Chapter Twelve
Manon
We drove to a different trail the next morning, an hour earlier than usual so I would have more time to work. Nicky rode in a kennel in the back of my Dad’s truck. Chipper behaved perfectly by the passenger side window while Carmen leaned against me in the middle, occasionally toying with me. I was hard the whole way.
This trail was much more strenuous, starting at higher altitude and climbing 1300’ up the mountain in three miles. Carmen handled the climbing easily while I struggled, especially with my still-burning ass. I let Nicky range forward and back for the first mile, then used treats to entice her to walk beside me, still leashed, praising her as she behaved. The downhill was even harder.
“We’ll do the easy trail tomorrow,” Carmen said on the way down. “You
