Author: Sister Mary Foley, SSND
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1483474143
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 42
Book Description
Luke is an intelligent border collie who excels at communicating with his handler, Sister Mary Foley, a School Sister of Notre Dame. Sister Mary lived and worked with Luke for more than thirteen years. His gentle spirit led them to become members of Therapy Dogs International. When not accompanying Luke on his adventures, Sister Mary is a licensed clinical social worker ministering at the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, New Jersey. Sister Mary is a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Atlantic Midwest Province. Maverick McCarthy, the illustrator, is from Mahwah, NJ. She was a senior at the Academy of the Holy Angels, class of 2016, when she illustrated this book. She is now a student at the Savanna College of Art and Design majoring in illustration with a concentration in Publication Design with a minor in Marine Design.
Luke the Border Collie: My Early Years
Author: Sister Mary Foley, SSND
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1483474143
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 42
Book Description
Luke is an intelligent border collie who excels at communicating with his handler, Sister Mary Foley, a School Sister of Notre Dame. Sister Mary lived and worked with Luke for more than thirteen years. His gentle spirit led them to become members of Therapy Dogs International. When not accompanying Luke on his adventures, Sister Mary is a licensed clinical social worker ministering at the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, New Jersey. Sister Mary is a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Atlantic Midwest Province. Maverick McCarthy, the illustrator, is from Mahwah, NJ. She was a senior at the Academy of the Holy Angels, class of 2016, when she illustrated this book. She is now a student at the Savanna College of Art and Design majoring in illustration with a concentration in Publication Design with a minor in Marine Design.
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1483474143
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 42
Book Description
Luke is an intelligent border collie who excels at communicating with his handler, Sister Mary Foley, a School Sister of Notre Dame. Sister Mary lived and worked with Luke for more than thirteen years. His gentle spirit led them to become members of Therapy Dogs International. When not accompanying Luke on his adventures, Sister Mary is a licensed clinical social worker ministering at the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, New Jersey. Sister Mary is a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Atlantic Midwest Province. Maverick McCarthy, the illustrator, is from Mahwah, NJ. She was a senior at the Academy of the Holy Angels, class of 2016, when she illustrated this book. She is now a student at the Savanna College of Art and Design majoring in illustration with a concentration in Publication Design with a minor in Marine Design.
Luke the Border Collie: My Working Years
Author: Sister Mary Foley, SSND
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1483495531
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 54
Book Description
Luke arrived in Demarest, NJ in 2004. His job was to get the geese off the property of the Academy of the Holy Angels. In the first book in this series, Luke the Border Collie: My Early Years, readers learned about his arrival from North Carolina, his first visit to the veterinarian, and how he settled in to work as a goose herder. In this book, Luke describes what life as a goose herder at a school is like, from arriving ready to keep geese off the property to passing time by digging a hole and taking a nap when geese aren't around. Sometimes, Luke hears the geese before he sees them as they can fly high in the sky and honk loudly. After doing a good job, Luke loves it when Sister Mary pats his head and says, "Good boy." Luke is so good at what he does, he can even scare away geese when they are on the roof of the school. All he has to do is charge the building, and they fly away. Join Luke on another exciting adventure with this beautifully illustrated book highlighting his working years.
Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 1483495531
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 54
Book Description
Luke arrived in Demarest, NJ in 2004. His job was to get the geese off the property of the Academy of the Holy Angels. In the first book in this series, Luke the Border Collie: My Early Years, readers learned about his arrival from North Carolina, his first visit to the veterinarian, and how he settled in to work as a goose herder. In this book, Luke describes what life as a goose herder at a school is like, from arriving ready to keep geese off the property to passing time by digging a hole and taking a nap when geese aren't around. Sometimes, Luke hears the geese before he sees them as they can fly high in the sky and honk loudly. After doing a good job, Luke loves it when Sister Mary pats his head and says, "Good boy." Luke is so good at what he does, he can even scare away geese when they are on the roof of the school. All he has to do is charge the building, and they fly away. Join Luke on another exciting adventure with this beautifully illustrated book highlighting his working years.
