Chapter 1

Abby turned on the outdoor light, noticing her stack of newspapers sitting on the front porch instead of at the end of the driveway. “What the hell?” She muttered, then noticed Brad leaning against the railing. “What are you doing here? It’s six in the morning!”

“I said I’d help you deliver your papers before we move into our new home, so here I am,” he said, rubbing his arms to fight off the cold.

“How did you get here?”

“I rode my bike.”

“On the snow-covered roads, are you crazy? You could have wiped out and broken a leg or arm.”

“I guess I’m crazy for you. I didn’t want to wake my parents for a ride over.”

Brad handed her the stack of papers. “You must be freezing; sit in the living room.”

“You can use your hot looking body to thaw me out,” he joked.

“Be prepared. Molly is outside and certainly won’t like you being here.”

He sat on the couch, glancing around the room. Brad could hear Molly barking and the scamper of paws on the wooden floor. Molly skidded to a stop at the hallway entrance to the living room. She started to bark at him as Abby hurried to her.

“Molly, quiet. You’ll wake up, Daddy!” She scolded. Her barks turn into constant growls, a warning to the intruder in her home. Abby kneeled, partially restraining her trusty pet. “It’s okay, Molly; this is Brad. He’s my boyfriend now, and you’re going to be seeing him a lot in the future,” she told her as she continued to growl.

Molly’s small, cottony appearance seemed harmless enough, but her snarl revealed her fangs, able to inflict a painful bite on anyone who threatens her family. She continued to growl at Brad as Abby tried to soothe her, with kind eyes that seemed to stare right through him.

“It appears I have another female to win over,” he joked. “Can you bring me her favourite treat?”

Abby picked up Molly and went to the kitchen. “Molly, you behave yourself. I like this boy a lot, and I’m not going to let you scare him off like Pete and Derek do to the other boys.” She wagged her tail and licked her face as Abby showed Molly her favourite biscuit.

Abby returned and placed Molly on the floor, handing Brad three dog biscuits. “I used this trick on other dogs I’d meet for the first time, and it works. Hand me the treat and sit beside me.”

She sat beside Brad, causing more apprehensive barks and growls. He took the biscuit and broke it in half. “Now we’ll just talk, and I’ll let her see my hand holding the treat.”

Brad let his left-hand rest pointed towards the floor, the treat visible to her. Molly cautiously approached him, ready to attack if he so much as touched her love. She let out several smaller growls as she began to sniff his feet and right leg. Abby began to talk, saying how Molly would help her deliver her newspapers, and cautiously took his hand in hers, causing another growl.

“It’s okay, Molly, he’s my friend,” she said, reassuring her. “He would never hurt me.”

Molly came to his left side, the scent of the biscuit attracting her. She slowly leaned closer, then pulled back, wary of this intruder. Her nose inched closer, then backed away, then closer again for a sniff. Brad let more of the biscuit show while ignoring her and talking to Abby.

Brad let the piece fall to the floor. Molly slowly approached it with one eye on Brad. He could hear her begin to chew it up and place the second piece in his hand. He held it out again, only inches from her nose. Ever so slowly, she inched closer, and he could feel her wet nose as she hesitantly took the dog bone treat.

“She took the biscuit,” he said, looking at Abby.

“Here Molly!” Abby said, and she jumped up onto her lap. Molly gave him a slight growl and wagged her tail as Abby smoothed her soft white fur. Brad broke another bone in half and held it in the palm of his hand. She gave a faint snarl. “It’s okay, Molly.”

Brad raised his hand closer. Abby took the piece, placed it by her nose, and then returned it to his hand. Molly leaned closer and, ever so daintily, took the treat. She happily chewed it, wagging her tail. Brad quickly placed the second piece in his hand, and she slowly ate it too.

“I should get ready. You two get acquainted,” she said, standing.

“You’re not going to leave me here alone with this ferocious-looking animal, are you?” He joked.

“Her bark is worse than her bite. Besides, soon she’ll be licking you to death.”

Brad and Molly looked at each other. Though she wagged her tail a little, she gave him another growl. “I care about Abby too, so the sooner you understand that, the sooner we’ll be friends, okay? I like dogs too.”

He let his right hand rest on the couch between them. He knew it was too soon to try to pat her and would let Molly make the first move. She cautiously moved closer, sniffing the top of his hand. He turned it palm up, and she could smell the odour of her biscuit.

“You wouldn’t bite the hand that feeds you, would you?” He joked. He broke the last biscuit in half, letting it lie on his open hand. She sniffed it to be sure, then took it in slowly with her teeth. He broke the last biscuit in half, letting it lie on his open hand. She sniffed it to be sure, then took it in slowly with her teeth. She ate the last one and, sitting alone, kept her distance from him.

“I see you’re still in one piece, and Molly hasn’t shredded you into tiny bits,” Abby joked, returning to them.

“I wasn’t quite sure if it was a piece of my hand or the treat she wanted more,” he smiled.

Abby picked up Molly and sat close to him. “It’s okay, Molly.” Brad slowly moved his hand toward her, letting her sniff the back of his hand. Her tail began to wag, and he felt the first touch of her cool, wet nose.

He bent his forefinger and rubbed it under her chin. He slowly moved his hand along her muzzle to her head. He patted her and then scratched her behind the ear. Molly began to sniff him again, placing her front paws on his upper leg. He watched as her nose worked to detect anything that might harm her love.