Rescuing Christmas: Holiday Haven / Home for Christmas / A Puppy for Will

A Puppy for Will (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author (#litres_trial_promo)

Dedication (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Two (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Three (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Holiday Haven

New York Times bestselling author VICKI LEWIS THOMPSON’s love affair with cowboys started with the Lone Ranger, continued through Maverick and took a turn south of the border with Zorro. She views cowboys as the Western version of knights in shining armour—rugged men who value honour, honesty and hard work. Fortunately for her, she lives in the Arizona desert, where broad-shouldered, lean-hipped cowboys abound. Blessed with such an abundance of inspiration, she only hopes that she can do them justice. Visit her website at www.vickilewisthompson.com.

Thanks to my animal-loving anthology mates, Kathie DeNosky and Catherine Mann, for making this project so rewarding. Thanks, also, to the hardworking volunteers at shelters all over the world, as we look forward to a time of no more homeless pets.

CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_2a03a8e1-1a23-5509-982e-f039ecec00d4)

ON MOST DAYS, BEN RHODES enjoyed his job as a cameraman for KFOR, the Tacoma, Washington, TV station that proclaimed We’re here FOR you! But shooting the six o’clock morning news on this first Monday in December promised to be more fun than usual. They were doing a public service announcement for The Haven, a no-kill animal shelter—and its extremely attractive director, Tansy Dexter. Plus she’d brought dogs.

With her mop of curly black hair, unrehearsed smile and laughing blue eyes, Tansy was a cameraman’s dream. She easily outshone the stylized perfection of the KFOR news anchors. But even if she hadn’t upstaged them, her canine buddies would have.

She’d walked into the studio carrying a too-cute beige-and-brown shih tzu with button eyes, a red bow on its collar and a face that would melt the hardest heart. Close behind, a little blue-haired lady in a red jogging suit held the leash of a cream-colored Irish wolfhound the size of a small pony. The wolfhound sported a larger red bow on its collar.

The dogs were a brilliant choice. By bringing two such different breeds, Tansy had demonstrated a keen understanding of visual drama.

Anchorwoman Lisa Dunbar moved out from behind the Channel 10 news desk and over to the studio set where they’d be shooting the segment. The set featured three dark green easy chairs, a five-foot artificial Christmas tree and a dark wood coffee table topped with a small red poinsettia. Lisa took the center chair.

While Tansy was being fitted with a mike, she talked soothingly to the small dog. After that she was directed to the chair on Lisa’s right, and the grandmother type, who had no mike, was settled on the left. The regal wolfhound claimed a sizeable chunk of real estate on the floor. Head up, he kept a close watch on Tansy.

Station manager Paul Huntington had a soft spot for The Haven because his family had adopted their beloved golden retriever, Sadie, from there a year ago. He’d instructed Ben and the other two cameramen to get as many adorable doggie shots as possible to convince viewers to donate or adopt. Ben planned to follow Paul’s directions, but Tansy was so expressive that she’d probably generate as much support as the dogs. In his opinion, faces like hers justified the invention of cameras.

Then again, maybe he was biased. He’d spent so many years training his lens on carefully made-up women like Lisa that Tansy was a refreshing change. Dressed in jeans, sneakers and a blue sweatshirt with the shelter’s logo on the front, she seemed genuine and approachable.

Lisa, blonde and elegant in a gray silk suit and a Christmas-red blouse, was the more classically beautiful of the two. But she was also addicted to the spotlight. He wondered if she’d ever competed with animals for center stage. In his experience, the animals won every time.

When everyone was seated, Lisa responded to a cue from the station’s director and looked into the camera with practiced ease as she introduced Tansy. “She’s brought some friends along,” Lisa added. “One of her many dedicated volunteers, Rose Parker, and a dynamic doggie duo.” She turned to Tansy. “I hope both these doggies are available for adoption, because I just got a signal from our director that the phones are lighting up.”

“They’re available, Lisa.” Tansy’s smile was effortless. “This little guy is Ewok. He’s four years old and mostly shih tzu, but we think he might have some cocker spaniel in him, too.”

Lisa beamed at the small dog. “What a perfect name. He looks just like those creatures in Star Wars. How’re you doing, Ewok?”

The little dog stood on Tansy’s lap and wriggled happily as he focused his dark button eyes on Lisa.

“Oh, he wants to come to me!”

Tansy laughed. “He might, at that. He loves people. But I’d better keep him over here. Your suit looks expensive.”

“I’m sure it could survive a few paw prints.”

“Let’s wait until he’s adjusted to his surroundings.”

Lisa managed a tight smile. “That’s fine. He’s so adorable I’m sure he’ll have a home before we wrap up this segment. I’m tempted, myself.”

“Ewok could have been adopted a dozen times since he came in, but we’re determined he won’t leave the shelter without his pal over there, Wookie.”

Lisa glanced at the wolfhound. “Ah, I get it. Ewok and Wookie. George Lucas would be thrilled. What’s their story?”

“They grew up together and now they’re inseparable,” Tansy said. “To place them in different homes would really stress them out.”

Now Ben understood why the dogs had been brought in together and why Wookie’s attention was firmly on Tansy. She was holding his best pal.

Their story was touching, even to Ben, but he’d decided long ago that adopting a dog or cat was asking for heartache.

“Goodness, that’s a challenge,” Lisa said. “My little condo wouldn’t hold Wookie, I’m afraid.”

“He doesn’t need as much indoor space as you think.”

Lisa chuckled. “No more than a MINI Cooper, at any rate.” She turned back to Tansy and Ewok. “I’ll put a bug in Santa’s ear to give Ewok and Wookie a new home for Christmas.”

“Great. And while you’re at it, please tell Santa we have plenty of other loving dogs and cats looking for homes.”

“Absolutely! We’ll be featuring pictures of your cuties right up through Christmas Eve to promote The Haven’s Home for the Holidays campaign. Can you fill us in on the details?”

“You bet.” Tansy quickly outlined her plan to place as many animals as possible in homes just for the holidays so they wouldn’t have to spend the festive season at the shelter. “It’s like giving them a Christmas break,” she said.

“What a wonderful idea,” Lisa said. “I’m sure the residents of Tacoma will respond, especially because it also gives them a chance to try out a pet before making that forever commitment.”

“Exactly. But if people can’t take an animal over the holidays, I hope they’ll consider donating to our Christmas fund-raising campaign.”

“Your press release said you’re raising money for a special project?” Lisa said.

“We are! We recently removed sixty cats from a hoarding situation. We couldn’t accommodate them in our Kitty Condo, which is our free-roaming cat facility, so they’re temporarily being housed in a portable building on loan from a generous donor. So we desperately need to build a second Kitty Condo for our new furry friends.” As Tansy became more animated in describing the proposed facility, Ewok put his paws on her chest and began licking her face.

Laughing, she tried to coax him back down onto her lap as she continued. “We’re hoping that by Christmas Eve…Ewok, now stop!”