Chapter 18

After Colton’s scary experience, if he spotted a horse even in the distance, he slinked across the ground, making himself invisible—which was perfectly okay with me. He ran loose in the woods and never returned to the pasture. He swam in the pond and chased the ducks until they zoomed to the sky.

During his weekly home visit with Ms. Sue, I complained to her about his antics. “He never seems to run out of energy.”

She smiled and glanced at Mr. Colton sitting next to my legs. “He’s still very young and some Labs need a ton of exercise, physically and mentally. Let me see his birth date. Yep. He’ll be officially four months old, and he’s had all of his immunizations. Let’s get him started in the next service puppy class next week. His brother and sister will be there. The others are a couple weeks older. The class will be in Columbia, once a week.”

As Ms. Sue continued speaking, my thoughts got hung up with the word “Columbia.” Where Chase and Peyton lived. Then I heard parts of her last sentence. “—learn about socializing and following more commands. That will make it safer for him to go on more outings.”

After Ms. Sue drove away, I made an urgent call to Sarah.

She answered. “What’s up?”

“For the next six weeks on Tuesday nights, I’m going to have puppy classes in Columbia. Colton is ready for outings. Maybe we can work out a way to go early, and see the guys, and then I’ll go to class.”

“Mmm. We’d need to go to their house or maybe meet at the Mall? But then they’d have to take us to class. What would I do while you’re in class?”

“I don’t know if either of our parents would drive us back and forth. Talk with your mom. She’s home during the summer. Maybe my Dad’ll need to go to Columbia for a meeting? I’ll call Chase, and we’ll toss ideas around.”

As it worked out, Mrs. Neal offered to take Sarah and me to the Columbia Mall. We’d meet the guys at four o’clock, giving us two hours to hang out with Chase and Peyton while she shopped. Their mom would drop them off, return at six o’clock, and deliver me to my puppy class at six-thirty. Mrs. Neal would meet Sarah at six o’clock in the mall. They’d grab dinner at the food court and shop some more, then pick me up at eight o’clock p.m. Then we’d return home.

A month seemed like a long time since we hadn’t seen the guys. Chase and I talked or texted as often as possible. I realized Chase did a better job at calling than Peyton, and I didn’t dare tell Sarah, or I’d make her jealous.

Finally, the next Tuesday arrived. Neither Sarah nor I could sit still, or be quiet in Mrs. Neal’s car. “Okay, you two. One hour and we’ll be there. But I need you to calm down.” She turned on the radio.

I held a harnessed Colton on my lap in the back seat of Sarah’s car. Before we drove onto the highway, I let him sniff through the half open window and enjoy the scents. By this point in his training, he rode in the car, comfortable in his seatbelt. But every time we went for a drive, the memory of his first car ride coming home from the beach played like a movie in my mind.

Colton had gurgled as he slept on my lap, still as a stuffed animal. He’d caught me off guard when his head popped up. He’d placed his paws on my chest, and locked eyes with me. In seconds, his mouth had opened, and he’d vomited wet goo all over me and in my hair.

I’d had to hold my breath until we stopped at the nearest rest stop, afraid I’d return the favor on him.

Now, I looked at my fella, with his nose dripping from the rush of air, and a pang of warmth filled my heart. We had each learned a lot in two months.

I whispered in his ear. “Wait until you see where we’re going!”

Mrs. Neal parked. Sarah and I strutted from the parking lot to the mall.

“Girls. Walk! We’ll get there in the same amount of time but gracefully.”

We met at the Food Works, and then we were on our own for two hours.

Well, almost on our own. I had Colton.

I couldn’t ask for a better place for Colton to experience people, food, and noise. I had filled my pouch full of treats for the trip. I carried a soft cooler over my shoulder with one baggie of dog food for his dinner and some rewards in class.

The four of us stayed together, laughing and talking about nothing.

Chase reached over and grabbed my hand. “This way I won’t lose you.”

Peyton smiled at Sarah and did the same with her. But he pulled her off to a quiet corner. Chase and I pretended to window shop, but drifts of Peyton apologizing to Sarah floated out.

I guess they worked it out, because they returned with big grins across their faces.

