Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Her eyes shifted to the door in the duplex next door. “I couldn’t let Eddie keep hurting Rexy.” The massive dog at her side seemed to prance in place at the sound of his name.
“Rexy is the jerk’s dog?” Jerico asked. If he had to guess, it was a combination of mastiff and Great Dane.
“His name is really Rex, but he likes Rexy better.”
The dog confirmed this with a muted woof and a happy wag of his tail. He leaned his weight against the slender woman, visibly smitten with her.
“He’s mine now. I’m not giving him back,” Aspen stated.
Jerico could hear in her voice that she’d risk her own safety to keep the dog safe. He loved her fire, even if it had endangered her. There was something special about this woman. “Edgar abuses him?”
“He goes by Eddie. The jerk abuses everything and everyone. My life has been shit since he moved in. I can’t sleep because he tries to break in. The police can’t do anything. I can get a restraining order, but since Eddie lives here and pays rent, it doesn’t mean a thing. The landlord won’t kick out a paying renter.”
Scanning the room behind her, Jerico noted a number of clues that confirmed his first suspicions about Aspen. There were no signs that Aspen had a son or daughter. Coloring book pages decorated her refrigerator. That was the only artwork or splash of personality in the area he could see. A tattered blanket was draped over a battered chair. Was that a sippy cup? She has to be little.
“You can’t stay here,” Jerico said.
“I can’t go anywhere with Rexy. I have a contract here for three more months. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to pay rent for two places and food for us both. I thought I could survive for a while if I was careful, but…” Aspen’s voice faded before her shoulders slumped. She thumped on the big dog’s sides as if to reassure him. “He’s too big for a shelter. I won’t leave him here.”
“That’s why he was mad tonight? Because you won’t give his dog back?”
“He doesn’t want to go with him. He hurts him. I’ve taken him so many times to the vet to get stitched up and treated for all sorts of abuse. They actually had me investigated,” Aspen said, rubbing the dog’s fur as the beast leaned against her.
“Gather some things for you and Rexy. Let’s get you out of here.”
“I’ve told you I don’t have anywhere to go.”
Her exasperated tone at his density almost made him smile. Jerico controlled the impulse and answered, “You do now.”
“What? You’re going to take me in?” she scoffed.
“Yes.”
“I don’t even know your name.”
“My name is Jerico Adams.”
Her blue eyes studied his face. “Are you going to hurt me?”
“No.”
After a brief pause, she asked, “Do you like dogs?”
“I do. Especially those that come with fierce little girl protectors.”
“I’m over eighteen,” she said fiercely, but a flash in her eyes clued him in that she knew exactly what he meant.
“You’re twenty-five. I’m not talking about a minor, but an adult little girl,” Jerico clarified and watched her expression soften. If he’d had any doubt that she was indeed a Little before, he didn’t now.
She hesitated, studying him as carefully as he watched her. “Can Rexy sniff you?”
“Of course.” Jerico held his hand out to the immense animal, knowing that this was a test.
The dog seemed to take his job seriously. He sniffed Jerico’s hand and snorted softly before trying it again. Did he smell the gunpowder from that day’s range practice despite the number of times Jerico had washed his hands? Rexy looked up into Jerico’s face for a few long seconds before lumbering forward to bonk his head against Jerico’s thighs, seeking pets.
Jerico repaid the dog’s acceptance with scritches. “Rexy is okay with me helping. How about you, Aspen?”
“I can’t pay you and I don’t sleep around,” she told him bluntly.
The hint of pink in her cheeks and her downcast gaze after making that statement told him a lot.
“I want to make sure you and Rexy are safe. You aren’t here. That’s the only fringe benefit I’m looking for.”
Her head lifted as he talked. Jerico was pleased to see the tension ebb out of her shoulders and spine. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
“You have my word,” Jerico promised.
“I’ll get my bag.” She disappeared for a few minutes before returning with a large bulging suitcase, a tattered backpack, a huge dog bed, and an equally large bag of food.
Taking the suitcase from her, Jerico suggested, “Grab anything you would hate to lose. Edgar’s going to be angry when he’s released and the two of you are gone. We’ll come back to grab everything else tomorrow in the daylight.”
She nodded and ran back inside. Jerico stroked Rexy’s soft fur one last time before hauling Aspen’s things to his truck. The dog followed his bed and hopped up in the back seat with a bit of a boost. Three circles later and Rexy was settled on the soft padding with a sigh. Rexy was ready to get out of there. He didn’t have any second thoughts.