Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Taking the dogs for a walk was one of the best parts of Noelle’s day, but she didn’t get much time to do it. In fact, there were so many dogs in the shelter at the moment, most of them didn’t get a walk except for every other day or so. The dogs they kept separate from the others, in the back, the ones that they didn’t feel safe adopting out, rarely got to go outside at all. As Noelle stood in front of their cages, having just refilled their food and water bowels, all she saw was sadness in their eyes. Even the ones that continued to growl at her after all of the weeks, months, and years of being there, pulled at her heartstrings. It was so sad that there was nothing she could do to help them.

The sound of Rhonda, the only volunteer who’d made it in that day, humming as she cleaned out the cages in the front had Noelle’s outlook shifting. A smile came to her lips, one that stayed there as she walked back out to the main part of the shelter, past the sick dogs, and the ones that were on hold. She paused for a second to smile at Pooch who was looking at her intently, clearing wanting out of the small cage he’d been in most of the time since he’d been brought in on Saturday. “Oh, you silly puppy,” she said, wishing her hand would fit through the wires in the cage so she could pat his head. “You won’t be here long.”

Back up front, Noelle looked at the mountain of paperwork that needed her attention. She could see it through the open door to her office behind the front desk. It would have to wait. With only one volunteer there, they’d both be busy all day long, cleaning kennels, refilling bowls, giving baths to the dogs on the schedule for that day, and a million other things. Besides, if she went in there and looked at the paperwork, she’d have to think about the budget, and thanks to the recent vet bill they’d incurred, that was a topic she was avoiding at all costs.

The sound of the door chiming caught her attention. It was a Monday, just past noon, not a busy time for them when it came to adoptions--or drop offs for that matter. When she saw who it was, a smile came to her face. Maybe she hadn’t been so hard on him after all, or else Brady Rogers probably wouldn’t be coming back through her door.

“Hi there,” she said, taking a few steps closer to him. “What would you like to drop off today? Got a field mouse in your pocket? Maybe a little bird?”

He laughed, which let her know he wasn’t there to remind her of how awful she’d been to him. He might’ve taken her remarks as an opportunity to sneak in a snide comment about how he wouldn’t dare bring another animal to be dropped off at her shelter, but instead, his friendly smile let her know she’d been forgiven, whether she deserved it or not.

“Actually, I just came to visit my last deposit, if he’s still here.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet,” Noelle said, tipping her head to the side and taking a moment to consider how nice it was that Pooch had a visitor. “He is here. We’ve posted lots of pictures of him on local missing pets pages, as well as our own website, and while there’s been some interest in other families adopting him, we haven’t been able to find his owner. Yet.”

Brady’s expression was a mix between sadness that Pooch hadn’t been claimed and the relief Noelle recognized when she knew someone really wanted a dog and was glad to see they hadn’t missed their chance. Perhaps in this case it was just the fact that Brady was glad he’d get to see Pooch again and not that he’d get to take the pup home with him at some point, but she couldn’t be sure. “Would it be possible for me to see him?” he asked, unwrapping the red scarf from around his neck a bit as he adjusted to the warmer inside temperature.

“Sure,” Noelle said with a smile. “He’s back here. Come on, I’ll show you.” She gestured with her arm for him to follow and he did, falling into step beside her as she headed back toward the kennels. They’d have to walk in front of a large swath of adoptable pets to get back to the room where Pooch was waiting, and the dogs began to bark the moment she rounded the corner, excited at the prospect of this new person potentially taking them home. Noelle tried to hide her sadness on their behalf. Brady had already explained he was staying with friends and couldn’t have a dog, not at the moment anyway.

“They sure are loud,” he said with a good natured chuckle. “It doesn’t bother you?”

“No, not anymore,” she said, returning his smile. “A lot of times they don’t bark at me anymore, they’re so used to me. But even if they do, it’s all right. They’re just expressing themselves.” She paused to look at one of the more vocal dogs, a poodle mix who might’ve been adopted weeks ago if he’d just calm down a bit.

As they passed the kennel where Rhonda was working, she said, “Would you mind listening for the door for a bit, Rhonda? Pooch has a visitor.”

“Oh, no, I don’t mind one bit,” the older woman said with a smile that showed off every one of her white veneers. “Are you the young man who brought that rascal in?”

“I am,” Brady said grinning at her.

“Boy, he sure is a cutie. I bet he’ll be adopted the second we list him as available. You sure you don’t want to put a hold on him?”

“I wish I could,” Brady said with a sigh. “It’s just… I don’t have my own place in town yet, and the family I’m staying with already has a dog. I don’t think they’d appreciate me bringing in another, especially since I’m staying in their guest room.”

Rhonda shrugged. “You never know. They might take one look at that little critter and fall in love.”

Seeing that Rhonda was making Brady slightly uncomfortable with her insistence that he find a way to keep the dog, Noelle took a few steps backward toward the door that led to where Pooch was kenneled. “He’s in here. Thanks, Rhonda.”

“Of course,” she called, back to her cleaning and singing. She was a sweet woman, and Noelle was so thankful that she always showed up when she was meant to, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 until 2:00.

As if reading her mind, Brady said, “She seems great. It’s too bad you don’t have more like her.”

“I know,” Noelle said with a sigh. “We used to… but things have changed now.”

Brady’s forehead crinkled. “Why is that?”

“I’m not sure,” Noelle admitted. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I honestly think it has something to do with Holiday Hill’s lack of Christmas spirit.”

His expression said he wanted her to say more, but she couldn’t at the moment. They were at the door that led to one of the back rooms, the one where Pooch and a couple of other dogs that were on hold were located, as well as two sick dogs, and Goldie--the one that had incurred those vet bills she couldn’t escape.

Trying her best to push those worries aside, Noelle found a smile. It was easy when she saw Pooch’s little face. “Here we go.”