We wandered up and down each side of the Mall, peeking in a few stores. Two hours wasn’t enough time. Before we knew it, we had to deliver Sarah to her mom. Peyton hugged her and said he’d “try to do a better job of calling.” We hurried to meet their mom, who paced in front of the exit door.

Mrs. Manning smiled at me, and then down at Colton. “Hello, there! You are a cutie! Trina, there’s a blanket on the backseat for him to sit on.”

“Got it. Thanks. He’s nice and clean.” I sat in the middle to be next to Chase and buckled Colton on the blanket next to the window.

In the training facility’s parking lot, Chase hopped out so I could follow him on his side of the car. He took my hand, and tugged me behind the car. Without any hesitation, he wrapped his arms around me in a firm hug and whispered in my ear.

“I’ll call later.”

We pulled apart, and his shining green eyes stared into mine.

I caught my breath and made myself move to open Colton’s door. I put my hand in front of Colt’s face, “Wait.” I counted to ten in my head. “Okay.” He jumped down and lifted his nose. “Do you recognize this place?”

His ears perked at the sounds of other dogs. He stiffened, folded his ears tight and gazed every direction. I walked backward, staring at Chase.

He hollered and waved. “I’ll call later.”

I nodded, and moved my mouth. “Byee!”

This new feeling made my heart ache as if it had been ripped into small pieces, and I had to pull myself together. Looking into Colton’s face helped. “Come, Colt. You’re going to school.”

He walked, looking side to side as I coaxed him with each step. The minute my hand went into the pouch, his tongue wiped his lips from corner to corner. I made him walk two more steps, before I gave him a command. “Sit.” I clicked, and he received his special school-night treat: teeny, cut up hotdogs.

We entered through the side door and walked into the familiar playroom. Colton panted and his eyes flashed from corner to corner. His first days of training had taken place in this large room, and off to the side were the gated spaces where the puppies had slept and eaten until they were eight weeks old.

I walked Colton to that area, letting him explore. He darted to his ­previous crate, stuck his nose inside, and wagged his tail. Backing out, he looked up at me with glowing eyes.

One by one, other puppy trainers entered the building. Colton’s entire body trembled with excitement, whipping his tail back and forth. In the middle of the room, Colton prodded his sister, a small yellow Lab named Lucy. Her trainer, Patrick, had adopted her on the same day I’d chosen to train Colton.

Jessica slowly approached with Tanner, Colt’s brother, a chocolate Lab. She had decided only two weeks ago to take over his training. Tanner seemed to be growing larger than Colt, and his amber eyes skirted the room. The puppies turned in circles, wagging, and nosing each other. If I had had a tail, mine would have been wiggling, too.

We’d be working together again.

My ears rang from all the chatter and barking. Two new puppy raisers stood back, against the wall, watching. I walked over and introduced myself and Colton. The tall girl with almond shaped-eyes stood, glancing from person to person. As I approached, her small smile lasted long enough for me to notice her pink-colored braces before she sealed her lips. She pushed her straight, black hair behind each ear, and tucked her chin.

She spoke softly. “Nice to meet you, Trina and Colton. I’m Annie, and this is Sasha.”

Sasha, a small yellow Labradoodle, backed up for a second, and then rolled over on her back. Colton proceeded to sniff her, which in doggy language gave her permission to stand.

The curly, blond-headed boy standing next to Annie puffed his chest and made himself an inch taller than me. He slid the leash handle over his left wrist, blinked his silver-blue eyes, and offered me a handshake.

The minute my hand touched his, a buzz tingled up my arm.

He held my clammy hand firmly, placed his other hand on top like he was keeping me from moving, and stared. “Wow! Those are some green eyes.”

My face overheated, and I pictured my freckles poking out two at a time. He stroked the top of my hand. “Hi, I’m Wesley, and this is Kaiser.” He winked and grinned.

Every red hair on my body lifted as if he was full of electricity. I slid my hand away and looked at him sideways as if he had lost his mind. The laugh inside of me wanted to explode, but I swallowed the impulse. For a long second, I pictured Chase’s happy face changing to confused.

