Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
But I do enjoy walking Justin’s dogs, and I enjoy strolling the property too. It’s expansive and green, and the opportunity to commune with the lushness of nature is relatively rare in Nevada. As a result, I sometimes take the canines out early in the morning, before the desert sun gets too hot. Button is my favorite of the bunch. She’s a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a silky white and brown coat, and large, emotive eyes. She can be jumpy at times, and responds well to quality one-on-one time with her handler, which in this case is me. So I took an Uber bright and early to the estate before letting myself in quietly without waking anyone. Now, Button and I are enjoying our time together.
“What a gorgeous day,” I murmur to the spaniel, savoring the rays of pink and yellow peeping over the horizon. “It’s nice to be alone, just the two of us, don’t you think? It’s me and you, Butts. Do you mind if I call you that?”
Button turns her head and snuffles at me. I know what she wants, and unsnap her leash so that she can explore with freedom. Immediately, the dog darts off to investigate something in the bushes, and I smile.
“Feels good to be off-leash, doesn’t it?” I ask. “If only my brother hadn’t put a human leash on me.”
Of course, Button doesn’t reply. But then the aggrieved squawk of a bird makes me jolt, and then there’s a loud rustling from the bushes. A bird bursts free from the leaves, soaring into the sky as Button follows, barking desperately.
“Ruff ruff!” she snaps. “Ruff!”
“Button, stop!” I scold. “It’s early and you’re going to wake people up! Besides, the bird is long gone.”
But the spaniel continues to follow her imaginary bird, her head lifted towards the sky as she darts along the landscaped lawn.
“Button,” I yell, my eyes widening. “Watch out!”
Her short legs continue to churn as she races at light speed, her eyes still fixed on the sky. Then, the poor cocker spaniel plunges headfirst into the artificial pond with a loud splash. Yes, most dogs have spatial awareness and know where they are in relation to obvious geographic markers. Most dogs can also swim, but it’s clear that Button can’t. She barks once before her head goes underwater, her paws thrashing furiously.
“Button! Button!” I scream while running to the pond. “Oh my god, Button!”
I don’t hesitate. I run to the lake and jump in fully-clothed, intent on saving the dog.
“Button!” I scream. “Oh my god, Button!”
The water is icy and freezing. Fortunately, the lake isn’t too deep and I’m able to stand, although I’m already on my tippy-toes as I reach for the flailing cocker spaniel. I grab onto her wet fur with both hands and literally drag her into my arms, hauling twenty pounds of soaked dog.
“Oh my god, Button!” I scold while trying to catch my breath. The water feels sub-zero, and I’m drenched from head to toe, teeth already chattering. “What were you thinking?”
But my words are cut off because just as I’m about to step out of the pond, a giant hand grabs me by the scruff of the neck. Literally, it attaches to the back of my shirt and hauls me from the cold, dark water, only to be faced with two tons of angry man.
Him again.
“Hi Karl,” I greet through chattering teeth while simultaneously shooting him a dirty look. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” he rages. “What the fuck are you doing, taking a cold plunge this time of day?”
I stare at him.
“I was saving a drowning dog, in case you couldn’t tell.”
I bend to let Button down, and she leaps out of my arms, barking cheerfully like her life wasn’t just in danger.
“You were saving a dog?” Karl curses. “Jesus Christ! What is wrong with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong with me,” I say in a prim voice while crossing my arms over my chest. I feel like I’m frozen solid at the moment, and the rivulets of icy water running down my curves don’t help. My oversize white t-shirt is stuck to my big breasts, and my pink sweatpants are clinging to my thighs like saran wrap. “Button is a show dog,” I say in a haughty tone. “Her real name isn’t even Button. Her competition name is Champion Castlemark’s Perl Du Sahel, which for your information, means Pearl of the Sahel Desert. The Sahel is a region in Africa,” I snark.
Karl is so angry now that he looks ready to erupt. His face is red, his eyes bulge from their sockets, and his shoulders seem to have gotten wider and broader as he bristles. Is that even possible? Then, without further ado, the big man grabs me and tosses me head over heels onto his shoulder like a sack of flour.