Part 26 (2/2)

”We just lost one,” Masera was saying, as Kathleen murmured an understanding, ”Yes, I know the look.” And they went on to talk about the things a good breeder asks any prospective ownera”their facilities, their background, the family members, their schedulesa”while Brenna buried her face in the puppy's ruff and cried in disbelieving joy. Until at last the woman said, with some apology, that while their normal policy was to let the new owners choose a registered name, for this first litter in the states they'd decided to name the pups ahead of time. ”This particular puppy hasn't ever taken to anyone like this before. We call him Nuadha's Silvera””

”Druid,” Brenna whispered, resting her cheek against the top of his puppy-soft head. ”Druid,” she said again, while the rest of the puppies clamored for her attention, climbing her legs and licking the exposed skin of her arms as Masera's hand grazed the top of her head in a comforting caress. Druid brushed his whiskers against her face, inspecting her.

Not the same. It couldn't be the same.

She looked up at Masera, found him grinning as broadly and foolishly as she'd ever seen.

It could be better.

Doranna's Backstory

After obtaining a degree in wildlife ill.u.s.tration and environmental education, Doranna spent a number of years deep in the Appalachian Mountains, where she knew several Redbones just as deeply brain-challenged as Sunny. When she emerged, it was as a writer who found herself irrevocably tied to the natural world and its creatures.

Doranna, who isn't sure if she lives in New York or Arizona, hangs around with three Cardigan Welsh Corgisa”Carbon Unit (Kacey), Jean-Luc Picardigan, and Bellea”and drags her saddle wherever she goes.

You can contact her at: [email protected] or PMB 207.

2532 North 4th St.

Flagstaff, AZ 86004 (SASE please) * * *

or visit /

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