Wednesday, Farmer H and I left for the city around 8:30. We were gone most of the day in A-Cad, to cash in my major lottery winner, and stop by the casino for lunch (heh, heh), and some Goodwills. It was nearly 4:00 when we got home. The dogs dashed across the yard, all excited to see us. They never know if we're coming back when we leave together, in the morning, in A-Cad. Too many Oklahoma trips have made them concerned.
Marley was running loose, because Farmer H let him out Tuesday morning, and couldn't find him at put-up time. Not a big deal, because the pen with his house and food was open, so he could return.
I'm wary now when Marley and Jack have access to each other. Just last week, there was another fight, when Buddy (of Badly Blacktopped Hill fame) stopped by, and cursed Marley when getting out of his truck. Well. You might as well wave a red flag at a bull. Jack does not suffer such nonsense, and that was his cue to attack. Farmer H sweet-talked Jack off the ledge, and Marley scurried to his house. Farmer H said to try this strategy for future kerfuffles.
Anyhoo...it takes me a while to get out of A-Cad and limber up from the ride. Marley was all over my already-exit-ed leg. Jack and Juno and Copper Jack were milling around after having chased a squirrel into the woods. Of course Farmer H had to bellow,
"NO! MARLEY! GET DOWN!"
"You just told me not to say anything bad to Marley! To praise Jack. And now YOU are going to get Marley killed!"
Farmer H shut up. Marley went under A-Cad. Jack trotted over spoiling for a fight, all muscle-y and stiff-legged, with his tail curved up over his back.
"Aww. There's my little Jack. What a good boy. Good dog, Jack. You're my buddy, aren't you. Come on. Let me pet you."
Jack put his feet up on my leg. After a couple pats, I pushed him away and got out. Jack put his feet in A-Cad, sniffing around. I patted Juno, who had crowded in for the grand reunion. It was then that I noticed
COPPER JACK JUST INCHES AWAY, POKING HIS BLUNT NOSE AT MY HAND!
What in the Not-Heaven? This dog has snubbed me for TWO YEARS, even though I feed him snacks on a daily basis. And now, in all this commotion, here he was, offering me an olive branch?
I turned the back of my hand to him. Didn't extend my arm. Copper Jack touched his rubbery black nose to my crepey (called CREEPY by The Pony) skin. I took this as an invitation, and stroked his broad head, then patted his shoulder. I might just have a new buddy.
Yes, it was a major breakthrough in human-canine relations. As for canine-canine relations...not so much.
4 comments:
I knew it! Copper Jack wants to be part of the crew. It might be handy to have an extra guard dog around, as long as his owner doesn't come storming over claiming that you stole his dog.
River,
I think Copper Jack always considered himself part of the crew! I was the non-crew member! The worst part is that Copper Jack would walk up to Farmer H for petting, and even GENIUS, who is only here about FIVE DAYS A YEAR!
No worries with his owner. He went to school with Farmer H. He knows we're not stealing his dog. His original dog, a yellow lab named Penny, used to come over and steal Farmer H's ceramic animals. The wife would wait until she had three or four, and bring them back and leave them on the porch.
Do I hear the theme song from "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" playing in the background?
This was an "Awww" sweet post. What is going on with you? Are you feverish?
Sioux,
Mayhap you do...mayhap you don't. As Genius used to say after reading "The Stand." I guess he was a Mother Abigail fan. One thing for certain: I'm not going to ride Copper Jack around on my shoulders during our one-gal cuddly-cur lovefest.
There is a slight chance that I have a fever, but I DO NOT have the coronavirus!
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