Free Rock Harbor Series - 03 - Into the Deep by Colleen Coble Page B

something?”
    “It’s not the same. Just remember, this is all for the baby. If we didn’t have the dogs, you wouldn’t be going shopping. You’re too softhearted.”
    She slipped her arms around his waist. He embraced her with one arm, but his attention was on the dogs. “I need your help today, so don’t go gallivanting off to town just yet.”
    She sighed, and her smile faded. She let go of Zane and started to lean over the fence to throw a treat to Bruck. The dog growled low in his chest then lunged at her. She snatched her hand back just in time. She had better keep her mind on her surroundings instead of day-dreaming about the baby.
    “I just told you not to feed him. He’s liable to leave you with a stump. Besides, I don’t want you making him soft.”
    The dog growled again and leapt up on the fence. He could smell the food and wanted it ferociously, which Jonelle knew was just the state Zane liked to keep him in. He grabbed up the cattle prod and zapped the dog with it. Bruck yelped and snarled, but slunk away. Jonelle flinched.
    “He needs to spend some time on the treadmill,” Zane muttered. “Burn off some of that energy.”
    “What are you wanting help with?” Jonelle linked her hand through Zane’s elbow.
    “A dognapping.”
    She groaned. “Zane, you already got some dogs. Let it be.” Her heart sank. She didn’t want him to take that Samson. He was a pet.
    “This dog’s going to bring in some good money. Don’t feel too sorry for him. He’ll give Bruck a good fight.”
    “I don’t think Bruck can be beaten. Isn’t that good enough for you? Do you want him to fight until he is finally bested, or do you want him to go down in history as the greatest fighting dog ever?”
    “He’s not ready to retire. Look at him; he’s still in his prime. I’ll know when the time comes.”
    She sighed. “What do I have to do?”
    “Just drive the truck.”
    She sighed but followed him to the truck. They drove to town in silence. She knew he could sense her disapproval by the way he turned his head and stared out the window at the passing scenery.
    “We could do a lot with the money,” he said abruptly. “Put up another barn and maybe start to breed Bruck. With the prices I could get for tough pups, we could put that new room on the back of the house you been wanting.”
    Jonelle had been bugging him about that new room for two years. But she wasn’t sure the price tag was worth it.
    They reached the edge of town. “How do you know where to find this dog?”
    “We’ll drive past where he lives. Go that way.”
    Jonelle drove out Negaunee toward the lighthouse. The thick leaves hid the structure until they passed the Blue Bonnet. “There it is,” he told her.
    Jonelle sighed but drove on.
    “Let’s see if he’s in the yard.”
    Jonelle nodded and slowed the truck. They crept past the lighthouse, but the yard was deserted and no Jeep was parked in front. “They must be gone,” he muttered. He drummed his fingers on his leg. “Head to town,” he ordered. “There are two other places to check.”
    “We can’t snatch a dog in the middle of downtown,” she protested.
    “We won’t. But maybe the kid and the dog are with the aunt or the grandmother. I got both their addresses.”
    He had her cruise by Anu Nicholls’s neat cottage, but nothing stirred there. Then he directed her to the edge of town. “There he is!” He pointed to the handsome dog lying under an oak tree in front of a large home on the hill. “What a beauty! Look at the muscles on him.”
    Jonelle looked at the dog. And she watched the avarice on Zane’s face as he drank in the sight of the big dog.
    “Looks to be part shepherd,” he muttered. “And he’s been trained for endurance. He won’t die quick.”
    “Are you nuts? That’s the sheriff’s house!”
    He blinked, then his smile spread. “It just makes it a challenge, darlin’. Park here.” He put on a heavy coat and gloves.
    The dog lifted his head