Chapter 1
Holly Grace Hill’ssneakers pounded out a rhythm on the tar-over-gravel country road and her breath frosted the early morning December air. She supposed a lot of people wouldn’t consider forty-five degrees at six in the morning to be all that cold. But to this north Mississippi gal, it was darn cold. Only her dedication to staying in shape got her out of bed on these frosty mornings to run her five-mile route before starting her day at the rescue group.
The beam of the headlamp on her head was the only light this early in the day. But she had no fear being out here alone. Not much happened in this small town. Besides, she had protection.
Grover, her rescue dog galloped at her side, totally oblivious to the fact that he was guarding her. It was a game to him. He loved to run and play. Adopting him was one of the best things she’d ever done. Who needed a boyfriend with all the baggage that came with that situation when you could have a dog that adored you every minute? Resolutely she pushed away the memories of her last relationship. No need to revisitthattotal train wreck.
One. Two. One. Two. As her feet continued to pound the pavement, she noticed the sky to the east begin to show a pink blush on the horizon. She picked up her pace to stay on schedule. Her run would be better spent thinking about her day at the rescue group instead of the past. Coordinating events for No Street For You had become her passion when she took over the position after her friend, Piper McKenzie, had moved to Montana with her Brotherhood Protectors husband.
Her steps brought her back to the edge of town just as the sun began glowing orange against the sky. The Christmas decorations that had been put up by the town council last week made cherry notes of seasonal cheer all around the town square and courthouse lawn. A massive evergreen sported bright red and white decorations and potted poinsettias graced the steps of the courthouse.
Running past the town square, she noted Ben Carter, the county sheriff, exiting his car. No doubt on his way into his office since he didn’t seem to be in a hurry. He was a real workaholic. She often saw him on her early morning runs. She waved a quick greeting and continued her way.
Almost home now. Thoughts of a steaming hot shower kept her moving.
The sound of puppy yaps greeted her entrance to the small home she’d purchased last year a mile out from the town square. Despite being tired from her run, her lips turned up in a big grin at the sound and she laughed out loud when she rounded the corner into her kitchen and saw the yellow lab mix puppies pushing each other out of the way inside the crate to be the first to get her attention.
She was fostering the puppies as part of the rescue group. As soon as she released the catch to the door, the puppies tumbled out and began attacking her feet. Grainger, the boy, got his little teeth on her shoestrings and pulled while Gracie, the girl, tried to climb up Holly Grace’s calf using her sharp little puppy claws.
She reached down and gently detached both puppies clinging paws. “Now, come on you two. I have to get showered and dressed to go to the rescue meeting. The two of you need to go outside and take care of business.” Delightful baby yaps met her words and the puppies wiggled and jumped trying to persuade her to get on the floor and play with them.
Do. Not. Do. It.She told herself as her knees bent, lowering her to the floor. Puppy breath and kisses greeted her as she lay full length allowing the little ones to attack her with love. She’d never been very good at listening. And she could be a little late to the meeting.
Just this once.
They’d only been playing for a few minutes when she saw Grainger squat. Letting out a yelp, she scrambled to her feet, startling both puppies. At least it caught Grangers attention and stopped him peeing on her floor. She fast walked to the back door and opened it. The puppies raced outside, across her wood deck. In their rush to get to the back yard, both puppies tumbled down the three steps to the grass. Heart in her mouth, she rushed across the deck.
Before she could get to them, both puppies stood and raced off. She watched closely but neither one showed any signs of harm and her heartbeat slowed as a grin lit her face. Was there anything in the world more adorable than puppies playing? Grover came out of the house and sat at her feet. He looked up at her and his expression clearly conveyed his own feelings about the puppies. They were taking attention away from him. She crouched and scuffed him behind his ears.
“Don’t worry, Gro. The puppies are temporary, and you are forever.” His tail thumped against the wooden deck and he licked her face. She glanced out into the yard and saw Grainger and Gracie rolling together in the dead grass. She called them to her, knowing they’d be covered in dead grass that would get all over the house as they raced around before she could get them back in the crate.
A frustrating ten minutes later, she had both puppies corralled back in the crate with a grinning Grover standing next to her. He’d been no help whatsoever. But was there anything in the world more precious than the unconditional love of a dog? Not like a man who promised forever and then went off to another country and got himself shot dead.Click.She flipped a switch on those thoughts the same way she would have turned off a light.Nothing to see here.
She glanced around the open living room, dining room, kitchen area and noted the expected pieces of dry grass scattered far and wide. Letting out a big sigh, she pushed her hair out of her eyes. Clean up would have to wait till this evening. The puppies yapped their displeasure from inside the wire crate as she walked away, nearly breaking her resolve to get on to work as quickly as possible.
A half hour later, she arrived at the parking lot of No Street For You Rescue group where she worked as the marketing and social media director. The title didn’t really mean much since the entire team consisted of three people plus as many volunteers as they could get at any given point in time.
But she loved the organization and was grateful that Piper had recommended her as a replacement.
Holly Grace had returned to Mercy six months ago. She didn’t like to think about her reasons for returning, though. So, she pushed them away as she exited her car, walked across the cold asphalt parking lot and pushed open the outer door to the building. Why was she having so much trouble with those unwanted memories today?
A blast of welcome warm air brushed against her cold cheeks, stirring the tendrils of hair curling around her face.
“Hey!” Alice Landers called. “You’re late.” But she softened the statement with a smile.
Holly Grace shrugged off her coat and sat at her desk, pulling her calendar to her. “The puppies caused a bit of trouble this morning.”
Alice laughed. “They have a habit of doing that. But it’s good that you’ve taken them home with you to foster. That way they get social integration and potty training. It’ll make them easier to adopt out.” She took a sip from the ever-present coffee cup on her desk and added. “Besides, Mollie is running late too, so no big deal with being late.”
Holly Grace laughed. “Well, then. I’m not holding up our meeting if she’s late too.” She glanced at the photos of Grover with Gracie and Grainger she had displayed on her desk. “Those sweet puppies are worth all the trouble. They make me smile every time I see them.”
“Oh! And before I forget to tell you, Piper called before you got here.” Alice said, eyes dancing. “She and Ian are coming home for a few weeks.”
“That’s great news!” Holly Grace’s mood took a big upswing. “I can’t wait to see the two of them again. Where are they going to stay?”
“They’re going to stay with Ian’s mom.” Alice answered with a tiny eyeroll. “Not much action will be going on in that house.”
“Now, Alice. Don’t be mean. You know Missy Elliott is great.” She shrugged. “But you’re probably right that not much action will take place. I think I’d be too weirded out about being in my mother-in-law’s house to do anything.”
