Marry Me at Christmas (Fool's Gold #19)(57)

“I know. I feel bad, though.”

“They can stay with me.”

She stared at him. “Excuse me? You’re injured.”

“I have a hurt hand, not a broken leg. I can deal with a couple of dogs.” He thought about the big open area around the ranch. Talk about dog heaven.

“It’s four. How would you hold the leash to walk them? It’s too much.”

“You could help.”

He had a feeling that Madeline would be open to hanging out at his place regardless, but a little dog guilt wouldn’t hurt. And if she was fussing over him while loving on some puppies, all the better. Because being around Madeline was the best part of his day and he wasn’t above taking advantage of homeless dogs to encourage her to stay close.

“It’s Christmas,” he added for good measure. “Don’t those poor dogs deserve a chance to be adopted?”

She eyed him suspiciously, then sighed. “Fine. But when you don’t sleep because you’re overwhelmed by too much canine, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I won’t.”

* * *

Despite what he’d promised Madeline, Jonny fully expected to feel there were too many dogs in the house. He hadn’t had a pet since he’d been a kid and going from zero to four was going to be a lot. What he hadn’t realized was that in addition to the dogs, the town would show up at his place.

After getting stitched up, he’d been ready to drive home. Madeline had insisted on taking him, but first they’d had to fill his prescriptions. By the time they got to his house, there were already three cars in the driveway. Two of them belonged to shelter volunteers, ready to drop off the dogs. The other one was owned by a woman he’d never met but who wanted to drop off cookies and a fruit salad.

“While you’re recovering,” she said, handing the food to Madeline, before getting back in her car. “Good luck.”

“Thanks, Maeve,” Madeline called.

“Who was that?” Jonny asked.

“Isabel’s sister.”

“Isabel from Paper Moon? How did she know I was hurt?”

Madeline’s expression turned pitying. “Everyone knows, Jonny. And this is just the beginning.”

She was right. He’d barely been introduced to his temporary dogs when Eddie and Gladys arrived. Both women rushed into the house and insisted on checking on his wounds. Eddie hugged him tight. She was thin and felt so small and frail. While she was talking smack and checking out his butt, she was larger than life, but like this, she seemed tiny and old.

“I’m sorry,” she told him, her mouth trembling as tears filled her eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I feel awful.” She sniffed, then swallowed. “We’re not going to show your butt on our show. It wouldn’t be right.”

He’d caught their cable show a couple of times and knew the naked butt contest was their favorite segment. He took one of Eddie’s hands in his good one and shook his head.

“You are so showing my butt and I am going to win the contest. Do you hear me?”

“You’re not mad?” Gladys asked.

“No. I’m not.” What had happened had been an accident. He was more relieved that Madeline was okay than worried about himself.

“We’re going to take the dogs for a walk,” Eddie said. “It’s the least we can do. I have experience. I have a little dog. Marilyn. After Marilyn Monroe. She’s a Chiweenie.”

“A what?”

“Dachshund and Chihuahua mix. She’s very sweet. It’s nice to have a companion. All right, let’s get your dogs together.”

Jonny wasn’t sure about two septuagenarians walking four dogs, but before he could voice his concerns, three teenagers arrived. They explained they were there to help out and joined Eddie and Gladys in collecting the dogs and herding them outside.

Jonny looked around his family room. There were large dog beds and bags of dog food. He could see into the kitchen where Madeline was sorting through all the people food that had been dropped off. In addition to the traditional casseroles, there were plates of cookies, pies and cakes along with a couple of six packs of beer.

“Exhausted?” she asked cheerfully.

“Kind of.”

She’d insisted he take a painkiller, so he wasn’t hurting that much, but the stress of what he’d been through was catching up with him. He patted the sofa beside him. She left the kitchen and joined him.

“How are you?” he asked. “Still no aftereffects?”

“Not a single one. I told you, I didn’t get hurt.” She studied him. “You’re really okay?”

“I swear.” Especially with her close. He leaned in and kissed her.

The front door opened and Eddie and Gladys walked in. They had one of the dogs with them.

“She’s done,” Eddie announced. “The other dogs wanted to run, but this one did her business and was ready to come home.”

Madeline got up and took the leash from the other women, then read the tag on the collar. “Her name is Raven.”

Jonny looked at the black lab. She was thin with a bit of white on her muzzle and kind brown eyes. As she glanced around, she seemed both sad and tentative, as if not sure what would happen next.