9/3/2023 0 Comments My eyes are stapled open wide“Well, I don’t exactly-” Merry gripped the rope, looking down at the pathetic dog on her front porch. I was hoping you could take her.” Her neighbor extended a thin piece of white rope that had been fashioned into a makeshift collar and leash. “Have you called the Dogwood Shelter to see if anyone’s looking for her?” The rain-soaked Lab mix avoided her gaze, looking like she’d dart off into the watery darkness if given half a chance. She’s been wandering the neighborhood, and I was afraid she’d get hit by a car. He cocked his chestnut head, gazing up at their visitor with warm chocolate eyes that had melted many a heart. She glanced pointedly at Ralph, still sitting politely at her side. “I’m the director of Triangle Boxer Rescue.” God hadn’t sent an answer to her prayers. It stood, hunched, looking pathetic and miserable, and a heavy feeling settled in Merry’s gut. “Well, I heard you rescue dogs.” Kelly gestured to the dog at her feet. Merry had seen her before when she was out walking her dogs. I live down the street.” Kelly looked to the left, toward the cul-de-sac at the other end of the road. “Hi,” the woman said, extending a rain-drenched hand. He sat, tail wiggling against the hardwood floor. She gave Ralph a quick hand signal to keep him from greeting the unknown dog. It appeared to be some sort of Lab mix, with soggy amber fur and the kind of glazed eyes that Merry had seen too many times. Ralph let out a powerful bark, eyes fixed on the bedraggled dog at the woman’s side. Wet tendrils of brown hair stuck to the sides of her face from the rain pouring beyond the safe shelter of Merry’s porch. She pressed her eye to the peephole, hesitant to open the door to an unexpected guest while in her pajamas.Ī woman stood outside, dressed in a pink tank top and jean shorts. “Just a minute,” she called as she herded the puppies behind the gate in the kitchen then walked to the front door with Ralph at her side. Not likely, but she’d always considered herself a glass-half-full kind of girl. Had God heard her prayer after all? Had someone arrived to miraculously bail Triangle Boxer Rescue out of financial ruin? Ralph lifted his head and let out a sleepy bark, while Chip and Salsa tumbled onto the floor in a tangle of puppy legs. She had a twelve-hour shift ahead of her tomorrow and needed a good night’s sleep.Ī quiet knock sounded at her front door. It was nearly nine o’clock, and she was ready to call it a night. She traced her fingers over the zigzag pattern on her pajama pants. Now the rescue’s bank account was drained, and she’d nearly maxed out her personal credit card trying to cover the difference. Then six months ago, the donations had stopped. She’d tried and failed to find out who was behind the mysterious donations, but at some point, she’d come to depend on them. Several years ago, she’d begun receiving an anonymous donation of one thousand dollars a month from an unknown benefactor. She’d been successful too, at least at first. Since then, she’d devoted as much of her time and hard-earned money as she could spare to saving abandoned and abused boxers in and around the small town of Dogwood, North Carolina. She’d founded TBR as a twenty-two-year-old fresh out of nursing school, eager to do more to help the dogs she’d come to love and depend on. She enjoyed having a couch full of happy dogs, especially knowing she had saved each one from an uncertain future at the shelter, guaranteeing them a happy ending through Triangle Boxer Rescue. Collectively, they took up nearly the whole couch, but Merry didn’t mind. Behind him, her foster puppies Chip and Salsa lay piled on top of each other. He plopped his head into her lap and gazed up at her with adoring brown eyes. Ralph, her six-year-old boxer, scooted closer on the couch. “What am I going to do?” She steepled her fingers and pressed them to her mouth. Not that she expected God to alter Triangle Boxer Rescue’s account balance, but He did perform miracles from time to time, didn’t He? The truth was, the animal rescue she had poured her heart and soul into for the last six years was flat broke. When she opened her eyes, the numbers on the screen hadn’t changed. She had little faith the Big Guy was listening, but she was desperate. She closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and prayed. Merry Atwater was about to do something she hadn’t done in almost a decade.
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