Marry Me at Christmas

Gabriel turned to Jonny. “Okay. I’ll be back to suture you up and then I’ll write up the prescriptions. Take it easy for the next day or two. No more playing hero.” He stood, then crossed to Madeline and patted her shoulder. “You stay out of trouble, too.”

“I’ll do my best.”

He left the room.

Madeline turned to Jonny. “You were saving me. I just got that. You put yourself in danger so I wouldn’t be hit by a car.”

Tears filled her eyes.

He was a typical guy who didn’t like tears on any woman, but especially not when it came to the one he was seeing. Not that he didn’t appreciate she was worried about him, but tears? He was prepared to do nearly anything to stop the flow. Lucky for him, her cell phone rang again.

“You should get that,” he told her.

“It’s not going to make me forget what you did for me,” she promised, then pushed the talk button on her phone. “Hello?”

He watched as she listened. Madeline frowned slightly, then shook her head. “I don’t have room. Four dogs? I know it’s only for a few days, but I’m working. I couldn’t leave them home alone at my place and I don’t think I could get back to walk them.” She listened for a second, then flushed. “No. I’m not going to ask him. You do realize we’re in the hospital emergency room, right? Yes, he was hit by a car.” Another pause. “Eddie and Gladys. No, he’s fine, it’s just...”

She sighed. “There has to be someone who can take them. I’m happy to help, take a walking shift or something.”

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Just a second,” she told the caller, then lowered the phone.

“The Day of Giving is Saturday.”

“Yet another Fool’s Gold festival?” he asked.

“Yes. Local charities have vendor booths so they can explain about their programs. There’s also a pet adoption. It’s become really successful, so they bring in pets from shelters around the state. Several dogs are arriving and they need a place to stay until the event on Saturday.”

Now her conversation made sense. “You’re right,” he told her. “No way you could handle four dogs at your place. It’s not big enough and you have to be at Paper Moon.”

“I know. I feel bad, though.”

“They can stay with me.”

She stared at him. “Excuse me? You’re injured.”

“I have a hurt hand, not a broken leg. I can deal with a couple of dogs.” He thought about the big open area around the ranch. Talk about dog heaven.

“It’s four. How would you hold the leash to walk them? It’s too much.”

“You could help.”

He had a feeling that Madeline would be open to hanging out at his place regardless, but a little dog guilt wouldn’t hurt. And if she was fussing over him while loving on some puppies, all the better. Because being around Madeline was the best part of his day and he wasn’t above taking advantage of homeless dogs to encourage her to stay close.

“It’s Christmas,” he added for good measure. “Don’t those poor dogs deserve a chance to be adopted?”

She eyed him suspiciously, then sighed. “Fine. But when you don’t sleep because you’re overwhelmed by too much canine, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I won’t.”

* * *

Despite what he’d promised Madeline, Jonny fully expected to feel there were too many dogs in the house. He hadn’t had a pet since he’d been a kid and going from zero to four was going to be a lot. What he hadn’t realized was that in addition to the dogs, the town would show up at his place.

After getting stitched up, he’d been ready to drive home. Madeline had insisted on taking him, but first they’d had to fill his prescriptions. By the time they got to his house, there were already three cars in the driveway. Two of them belonged to shelter volunteers, ready to drop off the dogs. The other one was owned by a woman he’d never met but who wanted to drop off cookies and a fruit salad.

“While you’re recovering,” she said, handing the food to Madeline, before getting back in her car. “Good luck.”

“Thanks, Maeve,” Madeline called.

“Who was that?” Jonny asked.

“Isabel’s sister.”

“Isabel from Paper Moon? How did she know I was hurt?”

Madeline’s expression turned pitying. “Everyone knows, Jonny. And this is just the beginning.”