The Other End of the Leash
Author: Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0307489183
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 289
Book Description
Learn to communicate with your dog—using their language “Good reading for dog lovers and an immensely useful manual for dog owners.”—The Washington Post An Applied Animal Behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years’ experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell reveals a revolutionary new perspective on our relationship with dogs—sharing insights on how “man’s best friend” might interpret our behavior, as well as essential advice on how to interact with our four-legged friends in ways that bring out the best in them. After all, humans and dogs are two entirely different species, each shaped by its individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (as are wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation. This marvelous guide demonstrates how even the slightest changes in our voices and in the ways we stand can help dogs understand what we want. Inside you will discover: • How you can get your dog to come when called by acting less like a primate and more like a dog • Why the advice to “get dominance” over your dog can cause problems • Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble—and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of mischief • How dogs and humans share personality types—and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alpha wanna-bes!” Fascinating, insightful, and compelling, The Other End of the Leash is a book that strives to help you connect with your dog in a completely new way—so as to enrich that most rewarding of relationships.
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0307489183
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 289
Book Description
Learn to communicate with your dog—using their language “Good reading for dog lovers and an immensely useful manual for dog owners.”—The Washington Post An Applied Animal Behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years’ experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell reveals a revolutionary new perspective on our relationship with dogs—sharing insights on how “man’s best friend” might interpret our behavior, as well as essential advice on how to interact with our four-legged friends in ways that bring out the best in them. After all, humans and dogs are two entirely different species, each shaped by its individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (as are wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation. This marvelous guide demonstrates how even the slightest changes in our voices and in the ways we stand can help dogs understand what we want. Inside you will discover: • How you can get your dog to come when called by acting less like a primate and more like a dog • Why the advice to “get dominance” over your dog can cause problems • Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble—and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of mischief • How dogs and humans share personality types—and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alpha wanna-bes!” Fascinating, insightful, and compelling, The Other End of the Leash is a book that strives to help you connect with your dog in a completely new way—so as to enrich that most rewarding of relationships.
Sheep
Author: Valerie Hobbs
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 9780312561161
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 148
Book Description
Every dog needs a boy.
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 9780312561161
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 148
Book Description
Every dog needs a boy.
Wolf
Author: Valerie Hobbs
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
ISBN: 0374315760
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 104
Book Description
Jack has finally found a home and a purpose on a farm, where he keeps a flock of sheep safe from coyotes and helps train young pups to do the same. But when two sheep disappear in broad daylight, Jack doesn't know what happened to them. Was it his fault? Is he just getting too old for this job? Still, he's determined not to disappoint his boy, Luke, who thinks that Jack is the smartest and fastest dog around. Then Jack and Luke discover that the animal threatening their farm is far more dangerous than any coyote: it's a rabid wolf. Jack knows that he must gather the courage and strength to protect the ones he loves most—but can an old dog learn new tricks?
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
ISBN: 0374315760
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 104
Book Description
Jack has finally found a home and a purpose on a farm, where he keeps a flock of sheep safe from coyotes and helps train young pups to do the same. But when two sheep disappear in broad daylight, Jack doesn't know what happened to them. Was it his fault? Is he just getting too old for this job? Still, he's determined not to disappoint his boy, Luke, who thinks that Jack is the smartest and fastest dog around. Then Jack and Luke discover that the animal threatening their farm is far more dangerous than any coyote: it's a rabid wolf. Jack knows that he must gather the courage and strength to protect the ones he loves most—but can an old dog learn new tricks?
Away to Me, My Love
Author: Naomi McDonald
Publisher: Balboa Press
ISBN: 1982231521
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 200
Book Description
Horse trainer Naomi McDonald impulsively buys a “shy” Border collie pup named Luke, and she believes it’s fate. However, puppy Luke shows no signs of herding instinct, and a trainer tells her to put him down. At every juncture, Naomi must decide whether or not to abandon her dream of entering herding competitions with her beloved dog. Despite her earnest desire to enter this new, exciting world with respect and belonging, she inadvertently makes an enemy who can change everything for her and for her beloved Luke. When Naomi has a vision of a past life, she realizes her journey with Luke involves more than meets the eye, more than she ever imagined. With the help of a medicine woman, Naomi learns that Luke is her teacher, not only for herding competitions but also for a spiritual journey that would take her into the world of shamanic healing, animal communication, and spiritual beings most people cannot see. Author Naomi McDonald tells her true story with love and joy, disappointment and sorrow to show that ordinary people who have past-life pain and childhood trauma can find guidance and peace in unexpected places. Now a certified shamanic practitioner, Naomi has studied with spiritual-wisdom teachers around the world. She is a spiritual guide, teacher, and author. It all started with a dog named Luke.
