Nikki and the Lone Wolf / Mardie and the City Surgeon: Nikki and the Lone Wolf / Mardie and the City Surgeon

‘That’s the one.’

‘I haven’t had much practice at being the low-life,’ she said. ‘I’m a follower. Dumb and dumber, that’s me.’

‘We’re not talking about your love life.’

‘We’re not?’

‘That’s shrink territory, not mine.’

‘Like your stone wall.’

‘Do you mind?’

‘Butt out?’ She sighed and tried for a smile. ‘Fine. Consider me butted. What do I need to be a pack leader? A whip? Leathers?’

‘Discipline.’

She grinned. ‘Really? Don’t tell me, stockings and garters as well.’

He stared at her in the moonlight and he couldn’t believe it. She was laughing. Laughing!

The tension of the night dissipated, just like that. Except … a sudden vision of Nikki in stockings and garters …

He almost blushed.

‘I mean,’ he said, trying to stop the corners of his mouth twitching, ‘you tell Horse what you expect and you follow through. He’s hungry? Use it. Call him, reward him when he comes. Teach him to sit, stay, the usual dog things. But mostly teach him no. He’s galloping towards you with a road in between; you need to hold your hand up, yell no and have him stop in his tracks. The same with coming down here. You can bring him down here on your terms, with a ball, something to do to keep him occupied. The minute he stares out to sea like he’s considering the low-life, then that’s a no. Hard, fast and mean it.’

‘You’re good at training dogs?’

‘I had a great dog. Smart as Einstein. She trained me.’

‘I’m sure Horse is smart.’

‘Prove it.’

‘I’m not sure …’

‘Henrietta’s daughter takes personal dog coaching. I’m amazed Henrietta hasn’t introduced you already.’

‘Henrietta left a card,’ she conceded.

‘There you go.’

‘You’re not interested in helping yourself?

‘No.’ Hard. Definite. He watched her face close and regretted it, but couldn’t pull it back.

‘I’m not scary,’ she said, almost defiantly, and he thought what a wuss—was he so obvious?

‘I’m busy,’ he said. ‘This is the first full day I haven’t worked since …’

‘Since Jem died?’

‘Nikki …’

‘I know.’ She tugged Horse towards her a little, which forced his hand to let go of the collar. Which meant they were no longer touching. ‘You want me to butt out. Respect your boundaries. I’ve been respecting boundaries for years. You’d think I’d be good at it.’

‘I didn’t mean …’

‘You know, I’m very sure you did,’ she told him. ‘Tell me what to do.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘With Horse,’ she said patiently. ‘Training. What should I do first?’

‘Take his collar and say “Come”.’ This was solid ground. Dog training. He could handle this.

‘Come,’ she said and tugged and Horse didn’t move. Stared rigidly out to sea.

‘Come!’ Another tug.

Gabe sighed. ‘Okay, you’re on the head end. We’re going to roll him.’

‘What?’

‘He has to learn to submit, otherwise he’ll spend the rest of his life waiting for his low-life. Say “Down”.’

‘Down.’

‘Like you mean it!’

‘Down!’

‘You sound like a feather duster.’

‘I do not.’

‘Pretend the boat’s sinking. The kid at the other end is standing there with a tin can and a stupid expression. He bails or you drown. Are you going to say “Bail” in that same voice?’

‘He’s an abandoned dog. He nearly died. He’s hurt and confused. You want me to yell at him?’

‘He’s hurt and confused and he needs to relax. The only way he can relax is if he thinks someone else is in charge. You.’

‘You do it.’

‘I’m not his pack leader. Do it, Nikki, or you’ll have him howling at the door for weeks, killing himself with exhaustion. You say “Down” like you mean it and we bring him down.’

‘I don’t …’