“Grandma, did you feed him yet?”
Grandma Cecilia nodded. “Yes, but he’s been smelling the BBQ. I wasn’t sure if I should give him some or not. I certainly don’t want an accident in the van tomorrow.”
Elana met Jack’s sad eyes. Her heart tugged in her chest.
She pulled off a piece of the sandwich and held it out for the canine.
Jack gently took it from between her fingers and ate.
“Good boy, Jack.” She smiled.
The dog looked up at her, expecting more.
“Mind if I fix him a small plate of just BBQ? I promise I won’t add any sauce.” The cook, named Big John, knelt beside Jack and rubbed his head. Jack leaned into his caress.
“Are you sure it’s no trouble?” Elana looked up at the large man.
“No ma’am. He reminds me of Thunder, my dog that died last year. I still miss him.” A sad look crossed his face.
Elana’s heart tugged in her chest. “I’m sorry to hear that. He sounds like he was a very special dog.”
Big John looked up and smiled. “He was.” He looked down at Jack. “You take care of him.”
Elana nodded. “I will.” She watched the man walk back to the table, where he busied himself making sure there was enough food.
“I think it’s the other way around,” Grandma Cecilia stated before finishing off her sandwich.
“What do you mean?”
She dusted off her fingers and shrugged. “I think dogs tend to take care of their owners. Jack is no different. I can tell by the way he looks at you that he is making sure you’re okay.”
She snorted. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
Grandma Cecilia turned and gave Elana her full attention. “Maybe because for the first time in your life, you are starting to wonder about the direction your life is headed. And maybe you don’t much like the trajectory.”
Elana shifted in her seat. “I don’t know what you are talking about. I’m not thinking anything.”
Grandma Cecilia snorted. “Well, you should. Your family has never appreciated you, Elana. Don’t think I haven’t seen it.”
Elana jerked her head in her grandmother’s direction. “Did Father say something?”
Grandma Cecilia stood and let out a laugh. “Your father would never have a genuine conversation with me if his life depended on it.”
She shook her head. “Even as a child, he was always up to something.” Her eyes narrowed. “Sneaky like his father.”
Elana, intrigued at to her grandmother’s words, stood. “You don’t ever really talk about Grandfather.”
Grandma Cecilia leveled her gaze at Elana. She locked her arm with her. “Come on. Let’s go visit the horses. I’ll tell you a story. About my past.”
CHAPTER20
Elana’s ears tingled. Her grandmother had never talked to her about her past. When she was growing up, she would find old pictures and ask about the people in them, but Grandma Cecilia would always say she didn’t remember who they were.
They stopped at the arena, where some cowboys were working their horses. “Say, Elana, that’s a good-looking cowboy over there.” She pointed a slender finger at the tall cowboy dressed all in black. He had his cowboy hat pulled low over his eyes. He twirled the rope over his head and lassoed a calf.
Impatient Elana looked back at her grandmother. “If you say so.”
Her grandmother eyed her. “You know, if you don’t slow down and enjoy the scenery, it’s all going to pass you by.”