Publisher: Balboa Press
ISBN: 1982231521
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 200
Book Description
Horse trainer Naomi McDonald impulsively buys a “shy” Border collie pup named Luke, and she believes it’s fate. However, puppy Luke shows no signs of herding instinct, and a trainer tells her to put him down. At every juncture, Naomi must decide whether or not to abandon her dream of entering herding competitions with her beloved dog. Despite her earnest desire to enter this new, exciting world with respect and belonging, she inadvertently makes an enemy who can change everything for her and for her beloved Luke. When Naomi has a vision of a past life, she realizes her journey with Luke involves more than meets the eye, more than she ever imagined. With the help of a medicine woman, Naomi learns that Luke is her teacher, not only for herding competitions but also for a spiritual journey that would take her into the world of shamanic healing, animal communication, and spiritual beings most people cannot see. Author Naomi McDonald tells her true story with love and joy, disappointment and sorrow to show that ordinary people who have past-life pain and childhood trauma can find guidance and peace in unexpected places. Now a certified shamanic practitioner, Naomi has studied with spiritual-wisdom teachers around the world. She is a spiritual guide, teacher, and author. It all started with a dog named Luke.
Dog Sense
Author: John Bradshaw
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN: 0465031633
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 312
Book Description
Dogs have been mankind's faithful companions for tens of thousands of years, yet today they are regularly treated as either pack-following wolves or furry humans. The truth is, dogs are neither -- and our misunderstanding has put them in serious crisis. What dogs really need is a spokesperson, someone who will assert their specific needs. Renowned anthrozoologist Dr. John Bradshaw has made a career of studying human-animal interactions, and in Dog Sense he uses the latest scientific research to show how humans can live in harmony with -- not just dominion over -- their four-legged friends. From explaining why positive reinforcement is a more effective (and less damaging) way to control dogs' behavior than punishment to demonstrating the importance of weighing a dog's unique personality against stereotypes about its breed, Bradshaw offers extraordinary insight into the question of how we really ought to treat our dogs.
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN: 0465031633
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 312
Book Description
Dogs have been mankind's faithful companions for tens of thousands of years, yet today they are regularly treated as either pack-following wolves or furry humans. The truth is, dogs are neither -- and our misunderstanding has put them in serious crisis. What dogs really need is a spokesperson, someone who will assert their specific needs. Renowned anthrozoologist Dr. John Bradshaw has made a career of studying human-animal interactions, and in Dog Sense he uses the latest scientific research to show how humans can live in harmony with -- not just dominion over -- their four-legged friends. From explaining why positive reinforcement is a more effective (and less damaging) way to control dogs' behavior than punishment to demonstrating the importance of weighing a dog's unique personality against stereotypes about its breed, Bradshaw offers extraordinary insight into the question of how we really ought to treat our dogs.
Author:
Publisher: S M
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
Four years ago, Air Force sweethearts Franci Duncan and Sean Riordan reached an impasse. She wanted marriage and a family. He didn't. But a chance meeting proves that the bitter breakup hasn't cooled their sizzling chemistry. Sean has settled down in spite of himself—he's not the cocky young fighter pilot he was when Franci left, and he wants them to try again. After all, they have a history…but that's not all they share. Franci's secret reason for walking away when Sean refused to commit is now three and a half: a redheaded cherub named Rosie who shares her daddy's emerald-green eyes. Sean is stunned—and furious with Franci for the deception. News travels fast in Virgin River, and soon the whole town is taking sides. Rebuilding their trust could take a small miracle—and the kind of love that can move mountains. