LITMIR.BIZ

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best.”

      “She? You didn’t take him to Doc Sheridan?”

      “From what I gather, he retired, and this was the new vet’s first day on the job.”

      “Aw, man, that doesn’t sound good for Eli’s puppy.” Mark propped his arm on the back of the seat and ran his hand across his mouth in a that’s-too-bad move.

      Gavin felt the same way. “Yeah. Well, according to Mrs. Martin, she’s been there for a while working as his assistant, so I’m praying she’ll be able to help.”

      “Wait a minute. Doc Sheridan’s assistant? Haley? Haley Calhoun?” Mark asked, his tone livening with every syllable. “She’s the vet taking care of the puppy?”

      “Yeah. Why?”

      “I didn’t realize you were talking about Haley. She’s awesome. I’m surprised you haven’t seen her around town already. She’ll be coming to Willow’s Haven on a regular basis soon, since she’s the one running the new Adopt-an-Animal program, where she’ll bring animals to Willow’s Haven.” He smiled broadly. “We’ll also be taking the kids out to the Cutter Ranch to spend time with the horses, hiking and all of that, and I’m sure she’ll be part of that, as well. It was Haley’s idea, actually, and she’s donating her time. Pretty cool.”

      Gavin wasn’t certain how “cool” it’d be. He hadn’t liked that niggling attraction he’d felt when he’d seen the pretty lady, and he certainly didn’t want to experience it on a regular basis. Especially when he had no desire for any relationship again. He’d had the perfect relationship, with Selah, and he didn’t want—or need—another.

      Maybe he wouldn’t have to see the good doctor when she worked with the kids.

      Yeah, right. His cabin would undoubtedly be involved with the Adopt-an-Animal program, so he’d be interacting, in some manner, with Haley Calhoun. Even after they finished seeing each other because of Eli’s puppy.

      Gavin swallowed past the grumble in his throat.

      Thankfully, Mark didn’t seem to notice. “She’ll do her best with the puppy,” he said, nodding, “I feel certain of that.”

      And that’s what she’d told Gavin. That she’d do her best. He just hadn’t trusted her best to be good enough. Selah’s doctors had also said they would do their best. But Mark sure seemed to trust Dr. Haley Calhoun. “How do you know her?”

      Mark shifted in his seat, scanned the group of boys behind them and answered, “When I first moved to Claremont, I had an English-American bulldog mix named Roman. When I took Roman to the vet, I’d typically see Haley. She did a great job. Roman was old already, lived a couple of years past his life expectancy, and Haley was so gentle with him. That dog loved her.” He shrugged. “I don’t see her that often anymore. Used to see her at the church, but she hasn’t been there in a while.”

      Gavin recalled Mae’s comment that Haley’d given up on God when she’d given up on men and he wondered what had happened in the feisty vet’s world. He knew personally what it was like to give up on God. He’d given up on Him, gotten angry at Him, on this very day two years ago. But then, he’d felt so alone and eventually recognized that the One he blamed...was the only One who could heal his pain.

      While Gavin contemplated what had happened to the lovely vet, Eli’s voice overpowered the others on the crowded bus. “And then Miss Haley told me that I could come and see him every day after school,” he told Ryan, the boy sitting beside him.

      “I wish I could find a puppy in the woods,” Ryan said.

      Mark grinned. “Some things never change. Every little boy wants a dog.”

      Brodie Evans, sitting on the opposite bench seat, nodded. “Savvy and I were actually discussing that this afternoon. Dylan, Rose and Daisy have been asking for a dog and we think the new Adopt-an-Animal program might be good for all the children.”

      “I can see how that could benefit the kids,” Gavin agreed, even if he wasn’t thrilled about the vet who would lead the program. She made him uncomfortable, set him off balance. However, he remembered how protective Eli had been of the puppy this afternoon. And how much he hadn’t wanted to leave him behind.

      “We just want to make sure we can keep animals on site before we get them for our kids, because we wouldn’t want Dylan, Rose and Daisy to have pets if all of the other children couldn’t have animals, too.”

      Brodie and Savvy were amazing at not only taking care of the needs of their own children but also those of the children in their care. In fact, after learning about the Christian environment and the way they provided for children, Gavin had moved from Memphis just to work at Willow’s Haven. He’d also considered an amazing children’s home in Oregon, but had decided that, while he wanted to get away from the town where he’d made a home with Selah, he hadn’t wanted to move clear across the country.

      Mark leaned forward in his seat. “So we’d have to get it approved by the state before Eli could keep the pup?”

      “Yeah, we need to cover our bases and make sure everything is okay before making any changes at the home,” Brodie said. “But Savvy is planning to give the social worker a call tomorrow and ask. I think the only hesitation is that the kids might bond with the animals and then, when they are placed in a permanent home, won’t want to leave them behind.”

      “Maybe some of the adoptive parents would consider adopting a pet, too,” Mark said, grinning. “Sounds like a win-win to me.”

      “That’s exactly what Savvy said.” Brodie tilted his head toward Gavin. “Eli could barely concentrate on kicking the soccer ball tonight because he kept wanting to tell the other kids about Buddy.”

      Gavin, who had been attempting to coach Eli’s team, nodded. “Trust me, I noticed. He was so busy talking, he almost got pegged with the ball a couple of times.”

      Brodie chuckled. “Well, maybe when Buddy is better and Eli gets more time with the dog, he’ll pay more attention at practice.”

      “That’s assuming we get the okay to keep the dog at Willow’s Haven.” Gavin decided he would add that to his current prayer requests. Not only for Buddy to get better for Eli’s sake, but also that the boy would be allowed to keep the dog he cared so much about.

      Mark laughed as Eli’s voice took on even more volume. “It’s good to see him excited about something, though, isn’t it?” he asked.

      “Sure is.” In fact, Gavin was very glad for that. Seeing a kid who’d been through so much pain find hope again, even if it was directed toward a near-dying dog, gave him encouragement for himself. That maybe one day he wouldn’t feel that deep void inside. The one that had only grown since he’d walked out of that hospital—alone—two years ago, a diaper bag he no longer needed draped on one arm and Selah’s overnight bag, filled with clothes and items she’d never use again, on the other.

      He thought of the blue blouse she’d planned to wear when they left the hospital. And the tiny matching blue coming-home outfit they’d purchased for their baby boy to wear when she carried him in her arms.

      Gavin pinched the bridge of his nose and begged God to control the memories and get him through the remainder of this day...some way, somehow.

      “Hey, there’s Miss Haley! Maybe she brought Buddy!” Eli bellowed.

      Gavin moved his hand from his face, took a deep breath and turned to see Willow’s Haven cabins come into view and the object of Eli’s excitement.

      His chest constricted as his gaze rested on the pretty vet standing beside Savvy on Brodie and Savvy’s front porch, bright rays of the setting sun highlighting her white-blond hair. Even though she shielded her eyes from the light, Gavin knew that, if he could see them now, they’d shimmer the most vivid emerald green.

      He’d thought of those eyes, the hair, the striking features of the woman,

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