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which was ignored.
    “Could I?” Tim sounded like he’d just been offered a trip to Disneyland.
    “I rather think you should,” said Bill seriously.
    “What about his bandage?”
    “Oh, that wrap is waterproof. It’ll be fine. I wouldn’t soak it, though. See if you can get him to hold it up the entire time.”
    Lance’s warning growl deepened.
    But Tim looked so hopeful. He gently wiped Lance’s face with the towel. “Did you say earlier that you do know him? He’s not wearing a collar. He must belong to someone, though, because he’s in beautiful condition.”
    Bill snorted. “I know all the dogs in this area, Tim. And I’m pretty sure this dog belongs to nobody .”
    Tim looked unabashedly pleased. “If I… if I wanted to keep him. You know, to make up for hitting him and everything, do I need to get a dog license or register somewhere?” There was a hitch of excitement in his voice. “Would you like that, buddy? Would you?”
    Bill gave a low chuckle. “You don’t need a license, but I think if you want to keep this one around, you’ll have to convince him of that. Isn’t that right, puppy?” Bill gushed in a most undignified voice and rubbed Lance’s ears.
    Lance growled louder this time.
    “Hey, be nice!” Tim wrapped a proprietary arm around Lance’s shoulders as if prepared to hold him back. As if he could. “Maybe he smells other dogs on you. That could feel threatening to him.”
    Bill snorted. “I’m sure that’s it. Well, that about does it. Remember—long, hot bath. Oh, and I wouldn’t give him anything but water at least until morning if not for twenty-four hours.”
    “ Errrr ,” said Lance.
    “Ok ay , um, what do I owe you?” Tim sounded worried as Bill headed for the door with his backpack. “I mean, I know it’s off-hours and it’s dark and snow ing and everything. And I’m so grateful he’s all right ….”
    Don’t take his money , Lance thought, knowing the guy had very little. If Bill charged him, he’d have to pay the boy back somehow.
    “Don’t worry about it. It was on my way home. And it was worth it to be able to see such a nice dog so well cared for.”
    “Really? That’s super generous of you.”
    Bill opened the door. The snow was still coming down like wet cotton . Bill leaned in to speak in Tim’s ear. But Lance’s hearing was very good, and he heard it all the same.
    “Be sure to give him lots of hugs and pets. It’ll help him over the shock,” Bill whispered.
    Lance could hear him laughing all the way to his car.

~ 4 ~
    A Boy’s Best Friend
     
    LANCE THOUGHT about trying to make a break for it. But after all he ’d put Tim Traynor-aka-Weston through, if he didn’t finish the job now, he really would be an utter bastard. He tried refusing to cooperate on the bath thing, but that wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
    “Please, buddy? Your coat is all muddy, and that can’t feel good. A nice bath will make you feel so much better.” The soothing-pleading words were accompanied by big, soulful eyes and those ever-present tender strokes of his fur. Lance heaved a sigh. Something about Tim made Lance want to please him. Probably he just felt sorry for the guy. And guilt. Yes, it was definitely guilt.
    What did you expect? You’re pretending to be a dog, so you have to be a dog . Get over it.
    In truth, Lance was disgustingly filthy, thanks to Tim pushing him down in the cold mud. But he’d never bathed in dog form, much less let a human bathe him. That was just… humiliating. What he wanted was to shift back into his human form and have a nice, long, hot shower. But that wasn’t going to happen if he was going to stick around till Tim fell asleep.
    Somehow, Lance found himself being led, limping on his pink leg, into the bathroom. Tim shut the bathroom door. The air in there was hazy with the steam from a bathtub full of hot water.
    “I would have added bubble bath, but I was worried it might irritate your skin.” Tim ran his hand