For Love Of A Dog. Janice Carter

go home.”

      He waited for what seemed ages until the door at the side of the house slammed shut and she reappeared with a large plastic shopping bag. Amigo, who’d been nosing around the foundation of the garage, ran to her. She dropped what she was carrying and stooped, hugging the dog and whispering something to him as she ruffled the hair around his ears.

      Luca clenched his jaw. Again, the situation was turning into something bigger than he’d expected. And why? Could nothing be simple and straightforward with this woman?

      Eventually, she stood and handed him the bag. “There’s enough food for a few days. I put a bottle of water in there, too.” She brushed the legs of her mechanic’s suit and kept her eyes on Amigo.

      “Great. Uh, thanks again.”

      By the time he reached his car, a dozen random thoughts had flashed through his mind. The one he focused on startled him.

      He turned back to her. “Look, if you like, maybe we could drive into Lima and check out a tractor supply place or whatever. See if we can get some spark plugs. If the problem is just replacing them, I might be able to do that. Worth a try, anyway.”

      “It’s not really your problem.”

      “I’ve got lots of time.”

      She thought for a moment. “That would be great. I’ll just go change,” she said, walking back to the side door.

      A thank-you would have been nice, was his first thought. The next, sobering one was, What’s happening here? What have you just done, Rossi?