Chapter Thirty Four (Dog Gone)

Captain has been irritable of late and quite put out with me I don't think he has forgiven me for peeing on him. That and he is afraid because I know his secret. I know that he can touch.

The Scared One is here again and trying to fix the door. I don't trust him, not one little bit, so I bark at him. He is afraid of me so I take advantage of that and go after him. Carolyn decided I am not allowed to do that and she puts me outside. Captain stands up for me, but I am still irritated with him so I bark at him and he is quite put out.

Captain seeks me out later, and finds me outside. I look at him but say nothing.

"Scruffy."

Captain.

"You are an irritating dog."

You are an irritating man.

"You peed on me."

You deserved it.

"Because I wouldn't share information with Carolyn?"

Yes. You are lying to her. I tell you this as your friend.

"I am withholding a truth."

A truth she should know. I growled at him.

"That is my concern and not yours. You are only a dog, certainly not my friend," he said in a condescending voice.

Now I was really mad, he had never spoken to me like that before!

I wish I could bite you! You're a rotten excuse for a man! Carolyn deserves better than you. I gave him an unhappy growl and turned and left the room.

"Scruffy!" He called and I heard the apology in his voice, I knew that he was sorry for what he just said, but I wasn't looking back. I was pissed.

Carolyn is working in the master suite, and I hear Captain talk to her. He seems worried that I don't like him; he says that animals have always liked him. Apparently I am an exception.

Martha is gone for a while and I know that Captain wants to please Carolyn. I am asleep when he appears in the kitchen to make coffee. I sense him in my dreams and I growl at him, then I smell dog food, and somehow am aware of it being put in my dish. Captain is feeding me for which I am grateful; there can never be too much food. He bends down to talk to me; I think he is trying to apologize. I am still mad at him so I growl at him. I startle him and he falls to the floor, it is so funny! The kids and Carolyn come running, my playmates are concerned for me, but Carolyn knows it is Captain who has disappeared by now. I get to sleep in the kid's room which is what I wanted in the first place. Candy carries me up the room and I am content.

Captain turned off the vacuum while Carolyn was busy so that he could talk to her. He is put out with me and decides that the family needs another dog, a bigger dog; he thinks that I am not dog enough! How dare he! A big dog suddenly shows up at the door due to Captain's influence, the kids are excited and they call him Moby Dick. I already know that he is a she, are these people blind?

They keep her at the house as they look for her owners. I don't mind having another dog around as she is rather attractive for a bigger female. So I decide that I will take the time to get to know her. Carolyn is not happy with the other dog though as she is not very graceful. Captain thinks the other dog will put me in my place but he is wrong, this is my house and I am alpha dog. I bark at her and she runs away from me onto the statue and our order is established. I am in charge. Captain is not happy as he thinks Moby Dick (silly name for a girl) should be the boss of me. Boy is he wrong.

Martha returns and Carolyn is glad to see her. This is when she first meets Moby Dick. My new friend is rather clumsy and crashes their tea cups. The next day her human Dad shows up he has a silly name too. Norbert something or other, he is an odd man, but Moby Dick, aka Sheila loves him, so who am I to say it is wrong? She is happy to see him, so all is well. They leave and my family is happy to see her go. My family does not know that Sheila and I have made plans to see each other. It's so nice to have a dog companion again.

Captain seems unhappy that Sheila is gone, and I am mad at Captain for not liking me. Carolyn picks me up and puts me out of the room so that she and Captain can talk. Captain is quite put out by me and insults me. He calls me an obnoxious little beast, and says he won't tolerate my antics any longer.

Phew! I don't have to put up with him either; I am annoyed with his anger. Sheila has invited me over and she is starting to smell good, I think I am falling for her. I noticed her come hither look and feel I must go to her. A terrier is not one to let an opportunity slip by, I may be smaller than her but I can certainly fulfill my duties in the romance department. I shall be happy to love my Sheila. Captain can worry about my disappearance on his own.

I know Jonathan is unhappy with Captain because I went away, he doesn't understand our feuding. Things will be settled when I come back. I hope my disappearance doesn't cause too many problems.

It is two days later and I am with Sheila. We have found a place away from everyone else and we are taking care of dog business. We have given in to our mutual attraction. And despite some logistical issues we have figured it out. I am currently content as we have mated and I am tied to her, waiting for my body to release us. We are pleased to be locked to one another and as she lies on the floor I am turned so that our butts are together, panting happily. We are resting.

I am only a little surprised when Captain appears, and with a low growl for Sheila, I tell her everything is all right, and she relaxes.

"Scruffy, there you are," Captain sounded relieved.

Yes, and I am busy in case you can't tell. I am doing what you cannot do, I am mating.

He was silent for a moment.

"It is not that I do not want to, but Carolyn deserves someone better than me…"

Please, I don't want to hear it again. If she loves you and you love her is the problem? Haven't I shown you how easy it is?

"The physical is always easy," he mused.

Is it? Even for you? I studied him with wise eyes.

"I believe it could be."

If you allowed it to be.

"Yes." He rubbed his chin.

Then maybe you should. I paused and gave him a patient stare. I'll try to understand if you want to go slower. I know you are not as direct as dogs, or my terrier self. But can you try to go a little faster? You don't want her to be with someone else, do you?

"No, that I do not want." He sighed. "All right, Scruffy, I will try to move things along faster."

Good. Now if you don't mind, Sheila and I are busy… I gave him the look that said it was time for him to leave.

He paused and gave Sheila and me a long look and cleared his throat. "Scruffy, you are a smaller dog, where do you keep that?"

Jealous? I raised my terrier eyebrow.

"Not at all."

So you can tie?

"People don't tie."

Too bad, it keeps you closer for longer. Are you big enough to please females?

"Scruffy!" Captain was indignant.

What? It is an honest question. I know you are no terrier.

"I am quite well off, thank you."

Then what are you waiting for?

Captain chose to ignore me again. "I will tell the family that you will be home soon?"

Tomorrow I think.

"They will be happy to hear that. They thought that I had hurt you."

You? I laughed my terrier laugh. Even if you don't like me I know you wouldn't really hurt me, would you?

"No, Scruffy. I would never hurt a friend." He said and gave me a look that said we were friends.

Thanks. You're my friend too even if you're irritating.

"The feeling is mutual you furry little beast."

Leave, Captain. I need to finish and we don't need you. You are making Sheila nervous.

He nodded and disappeared. It seems at least for the moment that our fences have been mended.

Captain tells me later that my pals Jonathan and Candy were very sad. I am sorry for this because I love them both. He mentioned that he had to try to explain mating to Jonathan. That must have been funny. I wish I could have seen that. I bet he has never explained mating to a young one. I wonder if Carolyn heard the conversation. Why can't those two get together? They love each other and want to mate, so I don't understand.

I hear Captain and Carolyn talk again, and I run after the Captain right away to show him I am still disapprove of his behavior. I can't let him believe for one moment that he is in charge. He disappears and I am happy. Carolyn picks me up and I know my family still loves me.