Free Broken Trails by D Jordan Redhawk Page B

training,” Rye said.
    "Be lucky if she didn't have to scratch the first day,” Scotch told her brother.
    "Don't they still bite their dogs' ears?” Helen asked, receiving a round of disgusted agreement from her family.
    "Biting ears?” Lainey asked slowly, wondering if they were putting her on. Her face contorted at the thought of putting a furry ear in her mouth.
    Scotch's demeanor lightened at her expression. She smiled. "Yeah, it's a method of control some people use to keep their teams in line.”
    "Uck,” Lainey said. Shaking herself, she said, "Okay, maybe not Mythic Spirit Kennels.”
    The laughter died away. Everyone focused on Scotch who rubbed her jaw in thought. Beneath the table, even Bon stared at her, and Lainey found his highly tuned familial instinct intriguing. It had been a long time since she had enjoyed a family dynamic; had she missed seeing the subtle wordless play in others, or were the Fullers unnaturally receptive to one another?
    "I can't say that I like it,” Scotch finally said. "I need to concentrate on my team when I'm training for the race. I can't allow any distractions.”
    Lainey felt her spirits flag. The other kennels were located across the state. She wondered if she could break the contract with Strauss without damaging her credibility or reputation. The prospects were not that good.
    "Why'd they pick you?” Rye asked.
    Brought out of her musings, Lainey said, "Excuse me?”
    "Why you? Why not Don?”
    Lainey considered the question. “The initial pitch was mine, I guess. That and I focused my premise on a woman musher with potential for winning.” She shrugged. “They wanted a companion piece to a professional woman racer; hence a rookie woman racer.”
    “So, if we don't go through with training you, Scotch still gets the national coverage?" Thom asked.
    "Oh, yes.” Howry hastened to ease their minds. “That plan remains the same. It's just that I'll be doing the piece instead of Lainey.”
    Scotch said, "Larsen's good, but his kennel isn't that large. His second string will be pretty poor. And he doesn't have the extra time to train anyone, either.” She snorted. "I'm not even going to get into the pros and cons of the Thorpes.”
    "Just as well,” Helen murmured.
    Lainey saw Scotch studying her with an odd intensity. Her body responded to the expression, and she was glad she had worn a heavy sweater as her nipples hardened. God, those eyes were penetrating.
    Whatever Scotch was searching for, she seemed to have found it. "All right. Let's do it.”
    Ears buzzing faintly, Lainey wondered if she was going to pass out from the shock of relief flooding her system.
    "You sure?’ Thom asked his daughter.
    "Yeah.” She nodded, sitting back with speculative demeanor. "Rye and Irish can help train her on the basics. And I can give her the specifics she'll need for the Iditarod itself.”
    “Sure. Besides,” Rye said to Lainey, "you'll place higher with one of our teams. There's a better selection of dogs to choose from.”
    Lainey cleared her throat, realizing that the decision had been made. "You don't need to vote?”
    Thom grinned. "Well, I suppose. Just to make it official. All those for accepting a trainee for the Iditarod?”
    Every Fuller raised their hand, even Bon who laughed and raised both.
    "Well, there you go.’ Thom glanced at a clock. "Holy smokes, I've got to get going or I'll be late. Meeting adjourned.”
    That was the catalyst as everyone stood. Thom headed out the door, grabbing a construction helmet on the way. Helen chased after to give him a kiss good bye, and then returned to the table.
    "Welcome to the family, dear,” she said, giving Lainey a hug. "You, too, Don. I'll see you at lunch.” With that, she scooped Bon from beneath the table, and carted him out the door.
    "I'll be back in a half hour,” Scotch said after placing her plate in the sink.
    Lainey wondered if Scotch was a bit more wary around her. Or was Lainey projecting her uncertainty