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Once the sun went down in Virgin River there wasn't a whole lot of entertainment for Sean Riordan, unless he wanted to sit by the fire at his brother Luke's house. But sitting all quiet and cozy while Luke and his new wife, Shelby, snuggled and said sweet little things to each other was a special kind of torment he could do without. Sometimes they just faked being tired so they could slip off to bed at eight o'clock at night. More often than not Sean just made it easy on them—he'd head over to a larger town on the coast where he could enjoy the sights and do a little window-shopping, maybe meet a woman of his own. Sean was a U-2 pilot stationed at Beale Air Force Base in Northern California, a few hours south of Virgin River. He had accumulated a ton of vacation and could only carry over ninety days to the next fiscal year, so he had a couple of months to kill. His brother had just gotten married and Sean had been his best man. After the wedding, Sean decided to stay on in Virgin River and use up some of his leave. Given the fact that Luke and Shelby had been together about a year, Sean didn't feel as if he was interfering with the honeymoon by hanging around. All that lovey-dovey stuff was not so much about them sealing the deal, as it was about them still being hot to trot, as if they'd just met. And there was a lot of talk about baby making, something that surprised Sean about Luke. However, Luke's willingness to step up and try to nail that egg, night after night after night, that did not surprise Sean in the slightest. During the daytime, Sean always had lots to do. There was plenty of upkeep on the cabins Luke and Sean had bought together as an investment and which Luke now managed and rented full-time. There was hunting and fishing—it was still deer season—and the salmon and trout were fat; the river ran practically outside the front door. Luke and his helper, Art, were catching so many fish that Luke had to buy a shed, run some wiring to it from the house and invest in a big freezer. There was no denying the appeal of the Virgin River area for a guy with time on his hands. Sean was an out-doorsman at heart and the October colors in the mountains were awesome. It wouldn't be all that long before the first snowfall, and soon after that he would have to get back to Beale. So, in the meantime, all he wanted to do was find a nice bar with a fireplace to relax next to—one without his brother and sister-in-law cuddling up in front of it. "Ready for another drink, pal?" the bartender asked him. "I'm good, thanks. I didn't come in here to check out the architecture, but the detailed carving in this place is impressive," Sean replied. The bartender laughed. "Two things are obvious about you. You're not from around here and you're military." "Okay, I admit the haircut is a giveaway. But the rest—?" "This is lumber country and this bar is wall-to-wall oak. When it was built, the wood was probably cheaper than the nails. The craftsmanship? Common around here. So, what brings you to town?" Sean took a sip of his beer. "Burning off some leave. Visiting my brother. I have a little over six weeks of leave left. I used to hit the bars with my brother, but his running days are over." "War injury?" the bartender asked. "Battle of the sexes. He just got married." The bartender whistled. "My condolences." Tonight Sean had landed in a large upscale bar and restaurant in Arcata. He occupied a spot at the end of the bar where he could get a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree view of the place. So far it appeared as if all the women were with husbands or dates, but that didn't diminish his pleasure—Sean wasn't always looking for a pickup. Sometimes it was nice to simply appreciate the view. Since he was going to be spending some time in this part of the world, he wasn't opposed to the idea of getting to know a girl, take her out, maybe even get a little up close and personal. All such thoughts were suddenly stopped and were replaced by, Ah! Looks like I just hit the jackpot. There was a ripple of female laughter as the door swung open and a group of women, who were obviously having a good time, entered. Even across the large restaurant, he could appreciate their assets. The first one was short, dark, a little on the round side and deliciously so. She appeared lush and soft and brought a smile to Sean's lips. The second one was tall, thin, athletic looking, with straight, silky, unfussy blond hair. Obviously a gymnast or runner—a fine-looking woman. Next came a medium-sized redhead with a curvaceous figure, twinkling eyes and a bright smile. A feminine smorgasbord, he thought appreciatively. Sean did not discriminate—he was attracted to all kinds of women, not just one type. Next was— Franci? Nah, couldn't be, he told himself. He was just hallucinating again. He thought he'd seen her many times before but it was never her. Besides, Franci wore her hair long and straight and this woman's mahogany hair was in one of those hyper-short cuts that, on anyone else, might look butch, but on her? Oh, man, it just couldn't get any sexier. It