We all decide to light a bonfire that night in Zeke and Uriah's back yard to roast marshmallows and eat s'mores with hot chocolate. Al said he had some things to catch up on and wouldn't be able to come tonight.
"Ready?" Tobias asks me as I grab my sweatshirt. I nod. The drive to the Pedrad's house is not very long. Only ten minutes at most. But they live in a more isolated part of town. A length of pine trees and oaks separate acres of their property from the main road. In the fall, when everything is painted in colors like fire, their back yard is probably the most beautiful place to visit. We pull off the road and Tobias' foot pushes harder against the gas to get the truck up the rocky road. I wonder how Zeke's ancient truck ever makes it up this hill path each day. Their large labrador, Dauntless, greets me as soon as I jump out of Tobias' truck.
"Dauntless! Come here boy!" I screech as Dauntless bounds in my direction with his tongue flopping in every direction. His dark curls wave in the wind. But Dauntless doesn't stop. That's the thing with this dog: he likes to bound in your direction and then jump into your arms. He was trained to do this by Uriah and Zeke who are much stronger and muscular than I am, so they can practically carry this dog like a baby.
Dauntless jumps into the air and before I can open my arms, lands right on top of me. My head hits the grass hard and Dauntless starts licking my face all over. I shriek with laughter like a little girl and grab him by either sides of his head, trying to shake him off. His big shaggy paws playfully rub me on the head; like he's trying to calm me down.
"Dauntless! That's my job to kiss her neck!" Tobias yells from the truck. I hear him laugh as he bounds over and drags Dauntless off me. I wipe off the dog saliva and Tobias helps me to my feet. He reaches out and wipes off some saliva I missed. He cups my cheek in his hand and kisses me. I wrap my arms around his neck to pull him closer.
"Woof!" Dauntless tries to snake his way between us and he is so tall that he manages to butt-head Tobias away. Tobias pulls away from me and laughs.
"No Dauntless, she's mine!"
Dauntless growls at him.
"Dauntless! Come boy! Hey guys!" I spin around to see Uriah running in our direction and whistling for Dauntless to go away. I only feel bad until I see him bound after another arriving vehicle. It's Christina and Will. They wave to us and I wave back.
*THIS IS ONLY PART ONE OF THESE NEXT THREE CHAPTERS. IT WILL BE A VERY CHANGING AND EVOLVING PART TO THE STORY AND WILL MOST LIKELY SET THE PLOT FOR THE REST OF THE STORY. I WILL BE UPDATING THE NEXT TWO PARTS AS SOON AS I CAN! THANK YOU FOR READING MY STORY AND I HOPE YOU LOVE DAUNTLESS THE BLACK CURLY LAB AS MUCH AS I DO! - the author*