Page 77 of Surge
When Surge came running back on Garrett’s second toss, he called, “Crawl!” and Surge dropped the toy, came crawling to him on his belly.
He scratched behind Surge’s ears. “Do I trust God like Surge trusts you? I do . . . I want to.”
“But your dad . . .”
“Yeah. Dad. It’s a struggle. Even though I know who God really is.”
“Let me put it this way. You asked if God put dog training into my DNA. I needed that question. He did. Thus I’m here. Didn’t He install SEALs into your DNA?”
One corner of his mouth rose. “True.”
Surge brought her the KONG this time, and she offered a game of tug to the beautiful black dog she was somehow on a mission with. “You know, most men don’t make it into SEALs,” she said in grunts as Surge jerked the dog toy. “But you jumped in a hundred ten percent. I think that’s a hundred ten percent of trust in God right there.”
“Same one hundred ten percent trust in Him as when you jumped one hundred ten percent onto the mission team.”
She threw her head back with a grin. “Once I finally did.”
“True.” He smiled at her and reached for the KONG. She let him take it so Surge could kill his shoulders instead of hers.
With one giant pull, the Mal yanked it out of his hands.
She snickered as he shook out his arm.
He snorted. “All right, Kongmeister, no more tug with you till I hit the gym back home. Bring it here, buddy.” When Surge complied, Garrett tossed it over by the house.
A woman and a preschool-age girl were approaching outside the fence. The adorable little girl duck-walked, slapping her feet on the sidewalk, laughing and pointing at her shoes. Bright brown eyes lit on Surge, and she raced to the fence, rambling in her native language. The source of her excitement was obvious—Surge.
Delaney smiled.
But then Surge veered off, planted himself in the corner, ears pointed at the preschooler. He just sat there, staring at her. Hard.
The girl frowned and let go of the fence, stepped behind her mama.
What was going on?
“That’s a hit, right?” Garrett asked softly, looking to her.
“It is,” Delaney said quietly.
Realizing Surge was scaring the little one, Delaney jogged over and heard Garrett coming too. “Good boy,” she said to her four-legged hero as she gripped his collar and drew him back, but his gaze remained locked on the pair. Wondering what had set him off, she angled for a better view and scanned the woman. She wasn’t carrying anything. Morning light caught on something and glinted. Sparkling?—
Delaney drew in a breath. “The shoes.” Her voice and realization mingled with Garrett’s, and she looked at him.
He nodded at her as he lowered his phone. “Got a pic.”
She smiled. While it was a nice, connecting moment between them, Delaney was more excited about the connection to the shoes. They were adorable Mary Jane–style jelly sandals with glittery 3D plastic butterflies fastened to the toe. A tag dangled from the side—likely just purchased from the nearby market. “Purple,” she mumbled, her brain linking the plastic Caldwell had in his ruck.
Garrett tapped his thigh, eyes on the pair as the mama picked up her daughter. “Caldwell’s plastic . . .”
“I know,” she whispered.
He pulled it out of his pocket, turned it over in his fingers, looking between it and the little girl’s shoes as the pair continued down the sidewalk, past the safe house fence.
That’s when Delaney realized. “That tag! They’re new—that’s why she’s so proud.”
Eyes wide, Garrett pivoted. “I’ve got an idea. Inside.”
“Surge, with me.” Delaney snagged the KONG, and the three of them jogged into the dining room.