Read Into the Fire for Free Online

her own place. With the shelter gone up in flames, she was seriously reconsidering starting over. As much as it hurt to admit it, the determination she’d felt the first night after the fire had fizzled, replaced by a good dose of reality.
    She rolled over and looked at her alarm clock. The days were getting shorter and the numbers glowed brightly in the dim light of dawn. Maybe her dad was right. Maybe it was time to grow up. She couldn’t live at home forever, nor did she want to.
    And yet the thought of giving up the shelter made her want to stick her head in a tub of ice cream. The shelter had been her reason for getting up in the morning.
    She had some tough decisions to make.
    In the meantime, she had some animals still to be fostered, and she had promised to put in an appearance at the 4-H bake sale. The proceeds would be used to provide food and necessities over the next several days.
    After a hot shower and breakfast, she headed over to the clinic. To her relief all the cats had gone to foster homes for the time being and there were only three dogs left in Dr. Swan’s care. While lots of offers had come in, she made a point of approving every household before letting an animal go. When she walked into the clinic she was greeted by smiles and welcomes. She could hear the dogs barking in the back. A Golden Retriever waiting for its appointment came over and gave her a sniff and a lick, and she took a moment to crouch down and give him a rub behind his ears, speaking to his owner. A grey kitten popped into view on the reception desk, all soft, fuzzy fur and a tail that stuck straight up in the air.
    She loved this. How could she possibly give it up?
    She stood up and headed back to the kennels. Once inside, she was greeted by several barks and meows as the animals all clamored for attention. Brutus and Galahad, both mixed breeds, wagged their tails and stuck their noses out of their crates. But Moose’s crate was empty. Moose, who’d run off right after the fire and had been picked up covered in mud and still reeking of smoke.
    The only thing Ally knew about Moose’s history was that he had yellow Lab in him, and he was probably around five years old. The first day at the shelter he’d cowered in his crate and refused to come out. It had taken major coaxing to get him out for walks and he didn’t understand any commands, which meant Ally had spent a lot of time restoring his confidence and working with him on the leash. He was a sweetheart, but not an easy dog. The last time someone had come in to look at him, he’d startled and been so afraid he’d defecated in his crate. He simply wasn’t ready for adoption.
    She went back out front, worried. None of the animals went to foster care without her signing off on it. So where was he?
    “June, have you seen Moose?” She hoped he was just out for a walk.
    “He’s been fostered.”
    “Fostered? But no one said anything to me.” Her worry increased. Moose would take a gentle, patient hand, and even then he’d be a challenge. “Where did he go?”
    June frowned. “I know you look after all the fosterings, but Dr. Swan said you wouldn’t mind this one. Chris Jackson took him home with him last night.”
    Chris?
    “He did what?”
    “He said he wanted to help. I couldn’t believe it actually. He went back there, knelt in front of the crate and put out his hand and Moose came right to him. We sent him off with instructions and a bag of food.”
    “I don’t understand why Lindsay thought I wouldn’t mind. Moose needs a special environment.” She hesitated to say more. The veterinarian had already gone above and beyond, and so had the staff. Ally was trying to find spots for all the pets. But Moose was special.
    June merely shrugged. “She said something about you and Chris. By the way, I saw your picture together in the paper. Isn’t the bake sale today?”
    “I’m going over there next.”
    Only she knew she wasn’t. She was going to Chris’s. She