Hudson had just sat down to eat his turkey sandwich when someone banged on his door. He startled and Hound jumped to his feet—well, as much as the old dog could do. He looked at Hudson and then started for the door, a single bark coming out of his mouth. It sounded rusty and misused, because the dog literally never barked.
“Hudson?” Scarlett called, and Hudson got up from the table.
“C’mon in,” he said, and the door opened a moment later.
He reached the doorway to find her standing there, crying. His pulse skipped like a perfectly thrown rock on still water. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he asked in his most tender voice. He didn’t dare move toward her as this situation was brand new and he had no idea how she’d react.
She pointed at the two dogs crowding into the doorway to get a better
