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not pampering you. I’d offer to help carry anybody’s bags, whether they were able to or not.”
    “That’s nice. Tell you what. Why don’t you let Sailor loose before he goes nuts? He gets really agitated if he thinks I’m going to wander off and leave him.”
    “I can see that.” Trudy Lynn ordered the Newfoundland to sit before she unfastened the tether and lowered the tailgate. His exuberance in scrambling out almost bowled her over.
    The dog had made two galloping circuits of the pickup and had come to a stop at Cody’s feet before Trudy Lynn rejoined him. “Looks like he’s happy now.”
    “It doesn’t take much to please Sailor. Food, water and my company. They definitely are a family breed, just not suited to my sister’s fancy new carpet and furniture.”
    “Well, we fixed that.”
    She was about to reach for his bags again when Cody waved her off. “Wait. Watch this.” He pointed to the strap of the largest one. “Sailor. Bring it.”
    The enormous dog took the handle in his mouth gently, as if it were as fragile as a kitten, and, with his bushy tail waving, proudly bore it along while his master headed for the cabin.
    “What about the other one?” Trudy Lynn asked.
    “He’ll go get that, too.”
    She hurried ahead to open the door and flip on the lights. Any worries she’d had that Sailor might get excited and knock his master down were dispelled when she noted how cautiously the lumbering dog proceeded.When the first bag was safely delivered, Cody sent him back for the second.
    “Wow. I’m impressed,” Trudy Lynn said. “How did you teach him that?”
    “I can’t take credit. He was a natural. From the time he was a pup he carried things around. Loved my socks. I used to leave them on the floor just so he’d have something to pick up and bring to me.”
    “A furry valet?”
    “Something like that. He added more to the mess than he cleaned up, but his heart was in the right place so I encouraged him.” Cody’s smile widened as Sailor returned with the second bag, mission accomplished, and placed it at his feet. “It would have been a lot nicer if he hadn’t drooled, though.”
    “So what? You were going to wash the socks anyway.”
    “Right.” He surveyed the one-room cabin approvingly. “Looks cozy. Any special instructions?”
    “Not that I can think of. If I’d known anyone was going to be staying here I’d have made up the bed ahead of time.” She was already moving across the room. “It’ll only take me a second.”
    “Don’t bother.”
    Trudy Lynn sent him a grin over her shoulder as she whipped the plaid bedspread aside, unfurled a clean sheet and bent to her task. “Why? Does your dog make beds, too?”
    “Not yet, but I’m working on it.”
    “Should be an interesting trick. Especially if you can teach him to stop slobbering while he works.”
    Cody made a face. “Yeah. There is that problem.”
    “This cabin has its own private bathroom,” Trudy Lynn explained while smoothing out the last wrinkle in the bedding. “Towels are in the cabinet over there. So are more clean sheets if you decide Sailor needs to practice his tucking skills.”
    “Thanks. I think I’ll wait on that till we get home.”
    “In that case, I’ll say good-night and leave you in peace.”
    She was almost to the door when Cody said, “Thank you.”
    There was so much true relief in his tone she turned and smiled. “You’re quite welcome. Both of you. I’ll get Sailor’s food and dishes out of the back of the truck before I go. Sleep as late as you want in the morning. When you’re up and about, I’ll introduce you to my staff. There aren’t many of us. Will and I stay overnight. The rest come to work when I need them.”
    Cody’s eyebrow arched. “Will? Your boyfriend? Husband?”
    “Will’s old enough to be my grandpa,” she said with a subdued chuckle. “There’ve been lots of times when I’ve wished we were kin. I guess old friend describes him best. He takes