I wiped my hand on my shorts and moved toward Jessica and Patrick, but Kaiser, Wesley’s lanky, black and tan German shepherd, stood inches taller than Colt and beat his tail back and forth in Colton’s face. They spent a moment catching a whiff of each other’s behinds, and decided to be friends. Wanting to escape, I flagged Jessica and Patrick. “Come over here. I’ll introduce you.”

They headed over and minutes later, we all knew each other’s names and the dogs played freely in the room.

Annie flushed and coaxed Sasha to play. But Sasha pushed herself between Annie’s knees, and shoved her head out. Only her hazel eyes followed the other dogs.

Ms. Sue called the class to attention, clapping her hands. “Okay, gang. Round up your puppy, and let’s begin.”

Colton had changed into a domineering puppy. His independent nature seemed a bit much with the shyer dogs. If another puppy moved too close, Colton gave a low snarl. I gave him a look and he caught my expression and sat. Once again, my cheeks flushed.

Ms. Sue instructed us. “Let’s keep a distance between each dog while we practice. From this day forward, there won’t be social time until after class. Playtime will be outside. Today they needed a little time to meet and get acquainted.”

Even though Colton knew his basic commands, being in class with other distractions made them seem brand new. He looked at each dog before he attempted to follow my commands. I held his treat above his nose, and he leapt to steal it from my fingers. Ms. Sue watched each of us practicing. “Trina, use your clicker and do the choice method.”

I put the hot dog pieces in my left hand and the clicker in the right. Colt smelled the treats in my closed fist. If he sat and didn’t nudge my hand, I’d open it and retrieve one piece. He had to stay seated until I chose to give him the yummy prize. “That’s better, Colt. Let’s try again.”

Other puppies were having similar problems. Sasha lay on the floor, refusing every command. Annie glanced at me with sad eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

I smiled at her and tried again with Colt. I gave him the command for Down.

Ms. Sue wandered around the room and caught Colton behaving. “Good job, Trina.”

Colton lifted his chin, spread his lips across his teeth in his silly grin. The minute Ms. Sue walked away, he popped up like a Jack in the Box. We repeated the command a number of times, and I made him stay until I said, “Okay!”

Wesley stomped the floor and fussed at his dog. “You know all this. What’s the matter with you?”

Poor Kaiser squatted and peed on the floor.

Ms. Sue held Kaiser’s leash while Wesley stiffly retrieved the mop from the corner of the room. He huffed loudly, jerking his head and pushing the mop angrily across the floor. Ms. Sue approached him and whispered, “You need to show your dog patience.” With a pink face, he returned the mop to its bucket with a flourish and bowed to us.

After forty-five minutes of training, it was show time. Mrs. Neal and Sarah joined the other parents at the side of the room. One at a time, we were called to the middle of the floor to give the commands.

I stood confident, smiling at Colton, believing he would show off to the class. I used my hand signal for Sit. He sat with his chin held squarely and looked me in the eyes.

I took a long breath and let it out. “Stay.” After I used the hand signal and put my hand in front of his face, he blinked and stayed. Then I dropped my arm and stepped back four steps. After thirty seconds, I smiled at him, and moved forward. “Okay.”

He bounced at me, and I patted him.

“Good boy.”

Colton performed some of the commands as asked without mistakes, but others we had to redo.

He yawned and looked around at the other pups.

I called his name in a firmer voice to regain his attention.

He blinked at me and tilted his head then moved first into a Sit, then a Down.

His eyes twinkled.

My heart sank. I sensed trouble.

He lowered his shoulders and pointed his rear end in the air. I didn’t react. He stared at me and slowly stretched across the floor to a Down.

“Good boy.” And I gave him a treat. I held my hand in front of his face. “Stay.” I stepped back.

As soon as he swallowed and licked his lips, he stayed in the down position but scooted across the floor with his hind legs and wiggled up to me for another treat.

Ms. Sue walked over and patted my shoulder. “Good job, Trina. We both know he knows how to do this at home. Don’t be discouraged.”

The familiar hot sensation climbed my neck and over my ears.

Ms. Sue looked at the crowd. “Now your puppies are safe to be in public places and around other dogs. Have fun, practicing your new commands wherever you go.”

Then she looked straight at me. “Trina, chin up. He’ll do better next time.”