But Jack was homesick. He wasn’t sure he would ever get over losing the old man.
Jack let out a yawn and walked out onto the porch and down the steps.
Jack watched as the large man walked over to the kennels. The other dogs were barking and excited to see him. The noise was too much for Jack. He trotted off in the opposite direction.
Jack stopped suddenly. The air smelled different. He looked around and found the reason why.
There was a vehicle parked in the driveway, and it smelled old.
Jack trotted over and hiked his leg on the tire. Comforted by his action, he walked around the vehicle.
He stopped when he spotted a tent. The old man had a tent.
Jack stepped closer and sniffed the structure. He smelled someone inside the tent.
He poked his head in the small opening and cocked his head.
A woman with brown hair was sleeping. She moaned in her sleep and turned over on her back.
He nudged his way farther into the tent, placing a paw on her sleeping bag.
In her sleep, the woman seemed sad.
Maybe she had lost someone too.
She also smelled like a familiar scent, a scent he could not place. He stepped closer until his nose was touching hers and inhaled.
The woman opened her eyes. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Jack licked her from her chin to her forehead. She smelled like Cheetos. They were the old man’s favorite snack.
He cocked his head and gave the woman one last glance before walking out of the tent.
He slowly made his way back to the house, feeling a little less sad.
CHAPTER9
Elana wiped her face with the back of her arm. She scurried out of the tent and watched the dog walk slowly back to the house after licking her full in the face.
It wasn’t like she feared dogs, but it had been a shock to wake up to a dog standing over her.
She stepped on a rock and winced in pain. She ducked back into the tent to retrieve her shoes.
“Sleep good?” Grandma Cecilia popped her head out of the VW van.
“You’re unusually chipper for this early in the morning,” Elana groused.
Her grandmother stepped out of the van. “I had a great night’s sleep. Ethan gave me a pad to put on the bench seat. He’s going to help me make some improvements to the van before we go.”
Elana froze. “Wait. I thought we were leaving today.”
Grandma Cecilia inhaled deep. “We can stay a day or so. Depends on how much we get done to the van.”
Elana shook her head. “The sooner we get to Montana, the sooner we can get home.”
Grandma eyed her. “What’s your hurry? What’s waiting for you back at home?”
Elana shifted her weight. Her grandmother’s words unsettled her.
