CHAPTER 20

Puddles’s paws still hurt when Krista, Mark and Bobby brought him home the following afternoon. He was too happy to care.

Oh, boy, oh boy! Home. I was lonesome. I could see a cat in another cage. It hissed when I barked. Real unfriendly. Lazy, too. Bor-r-ring.

He sniffed the grass when Krista put him down, then he looked up at the humans.

All my favorite people came to get me. That’s so wonderful. Bobby looks kind of sad but his mama and that nice Mark seem to be getting along really well. Look! They’re holding hands. Ooooh! I wish he’d bite her nose or lick her cheek so I could tell if they’re serious about each other. Wouldn’t that be great? Imagine! Bobby would have a daddy and I’d have a whole family to take care of.

Wagging his tail and walking gingerly, he approached the little boy. Don’t be shy, Bobby. I forgive you. The doctor says I’ll be good as new soon. She was nice. I didn’t know ladies could be vets. Imagine that.

Bobby smoothed the puppy’s fur. “He’s not mad at me, is he, Mama?”

“No, honey. Puddles loves you. I think he knows you didn’t mean to make him walk too far. I’m just thankful you remembered the way home.”

Tell her what happened. Tell her I did my job. Please? His tail wagged faster.

“It wasn’t me,” Bobby said. “I was lost. I followed Puddles.”

Goody, you gave me the credit. Not that I want to brag, mind you, but we sheepdogs have a family reputation to uphold. I just hope I’m a little bigger and stronger before I have to rescue you from a wolf! Oooh, that’s scary.

Reaching down, Krista petted him, too. Puddles wiggled all over.

Can we all go back in the house? Huh? Can we? I was too tired to play the last time. There’s a lot of exploring I haven’t done. And the rugs are soft in there. Grass prickles.

“This is a very smart dog,” Krista said. “Not only did he help you when you were lost, he’s also good at figuring things out. For instance, he can tell you who’s nice and who isn’t.”

Now you’re talkin’. How about a cookie for such a good dog? I love cookies.

The boy was nodding slowly, cautiously, and looking from his mother to Mark and back again. His eyes widened with awareness. “No way.”

Oh, now I get it. C’mon, Bobby. This guy is just what we need. He’s smart, and strong and, and... Hey, Bobby, where’re you going? Wait for me!

Puddles struggled to follow. Falling behind, he barked for attention.

“Arf, arf!” Bobby, don’t spoil our new family. Listen to me. Have I ever steered you wrong?

Bobby hesitated, looking back.

That’s it. Good. Now watch closely. I’m gonna demonstrate. First I’ll get Mark moving. Then I’ll go after Mama Krista. I’ll herd them together and bring them both to you.

Awed, the family watched Puddles’s intense concentration. Forgetting to favor his feet, he circled around Mark, barking, and urged him closer to the others. By the time he started to herd Krista, she had apparently figured out his plan because she quickly went to her son and stood beside him. Satisfied, panting, the little dog dropped to the ground in a perfect herding pose and stared at the little group of humans.

There. Gotcha. Now stay where you belong so I don’t have to go through all that chasing and barking again. It’s exhausting!

Krista laughed. “Don’t you get it, guys? We’ve just been rounded up like a flock of naughty sheep.” She put one arm around Bobby’s shoulders and slipped the other around Mark’s waist. “They say the Lord sometimes works in mysterious ways. This is certainly one of those times, isn’t it?”

She gave her son a hug and kissed him on the top of the head. “Cheer up, honey. You and I may get confused sometimes, but Puddles knows best. He obviously thinks we belong with Mark, and so do I. Permanently.”

The look of bewilderment on Bobby’s face was so funny Puddles wished dogs could laugh out loud the way people did.

Don’t worry, kid, he thought, panting. Mark’ll be a wonderful father by the time you and I get through breaking him in. I can hardly wait to get started!

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