Page 13 of One Last Stand

Aw,he knew about the townhouse. “Okay, listen, I know?—”

“I need you to take over the training schedule.”

Oh.

“I know—I hate asking, Shep. But you’re the only one who I trust to get it done.”

He meant now that London was gone.

“We’ve gone a month without anything, and with winter upon us, we could use some snow training—avalanche rescue, snowmobile skills, maybe ice rescues. You can simulate some of that at the Shed. Feel free to reach out to any of the climbing gyms around and see where we can set up for an ice rescue. I think PEAK Sports Center has an ice-climbing sim we could use. And ask your pals with the ski patrol if we can get on the slopes and simulate an avalanche rescue.”

Shep swallowed, his throat tight.

“I’m sorry, Shep. I hate to ask you, and I know this is the last thing you want to do . . .” Moose hesitated, then, “No one is going to forget her, Shep. I promise. But we have to keep moving forward, and my plate is full. I don’t want to drop the ball, and with Axel trying to buy a house . . . well, I thought, too, maybe it would be good for you to . . .”

Yeah, he got it.Stay busy.

As if his brain would ever not be caught in the clench of grief, the spiral of what-ifs. But in Moose’s mind, being busy might help.

“It’s okay. I’ll put something together.” Maybe this was the last thing he could do for Moose since he’d be leaving him another man down.

Moose gave him a tight smile and put his hand on Shep’s shoulder. Squeezed. “Maybe it’s time to think about a memorial service.”

Shep shrugged the big man’s hand away. “I’ll put that schedule together.” He moved past him toward the door. “C’mon . . . Shadow.”

The dog got up and followed him out the door.

Huh.

He put down a blanket in the backseat of the Tahoe, and Shadow bounded in, rounded a couple times to nest, then lay down. Sighed.

“Me too, pal.” The dog did bring unexpected comfort. He ran his hand over the dog’s snout, and Shadow’s tail thumped.

He closed the door, got into the front, and then headed toward the Alaska Animal Rescue shelter.

As he pulled up, barking lifted from the building, located between a furniture store and a residential care facility. Maybe they had a run in the back.

Behind him, Shadow sat up, ears perked.Oops,he hadn’t brought a leash. Shep got out and headed inside, where a woman sat at a desk, her dark hair pulled back. She didn’t look up at him.

“I found a dog.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“He doesn’t have a collar.”

“Bring him in. Leashes are hanging by the door.” She pointed to a rack of orange leads.

“I was hoping you might scan him and see if he has a chip.”

“Sure. We can do that.” No other signs of life.

Ho-kay. He grabbed a lead and headed outside, opened the car door. Shadow looked at him, panting.

“It’s okay, pal,” he said, not quite believing himself as he made a loop and put it over the dog’s head. Then he stepped back. “Come.”

Shadow got up and hopped out.

Sat beside him.