Hero in Her Heart. Marta Perry

spirit shone through no matter what struggle he faced.

      At the moment he was adjusting to training with Lady, the German shepherd she’d chosen for him. Both took to their challenges eagerly, and her heart warmed with the joy of a successful pairing.

      “Great job, Danny.”

      Danny rewarded her with the smile that seemed too big for his small face. “Thanks.”

      “Now tell Lady what a good girl she is and give her a treat.”

      She watched as he struggled to make his hand cooperate in giving Lady the doggie nugget. It was hard not to jump in and help when he had difficulty, but Danny could do this himself. Every little triumph gave him energy for the next challenge.

      The boy beamed when he succeeded. Lady licked his cheek, making him giggle.

      “Can we do it again, Nolie? Please?”

      “Sure, give it another try.”

      He’d do it faster this time, with more confidence. Gabe ought to see this. Maybe Danny’s efforts would help him to understand what her program was all about.

      She couldn’t say she’d done a very good job of dealing with the man. She’d like to blame it on being knocked off balance by the unexpected condition Henley had put on her grant, but that wasn’t all that had gone wrong.

      She’d found Flanagan himself intimidating, although she’d certainly never let him know it. His fierce anger at what had happened to him was almost palpable. He couldn’t admit that. He was in complete denial about the entire situation.

      As for that visit to his house—well, she’d been grateful to escape back to the solitude of her own little world. The Flanagan brood was a little overwhelming.

      Unfortunately, escape was the right word. She’d basically run like a deer after that unexpected encounter with Gabe’s cousin. The minister.

      The very word left a sour taste in her mouth. That was what Brother Joshua had called himself, although certainly no divinity school had ever claimed him. And she doubted that God had given any sort of blessing to the man.

      None of that had mattered to the great-aunt who’d reluctantly taken her in after everyone else had abandoned her. To put it in the most charitable light, Aunt Mariah hadn’t known what to do with a thrown-away eight-year-old. So she’d turned to the leader of her bizarre sect for child-rearing advice.

      I know I should get over this, Father. My relationship with You transcends anything in my past. It does. But every time I come into contact with organized religion, all those dark memories come back.

      Well, she didn’t have to have anything more to do with Gabe’s cousin. And it looked as if she might not be able to have anything more to do with Gabe, either.

      What were her options? She could confront him again. Or go to the fire chief for help. Or even contact the foundation, although she certainly didn’t want to admit failure to Samuel Henley at the first hurdle.

      “We did it!” Danny crowed. “We did perfect, Nolie.”

      “You sure did, honey.” She managed to hug him and ruffle the dog’s fur at the same time. “You’ll be ready for graduation before you know it.”

      His face clouded. “I don’t want to—not if I have to go away from you.”

      “Hey, it’s okay.” Her heart clenched. “I’ll always be your friend, you know that.”

      But they would part. That was the nature of her work. She bonded with a child or an animal, worked intensely with them for months, and then saw them leave. That was success—they didn’t need her anymore.

      She planted a kiss on Danny’s cheek. “Your mom’s here to pick you up. I’ll see you next time.”

      She straightened, trying to keep the smile on her face. Danny’s mother wasn’t the only one here. Gabe lounged in the doorway, watching her.

      Tension zinged along her nerves. She’d rather work with a dozen Dannys than one large, angry male, but she didn’t have a choice.

      She waved goodbye to the child and tried to put a little steel in her spine as she walked toward Gabe, Lady trotting at her heels. She wouldn’t let the man intimidate her. She would show him the work she did here so convincingly that he’d have to admit its value.

      And make him admit he needed it? Probably not, but she had to try.

      “Good afternoon.” She wouldn’t say anything about his tardiness. Let him bring it up if he wanted.

      He gave a curt nod. The jeans and white knit shirt he wore today contrasted with the dress shirt and slacks he’d had on at the foundation the day before. His shoulders seemed even broader, his frown more intimidating.

      She wiped her palms on her own faded jeans. He was not going to succeed in cowing her.

      “That’s a cute kid.” When he finally spoke, it was about Danny.

      “Yes, he is.” Her gaze softened as she watched the boy’s mother settle him into her van and fold his wheelchair with the ease of long practice.

      “What’s wrong with him?”

      Lady nuzzled Gabe’s leg, curious about the stranger, and he scratched her ears absently.

      Good. At least he related to a dog without tension or fear. “Danny has multiple birth defects. He may always have to depend on the chair, but he and Lady are going to be a good team.”

      He glanced down at Lady. “Why didn’t the dog go home with him?”

      “They have a lot of training to do with me before that happens. But Danny’s a hard worker. He’ll make it.” What about you, Gabe? Will you give me a chance to help you?

      “Meaning you think I’m not.” He shot the words at her.

      She couldn’t argue with everything he said, or they’d never get anything done. “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

      She gestured around the expanse of concrete, with its hurdles, barricades, ramps and stairs. “This is our training area. Clients and animals learn to work together here.”

      “Don’t you mean dogs?”

      At least something interested him. “Mostly dogs, but not always. I’ve trained monkeys to help people who have limited use of their hands. Different animals meet different needs.” She stroked Lady. “Lady will help Danny learn to maneuver in his chair, keep him safe and protect him if he falls.”

      “That’s a big job for an animal.” He was still frowning, but at least he wasn’t walking away.

      “Lady can handle it. She loves to work. I’m hoping that eventually she’ll be able to alert him.” She hesitated, and then deliberately added, “Danny has a seizure disorder, too. Maybe you ought to talk with him about it.”

      “No.” The word snapped out at her, sharp as a slap.

      “It could help both of you.”

      His hands clenched, as if he didn’t know what to do with his stress. “Look, I did tell the chief I’d cooperate, so I’m here. But don’t try putting me in a box with your other patients. I won’t fit.”

      Patience, Nolie, patience.

      “So where does the cooperating part come in?”

      He didn’t smile, but some of the tension went out of his face. “Like I said, I’m here. I’m ready to be convinced that what you do is legitimate.”

      He wasn’t ready to be convinced of anything at all, but at least he’d come. Maybe she could still salvage this project once he saw what she actually did here.

      “Let’s see the rest of the operation,” Nolie said. She led the way outside, blinking as she stepped into the bright May sunshine.