Free No Boundaries by Donna K. Ford

town by name, but not their owners. People became Cookie’s mother, or Fido’s dad. A supply store just seemed to make sense.”
    Gwen leaned forward in her chair, resting her elbows on her knees. “I guess Zeek fits right in then.”
    Andi chuckled, the smooth and lilting tone resonating in her chest in a way that made Gwen want to place her hand there and feel the tremors with her fingers.
    “Yes, she certainly does.”
    Both women laughed hard as Gwen recalled the look on Andi’s face the day Zeek had plowed her over. “You looked like you weren’t sure if she was going to eat you or lick you to death.”
    “Actually, I was trying to figure out why a bear would be chasing a squirrel.”
    Andi laughed even harder now, and wiped tears from her eyes. She liked to laugh and hadn’t done it enough lately. And she liked Gwen’s laugh. It was the kind of rich, deep laugh that resonated from inside and filled the room with warmth and comfort. And Andi found it refreshing. She realized with every passing moment how much she had missed the companionship of a friend. And Gwen had been true to her word. She hadn’t made any overtures toward her since she arrived. Gwen seemed more grounded than Andi had expected, and she found herself warming to her a little more.
    Realizing there was something missing in the evening she looked around and asked, “Where is Zeek?”
    “Oh, she’s sulking.”
    Andi was confused and intrigued.
    As if reading her mind, Gwen answered. “She had a bath earlier and has decided to punish me by refusing to come out of the bedroom. She does that sometimes. I think she does it so I’ll have to sleep with the smell of wet dog all night.”
    Andi thought of the giant dog, soggy and wet, with her giant head lying on Gwen’s pillow.
    “Honestly, I’m surprised she hasn’t come out to investigate. She must really be angry with me. It could be she didn’t like the flea treatment. That’s always an added insult.”
    “Has she ever had any problems with the medication before?” Andi was a little nervous. Some dogs did have a reaction to the medication, and she wanted to see if Zeek was okay, but she didn’t want to act like she didn’t trust Gwen’s judgment.
    “No, don’t worry. She just likes to punish me. But if it’ll make you feel better, I can go check on her.”
    “That’s okay. I’m sure you’re right.”
    The sound of padded feet and toenails on the wood floor got Andi’s attention, and she looked through the open french doors to see Zeek standing in the kitchen, appraising her.
    Gwen shook her head, grinning. “She must have heard her name and had to see who was talking about her.”
    “Hey, Zeek. How are you doing, girl?” Andi said, relieved to see the giant dog.
    Zeek’s ears perked up, and she came sauntering out onto the deck, doing her best John Wayne impression, which was quite cute on a dog. She gave Gwen a cursory glance before laying her giant head in Andi’s lap with a moan.
    “Guess I’m still in the doghouse,” Gwen said, sounding amused.
    Andi rubbed Zeek’s ears. “You smell good, Zeek. No bugs on you.”
    The dog moaned again and Andi wasn’t sure if that was exasperation or pleasure.
    Night had fallen, and the stars blanketed the sky like diamonds. The cool night air was a welcome reprieve from the heat of the day. It was a perfect evening. Andi couldn’t remember the last time she had enjoyed talking and listening to another person the way she had with Gwen. She knew most of the locals, but only in a superficial, neighborly kind of way. This seemed personal, like she was looking into a page of Gwen’s life, and the feeling made her want to know more. The thought unsettled her.
    “Thank you for having me over tonight. I’ve really enjoyed the company,” Andi said, thinking it was time for her to go.
    “I should be thanking you. I love working on the house, but I guess I’ve been a little lonely. It’s good not to eat alone. And I wanted to