made her dark eyes look huge. The woman shed her coat and she was thinner than Franci, but not by that much. But her eyebrows were exactly the same as Franci's—a nice, thin, provocative arch over those big, heavily lashed eyes. It got him missing Franci all over again. She slid out of her coat and revealed a filmy dress. Maybe not filmy, but certainly silky. It was dark purple and fell loosely from her shoulders and was belted at the waist, then flowed again to her knees. The dress accentuated her perfect breasts, narrow waist, slim hips and long legs. Franci had rarely worn dresses but Sean hadn't minded—her long legs and tight butt in a pair of fitted slacks used to blow his mind. But this dress was good. Very good. The four women took a table near the front of the restaurant by the window. They were carrying boxes, shopping bags and party bags—a birthday dinner out? The one who looked like his old girlfriend crossed her legs and revealed a slit in the skirt of that dress that exposed a scrumptious thigh. Whoa. His eyes were glued to that shapely leg. His groin tightened. Then she laughed. God, it was Franci. If that wasn't Franci, it was her twin. The way she tilted her head back and let go was a laugh with passion. Franci had always laughed from deep inside her. That was how she cried, too. Sean was suddenly infused with mixed emotions— remembering the wonderful laughs they'd shared in bed after their typically great sex counterbalanced with how he remembered making her cry, and he was sorry he had ever made Franci cry. Well, hell, he might have made her cry, but hadn't she infuriated him until he wanted to punch a hole in the wall? She could be maddening. Why was that again? He'd think of it, given a minute. That had been almost four years ago. What was she doing here in Arcata? After the breakup—which had been ugly— he'd looked for her. But he had let too much time slip by before doing so and she wasn't where he expected her to be. They'd met in Iraq when he was deployed in the F-16 and she was an air force flight nurse who regularly appeared to take the injured out of the theater. Later, when he'd been transferred to Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix as an instructor in the same jet, she was there, assigned as a nurse in the base hospital. They had dated exclusively for two years when a big shift occurred in their individual lives—her service commitment was up and she was planning to separate from the air force and return to civilian life. He was going to cross-train in the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft—the spy plane. He didn't see how either of those events should effect any change. He told her he'd be relocating to Beale AFB in Northern California. He thought she could probably find work there if she was interested. That had been the beginning of the end. After dating for two years, she, at twenty-six, was ready for a commitment. She wanted marriage and a family, and he didn't. Well, there was nothing new there—she'd been honest about that since the beginning of their relationship. Franci had always hoped to marry and have children. And that wasn't something he needed more time to consider—he really didn't see himself settling into that sweet little domestic trap. Ever. She'd been good about not pushing that too hard, but she'd never backed down, either. For Sean's part, he was monogamous. He told her he loved her because he did. If he occasionally glanced at and appreciated a pretty girl, it went no further. Even though they each maintained their own home, they spent every night together unless one of them was away from the base. But when it came to marriage and children, she was in, and he, at twenty-eight, was out. She had said something like, "It's time to take this relationship to the next level or end it completely." You don't want to be drawing a line in the sand in front of a young fighter pilot. Jet jockeys didn't take orders from girlfriends. Of course, it was no surprise that they fought and he made her cry with senseless, stupid comments like, "Not in this lifetime, babe. If I were interested in getting married, we'd be married," and, "Look, I'm just flat-ass not doing the rug-rats thing, all right? Even with you." Oh, yeah, he was brilliant. She had said things, also in anger, probably things she didn't mean. Well, that wasn't exactly correct, as he recalled now, looking across a crowded room at her as she laughed and talked with her girlfriends. "Sean, if you let me go now I'll be so gone—you'll never see me again. I need a committed partner or I'm taking the walk." And Sean, being the cocky genius he was, said, "Oh, yeah? Don't let the door hit you in the ass." He winced at the memory. They had gone their separate ways, bitterly. He went to Beale because it looked as if getting a promotion...
