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one side. The floor was dirt, cool even through Stevie’s boots. There was the distinct musty smell of damp earth.
    Stevie followed Eli through two more doors, passing some ancient buggy tack, and even an old ox plow. Eli didn’t offer any explanation of where they were going. Stevie didn’t ask. She figured she’d get her answer when Eli was ready to give it.
    “Quiet now,” he said, but it was unnecessary. Stevie hadn’t said a word since they’d left the feed room.
    “Okay, girl, I’m here,” he said softly, but he wasn’t speaking to Stevie. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light and she heard a gentle thumping sound.
    Eli crouched, sitting on his heels. Stevie crouched down next to him. There, in front of them, was a dog, her long tail thumping happily on the ground in greeting. Next to her, on top of her, all around her, climbed a whole litter of puppies, tails flailing joyously every which way.
    “Oh!” Stevie said in astonishment.
    “This here’s Caramel,” he said, introducing Stevie to the proud mother, a golden-colored dog. “I just callher Mel, though. And she’s got nine pups to take care of.”
    “They’re adorable!” Stevie said. “How old are they?” She reached out to them. Three of the puppies came over and began sniffing her curiously. Stevie patted their soft fur. One of them began licking her hand. Another nipped at her knees. The third returned to its mother, soon replaced by another who wanted to be patted, too. Stevie couldn’t believe how cute they were.
    “Five weeks now,” Eli said. “I’ve been keeping them down here because Mel can be fussy sometimes and if all those dudes get wind of the pups, they’ll be crawling all over the place and Mel won’t like that at all.”
    Stevie could just imagine how difficult it would be for the mother to try and take care of her babies with a whole lot of people watching every move. She understood why Eli would want to keep this a secret. She also understood that it was a very special honor for her to learn his secret. She felt proud. She knew she had earned his trust and his respect. Maybe she wasn’t just a dude anymore.
    “What kind of dog is Mel?” Stevie asked, looking at her.
    “Oh, I suppose she’s got some shepherd in her and maybe some golden retriever. There were some huskiesaround here a while back. Might be she’s got some of that blood. Then, that curly hair there makes me think there’s some English sheepdog. I guess she’s just some of everything. Everything good, that is. Mel’s the best herding dog I ever had, but she’s on vacation now.”
    “Maternity leave?” Stevie asked.
    Eli looked at her and burst into laughter. “Yep,” he said, nodding. “I guess that’s just what you’d call it. Pups’ll be ready for weaning in a week or so. Then Mel can get back to work.”
    “Looks to me like she’s working pretty hard
now
,” Stevie said. As she and Eli watched, Mel rounded up some of her rambunctious puppies, nudging a few who were using their mother as a jungle gym.
    “You could be right,” Eli said. “Maybe roundup will be her vacation, then. For now, though, let’s leave her alone.”
    “Okay,” Stevie said, standing up. “See you around, Mel,” she said, giving the dog a final pat on her head. The dog watched as Stevie and Eli left her alone with her brood, then, just before they shut the door behind them, Mel returned her complete attention to her puppies.
    “Listen, Stevie,” Eli began.
    “I know,” she said. “It’s a secret. If I promise not totell even my best friends, will you let me visit Mel again?”
    “Sure thing, pardner,” he said, and they shook hands to seal the deal.
    Stevie found that very consoling. Maybe she was going to miss her birthday at home, but she had a secret and it was a nice one—a very nice one.

T HE NEXT MORNING , Stevie was up again in the gray dawn, awakened by the now-familiar whistle. She swung her feet to the cool wooden floor and stood up,