Tell Me You'll Stay

Chapter 2

Cute, fluffy Fonzie!

"Okay. Come on, Fonzie. You can come with me." I had already gotten ready to go to work and decided to take my baby with me. He had been a good boy and was actually calm for once... So why not? He could see all his 'friends' at the clinic. As soon as I had picked up the leash he started bouncing around. I shook my head with a grin as I watched him. "You are something else." I teased. "Fonzie. Heel." His ears perked at the command and he bolted to my feet, making a loop around my legs before plopping to my left. "Good boy." The leash was soon attached to his collar and we were on our way to the shelter.

After about fifteen minutes of struggling to keep him calm, we finally arrived at work. "Morning, Beth!" I called out before letting Fonzie into the playpen in the lobby. "Bout time you got here. Fonzie happy to come today?" She grinned, coming from the back room. "Happy is an understatement!" I scoffed. I took off my windbreaker and tossed it onto my chair behind the counter. "Hopefully he will calm down now that he's here." I made my way for the back room and found my nametag on the counter. "I've been looking everywhere for this!" I yelled to her. On closer inspection of it, I noticed teeth marks all over it... I wonder who the culprit could be. "Oh. yea. I found that in Daisy's pen." She laughed. Daisy was the clinics youngest pet, a six month old chocolate lab. "Figures." I muttered. As I pinned my nametag I took a small walk through the hall of pens, making sure nothing changed over the night. I came aross Daisy and crossed my arms. "Thanks for the decor on my tag." I frowned at her. The pup merely tipped her head to the side and wagged her tail fiercely. I stared her down for not even a minute before giving into her adorable blue eyes. "Fine! I'm not mad!" I opened the cage and brought her into my arms. "Don't even think about it." Daisy had noticed her recent chew toy and went for it. "Puppies." I scolded, carrying her out into the lobby to Fonzie. He had the maturity of a puppy, so they should play well together. As I got closer she began wriggling out of my grip to be put down. I placed her in the pen with Fonzie and exchanged greetings before chewing toys together. I glanced up at a dark shadow as it headed for the door. She assumed it was one of the Lazy C's boys.. Nope.. It was that cowboy. The bell above the bell tinkled when he opened the door. "Mornin', Miss Kiernan." Fonzie immediately began barking like a mad dog at the stranger. "Dammit." The one downside of bringing her dog. "Fonzie! Down!" His barking ceased and he lowered himself onto his stomach. Although his gaze remained on the stranger. "I'm sorry. He's just..." I let that sentence drop. "Can I, uh, help you?" I asked, looking anywhere except the man's eyes.. "Yes, actually. I was just coming to see how my Cooper was doing." I paused a brief moment.. Did he just take a step closer? I think he did.. "He's doing good. He should be able to go home with you, I think. let me check with Beth."

"Yea. He's good. Just make sure you change his bandages every night for a week. If it looks like its infected. Don't hesitate to bring him in." I was behind the computer again, watching the loyal dog love his owner. "No problem. How much I owe ya?" He shifted Cooper onto his shoulder and dug out a battered cowhide wallet. "Uuuh. It comes out to a total of One-Twenty even." I answered. Lean and tall pulled out two one hundreds and handed them to her. "Change will be eighty." I bit my lip as I pulled out three twenties and two tens. "Thank you." I smiled, putting the change into his hand. "No. Thank you, darlin'." He grinned. "Ill be seeing you around." Instead of being a statement.. it sounded like a promise. I couldnt help but watch as Travis left the clinic, gaving Fonzie a quick pat, before heading out the door. The usual tinkle sounded and he seemed to pause as he passed a smirk over his shoulder. He knew I'd been watching him.. Great. I averted my gaze and 'organized' the money drawer.