Publisher: S M
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
Four years ago, Air Force sweethearts Franci Duncan and Sean Riordan reached an impasse. She wanted marriage and a family. He didn't. But a chance meeting proves that the bitter breakup hasn't cooled their sizzling chemistry. Sean has settled down in spite of himself—he's not the cocky young fighter pilot he was when Franci left, and he wants them to try again. After all, they have a history…but that's not all they share. Franci's secret reason for walking away when Sean refused to commit is now three and a half: a redheaded cherub named Rosie who shares her daddy's emerald-green eyes. Sean is stunned—and furious with Franci for the deception. News travels fast in Virgin River, and soon the whole town is taking sides. Rebuilding their trust could take a small miracle—and the kind of love that can move mountains. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Once the sun went down in Virgin River there wasn't a whole lot of entertainment for Sean Riordan, unless he wanted to sit by the fire at his brother Luke's house. But sitting all quiet and cozy while Luke and his new wife, Shelby, snuggled and said sweet little things to each other was a special kind of torment he could do without. Sometimes they just faked being tired so they could slip off to bed at eight o'clock at night. More often than not Sean just made it easy on them—he'd head over to a larger town on the coast where he could enjoy the sights and do a little window-shopping, maybe meet a woman of his own. Sean was a U-2 pilot stationed at Beale Air Force Base in Northern California, a few hours south of Virgin River. He had accumulated a ton of vacation and could only carry over ninety days to the next fiscal year, so he had a couple of months to kill. His brother had just gotten married and Sean had been his best man. After the wedding, Sean decided to stay on in Virgin River and use up some of his leave. Given the fact that Luke and Shelby had been together about a year, Sean didn't feel as if he was interfering with the honeymoon by hanging around. All that lovey-dovey stuff was not so much about them sealing the deal, as it was about them still being hot to trot, as if they'd just met. And there was a lot of talk about baby making, something that surprised Sean about Luke. However, Luke's willingness to step up and try to nail that egg, night after night after night, that did not surprise Sean in the slightest. During the daytime, Sean always had lots to do. There was plenty of upkeep on the cabins Luke and Sean had bought together as an investment and which Luke now managed and rented full-time. There was hunting and fishing—it was still deer season—and the salmon and trout were fat; the river ran practically outside the front door. Luke and his helper, Art, were catching so many fish that Luke had to buy a shed, run some wiring to it from the house and invest in a big freezer. There was no denying the appeal of the Virgin River area for a guy with time on his hands. Sean was an out-doorsman at heart and the October colors in the mountains were awesome. It wouldn't be all that long before the first snowfall, and soon after that he would have to get back to Beale. So, in the meantime, all he wanted to do was find a nice bar with a fireplace to relax next to—one without his brother and sister-in-law cuddling up in front of it. "Ready for another drink, pal?" the bartender asked him. "I'm good, thanks. I didn't come in here to check out the architecture, but the detailed carving in this place is impressive," Sean replied. The bartender laughed. "Two things are obvious about you. You're not from around here and you're military." "Okay, I admit the haircut is a giveaway. But the rest—?" "This is lumber country and this bar is wall-to-wall oak. When it was built, the wood was probably cheaper than the nails. The craftsmanship? Common around here. So, what brings you to town?" Sean took a sip of his beer. "Burning off some leave. Visiting my brother. I have a little over six weeks of leave left. I used to hit the bars with my brother, but his running days are over." "War injury?" the bartender asked. "Battle of the sexes. He just got married." The bartender whistled. "My condolences." Tonight Sean had landed in a large upscale bar and restaurant in Arcata. He occupied a spot at the end of the bar where he could get a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree view of the place. So far it appeared as if all the women were with husbands or dates, but that didn't diminish his pleasure—Sean wasn't always looking for a pickup. Sometimes it was nice to simply appreciate the view. Since he was going to be spending some time in this part of the world, he wasn't opposed to the idea of getting to know a girl, take her out, maybe even get a little up close and personal. All such thoughts were suddenly stopped and were replaced by, Ah! Looks like I just hit the jackpot. There was a ripple of female laughter as the door swung open and a group of women, who were obviously having a good time, entered. Even across the large restaurant, he could appreciate their assets. The first one was short, dark, a little on the round side and deliciously so. She appeared lush and soft and brought a smile to Sean's lips. The second one was tall, thin, athletic looking, with straight, silky, unfussy blond hair. Obviously a gymnast or runner—a fine-looking woman. Next came a medium-sized redhead with a curvaceous figure, twinkling eyes and a bright smile. A feminine smorgasbord, he thought appreciatively. Sean did not discriminate—he was attracted to all kinds of women, not just one type. Next was— Franci? Nah, couldn't be, he told himself. He was just hallucinating again. He thought he'd seen her many times before but it was never her. Besides, Franci wore her hair long and straight and this woman's mahogany hair was in one of those hyper-short cuts that, on anyone else, might look butch, but on her? Oh, man, it just couldn't get any sexier. It made her dark eyes look huge. The woman shed her coat and she was thinner than Franci, but not by that much. But her eyebrows were exactly the same as Franci's—a nice, thin, provocative arch over those big, heavily lashed eyes. It got him missing Franci all over again. She slid out of her coat and revealed a filmy dress. Maybe