The Gauntlet. Lindsay McKenna

Molly greeted him uncertainly. It was Cam Sinclair, all right. As he looked at her, she felt herself go all shaky inside—a response that was new and startling.

      “I didn’t expect to see anyone out here at this time of day,” Cam replied. Miracle whined, looking eagerly toward Molly. He stood, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans. “Sorry if she mauled you. Miracle’s still a puppy at heart.”

      Smiling, Molly walked to the bottom of the dune. How handsome and relaxed Cam looked now. Almost human! “That’s okay. I love animals.”

      “She was after all those gulls she saw flying around these two dunes.”

      “I was feeding them my dinner.”

      Cam watched as the breeze blew a number of strands of Molly’s hair across her shoulder. She looked pretty in her civilian clothes, her bare feet giving her a decidedly childlike appearance. “Oh.”

      Without warning, Miracle turned and bounded back down the dune, leaping up on Molly, her black paws landing on Molly’s chest. Cam yelled at the Lab but she didn’t listen. He came down the dune and reached for the dog’s collar, to jerk her away from Molly.

      “No…it’s okay.” Molly laughed breathlessly, affectionately roughing up Miracle. She played with her, and the dog leapt and bounded around her in high spirits.

      Embarrassed by Miracle’s inexplicable antics, Cam stood helplessly by and watched her and Molly play with each other. They were like children. The light in Miracle’s eyes was alive as she dodged and leapt playfully, avoiding Molly’s hand. It was Molly’s laughter that sent a sharp shaft of longing through Cam’s heart, through his entire body.

      Suddenly Molly wasn’t the Annapolis grad or the TPS student. She was simply a woman. A beautiful one, who melted into the texture of the sand dunes, the peaceful lap of the bay water and turquoise sky laced with sunset colors of pale pink, lavender and gold. Cam didn’t have the heart to scold Miracle for not minding him. How long had it been since he’d really, honestly played with the Lab? A year, he admitted.

      Finally, Molly fell to the blanket, giggling. Miracle collapsed beside her, panting heavily. Placing her arm around the dog’s shoulders Molly looked up at Cam. There was a dark scowl on his face, as if he totally disapproved of what she’d done. Feeling too good from the unexpected romp and exercise with the dog, Molly gasped, “She’s great for aerobics, isn’t she?”

      Cam edged a bit closer to the blanket, his hands still deep in the pockets of his jeans. “Yeah, she was—I mean, is.”

      “How did Miracle get her name?” Molly shifted her gaze back to the dog, who responded by licking Molly’s hand.

      “Four years ago I wanted to get a dog. I went to the dog pound over in Lexington Park. They were going to put her to sleep the next day, so I took her because I didn’t want to see her killed. That’s why I decided to call her Miracle.”

      Molly sized him up. “I like someone with a kind heart,” she whispered.

      Flushing, Cam negligently dug the toe of his tennis shoe into the sand. “I don’t know about a kind heart. I felt the dog was worth saving.”

      Smiling, Molly ruffled Miracle’s head between her hands. “Soft heart or not, you did a good thing. She’s wonderful! I’ll bet you get your share of exercise when you walk her.”

      “I do. I come down here a couple of times a week to run her. She gets cooped up in my apartment, and I can’t let a big dog sit for too long.”

      Molly liked Cam’s thoughtful nature. “They say animals mirror their owners. Does she?”

      Cam grimaced. “I don’t think so.”

      He was so serious. And there was such sadness in his eyes and around his mouth. Something in her wanted to alleviate it, but Molly didn’t know how. “When I was growing up, I had a dog. She was a purebred, because my father said they were the only kind to have, but it really didn’t make any difference to me. Pooky, that was her name, was a Border collie. Father wanted to get me a German shepherd or a Doberman pinscher, but my mom wouldn’t allow it, saying they were too temperamental and moody to trust around a child.

      “So I ended up with Pooky.” Molly looked past Cam, the memories coming back deep and strong. “She loved me so much, and my whole life revolved around her. My brother was the firstborn, and he was always the center of attention. Pooky and I stayed in my bedroom where I served her tea, shared my dolls with her and read her fairy tales.” Molly smiled shyly down at Miracle, who had her head cocked to one side, as if listening intently to each word.

      “Pooky died a month after my mother did. I never felt so alone.”

      Cam frowned. “How old were you when your mother died?”

      “Ten.” Molly rallied, petting Miracle fondly. “Father wanted to get me another dog, but I just couldn’t do it. Pooky was one of a kind. And even at that age, I knew nothing or no one could ever replace her.”

      Pain widened in Cam’s chest—not only for himself, but for Molly. What had her mother’s passing when Molly was at such a young age done to her? He tried to ferret out the damage, but found none. Surely it had scarred her. Jeanne’s passing and the loss of Sean had certainly scarred him for life. “Did you love your mother?” The instant the words were out of his mouth, he regretted the stupid question.

      “Very much. We were close. Father’s a workaholic, and it was Mom who kept things going at home for Scott and me. Yes, I loved her more than life.” Molly stroked Miracle’s neck and shoulders. “This is wonderful, getting to meet a dog like yours. She reminds me so much of Pooky—loyal and loving. I’m really glad I ran into you here on the beach, even if it was an accident.” Molly smiled, meaning it.

      Uncomfortable with Molly’s openness, Cam called Miracle to his side. The black Lab hesitated, licked Molly’s hand one more time, then slowly rose and trudged hesitantly to his side. Cam felt like a heel. He wasn’t able to give Miracle the kind of open, loving warmth Jeanne had bestowed on her. Now Molly was offering what Miracle so missed. He wondered hotly what it would be like to be stroked by Molly’s small, graceful hand. For a moment, he envied Miracle.

      “I’ve got to get going,” Cam stumbled. “I’ll see you at school on Monday.”

      “Sure…” Molly tried to smile, but it was impossible. She’d totally embarrassed herself in front of Captain Sinclair, who was obviously uncomfortable in her presence. Miracle hesitated at the top of the dune, turned toward her and barked. Then she spun around, disappearing down the other side with her master.

      Packing up her items, Molly thought she’d never felt as alive as she had in those few minutes with Cam and his dog. At least he hadn’t been icy with her, as he was at school. There had been a change in him, although it was subtle. Why was he so unhappy? As Molly shrugged into her knapsack and folded her towel, she cringed at the thought of going home. The weekend stretched in front of her. On Saturday her father would call, demanding a detailed verbal report of her week’s activities.

      Slowly, Molly walked through the sand. The sun hovered on the horizon, the sky a pale pink tinged with lavender. Its setting was going to be spectacular, and the beauty momentarily raised her plummeting spirits. How she longed for the kind of freedom Miracle had.

      Cam’s face swam in front of her. All her worry lifted, and a ribbon of warmth spread through Molly. What kind of magic did he hold over her to lift her unaccountably from her own private hell? Whatever it was, Molly thanked the Fates for bringing them together this evening. That had been a miracle in itself.

      * * *

      “Stop whining.” Standing in the living-room doorway, Cam scowled. Miracle stood at the front door, as if waiting to be let out. Cam knew the dog was thinking of Molly. Wasn’t he, too?

      Running his hand through his hair, he entered the living room, sat down on the overstuffed couch and picked up a newspaper. The six o’clock