised, and that should remove him from the head of the pack. So Pax watches out for all of them, not entirely comfortable in his role, finding it hard to interpret from day to day exactly what it is these three humans want from one another. At least he knows what they want from him. To be there for each of them.

Yes, he’s a lucky dog.