The Traveler

All they can do is wait for the cowering dog to come around to the cup of water.

Resting on their knees, time is needed here as the wounds suffered are so hard to get over. Lilly, on the other hand, is having a hard time, “I should just go over there, you know. Let it know that we mean it no harm.”

“A cup of water is not enough to earn the dog’s trust, but this might help things along.”

“What’s this, oh, it smells like cracked peppercorn.”

“Right now, it is dog food.”

“Gotcha.”

On her approach to, the dog circles away as far as the chain allows while the whole time Lilly is speaking to it. He cannot make out the words as they are low and coaxing as she goes to breaking off a piece of the meat stick. Dog going nowhere, Lilly tosses the piece of jerked meat towards its feet. Gone in a second, she tosses another but this one is not as far as the last. Seeing the developing pattern, the dog is all about carrying its forever friend to each stop that ends with the dog taking another piece of the jerked meat from Lilly’s fingers.

One more piece allows for the collar to be removed and not sure of what to do, the dog stands where it is before it walks up to Lilly.

Even in the dull morning light, he sees that her cheeks are glistening with wetness. And so, the healing begins.