Riding the Pause Read Online Free Page A

narrow trickle of water and came face-to-face with the largest black German Shepherd she’d ever seen.
    Aside from his intimidating size, he didn’t seem the least bit menacing. If anything, with the way he was snuffling her hand, she thought she was in more danger from being licked to death than bitten.
    “Well aren’t you a handsome fellow,” she said, tipping her head to confirm he was indeed a he. In size and color, the dog reminded her of her brother Jude’s dog Max. But Max had mellowed in old age, even more so since he got hurt defending her sister-in-law Autumn. This dog was more of a puppy. One that was about to knock her over if the way he’d gone down on his front legs was any indication. She braced herself. The heavy pack already made her off-balance and if the dog jumped he could easily put his paws on her shoulders. She’d go over like a turtle on its shell, and probably have as much trouble righting herself.
    “Apollo, come,” said a deep, rich masculine voice.
    Without hesitation, the dog turned and trotted down the path toward his master. Rachel wasn’t as eager to follow. She knew in all likelihood she’d have to share the shelter, but after the peace she’d found walking that day, she wasn’t eager to make small talk. Maybe she could get away with a smile and then keep to herself. With two separate levels, there was more than enough room and it was just for one night.
    It wasn’t like she had a choice. The next shelter was miles away, and there was no guarantee it would be empty. She’d known it would be like this when she decided not to buy the four hundred dollar tent the outdoor guy tried to sell her. It would be dark soon. Her legs were aching. She was tired and hungry, and all she wanted to do was eat and go to sleep. And the dog seemed nice if a little too enthusiastic. How bad could his owner be? If he was an ax murder there wouldn’t be anything she could do about it anyway. Besides his dog seemed to like him and she was pretty sure dogs didn’t like ax murderers.
    Taking a deep breath, she followed the path the dog had taken to the shelter.

Chapter Three
     
    It looked exactly like she remembered, the heavy hewn timbers framing the open first floor and the pickets providing a visual barrier to the upstairs. Well almost like she remembered. Instead of being filled with giggling girls, there was a man who looked to be in his thirties stretched out on the first floor deck with his arm around the dog. He wore a soft olive green Henley almost the color of his eyes and faded jeans low on his narrow hips. His strong square jaw was covered with stubble not quite long enough to be a beard but too long to be a five o’clock shadow. She watched him give her a quick once over, taking in her new pack and walking poles, and then he smiled at her with a crinkle around his eyes that said he thought he knew more than he actually did.
    It didn’t matter. He could think what he liked. She’d never have to see him again. Besides, his dog liked her. When he saw her, the big black dog –Apollo, that’s what the man called him – crawled out from under his master’s arm and came over to her, bumping his huge head against her palm, demanding attention. She gave the dog an absentminded scratch behind the ears and nodded in greeting to the man, who didn’t seem to want to talk any more than she did.
    So far it looked like it was just the two of them in the shelter, and the man’s tattered pack already hung on one of the pegs above the main floor’s sleeping platform. Ignoring her tired legs, Rachel reached for the rung of the ladder and forced her burning muscles to carry her and her pack up to the loft. Unbuckling the sternum strap and the wide belt at her waist, she slipped the pack off her back and collapsed gratefully onto the dusty, rough floor boards. She worked the laces loose on her boots and groaned in relief as she pulled them off her feet.
    She couldn’t tell if it was because she’d