not filmy, but certainly silky. It was dark purple and fell loosely from her shoulders and was belted at the waist, then flowed again to her knees. The dress accentuated her perfect breasts, narrow waist, slim hips and long legs. Franci had rarely worn dresses but Sean hadn't minded—her long legs and tight butt in a pair of fitted slacks used to blow his mind. But this dress was good. Very good. The four women took a table near the front of the restaurant by the window. They were carrying boxes, shopping bags and party bags—a birthday dinner out? The one who looked like his old girlfriend crossed her legs and revealed a slit in the skirt of that dress that exposed a scrumptious thigh. Whoa. His eyes were glued to that shapely leg. His groin tightened. Then she laughed. God, it was Franci. If that wasn't Franci, it was her twin. The way she tilted her head back and let go was a laugh with passion. Franci had always laughed from deep inside her. That was how she cried, too. Sean was suddenly infused with mixed emotions— remembering the wonderful laughs they'd shared in bed after their typically great sex counterbalanced with how he remembered making her cry, and he was sorry he had ever made Franci cry. Well, hell, he might have made her cry, but hadn't she infuriated him until he wanted to punch a hole in the wall? She could be maddening. Why was that again? He'd think of it, given a minute. That had been almost four years ago. What was she doing here in Arcata? After the breakup—which had been ugly— he'd looked for her. But he had let too much time slip by before doing so and she wasn't where he expected her to be. They'd met in Iraq when he was deployed in the F-16 and she was an air force flight nurse who regularly appeared to take the injured out of the theater. Later, when he'd been transferred to Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix as an instructor in the same jet, she was there, assigned as a nurse in the base hospital. They had dated exclusively for two years when a big shift occurred in their individual lives—her service commitment was up and she was planning to separate from the air force and return to civilian life. He was going to cross-train in the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft—the spy plane. He didn't see how either of those events should effect any change. He told her he'd be relocating to Beale AFB in Northern California. He thought she could probably find work there if she was interested. That had been the beginning of the end. After dating for two years, she, at twenty-six, was ready for a commitment. She wanted marriage and a family, and he didn't. Well, there was nothing new there—she'd been honest about that since the beginning of their relationship. Franci had always hoped to marry and have children. And that wasn't something he needed more time to consider—he really didn't see himself settling into that sweet little domestic trap. Ever. She'd been good about not pushing that too hard, but she'd never backed down, either. For Sean's part, he was monogamous. He told her he loved her because he did. If he occasionally glanced at and appreciated a pretty girl, it went no further. Even though they each maintained their own home, they spent every night together unless one of them was away from the base. But when it came to marriage and children, she was in, and he, at twenty-eight, was out. She had said something like, "It's time to take this relationship to the next level or end it completely." You don't want to be drawing a line in the sand in front of a young fighter pilot. Jet jockeys didn't take orders from girlfriends. Of course, it was no surprise that they fought and he made her cry with senseless, stupid comments like, "Not in this lifetime, babe. If I were interested in getting married, we'd be married," and, "Look, I'm just flat-ass not doing the rug-rats thing, all right? Even with you." Oh, yeah, he was brilliant. She had said things, also in anger, probably things she didn't mean. Well, that wasn't exactly correct, as he recalled now, looking across a crowded room at her as she laughed and talked with her girlfriends. "Sean, if you let me go now I'll be so gone—you'll never see me again. I need a committed partner or I'm taking the walk." And Sean, being the cocky genius he was, said, "Oh, yeah? Don't let the door hit you in the ass." He winced at the memory. They had gone their separate ways, bitterly. He went to Beale because it looked as if getting a promotion...
Mr. and Mrs. Dog
Author: Donald McCaig
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
ISBN: 0813934516
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 175
Book Description
The New York Times–bestselling author Donald McCaig has established an expansive literary career, founded equally on books about working sheepdogs and the Civil War novels Jacob’s Ladder and Rhett Butler’s People, the official sequel to Gone with the Wind. In his new book, Mr. and Mrs. Dog, McCaig draws on twenty-five years of experience raising sheepdogs to vividly describe his—and his dogs June and Luke’s—unlikely progress toward and participation in the World Sheepdog Trials in Wales. McCaig engagingly chronicles the often grueling experience—through rain, snow, ice storms, and brain-numbing heat—of preparing and trialing Mrs. Dog, June, "a foxy lady in a slinky black-and-white peignoir," and Mr. Dog, Luke, "a plain worker—no flash to him." Along the way, he relays sage advice from his decades spent talking with America’s most renowned dog experts, from police-dog trainers to positive-training gurus. As readers of McCaig’s novels will expect, Mr. and Mrs. Dog delivers far more than straightforward dog-training tips. Revealing an abiding love and respect for his dogs, McCaig unveils the life experiences that set him on the long road to the Welsh trial fields. Starting with memories of his first dog, Rascal, and their Montana roadtrip in a ’48 Dodge, McCaig leads us into his thirties, when he abandons his New York advertising career to move to a run-down Appalachian sheep farm in the least populous county in Virginia. This 1960s agrarian adventure ultimately brings McCaig, Luke, and June to the Olympics of sheepdog trials. In his narration of one man’s love for his dogs, McCaig offers a powerful portrayal of the connection between humans and their animal companions.
