Rascal (6 page)

Sir Galahad looked up at the puppy. He took one more bite of grass and then trotted after Rascal. Lizzie saw Kathy and Wayne look at each other in surprise.

The horse and the dog arrived together at the fence. Rascal jumped up to put both front feet on the railing near Lizzie. He poked his nose through and gave her a lick on the cheek when she bent down to pick up his leash.

Hi! Hi! Hi! Rascal was so happy to see his old friend. He wondered how she liked his new friend! This place was the best place Rascal had ever been. He loved it here! He licked the girl again, to thank her for bringing him here.

Meanwhile, Sir Galahad was gently nosing at the pocket of Kathy's coat. “Is this what you want?” she asked, pulling out a carrot. She gave it to him and he took it gently. His ears were standing up straight as he nickered and nodded in thanks.

“Wow,” Kathy said to Wayne. “I haven't seen him so happy since —”

“Since Pepper was around,” Wayne said, finishing his wife's sentence. “Why didn't we realize it before? He just missed his friend, that's all. That's why he was so cranky!”

Wayne reached down to scratch Rascal on the head. “You're a good little guy,” he said softly.

Lizzie looked at Charles with her eyebrows raised. He nodded. So did Maria, who understood what Lizzie was thinking.

“Go for it,” urged Maria in a whisper.

Lizzie took a deep breath. “You know,” she said to Kathy and Wayne, “Rascal seems really happy here at the stable. He may never have great inside manners, but he behaves well when he has plenty of room and lots of interesting things to do and see.”

Kathy was nodding. Lizzie saw her reach out to take Wayne's hand. Wayne looked over at Kathy before gazing down at the puppy again.

“So —” Lizzie went on, “would you like to adopt him?”

She didn't even have to wait for the answer. She saw the smiles on their faces as they both knelt down to pat Rascal.

The troublesome little puppy had found a home — the best home in the world for him.

Lizzie felt a little twinge of sadness. Rascal may have been a handful, but she had gotten attached to his cute face and wild ways. Would she always have to say good-bye to the puppies they fostered? Or would one of them finally come to stay? Lizzie hoped that someday she and Charles and the Bean would have a dog of their very own. But for now she just had to be happy that they had found the very best place for Rascal.

All dogs are wonderful, but not every dog is right for every family. Before you fall in love with a certain breed, it's a good idea to learn more about its personality and needs.

A big, athletic dog is not the best choice for people who live in small city apartments. Some breeds are better for families with young children, and some get along with cats, while others don't. Some dogs like to swim and others would rather run. And for people who like a very clean home, there are even some dogs who don't shed!

You can find out more about different breeds from books or on the Internet. Do the research with an adult. Then discuss what you learn with the whole family before deciding which kind of dog is best for you.

Ellen Miles loves dogs, which is why she has a great time writing the Puppy Place books. And guess what? She loves cats, too! (In fact, her very first pet was a beautiful tortoiseshell cat named Jenny.) That's why she came up with a brand-new series called Kitty Corner. Ellen lives in Vermont and loves to be outdoors every­ day, walking, biking, skiing, or swimming, depending on the season. She also loves to read, cook, explore her beautiful state, play with dogs, and hang out with friends and family.

Visit Ellen at
www.ellenmiles.net.