Harley’s Second Chance – Chapter 2

(Harley)

Mitch led me to a dark blue pick up truck with two front seats and a long open bed in the back. I prepared to jump up into the bed, but Mitch went all the way around and stopped in front of the passenger door. He opened it and then waited. I waited too. I might not know much about a dog’s life in the real world, but one thing was always clear – humans set the rules. So if he wanted to wait, I would wait.

Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer and looked up at him. He scratched the top of my head and patted the seat. I glanced up at him again and then at the seat, questioningly. Did he really want me to jump into the truck? Seriously? I get to ride shotgun!

I leaped into the truck and sat up in the passenger seat. This was turning out to be the best day of my life and according to the sun, it wasn’t even noon yet. Wow. Mitch leaned in to pat my back and I gave him an extra slobbery kiss on his cheek. He deserved it, and then some. He laughed, shook his head and shut the door.

The window was half way down and I stuck my head out. I could hear the barks and yelps of my cellmates and it made me sad to leave them behind. All I could do was hope that someday soon, every one of them would find their own Mitch to take them home.

As we drove down a busy freeway, Mitch kept glancing over at me as if he expected me to disappear at any moment. I nudged his shoulder reassuringly. I was here to stay, that I was certain of, more so than I was certain of anything else. There was an unfamiliar scent in the truck, but it was so faint that it hardly caught my attention. Mostly, the cab smelled of Mitch, that wonderful aroma that made me feel like I was truly going home.

After what seemed like almost an hour of my head sticking out of the window, catching the wind in my face, and flopping my ears, the truck pulled into a long, tree-lined driveway and the air quickly became filled with acorns and pines. I took a long, hard whiff. It smelled great, and this was a moment I didn’t want to forget. A garage door opened and Mitch jumped out of the truck and patted his leg. I knew what that meant. I marched across the seats and jumped out of the truck, stopping at his heel.

“You’re such a good dog,” he cooed and rubbed behind my left ear. Oh that felt nice. His hands were soft, his fingers long, and his nails just sharp enough to dull any itch. He had dropped the leash, so I relieved myself on the front lawn. Then Mitch started walking into the garage, so I followed him.

I noticed that same faint scent I’d noticed in the cab of his truck, only it was a little stronger inside the garage. I wondered what it could be. The best way I could describe it was a mix of strawberries and wildflowers. It was pretty and sweet, and it seemed to get stronger with every step we took closer to the door. Only there was something off about it, but I couldn’t quite tell what.

I noticed a motorcycle in the corner of the garage. It was dusty and looked like it had been sitting there for a while. I looked to Mitch who just stood in the middle of the garage watching me. Why would a man like that have a bike like this and not ride it every chance he got? I sniffed it and that same sweet faint smell was on the bike that lingered in the air. I gave it a little lick and made my way back to Mitch’s side.

He patted my head and I sat down next to him. He kneeled until his stark blue eyes were level with my brown ones. “Leave it to me to find another girl who likes Harleys.” There was a tinge of sadness in his voice, despite the smile on his face that was meant to hide it. I licked his hand hoping to take away wherever that sadness stemmed from, and he smiled, kissing the top of my nose. “Harley,” he whispered. “That’s your name.”

I opened my mouth and let my tongue hang out. If I were human, that would be a smile. I loved my new name, and words couldn’t express how much I already loved my Mitch.

I followed him inside through the laundry room area and into the kitchen. “Let me give you the tour,” he said. I followed him in and out of the living room that had the oversized couch that I hoped we would spend a lot of time on, and then in and out of the bedroom that featured a large unmade bed, a dresser with clothes overflowing out of the drawers, and not much else. But, that’s where that faint scent was the strongest. It was definitely strawberries and some kind of wildflowers. I wondered where that came from because there was no sign of those flowers outside.

Mitch went into the bathroom and I followed him, until he laughed and gently lead me out, closing the door in front of my face. I never understood why humans had to relieve themselves behind closed doors. It’s not like I haven’t seen it done before.

The doorbell rang and I rushed to the door, hoping whoever it was smelled of those wildflowers. Instead, all I got was wet dog and pizza breath. My stomach  and I both gave a low growl. Mitch came out of the bathroom and opened the door. There stood a brown and tan dog, with a woman who had the blondest hair I’d ever seen in my life.

“Hello,” she practically sang out. “I’m Daisy Fuller and this is Chance,” she gestured to the brown mutt.

“For your information, I’m a purebred, pedigree Beagle,” he replied in a sly tone. “And we just came from the beach.”

I almost coughed up a hairball.

“We’re your new neighbors.” Daisy smiled, extending her hand.

“Mitch,” he replied, shaking her hand. “This is Harley. I didn’t realize the old tenants had moved out.”

Daisy smiled. Her teeth were like the moon, and her eyes like a clear blue sky. She looked down at me and I shook, a good full body shake, like I was shaking off her stare.

“It’s nice to meet you both,” Mitch said. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing you around.”

If this woman gave off any more pheromones my nostrils would implode. I turned my head up to sneak a peak at Mitch. His eyes were dull, his arms hanging loosely at his sides. Clearly he felt the same way about her and as I did.

After Daisy left, Mitch went into the living room and sat down on the sofa, turning the television on. I sat in front of him, wanting to jump up on the couch next to him, but not knowing if I was invited. He stared at the screen for several moments, almost like he forgot I was even there. “Come on,” he finally said, patting the seat next to him.

I jumped up, and laid down, putting my head in his lap. His hand rested on the top of my head, and I felt like we were a perfect fit. I looked up at him, but his eyes were glued to the flickering screen.

My gaze drifted to a few photographs and I wondered who the pretty brunette woman in them was. Did she have that sweet wildflower scent?  And then it occurred to me that if the scent was hers, it was fading, which meant she hadn’t been here in while. That’s when I got the sinking feeling, that just like Charlie, she wasn’t coming back.

The story of Harley’s Second Chance continues…Who is the brunette in the photos?

Tune in next Thursday for Chapter 3!