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
ISBN: 0813934516
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 175
Book Description
The New York Times–bestselling author Donald McCaig has established an expansive literary career, founded equally on books about working sheepdogs and the Civil War novels Jacob’s Ladder and Rhett Butler’s People, the official sequel to Gone with the Wind. In his new book, Mr. and Mrs. Dog, McCaig draws on twenty-five years of experience raising sheepdogs to vividly describe his—and his dogs June and Luke’s—unlikely progress toward and participation in the World Sheepdog Trials in Wales. McCaig engagingly chronicles the often grueling experience—through rain, snow, ice storms, and brain-numbing heat—of preparing and trialing Mrs. Dog, June, "a foxy lady in a slinky black-and-white peignoir," and Mr. Dog, Luke, "a plain worker—no flash to him." Along the way, he relays sage advice from his decades spent talking with America’s most renowned dog experts, from police-dog trainers to positive-training gurus. As readers of McCaig’s novels will expect, Mr. and Mrs. Dog delivers far more than straightforward dog-training tips. Revealing an abiding love and respect for his dogs, McCaig unveils the life experiences that set him on the long road to the Welsh trial fields. Starting with memories of his first dog, Rascal, and their Montana roadtrip in a ’48 Dodge, McCaig leads us into his thirties, when he abandons his New York advertising career to move to a run-down Appalachian sheep farm in the least populous county in Virginia. This 1960s agrarian adventure ultimately brings McCaig, Luke, and June to the Olympics of sheepdog trials. In his narration of one man’s love for his dogs, McCaig offers a powerful portrayal of the connection between humans and their animal companions.
Dead Inside
Author: M. Mathews
Publisher: Archway Publishing
ISBN: 1480852147
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 461
Book Description
Janmarie Mathis grows up abnormally curious about the real world, and she sets out on a coming-of-age journey. But she suffers from recurring nightmares about being a victim of a horrendous assault. When her college roommate is attacked and left for dead, the now twenty-three-year-old Janmarie begins receiving harassing calls from stalkers. After her date is beaten one night in front of her eyes, Janmaries real-life nightmare begins. She is snatched by the two thugs and transported to a strange place where she awakens chained to a bed only to realize that there are two other women held captive with her. As she attempts to survive daily torture, Janmarie waits for the right moment, overpowers her captors, and manages to escape along with her two cellmates. After she becomes the sole survivor, her journey leads her into the witness protection program where she meets Luke Mills, a bachelor district attorney and every womans dream. Now only time will tell if Janmarie will be able to live within her new identity and move forward away from her dangerous past and into a happily-ever-after. Dead Inside shares the gripping tale of one womans scrappy quest to survive and find true love after she is the victim of a heinous crime.
Publisher: Archway Publishing
ISBN: 1480852147
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 461
Book Description
Janmarie Mathis grows up abnormally curious about the real world, and she sets out on a coming-of-age journey. But she suffers from recurring nightmares about being a victim of a horrendous assault. When her college roommate is attacked and left for dead, the now twenty-three-year-old Janmarie begins receiving harassing calls from stalkers. After her date is beaten one night in front of her eyes, Janmaries real-life nightmare begins. She is snatched by the two thugs and transported to a strange place where she awakens chained to a bed only to realize that there are two other women held captive with her. As she attempts to survive daily torture, Janmarie waits for the right moment, overpowers her captors, and manages to escape along with her two cellmates. After she becomes the sole survivor, her journey leads her into the witness protection program where she meets Luke Mills, a bachelor district attorney and every womans dream. Now only time will tell if Janmarie will be able to live within her new identity and move forward away from her dangerous past and into a happily-ever-after. Dead Inside shares the gripping tale of one womans scrappy quest to survive and find true love after she is the victim of a heinous crime.